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The Spectacle Blog
Port St. Lucie, Florida — As Newt Gingrich spoke to a crowd of a few hundred people on the golf course at the PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance, three US Representatives who have all endorsed Mitt Romney — Charlie Bass of New Hampshire, Connie Mack of Florida, and Mary Bono Mack of California (the latter two are husband and wife) — spoke to reporters behind the crowd, making the case for Mitt over Newt. (They wouldn’t deviate from this; when I asked Congressman Mack about what he’d say to a voter who preferred Rick Santorum, he almost immediately pivoted back to criticizing Gingrich.) As reporters and cameras surrounded Bass, Gingrich press secretary RC Hammond stood to the side talking to one or two reporters at a time, looking annoyed. After a few minutes, Hammond joined the scrum and confronted Bass.
Hammond: “Do you regret having Newt campaign for you in
‘94?”
Bass: “He didn’t.”
Hammond: “He didn’t come up for you?”
Bass: “Not at all.”
Hammond: “What about Zeliff and the moose trip? You were on that
one.”
Bass: “That was, that was — absolutely, and that was to help Newt,
not to help me.”
Bass was right about this. The “moose trip” refers to Gingrich’s visit to New Hampshire in 1995, ostensibly to see a moose with Rep. William Zeliff; it was widely seen as Newt testing the waters for a possible presidential run, and had nothing to do with campaigning for Bass. Having been bested — actually, before Bass had quite gotten the word “me” out — Hammond turned to Mack:
“Congressman, do you regret asking Newt for his endorsement earlier this year?” Mack deflected and pressed — i.e. issued the Romney campaign talking points — on Gingrich’s influence-peddling for Freddie Mac, with Hammond countering with his own talking points, and neither man stopping to listen to the other:
Hammond: “Peddling would be what [Romney adviser] Vin Weber
did—”
Mack: “No peddling is what Newt did when he—”
Hammond: “Oh, that’s your definition. Vin registered as a lobbyist
for Freddie, right?”
Mack and Hammond continued to talk over each other until Mack’s better half interjected, saying she’d answer Hammond’s question. Said Bono Mack: “I was honored to have Newt’s endorsement, of course. I think he’s a terrific thinker, and I think he should lead a think tank. I don’t think he’s fit to be president of the United States.” The scrum broke up shortly thereafter.
At the media availability just after, Gingrich was asked about the Romney surrogates shadowing his campaign event; he said it was a sign of “desperation.” Said Gingrich: “They send a member of Congress, we send R.C.,” and added that Hammond is “more informed than they are.” Hammond’s exchange with Bass would suggest otherwise.
In fact, while the strategy of having surrogates follow Gingrich certainly demonstrates that Newt is the one rival that Team Romney most worries about, it’s the Gingrich campaign that is beginning to radiate desperation, and it’s easy to see why: His argument that he’d be a strong general election candidate, which is central to the current iteration of his stump speech, is no longer resonating the way it did in South Carolina. Warming up the crowd while Newt’s bus ran late, the campaign’s St. Lucie County co-chair Jolien Caraballo asked, “Can you imagine a debate with Newt Gingrich and Barack Obama?” The crowd cheered, but the line has a lot less punch after Newt’s lackluster performance in the debates on Monday and Thursday; small wonder that he’s averaging more than 8 points behind in the Florida polls after leading by almost as much at the beginning of the week.
Perhaps confrontating Romney’s surrogates is Hammond’s way of trying to challenge the narrative, but it isn’t working. While this confrontation wasn’t quite as counterproductive as Hammond’s sneering at Rep. Jason Chaffetz yesterday, it’s hard to see how it helps.
View all comments (85) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by John Tabin
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/01/28/romney-surrogates-rattle-team
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Blondshag| 1.28.12 @ 2:49PM
ROMNEY is just more of the same OBAMA!
ROMNEY has too many loopholes, shady - unclear details about who received the benefits from all the jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs that Romney developed. Was it Romney that received the benefits!
ROMNEY'S Mormon religion will have voters running to vote for OBAMA!
AMERICA DOES NOT NEED MORE OBAMACARE or ROMNEYCARE!
FLORIDA VOTERS - VOTE FOR AMERICA'S CHANGE MACHINE - NEWT GINGRICH!
YOU GO - NEWT GINGRICH!
Jack in Wi.| 1.28.12 @ 4:23PM
Nutt is unelectable and unacceptable to the vast majority of Americans. The only reason he is any where near winning a state or 2 is brcause the radical, Zionist, gambling magnate, Sheldon Adelson and his Israeli born wife are dumping many millions into his campaign to push a war with Iran. Now Mutt has promised the Zionists the moon, as well, but the radicals are not convinced. All this infighting is destroying any chance the Republicans had of winning. Obama will be re-elected and if Nutt is the nominee a 3rd party will get far more votes in the General election then Nutt. Why the hell do we kiss the rear end of the Zionists? They don't vote for the Republican Party and have little in common with most consevatives. The sooner we kick these old Trotskyite Communists out the better.
