-
The SPLC: Big Bucks, the FRC, and Jimmy Carter
May 7, 2013 | 6 comments
-
Mark Levin Talks to the NRA
May 7, 2013 | 0 comments
-
POLITICO: RUSH LIMBAUGH MAY PART WITH CUMULUS
May 5, 2013 | 13 comments
-
The Problematic Frank Luntz’s Stockholm Syndrome
April 25, 2013 | 11 comments
-
Dead Terrorist Tamerlan Tsarnaev Channeled Islamic Videos
April 19, 2013 | 67 comments
The Spectacle Blog
My friend Quin Hillyer, still firmly leading the charge of the anti-Newt brigade in this piece, has presented as an exhibit of Newt’s alleged lack of conservatism a post from our friend Jim Geraghty over at National Review Online.
I’ve read the excerpt presented as “evidence.” To which all I can say is: huh?
Several things leap out here that need a reply.
First….Newt is being criticized for trying to marshal a majority on a rule, one of the most common tactics in a parliamentary body. He showed … gasp!… temper. My, oh my! Eeeeeek! Temper in a politician? You mean like those famous tempers cited by contemporaries in writing about presidents like George Washington, Andrew Jackson and Harry Truman? Or Speakers of the House like Tip O’Neill or Sam Rayburn? The latter never had a problem upbraiding President Franklin Roosevelt, the leader of his own party. On one occasion when he felt FDR was ignoring him, the plain-spoken Texan Rayburn exploded: “Looky here, Mr. President! By God I’m talking to you. You’d better listen.” Rayburn was a saint next to Republican Speaker “Uncle Joe” Cannon, known for his iron hand and highhandedness. Gingrich doesn’t even get on the charts.
When I was a young staffer the House was rife with stories of members with hair-trigger tempers and balloon-sized egos. In fact, Washington not to mention politics in general is filled to overflow with people exhibiting this trait. To single out Newt Gingrich for this isn’t puzzling, it’s absurd.
In fact, not discussed in the Coburn example is something that rings all to familiar to anyone who has worked in the House or Senate. The Speaker is presented as saying:
“Those of you who had planned to go to John Kasich’s wedding on Saturday are not going. No one is going anywhere until we get the votes we need to pass this rule.”
Let’s leave poor now-Governor Kasich out of this. But it is safe to say that this story, at least as presented here, skirts a perpetual problem on Capitol Hill. Once members arrive fresh from their first election they shortly become aware that they are, for however long, members of what in the Senate is referred to as “the world’s most exclusive club.” A high school classmate of my mother’s was elected to the House in 1960 and served 18 years. Referring to the little icons of Jesus Christ once seen on car dashboards, the said congressmen were treated like “little tin Jesuses,” their every whim catered to, their every wish someone else’s command.
The dirty little secret Coburn doesn’t touch on in this excerpt is that an outing like this is a hugely popular deal with House members. For that matter so are funerals of colleagues. Charted planes and buses, flowing liquor, pretty girls… a party for the Club. For Newt Gingrich to look his Caucus in the eye and threaten to hold them so they couldn’t go to Kasich’s wedding is… within the club… a damn serious threat. An offense. The nerve that members would be forced to stay and do their job instead of partying at a club wedding! Who did Newt think he was?
Last but not least… as things have worked out, citing Lindsey Graham as some sort of pillar of conservatism in relationship to Newt Gingrich is as hysterically funny as it is preposterous. The man Rush Limbaugh calls “Lindsey Grahamnesty” gets to rule on Newt’s conservatism? The guy who obsequiously questioned Sonia Sotomayor and then voted to place her on the Supreme Court… is Mr. Conservative? Believe that and I have the proverbial bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.
Finally… and I must say regretfully… is Tom Coburn himself. He’s a great guy. And certainly for the bulk of his career has been there when needed. But not, as is the charge against Newt, always. (Or for that matter Rick Santorum. One of the reasons Santorum is an ex-Senator is furious conservatives in Pennsylvania voting against him because of his support of Arlen Specter over Pat Toomey and also… big time… earmarks.)
If Newt Gingrich is the liberal charged, then alas Senator Coburn faces exactly the same charge, as seen right here from our friend and colleague Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform. Said ATR in their opening on Coburn:
Senator Tom Coburn today released a $1 trillion tax hike plan. It’s not tax reform, it surrenders on spending, and it’s outside the conservative mainstream.
