"GINGRICH: Just as there was no place for the kind of viciousness against Bush and Cheney, there’s no place for viciousness against Democrats. I would condemn any kind of activity that involves that kind of personal threat. But look, I think there’s something very disingenuous about the Democratic leaders who attacked the tea party movement, who refused to hold town hall meetings, who refused to go back home, who kept the Congress locked up in Washington, and are now shocked that people are angry. I think the Democratic leadership has to take some moral responsibility for having behaved with such arrogance, in such a hostile way, that the American people are deeply upset. So let’s be honest with this. This is a game that they’re playing. People should not engage in personal threats. I’m happy to condemn any effort to engage in personal threats. But I think the Democratic leadership has to take some real responsibility for having run a machine that used corrupt tactics, that bought votes, that bullied people, and as a result has enraged much of the American people. And I think it’d be nice for President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and Majority Leader Reid to take some responsibility over what their actions have done to this country."
And while we are at it, why in the hell does anyone listen to this creep any more? But regardless, I suspect this is a very cynical move on his part. He understands more than most that the media loves to just report the "he said, he said" spin games. This is a way to turn the discussion from "Republicans are egging on the crazies," to "Both sides argue that the other is causing the anger and violence."
No matter that the left wing doesn't, for the most part, engage in violent rhetoric nor make death threats. Not saying there aren't idiots and crazies on the left. But I certainly don't recall death threats toward Republican representatives. Certainly not a "trend" of them.
The Republican party continues to play with fire and blame the Democrats at the same time. How dare we use the democratic process to pass a bill that at least half the country supports? How dare we suggest that 54 votes in the Senate is a majority?
4 comments:
He could have made a similar point in a better way. I think there is principled, reasoned opposition. He could have made that point, blamed the other side, and denounced the violent acts. Instead of blaming it on the Dems, he could have encouraged people to write letters and support opposition candidates. That would have been reasonable.
Not sure what the similar point would be, or perhaps I am not following you. His point appears to be that Democrats so violated the traditional political rules (obviously not true) that they have caused people to be angry and deservedly so.
A reader sent in a pretty good rewrite of Newt to Sully's blog. Pretty good.
By similar point, I mean he could have expressed disgust with the new Bill or whatever and not blamed anyone except the lunatics that were making threats and acting out.
Post a Comment