No sane women, independent, young person, disaffected Democrat, or about half the republican voters are ever going to vote for Nutt. He is the biger evil then Oblabla. At least with Oblabla we would have a unified opposition. With Nutt and Mutt we would get thesame as Obama, but the opposition would come from the left. Nutt and Mutt would certainly be disasters and the country would collapse. The left would take over with a vengence. The country is bound to collapse, with the Democrats, but at least we would be around to pick up the pieces.
Oldefarte| 1.28.12 @ 4:39PM
Speaking od 'dumping many millions' are you possibly aware of the $millions now being spent within your state by the corrupt labor unions to destroy and repeal your REPUBLICAN governor Scott Walker? And you talk about RADICAL? 'Obama will be re-elected' if you and yours don't kick them out of your supposed state and support REPUBLICAN Walker in this fight. Obviously you 'kiss the rear end' [by not critisizing these labor union thugs] of these RADICAL labor union members who are attempting to recall REPUBLICAN WALKER in Wisconsin, huh? Possibly these labor union goons are what you infer/prefer by 'At least with Oblabla we would have a unified opposition' [and they certainly have TAKEN OVER YOUR STATE OF WISCONSIN OBVIOUSLY ['The left would take over with a vengence. The country is bound to collapse, with the Democrats']!!!!!
Diogenes| 1.30.12 @ 11:46AM
Considering how badly he violated the US Constitution, he should be facing impeachment, but what has galled more than a million voters is the baldfaced lie of his entire campaign. He NEVER intended to keep a word of his promises to the longtime union workforce of his state.
his agenda was any means necessary and he betrayed every civil servant in the state. They should all just walk out and go home. Wisconsin will go broke tryingto replace them and after they fail to meet Federal guidelines for FED funds, Walker will go down as an example for what devastating corruption can do to a government.
Oldefarte| 1.28.12 @ 5:05PM
Jack, I know you'll like this one, huh?:
'Muslim Scholar in Jerusalem Calls for Murder of Jews Thursday, January 26, 2012 03:32 ..... In the same Times article, it was reported the highest ranked member of the Muslim clergy on the West Bank, Gaza, and all of historic Palestine called for the death of Jews. The Times’ reference was, “The mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Hussein, addressed a crowd at an event marking the 47th anniversary of the founding of Fatah, the mainstream movement led by the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas. "He quoted a hadith, a saying attributed to the Prophet Muhammad, stating: 'The hour will not come until you fight the Jews. The Jews will hide behind stones or trees. Then the stones or trees will call: Oh Muslim, servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.'”
The Times reported: “Mr. Netanyahu described the words of the mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Hussein, as ‘morally heinous’ and compared the remarks to those of Haj Amin al-Husseini, the grand mufti of Jerusalem who notoriously aligned himself with Hitler in the 1930s.
"Palestinian television broadcast the mufti’s comments on Jan. 9 and Palestinian Media Watch, an Israeli monitoring group, drew attention to them on Jan. 15. An Israeli official said that the prime minister became aware of it only in the past few days.”The Times further reported....'
Jack in Wi.| 1.28.12 @ 10:49PM
If the Israeli's don't like the neighbors why did they steal the place and why don't they move? 1 million Jews have already left Israel and moved elsewhere, about 500,000 to the USA. Many others have dual citizenship and dual passports. The Jewish community in Germany is about 10 times what it was 30 years ago. A lot of Jews have moved there. Maybe if the Israeli's treated their neighbors like human beings, instead of lice to exterminated, they would have more friends. The trouble is that the sane Jews are leaving and those that are left are crackpots like Nutanyahu and Adelson and his wife. Adelson wants his young sons to be snipers for the IDF. That is, he wants them to murder a lot of innocent Pailistinians. I think If I was a billionaire I would like my kids to be more then hired killers. The man is nothing but a vice king, with his empire built on gambling, and all the things that go with it, like alcohol and prostitution. That is Nutt Gingrich's sugar daddy, who is trying to buy himself a President and war with Iran.
Oldefarte| 1.29.12 @ 10:50AM
'Why don't they move', 'steal the place' etc. Wow you're some piece of work aren't you. Probably your German relatives in the 1930's-1940's were saying the same stupidity. Heil Hitler! Why don't you talk about the treatment that your obviously favored classey friends are initiating by blowing up roadside bombs killing Jews, Catholics, Gentiles and anybody else that isn't Muslim? Why don't you talk about the intelligence and work ethic of your friends that for some reason solely must depend upon Jews and their employing companies for a financial living because they're too stupid and lazy to create their won businesses? Why don't you give us all a definition of a Palestinean.....are they perhaps instead Egyptians, Gordanians, Saudis, Syrians etc who have migrated to Israel's backyard in order to harass them? Oh the Jewish population of Germany you ask? Wow what a dumbars, maybe Hitler's and Germany's populations control methods of the 1930's-1940's had something to do with the decrease in German Jews, no? [those ovens have a strange effect sometimes don't they?]. It's amazing that German/European Jews would leave and migtrate to Israel etc when they are so well liked and respected in their former residential homeland by your relatives and forefathers huh? Shazam all these Israelies involved in gambling, prostitution, alcohol etc....sort of like the Kennedys, the Edwards and many of the Democrats whose minions have invaded your state and and politically taken over same to get rid of Walker and reinstall the labor unions so that your taxes will mushroom once again no doubt [while you and yours are STUPIDLY doing war against THEM EVIL OL JEWS. What a complete DA your parents brought forth into the world!!!!!!!!!
hook| 1.28.12 @ 8:32PM
You are an anti-Semite and I don't think people like you, particularly post holocaust, have any credibility whatsover. You are one retarded creature.