Ouch.
So, in other words what we have here is a cite by my two friends that leaves out all manner of issues that would give a fuller picture of Newt in this instance. Worse, it uses two members, now senators, who have run smack up against the same problems of allegations of liberalism being used to whack Newt.
One question for Quin and Jim.
The incident cited says there were eleven people who stood tall in voting against Gingrich on this rule. Coburn and ten others.
Was one of those staunch eleven conservatives Rep. Mike Castle from Delaware?
If not, what in the world were Quin and Jim doing supporting RINO Rep. Castle over conservative Christine O’Donnell in 2010’s Delaware GOP primary? Doubtless she would not have let herself be intimidated by the Speaker of the House as apparently their favorite Mike Castle was unless — unless he was one the Coburn Eleven. Was he?
Just asking.
He says with a grin!
View all comments (20) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Jeffrey Lord
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/01/25/coburn-and-newt
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
ADVERTISEMENT
David T| 1.25.12 @ 4:55PM
Geraghty himself calls Coburn's account "easily forgotten." That says it all.
Ed| 1.25.12 @ 5:05PM
Hilyer has pretty much shown himself to have zero credibility on the issue of Gingrich. He ought to recuse himself.
Mike| 1.26.12 @ 8:34AM
I guess Drudge has no crediblity either. Read it today.
ncatty| 1.25.12 @ 5:26PM
Uh, how about R.E. Tyrell's take on Newt?
Dai Alanye | 1.25.12 @ 5:33PM
So Newt had a steel backbone when dealing with Kasich's wedding -- too bad he left it in his other suit when dealing with Slick Willy over the budget crisis. Newt's folding built Clinton's reputation for toughness, and indirectly helped his re-election in '96.
WL| 1.25.12 @ 11:01PM
I SEE....it took me a while to figure your comments out (where they were coming from)...and now I know....
If you were even half-brained, you would have known that Newt only folded after going to the wire...and the rest of the Repubs started to bail on him...he had to know when to quit, because our side always breaks ranks...and they did on him.
You are an ignorant buffoon.
Dai Alanye | 1.26.12 @ 12:42PM
WL makes my point in two ways. First by resorting to name-calling, and second by admitting that Gingrich failed, even if he went to the metaphorical wire. Newt had wire cutters available in the form of an appeal to the American people, but he chose to surrender to the guy who always made him melt.
Gingrich uses a variety of excuses to explain his multitudinous failures, and too many politically-simplistic people fall for them. His folding against Bill Clinton required blaming the Republican caucus, his failure in marriage requires blaming various wives. He always has an excuse to hand. The Nancy Pelosi gig is one of the very few cases where Newt blames himself.
And remember, I'm not for Romney, another serial liar and distorter. Santorum is by far the most honest candidate in this race.
JASmius | 1.25.12 @ 6:34PM
>>What in the world were Quin and Jim doing supporting RINO Rep. Castle over conservative Christine O'Donnell in 2010's Delaware GOP primary?
JASmius | 1.25.12 @ 6:35PM
Because nominating O'Donnell was forfeiting a gimmie Senate seat pickup?
Uncle Samuel| 1.25.12 @ 6:40PM
Give us some Temper. My heart beat stronger when Newt said in one of the earlier debates (about BinLaden being found in Pakistan, living in comfort across the street from a military academy) "I'd be furious."
Listening to Newt is almost like getting to breathe after holding your breath underwater or in a room full of flatus for a long, long time. He has been giving us permission to think and hold to the 'inconvenient truth' as he calls it. His speeches never fail to encourage and clear the air.
Newt in the campaign is like a professional musician playing the finale after having spent the afternoon listening to novices and students.
Or a better analogy, the conservative electorate feel like a mare in heat finding mature stallion in a pasture full of young colts, yearlings and geldings. He has the proper working equipment and knows what to do with it...and he isn't afraid to do it. :8->
Blessed relief at last.
ER| 1.25.12 @ 7:42PM
OMG! Newt supports conservative positions as a backbench Congressman, and RINOS like Robert Dole (R), and a whole slew of Democrats who dominated the House for 40 years got mad??!? A pox on ANY Republican that gets anybody mad. I like Newts moxy; e.g. , he just told the press that he welcomes Pelosi's enmity ; why do any of us Conservatives care what Pelosi , Donna Brazil, John McCain, Linday Graham, Charlie Crist, or Mike Castle say , think or do?
