Politics

Gingrich Camp Denies He’s Sorry for Romney Bain Attacks, Says It‘s About ’Character’

Republican presidential primary candidate Newt Gingrich had hoped to connect with blue-collar New Hampshire voters by portraying rival Mitt Romney in a manner that would make them think twice before voting for a Gordon Gekko-like corporate raider who made his millions by “looting” companies without any regard for the jobs lost or communities destroyed on his path.

The strategy appears to have been ineffective and Gingrich is now in retreat.

Following his disappointing fourth place finish in the Iowa caucuses after once leading national and hawk-eye state polls, Gingrich said “We are not going to go out and run nasty ads,” in reference to super PACs supporting Romney that spent roughly $3 million on negative ads attacking the former speaker of the House.

“But I do reserve the right to tell the truth. And if the truth seems negative– that may be more a comment on his record than it is on politics.”

In the week in between the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary Gingrich, on the stump and through PACs supporting him, went on a populist onslaught against Romney’s record as CEO of the private equity firm Bain Capital. With a recent $5 million contribution from Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, super PAC Winning Our Future released the trailer for the 27-minute movie “King of Bain,” depicting that “When Mitt Romney Came to Town”( with Bain) he “destroyed” the American dream for “thousands of Americans and their families.”

The strategy was attacked by many conservative commentators who said Gingrich was opposing capitalistic principles long defended by the Republican Party, and brought to the debate focus rhetoric that was in line with and would ultimately benefit President Obama and Democrats.

After a once again placing a disappointing fourth place finish in the New Hampshire primary, POLITICO reports that Gingrich signaled Wednesday that he believes his criticism of Romney‘s record at Bain was a mistake and that he’s created an impression that he was echoing Democrats. At an event in South Carolina Wednesday a Rick Santorum supporter said to Gingrich: ”I think you’ve missed the target on the way you’re addressing Romney’s weaknesses. I want to beg you to redirect and go after his obvious disingenuousness about his conservatism and lay off the corporatist versus the free market. I think it’s nuanced.”

“I agree with you,” POLITICO reports Gingrich replied. “It’s an impossible theme to talk about with Obama in the background. Obama just makes it impossible to talk rationally in that area because he is so deeply into class warfare that automatically you get an echo effect. … I agree with you entirely.”

That said, Rick Tyler, a top advisor for Winning Our Future told POLITICO that the super PAC still plans to begin a $3.4 million television airtime buy in South Carolina for ads that will include attacks on Romney for his work at Bain.

Less than three hours after POLITICO reported the former speaker of the House’s comments in South Carolina, spokesman R.C. Hammond released an email stating that the story misrepresented Gingrich’s intentions:

“Newt 2012 released the following statement from Press Secretary R.C. Hammond responding to misleading reports on an exchange Newt Gingrich had with a voter in Spartanburg, SC regarding Mitt Romney’s record at Bain Capital (during which the phrase “I crossed the line” was never uttered from Newt, despite the headline from Politico):

‘This issue at hand is neither about Bain Capital, private equity firms, nor about capitalism.  It is about Mitt Romney’s judgment and character.  It was Governor Romney’s decision to base his candidacy, in large part, on his background as a portfolio manager.  Thus, it is entirely legitimate to ask questions about whether he is accurately presenting how he conducted himself during that career.

‘Reports by the Wall Street Journal and others contradict Governor Romney’s claims that it was his goal at Bain Capital to make companies more successful.  In fact, there were cases where Bain Capital made huge profits and left companies bankrupt.  Further reports have cast doubt on Governor Romney’s claim that he was responsible for 100,000 jobs being created thanks to his work at Bain Capital.

‘Instead of accepting the responsibility to answer questions about his business background, the Romney campaign is throwing up a smokescreen about an attack on capitalism.  That’s just more pious baloney from Mitt Romney and his campaign.’”

The POLITICO.com headline still reads “NEWT: I crossed line” at 5:30 p.m.

(H/T: Washington Examiner)

Comments (69)

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  • johnnylingo
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 10:22pm

    Used to like Newt. Now I see he is the lowest form of Newt. Makes Romney look much better when Newt has to lie and misrepresent truth. He’s either corrupt or a MORON. Either way NO White House .