Jack in Wi.| 1.28.12 @ 10:58PM
You sir are a racist, who thinks the Palistinians are just trash to be either thrown out of killed at will. The Book of Leviticus tells Jews to treat the aliens among you as you do yourselves. Furthur along it tells you to Love your neighbors as yourselves. In the book of Exodus it tells Jews to treat the aliens among you well, for you were once aliens and strangers in the land of Egypt.
The 10 Commandments were given first to you Jews. You Zionists both Christain and Jewish seem to have forgotten a few of them.
Thou shalt not kill.
Thou shalt not steal.
Thou shalt not bare false witness.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors property.
Return to the Torah and the Commandments.
Oldefarte| 1.29.12 @ 10:55AM
Don't inflict God's laws in an asinine attempt to prove your false arguments. Your BLASPHEMY will result in your burning in Hell for same!!!!!
Occam's Tool| 1.29.12 @ 8:53PM
Yeah, about the false witness and the killing, Paulestinian Jack, you seem to have forgotten much. Telling Jews to return to Germany is obnoxious, but, then again, you are a coward and a traitor.
Diogenes| 1.30.12 @ 11:48AM
Don't forget, adultery has nothing to do with sex, it has to do with addind or diluting the word of GOD. As in "I peed in Oldefarte's mustard and adulterated it."
beebop2| 1.29.12 @ 8:08AM
Responding to Jack is like using a hammer to open your window. Don't waste your breath or time.
O Tamandua| 1.28.12 @ 9:38PM
...and just a day or two ago it came out the George Soros has said that there's really very little difference between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney...just the crowd that they'll bring with them.
I PRAY that there's time for Rick Santorum to build a larger following. I still prefer Newt Gingrich over Mitt Romney as well.
Oldefarte| 1.28.12 @ 3:06PM
Wow, Shazam! Speaking of Bono, have you heard the one about what the 'ex' skying downhill before meeting the tree exclaimed? I GOT YOU, BABE!!!!
Oldefarte| 1.28.12 @ 3:24PM
Speaking of which:
'......Mary Bono Mack Sexy Pics Just Prove All Republicans Aren't Boring ....Posted by Julie Ryan Evans on January 8, 2011 at 2:09 PM.... .Forget the stuffy, buttoned-up images of Republicans you may have in your head, some recent sexy photos of Mary Bono Mack, a Republican member of the U.S. Congress, have surfaced that could give teen queens like Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato a run for thier racy money. She was the wife of the late Sonny Bono, is currently married to U.S. Rep. Connie Mack (R-Fla.), and represents the 45th district in California.RadarOnline.com posted the pictures of Mack with a woman licking her breasts. As if that wasn't enough fodder for scandal, the woman doing the licking is none other than Edra Blixseth, a campaign donor who is being investigated by the FBI for fraud allegations. The pictures were reportedly taken at a party four years ago at Blixseth's home."Mary was partying hard," a source told RadarOnline.com. "She was blitzed and clearly having a great time."Julie Bornstein, who ran against Bono in 2008 took the opportunity to trash her."Several women in the California Congressional delegation were embarrassed repeatedly by Mary Bono's behavior and conduct in the Capitol and encouraged me to run because of the embarrassment she brought to the legislature. I am not surprised that these pictures exist. She has often spoken about going out with her girlfriends and drinking... she has been known as a strenuous partier."And that's so awful? Partying politicians are nothing new, though it seems to be a bit more scandalous when women whoop it up than when men do. As long as she's not voting while wasted or has a serious problem, there's nothing wrong with letting loose sometimes.As for the photos, she has her clothes on, she's an adult, and they were taken four years ago. Who cares? They in no way compromise her ability to do her job, and frankly, the Republican Party's image could use a little lightening up anyway.....'
Oldefarte| 1.28.12 @ 4:24PM
PS: Wasn't Bono's step son [eh step duaghter, eh step something or other] CHAZ a recent contestant on Dancing With the Stars??????
Clint| 1.28.12 @ 6:43PM
Don't Hold Me To It, But We Heard That Bibi Wanted To Dance With Chaz Bono On Dancing With The Stars, But Chaz Wanted To Lead.
Oldefarte| 1.29.12 @ 10:56AM
No we'll hold you to Ronnie and his TOO SHORT SHORTS though, okay?????
Clint| 1.29.12 @ 11:32AM
Fart Pants Got A Very Queer Fixation On Them Short Shorts.
Chaz Bono Wants To Dance With You On Dancin' With The Stars, Fart Pants.
