Asinine to criticize a person’s admiration for two dead Presidents. There is much to admire and to criticize - is that so hard to understand?
The historical record of the Roosevelts is the reference for judgement.
They were human beings, imperfect and flawed; guided by principles and chaotic times that required leadership.
My dead ancestors were revered men of character and devoid of warts. That’s my mother’s story and she’s sticking to it. Fortunately for her - there are no written records to contradict the legend.
Newt’s admiration for the Roosevelts would be viewed as exactly as you said if he himself had a different record on how he related to liberal causes.
But it’s the combination of how Gingrich has failed to understand how aligning himself with Liberals might hurt the cause of conservatism — or, at the least, highly tick them off — that makes his admiration for these two Left-leaning presidents grate on some.
Nothing is evaluated in a vaccuum. It is connected to the context of a real person, in this case, Newt.