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Jewish World Review Feb 6, 2012/ 13 Shevat, 5772 Doubting Romney with good reason By Jack Kelly
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
After his landslide victory in the Florida primary, pundits once again are saying Mitt Romney is the "inevitable" GOP nominee.
This time, they may be right. Mr. Romney is again atop Gallup's national tracking poll, and has taken a double digit lead in Nevada, where the next contest will be held. But Newt Gingrich has risen more often than the Undead in a horror movie, so the GOP establishment should stock up on garlic, wolfbane, and wooden stakes, just in case.
It would take the crime scene investigators from CSI Miami to determine whether Mitt Romney murdered Mr. Gingrich in Florida, or he committed suicide.
Newt is screaming bloody murder. Here's his evidence: Mr. Romney outspent him on radio and television advertising, $15.4 million to $3.4 million. Just one Romney ad was a positive. It ran on Spanish language television. Most of the rest were attacks on Mr. Gingrich. Some of what said in them was untrue, such as his claim Newt resigned as Speaker because he'd been found guilty of an ethics violation.
But pending a formal autopsy, I'm going with suicide.
Mr. Gingrich's last rise from the political grave came when, after dismal showings in Iowa and New Hampshire, he clobbered Mr. Romney in the South Carolina primary.
Newt triumphed then because he did exactly what he had to do to overcome voter suspicion of his considerable personal baggage, and because Mr. Romney failed to resolve doubts about his viability.
Rank and file Republicans "know Mr. Gingrich is bombastic; stretches the truth; been a jerk to his ex-wives, and has been known to modify his principles when his palm was crossed with enough silver," I wrote then.
"But for many, Newt has an overriding virtue. He gives voice to our rage at a Wall Street -- Washington elite whose members gorge themselves on bailouts, subsidies, and insider trades; who've hobbled our grandchildren with massive debt that will stunt their lives and eviscerate their dreams; who sneer at people in flyover country, but kowtow to tyrants overseas.
"Mr. Gingrich stands up to biased, condescending journalists who slant questions and play gotcha.
"Mitt Romney hasn't. The rank and file want red meat; he's served petit fours. So they prefer the bad boy who fights for what they believe in to the Eagle scout who equivocates."
So Newt Gingrich arrived in Florida in triumph -- and promptly forgot what got him there. Abandoning the high road for the mud pit, he shifted his fire from President Obama to Mitt Romney.
Mr. Gingrich was certain to lose a mudslinging contest, because Mr. Romney has much more money, and because there are so many more skeletons rattling around in Mr. Gingrich's closet.
Newt didn't seem presidential when he whined that his record was being distorted. He did seem hypocritical when many of the charges he made against Mr. Romney in his own attack ads turned out to be false.
No coup de grace was necessary, but Mr. Gingrich self administered one by having his two worst debates while Mitt Romney was having his best. Gone is his reputation as a master debater.
Newt's suicide was induced, Dick Morris thinks: "In Spanish bullfights, the picadors torment the bull by sticking darts into his shoulders. Enraged, bleeding, frustrated and in pain, he lowers his head, snorts, paws the ground and charges straight at the matador, oblivious to the sword awaiting him behind the red cape. That's about what Romney did to Gingrich."
I agree, which is why I hope Newt is down for the count this time. His massive ego makes him easy to manipulate. Desperation and a thirst for revenge will make him an increasingly negative force the longer he remains in the race.
Newt Gingrich is brilliant, but erratic. He has no self control. An idea will pop into his head, and come out of his mouth moments later, with no reflection in between. Most of Newt's ideas are good, but some are awful. To a president who can tell which is which, Newt could be a valuable adviser. But he's a terrible candidate, and would be a worse president.
Newt Gingrich lost. That's the key takeaway from Florida. Mitt Romney didn't win. Doubts about him remain. I hope Mr. Romney realizes this, and does something about it.
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JWR contributor Jack Kelly, a former Marine and Green Beret, was a deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force in the Reagan administration.
© 2011, Jack Kelly |
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