Oldefarte| 1.29.12 @ 3:34PM
Have you read ya boy's FIXIATION concerning TSA airport-screening imaging of elderly women's brests and bulges, DA????????
PattyMor| 1.28.12 @ 3:09PM
If you were being pounded by MILLIONS of dollars of campaign ads and then Saul Alinkyed in the debates, you'd be a little rattled. Check out the article on Hot Air from Sarah on the Alinskying of Newt.
Newt is the only one with conservative values to be able to take on Obama. And Newt wouldn't have second thoughts about bringing up the loooong trail of Obama's losing economic strategies, his Mexican gun running, and failed solar & wind schemes.
If the Mittster wasn't so worried about Newt, he wouldn't bother shadowing Newt. Its a pretty low tactic and emblematic of the "ruling class" who do not want the gravy train stopped.
beebop2| 1.29.12 @ 8:13AM
I can tell you what I don't like about Newt -- and it is the same thing I don't like about 0bama -- they believe that you are stupid if you don't think they are brilliant.
Having said that, as they belittle and battle each other more and more America Built to BE LAST regulations come down the pike. Thursday SIX COAL FIRED PLANTS WERE CLOSED due to the EPA strangling American businesses. HALLELUJAH no more asthema but NOT ONE WORD about where this production will come from in order to run American households and businesses. Someone better damn start talking ISSUES.
Diogenes| 1.30.12 @ 11:50AM
Hydro pants out west are wasting water because they are limited in capacity by the tiny transmission grid. We needed it doubled when Bush took office, but well, war is so much better an investment.
JeffC| 1.28.12 @ 3:09PM
what a wonderful leftist approach the Romney camp has stumbled upon ... stalk your opponent ...
nice to see Romney reverting to his roots ...
Drek| 1.28.12 @ 6:00PM
It's a mormon thing..........
Ask Jim McMahon, former quarterback at BYU, former quarterback for the Bears and the Eagles.
He said he was stalked when he went to parties and simply wanted to have a bear. He told it in some tell-all sort of interview when he came to Philadelphia.
Occam's Tool| 1.29.12 @ 8:55PM
McMahon despised BYU; it was not a good fit.
My babysitter when I was growing up was Mormon, so was a very good friend of mine in residency. Mitt's lack of spine cannot be attributed to religion, and Utah is a very nice State.
RJ| 1.28.12 @ 3:23PM
Somewhat surprisingly, Obama gets the most Wall Street money and Romney is the candidate of the GOP establishment. Both still support the TARP bailouts and have enacted more government control of health care. While Gingrich clearly has baggage, the establishment hostility towards him is probably much more about protecting corporate welfare. Our government is now corrupt and Obama and Romney don't have a problem with it. If the GOP nominee can't be Newt, then how about Santorum? We just won't get the energy for limited government reform from Romney.
Drek| 1.28.12 @ 6:25PM
Obama wouldn't be able to make any issue of Gingrich consulting for Freddie because Senator Obama received the SECOND MOST money from Fannie/Freddie during his brief stint on Capitol Hill.
The whole issue about Gingrich with Freddie would not be an issue at all during a general. And if we were serious in our deliberations right now, it would be nothing more than an irrelevancy.
Romney is making a big thing of it because he's desperate to make sure people don't examine his own record, and the want of conservative credentials therein.
How much better it is for him to have people talking about his attack ads then talking about his donations to Democrat campaigns.
Diogenes| 1.30.12 @ 11:52AM
But only Gingrich had lied repeatedly and consistently about his role in the lobbying of Freddie. he didn't cash a MIL and a half for sharpening pencils and faxing his ass pics to Fannie officials.
Matthias Kein| 1.28.12 @ 3:29PM
What is the Holy Cow of Politics? What is wrong with the Primaries?
Too many of the Voters' decisions are not based on wisdom but on simplemindedness and folly.
Voters are the holy cow in democracies.
I have not heard anybody among the elite criticize them. The media focuses on their ratings, business on their profits and politicians on their votes. I have not heard anyone say that the voters are responsible for the policies in Washington. Only the governments or the liberal or conservative policies have failed.
But who elected them? Politicians who want to get the majority of votes are forced to pay attention to the will of informed, simple minded and foolish voters.
Who dares to speak the truth. The mess in the USA is caused primarily by voters.
Stand up for the truth and make the voters an issue. As long as they do not change, policies in Washington will not change either.
Watch: German preacher's thoughts on 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpLYq525SpM
Bill| 1.28.12 @ 3:34PM
Romney is a "liberal Democrat." He 'll lose in FL.
-RomneyCare
-Pro abortion
-pro gun-control
-pro gay marriage
-pro climate change
Romney is using his "Bain Money" launching his multi-million dollar campaign, but voters of FL will reject him, as his ass was kicked in SC.
Romney is a "DEAD MAN WALKING" in the Sunshine state. NO COUNTRY FOR RINO!
Marco2| 1.28.12 @ 8:33PM
You're a perfect exemplar of the "didn't finish high school" demographic Newt has sewn up. Jesus, what an idiot you are.
Bill| 1.28.12 @ 10:40PM
You're stupid liberal Obama-Dog. Go join those fuckers!