Walt Gilbert | 1.25.12 @ 8:02PM
Really? Christine O'Donnell?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynfiwB85CT4
Ken (Old Texican)| 1.25.12 @ 8:19PM
I used to read Quin very carefully.
He has turned into an ass recently. I don't know why?????
WY| 1.25.12 @ 8:44PM
K (OT)...
Your post is sensible as always...but I know why "he has....recently."
If you put aside the ruse of supporting Santorum...it's very simple, and the same reason all of the rest of the "pundits" have turned into rabid dogs lately (when it comes to Gingrich)...
It's because he threatens them, and their brainless masses (all of us) have chosen "none of the above" in their choices for us, and chosen Newt (not that you have, I don't know that)...but too many of us rubes have...
And they are throwing a tantrum. Just the way they did when Newt was leading in Iowa.
ltw| 1.25.12 @ 8:48PM
After the dreaded only 1 mention in Reagan's diary for Newt per Romney's debate aspersion, I see the mention was really pretty neat. Wonder who the rest of the "group of young Repub. Congressmen" were?
http://www.weeklystandard.com/.....18549.html
Maybe Sen. Coburn is mentioned in Newt's diary once or twice.
WY| 1.25.12 @ 8:55PM
I have watched Mr. "Gang of" Coburn's actions over the last year or two...at least whenever he makes news...and if you haven't figured it out yet...
He has kinda become the the media's favorite to quote as "and even the Conservative Stalward TOM COBURN...supports" anything that amounts to capitulation...
I am starting to think he is a phony.
So it doesn't surprise me that he is playing the game to the hilt here...
Watch for the patterns and the phonies will show themselves...EVERY TIME.
John - TMF| 1.25.12 @ 9:14PM
BTW... Newt was proposing freezing the budget... you know... stopping the rate of growth of all of the departments of the government at 1983 levels.
Wow - can you imagine a budget frozen at 1983 level? What deficit? What Social Security Funding Problem? The tax cuts had begun to kick in, and the tax receipts to the treasury were quickly doubling becuase the ECONOMY took off!
So the myopic "Hate Newt" view of this line in the Reagan Diaries is Reagan was ALWAYS RIGHT, damnit! Anybody disagreeing with him, even to the Conservative side of the issue.. is to be scorned..."
Just to clue you all in, the 1983 - 1984 Defense budget was massive. We were purchasing fighters, bombers, tanks and armored personnel carriers at the greatest clip imaginable... We were adding men and developing new weapons systems... The freeze was a freeze which accounted for inflation.
I'd have to do some digging as to the ratio of defense spending to GDP(GNP at the time) but I am willing to bet a Happy Meal that it was significantly more than we are spending now, or will in the very near future.
Sounds to me like Newt was giving good fiscally responsible advice that didn't fit in with the Establishment Tax Collector for the Welfare State model of "fiscal responsibility".
Reagan's fear was understandable but in the broader sweep of time Gingrich's proposal to cap the Defense budget at 1983's vastly expanded levels was prudent...
See $1.5 trillion dollar deficits tens of trillions in debt, and even more in unfunded liabilities..
In the long run, Newt was right and much more conservative than even Ronald Reagan.
r/TMF
Mike| 1.26.12 @ 8:33AM
This blogger smears his own name when he tries to drag Coburn down to Newt's level. Newt is a disaster on so many levels, in so many ways, yet some people act like teenage girls smitten with some hopeless rogue. One poster here said he got tingly when Newt said he would have been "Furious" over OBL being in Pakistan.
Coburn has more integrity and decency in his left toe nail than Gingrich.
Also, this same blogger called for Gingrich to leave when he went commie several weeks ago.
Let's just settle in for four more years of Obama.
ulker| 4.9.12 @ 11:30AM
Donc, Newt avait un squelette d'acier lorsqu'il s'agit de mariage de Kasich - trop mauvais il l'a laissé dans son costume d'autres lorsqu'il s'agit de Slick Willy Bahis au cours de la crise budgétaire. Pliage de Newt fait la réputation de Clinton pour la ténacité, et indirectement contribué à sa réélection en 96.