GOP angst: Gingrich's rise could be their downfall (CNN hit piece with contribution from John King)

CNN ^ | 01/24/2012 | Dana Bash (CNN Chief National Correspondent John King contributed to this report)

[SeekAndFind]

Washington (CNN) -- Newt Gingrich might have led Republicans to their first House majority in 40 years in the 1990s, but the prospect of the former House Speaker becoming their presidential nominee is producing significant GOP angst.

"If he's the nominee, it's a disaster. There is no way to sugar-coat it," said one GOP congressional strategist describing the tension after Gingrich won South Carolina.

"There is a reason most people who know him best aren't supporting him," said a former House colleague still serving in Congress.

Asked why he had endorsed opponent Mitt Romney if he had served with Gingrich for so long, a House Republican replied with a smile, "Because I served with Gingrich for so long."

Those GOP congressional sources and many others spoke on condition of anonymity because they believe Gingrich, who is running against the "Republican establishment," will only turn the criticism into his advantage.

"The less they talk to the better," said one of the GOP sources concerned about Gingrich, "it only feeds into his narrative that the establishment is out to get him."

Gingrich's spokesman R.C. Hammond scoffed at the criticism, noting that the candidate himself said during CNN's debate last week what he regrets most in this campaign is wasting time attacking anyone besides President Barack Obama.

Veteran Republican leadership aide Ron Bonjean said on the record what most of his colleagues would only tell CNN privately.

"Most people on Capitol Hill and in Washington are very nervous about a Gingrich candidacy," he said. "It sends a shiver down a lot of Republican spines."

"You can actually feel the nervousness from Republicans around town that Gingrich could actually bring the craziness back of his speakership from the 1990s. It's everywhere."

[Yankee]

One of the Newt-haters that has been on TV is "Republican Strategist" Dee Dee Benkie.

She is a Republican National Committeewoman from Indiana.

She posted the following tweet on Twitter during last night's debate:

RT@deedeegop: Newt is so mean fat and ugly

She doubled down saying it again on FOX this afternoon, appearing as part of a panel of GOP insiders and even those that don't like Newt were aghast at such childish stupidity.

I sent her the following tweet:

Hey @deedeegop, @mccainblogette (that's Meghan McCain) already has the mindless, Newt-hating mental-midget gig sewn up. You need a new act.

I then sent the following two tweets to ReincePriebus:

@ReincePriebus Is this the kind of juvenile fool that you want representing the RNC?: RT @deedeegop: Newt is so mean fat and ugly

and

@ReincePriebus as long as Dee Dee Benkie is a part of the RNC you'll get no $$$ from me. RT @deedeegop: Newt is so mean fat and ugly

I'm sick of these Romneybots.

FUMR and all your RINO flying monkeys.

[livius]

Good for u!

[AndyJackson]

Such a sweetheart. Here is some more on her /[source: http://stevescomments.wordpress.com/2012/01/03/republican-strategist-dee-dee-benkie-iowa-gop-will-not-allow-ron-paul-to-win/]:

Republican strategist Dee Dee Benkie revealed during a radio show appearance last night that the GOP establishment has resolved to prevent Ron Paul from winning tonight’s Iowa primary by offering sweetheart deals to move large voting blocks to vote for Romney or Santorum.

A UStream radio show broadcast with Faux News commentator Dee Dee Benkie, asserting that the Iowa GOP plans to manipulate the vote by whatever means; to prevent a 1st place Ron Paul win on January 3rd, 2011.

From her is disclosure of the Iowa GOP’s definitive *plans* to inhibit a first-place win by Congressman Paul, not just by shoulder-persuation at the county caucus locations, but via behind-the-scenes trickery. Such as their ‘secret vote’ count announced *just minutes* following Occupy’s plan to disrupt the caucuses.

The move occurred despite Occupy protest leaders confirming there were no plans to disrupt the caucuses themselves.

It’s necessary to emphasize the fact that Dee Dee Benkie is by no means decrying the subversion of the Iowa primary. She is openly anti-Paul and is brazenly advocating that he be prevented from winning Iowa by means of establishment insiders exerting undue influence on voters.

[gman992]

Again, it’s not the craziness, it’s just that he’s not likable...