Mike 3/505| 1.29.12 @ 2:56PM
"You're a perfect exemplar of the "didn't finish high school" demographic Newt has sewn up. Jesus, what an idiot you are."
This is the same BS that liberals spout day in and day out....as if a college degree is the end all be all and proof of intelligence. Vegetarians are college educated...not realizing that "vegetarian" is an old indian word for "bad hunter."
somnolence| 1.28.12 @ 4:04PM
Voters in Florida aren't as biased against Mormons as they are in S.C. To all the bigots out there(and there are at least two on this page that I can decipher), Brigham Young and Joseph Smith were no different than King Solomon as far as many wives go. Get over it. Some of the best people I've ever met are from the Church of LDS. I couldn't be a disciple though because I love coffee too much. The last post cites past history of Romney, and past history of Gingrich and its sordidness surpasses this. Florida is solid Romney country, and he may very well win the Panhandle, just judging from that crowd in Pensacola this morning that turned our for him.
Drek| 1.28.12 @ 6:01PM
So but for coffee, you'd convert, is that it?
RJ| 1.28.12 @ 6:37PM
There are many serious issues in this race and I have yet to hear Mormonism being raised by any voter. Limited government conservatives have many solid policy reasons not to vote for Romney in the primaries. Once we are in November, I will vote for the GOP nominee.
Mike w| 1.28.12 @ 9:43PM
I don't think the south carolina voters are biased against Mormons. I think they are just dumb. Lyndsay Graham??
PCP Smoker| 1.29.12 @ 12:07AM
"Voters in Florida aren't as biased against Mormons as they are in S.C."
How the hell do you know this? What reference are you using. Typical creep sounding off like a Ron Paul supporter.
Oldefarte| 1.28.12 @ 4:21PM
'.....Romney Was 'Independent,' Not Strong Republican ...Saturday, January 28, 2012 10:57 AM....As the Florida primary looms closer, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has more and more strongly identified himself as a consistent conservative and Republican voter, and in Thursday’s GOP debate he implied he always has been.But a review of the facts paints a different picture and counters Romney’s assertions. In the past, Romney has often gone to considerable lengths to distance himself from Republicans and conservatives.
• Romney had been a lifelong independent before he decided to run for Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat in Massachusetts in 1994, the Boston Globe reported at the time.
When Romney debated Kennedy, Kennedy accused his opponent of trying to return the country to the policies of Reagan-Bush. Romney retorted: “I was an independent during the time of Reagan-Bush. I’m not trying to return to Reagan-Bush.”
• The Los Angeles Times reported that after Romney entered the '94 Senate race, his wife Ann said: “We didn’t know a single Republican when we jumped in.”
The Times also disclosed that Romney even considered running as an independent “before rejecting the idea as impractical.”
• When House Speaker Newt Gingrich was promoting his “Contract with America” in 1994, Romney’s aides said he “had not read the document and had no plans to support it,” the Globe reported.
The Washington Times observed that Romney “criticized the Republican campaign agenda, the ‘Contract with America,’ as too partisan.”
• Brent Bozell’s Conservative Victory Committee attacked Romney in 1994 for “running away from conservative Republican themes” and espousing a “left-wing agenda.”
• Washington Post columnist David Broder observed during the 1994 Senate campaign: “Eager to show that he is a moderate independent and no ideologue, Romney stressed his support for universal health insurance and abortion rights, criticized the Republican ‘Contract with America,’ and was more outspoken than Kennedy in arguing that the Boy Scouts should not exclude homosexual youths.”
• In 1992, Romney voted in the Democratic presidential primary for Paul Tsongas, one of the most liberal Democrats in the Senate, saying Tsongas' views were more closer to his own than Bill Clinton's.
• Romney donated to the 1992 campaign of U.S. Rep. Dick Swett, a New Hampshire Democrat; Rep. John LaFalce, a New York Democrat; and Democrat Doug Anderson, who was running for the Senate from Utah.
Romney defended the donations, saying: “I don’t think they’re mortal sins,” according to the Boston Herald. Press reports suggested he made the donations because of personal relationships or business reasons.
• The Deseret News in Utah reported that Romney’s 2002 campaign for governor in Massachusetts “features an endorsement from a self-described ‘liberal Democrat’ — Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson.”
Romney returned the favor, endorsing Anderson’s re-election campaign in 2003.
Anderson later called for the impeachment of President George W. Bush for “abuses of power” and “human rights abuses.”
• Romney in 1994 “disassociated himself from Reagan and Bush policies and said he would be independent of Republican Senate leaders,” the Boston Globe reported.
“Romney offers himself as the candidate of change. What he would change from is obvious; what he would change to is still unclear.”
During the CNN debate in Jacksonville, Romney gave listeners a more emphatic impression of his past Republican credentials, saying, "I've never voted for a Democrat when there was a Republican on the ballot. And -- in my state of Massachusetts -- you could register as an independent and go vote in (whichever) primary happens to be very interesting. And any chance I got to vote against Bill Clinton or Ted Kennedy, I took. … I have always voted for a Republican any time there was a Republican on the ballot."
