As he rises in the polls to lead the field of candidates running for the Republican presidential nomination, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich is drawing fire from all sides.
With Gingrich leading in Iowa, which holds the first presidential caucus, one of his chief rivals for the Republican nomination, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, is on the airwaves in the Hawkeye State running a new commercial with an indirect shot at the former congressional leader.
"Washington is the capital of political correctness where doublespeak reigns and the truth is frowned upon, Perry says in the ad. You can't say that congressmen becoming lobbyists is a form of legal corruption."
Perry goes on in the ad to slam Washington insiders for their lack of leadership. While not technically a lobbyist, Gingrich had worked in Washington as a consultant, including for Freddie Mac.
Gingrich also drew fire from one of the underdog candidates in the race. Former Gov. Buddy Roemer of Louisiana, a dark-horses candidate for the Republican nomination who is also gunning for the Americans Elect nomination, came out swinging at Gingrich on Monday.
"Over the last several weeks, Newt Gingrich has challenged anyone and everyone (almost) in the presidential field to a series of Lincoln-Douglas-style debates. Well, Mr. Gingrich, you are no Lincoln. And for that matter, youre no Douglas, said Roemer in a statement. The concept of a Lincoln-Douglas debate goes back to 1858 when Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas debated one of the most important issues of their time, the issue of slavery. What weighty issues are addressed in these debates? Theyre a circus.
"I challenge Speaker Gingrich to a one-on-one debate to address the issue -- the only one not being discussed: money in politics. Lets hold it here in New Hampshire, where the first-in-the-nation primary has been overshadowed by pandering to national media outlets; where retail politics has been disregarded for carefully staged book tours, added Roemer.
"If Gingrich wont debate me, I wont be sad. There are obviously topics he prefers to discuss, candidates he prefers to debate, and those he wishes to avoid. I wont suggest hes picking contests he knows he can win because hes afraid of losing. But if he wont explain to the American people where he gets his money and what favors he owes to special interests, then he certainly isnt qualified to be president. A president should be free to lead."
Gingrich also was attacked by a prominent conservative leader on Tuesday. Ken Connor, who used to lead the Family Research Council and now is with the Center for a Just Society, offered his take on the Republican presidential race on Tuesday. Connor is known to Floridians for leading the state Christian Coalition and for his bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 1994.
The GOP primary process has been chaotic, resulting in ups and downs for candidates and voters alike. Connor noted on Tuesday.Dreams were dashed when Mitch Daniels, then Sarah Palin, then Chris Christie announced their intentions to sit this one out.Mitt Romney emerged as the establishment favorite early on, but failed to -- and still fails to -- excite the Republican base. The grass-roots desire for a popular hero gave rise to the overnight ascendancy of Michelle, then Rick, then Herman. Each of these candidates has experienced the dizzying highs of front-runner status only to suffer the depressing doldrums of plummeting poll numbers.
Connor had harsh words for current Republican front-runner Gingrich.
If past is prologue, then Newt Gingrich's star will also soon begin to fade, Connor continued. Already, the media and Newt's opponents are sharpening their long knives.Stories about his infidelity, his rank opportunism, and his volatile temperament have long been legendary in Washington and are now emerging on front pages and newsfeeds in tabloid-like fashion.The tongues of the chattering class are wagging and the pundits are pontificating about how soon it will be before Newt engages in some spectacular act of self-immolation. Only time will tell if they are right.
Gingrich insisted on Monday that he was more concerned with pushing his ideas than responding with fire to his critics and exchanging attacks with them.
Pundits in the media predicted that Saturday night's debate would become a slugfest, Gingrich wrote supporters on Monday. They were chomping at the bit, hoping to see the Republican challengers to Barack Obama tear each other down. I'm proud to say, however, that this campaign continued to focus on big ideas and on the failed policies of the Obama administration. Let me be clear: Everyone who was on that stage Saturday night would make a better president than Obama, and I am grateful for the opportunity to make the case to the American people that I am uniquely qualified to hold the office of president of the United States.
I want to highlight one thing mentioned during the debate, added Gingrich. Sometimes it's helpful to have a president of the United States who has the courage to tell the truth. And I want to reiterate a promise I made during the debate: Like Ronald Reagan, I will tell the truth, even if it risks making the timid uncomfortable. By honestly confronting the problems facing this country, we can reach real solutions that will not only improve the economy, but will create jobs, make America safer, and improve our standing around the world.
Our path to the nomination is clear, insisted Gingrich. We will continue to focus on big ideas and on rebuilding the America we love. We will continue to focus on the failed, big-government policies of Barack Obama. Most importantly, we will not let this campaign devolve into personal attacks, because the American people deserve a debate worthy of the office of president of the United States.
We can win not only the Republican nomination for president, but we can win the White House, Gingrich concluded.
Gingrich returned to that theme in a letter sent out to staff members on Tuesday.
Since I announced my candidacy for president of the United States, I have made it clear that I intended to run a positive, solutions-based campaign. There is no doubt, these are difficult times for our country. The American people deserve a respectful and constructive campaign that focuses on a vision for rebuilding the country we love, Gingrich wrote. It is critical the Republican nominee emerge from this primary campaign unbloodied, so that he or she can make the case against President Obama from a position of strength.
For these reasons I have refrained from launching attacks on my Republican opponents, though I have reserved the right to respond when my record has been distorted, insisted Gingrich. On Monday, this occurred when Governor Romney and I engaged in what in diplomatic circles is called a frank exchange over our respective records in the private sector. That same day, however, Mr. Romney announced, Im not going to say outrageous things that can be used to hang [a GOP opponent] down the road. I agree wholeheartedly with this statement. So let us hope that from this point forward we can devote our energies to real issues, such as discussing our plans for our nations economic recovery and helping to create millions of new jobs for the American people.
I also want to reiterate to each of you what I have said from the beginning of our campaign, and most recently last Saturday in Iowa: We will run a positive campaign focused on our countrys future. We will not be running any negative advertising. With Ronald Reagans 11th commandment in mind, we will ask our supporters not to contribute to any so-called SuperPAC that runs negative ads against any other Republican contender and we will discourage ad hominem attacks on our fellow Republicans, Gingrich maintained.
Therefore, I am instructing all members of my campaign staff, and respectfully urge anyone acting as a surrogate for our campaign, to avoid initiating attacks on other Republican candidates. It is my hope that my Republican opponents will join me in this commitment. Running a positive solutions-based campaign is the only way to guarantee President Obama is not re-elected.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
