NBC Warns: Gingrich 'Helped Re-Elect' Bill Clinton, Would 'Blow' GOP Chances in November
When did NBC News suddenly become concerned with the welfare of the Republican Party? On Monday's NBC Today, former Democratic staffer and current chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd hyped Republican fears of Newt Gingrich: "...look what Gingrich did when he was essentially on the ballot, if you will, in '96 and '98, he helped re-elect a Democratic president..."
Todd promoted the idea of the GOP in disarray: "So there is this panic that they could not just lose the presidency, but lose control of the House and actually blow their chances at picking up the Senate. That's why this panic that the establishment will just do whatever it takes to stop him [Gingrich]."
Over the weekend, TV pundits from both the left and the right, similarly pushed the notion that Gingrich would damage Republican chances in November.
On Monday, moments after Todd outlined a doomsday scenario for Gingrich, Meet the Press host David Gregory bizarrely dismissed the former Speaker's supporters as " the grief-stricken right."
On Sunday's Today, Gregory had elaborated on that observation, claiming that Gingrich's South Carolina primary win was "the revenge of the Tea Party" and that, "There's anger, there's anxiety among conservatives, among the grassroots of the party, and Gingrich in South Carolina connected to that. He was the candidate of grievance, if you will."
Read the complete transcript of the January 23 segment with Todd and Gregory.
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Comments
More Democrat Double Standards
Submitted by freecitizen on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 2:20pm.
Funny how Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid never get the credit/blame for reelecting George Bush.
I know they took control at the same time as reelecting Bush so it's not exactly the same, but still.
Clinton was re-elected because he basically
Submitted by nonncom on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 2:43pm.
did nothing....he had enough sense to stay out of the way of the George Bush Senior inspired economy....which was 6 months too late to re-elect Bush, especially after he let himself be talked into raising taxes....
Ross Perot
Submitted by humanzee on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 3:24pm.
The neglect of the Ross Perot element...same Tea Party element of today... got Bill Clinton re-elected. The religious right and the slightly libertarian government skeptics were thrown under the bus.
The GOP didn't take the "Ross Perot" portion of the population into account. They had conservatives pissed off and no one listened to them until... GW Bush. He played well with them in 2000 when guys like Ross Perot weren't an issue.
Some people with a lot of power and resources are carrying water for another Bob Dole and John McCain... dudes who wouldn't kick at the shins of their opponents, guys who had to be carried in on sedan chairs. Romney is being carried around in a litter like a pharaoh.
The so called "establishment" made their mind up too early. They should have held out for Perry and carried water for him instead. Now they're stuck with the unelectable Romney.
I think Gingrich has a real chance because he can shatter Obama's facade, his public persona, into pieces. He can take his election in a direction Obama doesn't want to go. Obama wants to keep in "civil and classy." He doesn't want people to pay attention to stuff he has admitted to or people he has associated with. Gingrich would force Obama to turn left, expose him as a fake "moderate."
Why is the GOP afraid of taming the populist animal? Gingrich has shown the willingness to lasso it, put a saddle on it, ride it to the White House.
humanzee
Submitted by amyshulk on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 5:57pm.
So you see the TP as a resurgent Perot block? I found Perot fascinating back then, but not enough to actually vote. 2010 was my first time.
I think this is MUCH bigger, and CAN be done, because the paradigm of being enslaved to the big 3 is over.
Ronald Reagan
There they go again....
Submitted by motherbelt on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 2:42pm.
reporting their hopes and wishes as fact. They might as well start prefacing it with The fact of the matter is.....
And it's hilarious that they expect anyone to believe they are actually looking out for the best interests of the republican party.
The LSM sure is scared of
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 2:56pm.
The LSM sure is scared of President Gingrich. I wonder who Newt is going to pick as his running mate?
I vote for a Gingrich/Palin
Submitted by robert108 on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 4:35pm.
I vote for a Gingrich/Palin ticket.
robert108
Submitted by amyshulk on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 5:57pm.
Why? To *further* marginalize the R's?
Ronald Reagan
New Jersey Governor
Submitted by johnsonl on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 5:02pm.
Chris Cristie or Florida Rep. Allen West. Let's not be racist, OK?
Luckily, Sherman Crain is out of the running.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 5:13pm.
Since he stupidly agreed to play Costello to Colbert's Abbott.
How dumb do they think ...
Submitted by UncleDirtNap on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 3:19pm.
... are? As dumb as the average Democrat apparently. Sure MSNBC we believe your spin and Newt can't beat Obama, sure. You just want Romney as the nominee because all you really think he has the best shot to beat Obama.
yeah, riiiiiight!
You have to ignore the advise of your enemy.
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 3:47pm.
Does it get any simpler? They do NOTHING that doesn't promote THEIR agenda.
Rubbish...
Submitted by Meredith1966 on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 3:55pm.
Bill Clinton got re-elected in 1996 because the Republican Party nominated Bob Dole as their candidate, not because of anything Newt Gingrich was or wasn't doing as Speaker of the House. If he was so bad, why did the Republicans hold on to the house in 1996 and 1998? Why didn't the House go back Democratic, the way it had in the 1950s when the Republicans had a brief majority? I submit that Clinton would have been beaten pretty soundly had Colin Powell not backed out in '96; the nomination and the election was his for the taking and, once he backed out, whatever momentum was heading the Republicans' way simply fizzled out and people chose to go with Clinton for another 4 years rather than a less-than-inspiring Bob Dole. If Gingrich hurt the Republican Party in 1996 and 1998, when they continued to hold their House majorities, then under Gregory's and Todd's logic I'd have to think that without Gingrich the Democratic Party might well have been driven out of business. Is that really what they're saying?? :-\
"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." - Thomas Jefferson
Yep
Submitted by Marcus Porcius on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 4:45am.
And Obama get elected because the establishment force-fed us McCain.
And if the media wants to pin reelecting Clinton on somebody, they should just look in the nearest mirror.
"Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions." G.K. Chesterton
www.theconservativereview.com
If they're agin' 'em, I'm for 'em.
Submitted by jakee308 on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 3:56pm.
They'll most always show you who they fear the most.
Why do they fear Newt?
Cause Newt has NO reason to treat Obama with kid gloves.
AND he knows what he's talking about off the top of his head whereas Obama has trouble even WITH a teleprompter.
If Newt wins nomination, look to the Dems to limit Obama's exposure in debates.
And beaucoup cheap shots from left and right.
No Debate
Submitted by Free Stinker on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 4:16pm.
If Newt wins I fully expect ObamAA+ will not agree to a debate.
/// Sarah Palin Fan since July 11, 2007 /// خال
I Am Touched
Submitted by stratman on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 5:20pm.
By these ahole's concern for Conservative's well-being.