Romney also stated during the debate after being elected governor of Massachusetts he became more conservative. This statement appears more truthful. On fiscal matters then Gov. Romney and Massachusetts' Democratically controlled legislature clashed frequently. Romney holds the state record for gubernatorial vetoes......'
PCP Smoker| 1.29.12 @ 12:06AM
Oldfarte, doing the job the American Spectator used to do. Then again, it's easier to read what NRO and the Weekly Standard are blogging about, then cutting and pasting that here.
m| 1.28.12 @ 4:31PM
It look like these few members of Congress are Romney's supporter are going to lose the election in November. It is disgrace what the Romney campaign and Romney are doing to the Republican Party are hurting the conservatives and smearing Newt Gingrich. We need to get rid of these RINOs. The RINOs need to join the Democratic Party. They are wealthy folks. The Republican Party need a clean house and try to bring the conservatives back together in the future.
Drek| 1.28.12 @ 6:04PM
It's the money.
Some Congressmen don't have enough funding on their own, and have to rely upon the establishment to funnel them money for their reelection campaigns.
This provides the establishment almost dictatorial power over their votes on the Hill, and their actions.
This is one of the reasons why the Romney people were scared to death of Perry. For the Texas Governor had access to money wholly outside the establishment, wholly outside the sway of the Bush family.
Too damn bad about his back, and the fact that he was propelled faster than expected into a Presidential primary.
Windy City Commentary| 1.28.12 @ 4:37PM
Mary Bono Mack voted for Cap and Trade; remember that? Tabin's report here definitely shows who he favors.
Hammond: "Do you regret having Newt campaign for you in '94?"
Bass: "He didn't."
Hammond: "He didn't come up for you?"
Bass: "Not at all."
Hammond: "What about Zeliff and the moose trip? You were on that one."
Bass: "That was, that was -- absolutely, and that was to help Newt, not to help me."
Bass shouldn't try to pretend that going on this trip didn't help him. Obviously at the time Bass needed Newt more than Newt needed him.
Drek| 1.28.12 @ 6:07PM
The fact that Bass started stuttering in his answer about some trip escaped the notice of our supposedly keen-eyed reporter, John Tabin.
For the rest of us, such an initial stumble on an answer to a very simple query is indicative of something else.
Not to mention, Hammond threw out but a single example of Gingrich going to New Hampshire. Were there others? Probably.
Jake| 1.28.12 @ 4:46PM
Romney is showing that he knows how to play hardball and he wants to win.
Newt is a crybaby who thought the nomination was going to be handed to him.
Examining Newt's record is now considered a smear.
The smears are actually coming from the Newt supporters who typically attack the messengers
as some posters childishly do here .
Mocking Sonny Bono's death and guffawing at Sonny Bono's offspring with Cher to attack Mary Bono Mack
simply because she supports Romney .. is convoluted and slimy.
Bono Mack's retort was classy .
Something Newt and his supporters should try sometime.
Interested Conservative| 1.28.12 @ 5:27PM
"Newt is a crybaby who thought the nomination was going to be handed to him."
Handed to him? Have you been awake the past six months?
Drek| 1.28.12 @ 6:22PM
Interested Conservative,
That comment by JAKE was almost as surreal as watching NR, Romney and others blast Newt for not being conservative enough, so accordingly it's best for all of us to go with the guy who campaigned against Reagan and donated money to Democrats!
Marco2| 1.28.12 @ 8:39PM
More awake than that philandering old stooge. for sure, who's about to get his ass handed to him but doesn't know what hit him. It's Romney, boys and girls, so get with the program.
Greta| 1.28.12 @ 11:54PM
Romney wins nothing if he and his pals want to win this way. Conservatives are really getting ticked off because we want to see Newt and Romney sit down and have a debate on the points one on one to explore where they stand on issues and to defend their current and past policy positions. Go one my one on each issue starting with their pro life positions, positions on marriage between one man and one woman, postion on both immigration and illegal immigration, position on the fed, postion on defense, Israel, war on terror, patriot act, and of course plans to get the government reduced, debt erased, regulations trimmed, departments eliminated and reduced, and how to get jobs front and center. Finally, how they would insure that Obama is defeated and if they would run a all out campaign or one like McRino and Dole.
Forget allowing the media to be involved in debates. set up 5-7 debates one on one for a three hour full exposure so the people can decide. Back off the attacks on things that do not matter.
beebop2| 1.29.12 @ 8:20AM
So you think this is tough? Seriously? Remember 0bama saying "if they bring a knife to the fight, we will bring a gun?" Newt is a crybaby -- a pasty, Chucky looking crybaby. The contrast in pallor between him and 0bama on a debate stage is going to be frightening and it is going to speak volumes (remember the Nixon/Kennedy debate where Nixon couldn't stop sweating and declined make up?) ... appearances do matter.
Drek| 1.28.12 @ 6:11PM
Buying up a radio host under the predicate of a book deal, making contributions to the NR Foundation, buying up half of the GOP operatives inside the Beltway, greasing every wheel and palm necessary to secure approval in the seven years he's been pursuing this thing.
Romney going negative doesn't indicate seriousness of purpose, it reveals a man who hasn't anything conservative in his record to campaign on.
WHICH HE HIMSELF admits, for when he's asked about what conservative thing have you done for the conservative agenda, he doesn't suggest anything in his record, ---------------- but bizarrely suggests the many times he assumed the missionary position with his wife and got her preggers. As if mere procreation was somehow an advancement of the conservative agenda.
And everybody just sits there while this utter imbecility is put forward with a straight face by Romney!
Interested Conservative| 1.28.12 @ 5:32PM
In all the "establishment/outsider" commentary, this episode has a certain piquancy. Don't get me wrong, I have, would, and probably will support them all at some point. Still, between Rep. Mack and Bono, and Gov Romney, you have at least one or more relatives who've held high office of some sort before. I don't know much about Rep. Bass, but why is he campaigning in Florida?
Say what you will about "team" Newt, but it's still pretty much a one man band (except for the huge power warming up in the wings. She keeps making noises though.).
Drek| 1.28.12 @ 6:15PM
If former Governor Palin discerns that the race between Gingrich and Romney is really a showdown between the Northeastern wing of the party and the base rank and file, and those known as the "Tea Party," if she discerns that, then what is holding her back from throwing her whole weight behind Gingrich.
If she were to do that, -------------- all of Romney's endorsements, especially those by establishment flackeys, would soon be a millstone around his Romney's neck.
I don't know what's she waiting for.
If she desires her voice to be heard in this race, it can't be tossed in so late that anything she might have to say is drowned out by garbage from NR, by garbage from the wider team Romney.
As a commercial fisherman she must know there is a time to "fish, or cut bait." So it is now with the former Governor.
God how I wish she had entered this thing!
Interested Conservative| 1.28.12 @ 7:09PM
Newt and Craig Ferguson were the first two "national" figures I recall who noted Gov. Palin. I'm sure other insiders, at least westerners, noted her rise, but I recall her bestowing honorary state citizenship on Craig as he pursued his naturalization, and I recall Newt discussing her often in his Fox appearances.
I think she's largely returning the favor to Newt, but the Todd endorsement, and her "noises" are very interesting.
She'll be a force long after Newt, so she has many cards to play, but Gov. Romney is surely at the opposite end of the party from her, so there's little downside for her whatever she says or does.
Mike w| 1.28.12 @ 9:46PM
That fat jerk illegal alien loving newt doesn't represent me. Romney maybe not so much either.
Marco2| 1.28.12 @ 8:45PM
Palin is yesterday's news. She should just shut up and go home. Her moneymaking days are about over; the political world has passed her by.
Greta| 1.28.12 @ 11:58PM
You might wish for this to be the case Marco2, but an endorsement now for the Florida primary based on what she sees as the old elite moderate big government high tax wing of the party attacking Newt would have a huge impact at a critical time. I agree completly with Interested Conservative.
And for me, if the republican elite want to keep this up, they will soon find themselves without a base.
martin j smith| 1.28.12 @ 5:38PM
Thus I do not support Romney and I will have to think very hard to see if he is really all that different from Obama. The way he is behaving I am not so sure.
Drek| 1.28.12 @ 6:19PM
Martin, a whole mess of people have tried as hard as they could to discern any real, significant difference between Romneycare and obamacare.
And other than the fact that the one is confined to a state, while the other seeks to ruin a nation, and ruin her economy, -------- there isn't any difference worth mentioning.
And relatedly, the WSJ when comparing economic plans of the vying candidates, said of Romney's that the whole thing was so mild, so undramatic, as to why bother. There description, not mine.
Bob K.| 1.28.12 @ 6:04PM
Darn right! Hammond should stop "sneering" at Jason Chaffetz and stomp out of the room. That'll teach him!
Remember when Senator Al D'Amato called Schumer a Putzhead in their Senatorial Campaign? Then he apologized for it and lost the election? I always thought he should have called a press conference instead and said: "I mistakenly called Schumer a Putzhead. I meant to call him a Dickhead!" If he did that he would have won the election.
Keep writing articles like this Mr. Tabin. You are making Obama's team look like a WWF contingent!
Drek| 1.28.12 @ 6:26PM
JOHN TABIN,
where in all of this piece is there a mention of the guy that donated money to Democrats?
When are we going to get a lengthy piece zeroing in on the guy that donated money to liberals, hard liberals, lefties really?
When's that going to happen?
Chuck| 1.28.12 @ 6:33PM
Romney's nomination will keep the GOP Roe v. Wade Preservation in place. An act of God (the Christian God, not the Mormon God) will overturn Roe, pro-abortion Republicans along with their leader Romney some day and it won't be pleasant.
Bumr50| 1.28.12 @ 6:44PM
Voters aren't rattled, and to hell with the establishment endorsers.
No one cares anymore.
Bill| 1.28.12 @ 8:24PM
If Romney gets the GOP nod, then Obama will have 4 more years. You bet!
Bill| 1.28.12 @ 8:24PM
If Gingrich gets the GOP nod, Obama is doomed.
Chesterbelloc| 1.28.12 @ 10:08PM
The MittWits don't understand the Willard M.O.
Mittens is ruthless in wiping out any opposition on the Right. The media elites and RINO establishment back him up in this project. In the general Willard will pivot and align himself with the RINO agenda and attempt to placate the media elites by not running hard against BHO. Unfortunately for Mittens the media elites will already have Willard identified as plutocrat spawn of polygamist forebears. Have fun while it lasts Mittens!!!
1000w electric moped | 1.28.12 @ 10:17PM
1000w electric moped
Bill| 1.28.12 @ 10:43PM
Romney will never ObamCare, he will expand it, saying, "I've changed my mind." O' Romney, "New England RINO" cannot win in FL, let alone the GOP nod.
PCP Smoker| 1.29.12 @ 12:01AM
That would include R.E. Tyrrell, founder of the American Spectator. What a creep.
John - TMF| 1.29.12 @ 1:04AM
Well the Establishment looks like it might just arrange to nominate a candidate that most matches their ideals.
They couldn't talk Hillary into running for the nomination so they settled for Mitt. Who knows? Mittens hasn't picked a VP yet, and after all of this nastiness with those of us on the right, he might pick her to appeal to more Dems and would increase the testosterone level o the ticket .
Anybody up for starting the new Federalist Party? TEA Party sounds like something conducted in a parlor with gloves and crumpets...
Gingrich or Bust.
John - The Mighty Fahvaag
martin j smith| 1.29.12 @ 8:36AM
I have always felt that the Republican Establishment in the end would combine with the Socialists to make Conservative policies unattainable in our nation. Its all about their money and their power. So There are two enemies ( really one put who is counting ) who support Crony Capitalism. There are two choices
voters make sure that the RINOS are defeated because it could be in the short term that it is more important to get rid of them than to worry about the Socialists--and this within the Republican Logo or to get out entirely and form a separate Party. My sense is stay within and Primary the RINOS out--one by one.
Clint| 1.29.12 @ 9:33AM
Apparently, This Is A RINO-CINO Food Fight.
And We Are Being Set Up By The RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges For The Ruling Elites' Frontman Mittens Romney.
These Are The RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges Who Gave Us The Serial Traitor To Conservatism, John McCain Of McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy,McCain-Lieberman,Gang Of 14, Opposing Bush Tax Cuts Of 2001 & 2003,TARP.
Now They Are Trying To Give Us RomneyCare,TARP, Cynical Flip-Flops On Abortion, Gays, Refuses to Sign Pro-Life Pledge, Illegal Immigrants, "Little Chain Saw Al" At Bain, Crony Capitalism Campaign Money Trail.....
Oldefarte| 1.29.12 @ 11:07AM
At least they are not SOCIALISTS Chicago communit organizers for Acorn and their Harvard lawyers orchestrating Oakland protests for the OWS gang and blowing up the ME for the benefit of their Muslim Brotherhood fellow domestic terrorists; installing socialist programmed federal judges within the legal pipeline, legislating welfaric health insurance schemes in order to Robin Hoodingly rob Peter the Taxpayer to pay Paul the indigent; using the political power of the federal government departments to sue individual states to effect illegal immigration and to prevent the drilling of our domestic oil supplies; insulting our Republicn governors on an airport tarmac for writing a truthful book; using taxpayers' hard earned money to prop up failing environmental boondoogles with 0 profit capabilities; etc huh fool????????????
Oldefarte| 1.29.12 @ 4:54PM
Shazam, guess who else uses the terminology of FOOD FIGHT ? ['....Clint| 1.29.12 @ 9:33AM...Apparently, This Is A RINO-CINO Food Fight....']. Well no one other that Lanny Davis, former Clinton lawyer and DEMOCRATIC PARTY OPERATIVE who also described the Republican nomination as such. Is Clit possibly a DEMOCRAT DISGUISED AS A REPUBLICAN [Paul supporter] possibly and maybe being paid to harrassingly blog on conservative news sites ???????????????
Mike Dar| 1.29.12 @ 10:06AM
/doc/58987915/FBI-Gingrich-Investigation
somnolence| 1.29.12 @ 2:45PM
Bill, are you the same one saying Perry was going to win?
somnolence| 1.29.12 @ 2:47PM
All Romney has to do is run Newt's Iowa excoriation last spring of Paul Ryan and that one gentleman slapping his handshake away, add it the the FBI file on Gingrich, and folks, not even the sainted Sarah can save Gingrich.
Bill| 1.29.12 @ 3:56PM
FL Primary:
1st: Gingrich
2nd: Romney "$$$$$$"
3rd: Santorum
4th: "crazy" Paul
Gingrich will stun the MSM, beating Romney in a decisive margin, and that solidifies his front-runner position for the upcoming contests. The Newt Train is on track.
Occam's Tool| 1.29.12 @ 8:57PM
Paul will finish 4th, I think Santorum will be third. I have no idea which one will be 1st.
FeFe| 1.30.12 @ 6:26PM
Wow. I have been to harsh on Newt.
What have Bass, Mack or Bono ever done to advance the conservative cause?