    Report Post »  
    • Hobbs57
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 10:38pm

      Just found out today that Newt is ultimately the reason my Mom lost her job. My mother worked for American Healthways ( which is now just Healthways I think), because if Newts CRONY Capitalism. Here Newt and what is now his Super PAC, had convinced the company to go in on this pilot program which required taking on medicaide accounts. The company does disease management, and Newt made all kinds of appearances with the company and what not. This is a large company, they have offices all over the US. The pilot program sunk the company, putting them in the hile 23 million. I understand, it is the companys fault for taking on the gamble, but it was Newt trying to act through his Crony Capitalist ideas that ultimately lead to the company being crushed, now closing the Pittsburgh office and Arizona office. Newt made millions though, while my Mom and my family are now faced with financial stress. Thanks Newt, you *****. Next time you want to bring your genius ideas to town stay away from Pittsburgh, please. Don’t need no more of your progressive intellect acting like you are so smart that you are going to transform the world, cause some of these stupid CEO’s believe you because of your political position. How about you do some real work for once in your life ?? Your no difference than Obama in that sense. I am going to look all this up and find out what the whole story is, but watching those lady’s cry today as they said their good byes struck a nerve in me about this film.

      Report Post » Hobbs57  
  • Eugene1
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 10:08pm

    I used to like Gingrich, but now he shows that he is an angry, vindictive man without a presidential bone in his body. He now has his own Super Pac with millions of dollars bashing Romney so how is that not hypocritical?

    Report Post » Eugene1  
  • Twit123
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 10:07pm

    Gingrich cheap attack on Mitt Romney’s business takeover and reducing workforce is a sign that Gingrich does not know the theory and applications of business and economics.
    Or maybe his motive is political in order to sway voters away from Mitt Romney, and move to Gingrich’s support.

    Educated people understand the way how businesses are run to make it profitable. Cutting workforce and overhead costs are necessary in order that the business will survive. That is better than closing the whole business operation so that everybody losses their jobs. As soon as the business makes profit again, then that business will expand and grow. It will rehire the people who were laid off.

    Another theory is when a business has many segments of operations but one of the segments is non-productive, and costly to operate, it is necessary to close that segment. Therefore, it will lay off some people involved in that segment. These operations are private entities, and when business makes profit, everybody wins. Taxes are paid to the government the employees are rehired and some promoted when business expands. Employees earn income and taxes are also paid to the government. I would do exactly what Mitt Romney did at Baines Capital Ventures. It was a wise and smart decision.

    Unlike Obama, even when our country is bleeding, and bankrupt, he continues to spend lavishly. He expands and creates departments overlapping with others that already exist. Then he hires thousands of labor unio

    Report Post »  
  • your sensei
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 10:02pm

    I like it so much . . . the spectacle of Republicans falling in line. To hear Newt groveling on Hannity’s radio show was a new low for a guy who sets the gold standard in low. And this the day after the same Irish Wuss chewed out Perry for calling Romney a vulture. What a wet diaper crowd you conservatives are, caving to the right wing media establishment – telling you how to think, who to vote for, when to complain about what and when to stop. Lock step! Chop Chop!

    There are five testicles in the Republican race. Paul has two. Huntsman has two, And the other guys split the last one.

    Report Post » your sensei  
  • cyclops
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 9:44pm

    “Politics is sure dirty business.” Close quarters hand to hand compat is commencing. Just don’t over do it to the point that the voters will get so sick and tired of it that they would end up not voting….LOL!!!

    Report Post » cyclops  
  • Ed273
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 9:32pm

    So does Google Hate Mitt too?
    Why else would they rank the Android App that ridicules him # 3
    There are dozen of pro Mitt apps and one silly anti Mitt app, but it gets top billing.
    I’m no conspiracy nut, but something’s not right with this. Check it out: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.hammer.flipflop

    It’s the third top App when you put in Mitt Romney in the Android Market

    Report Post »  
  • iblvingd
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 9:28pm

    The canidates all better get used to the negative ad campaigns, I am sure Obamas “super pac” will be much worse. I think the responses from the canidates in regards to the negative ads only lets us see exactly how they will handle negative situations dealing with congress or other countries, should they get elected. It will be very telling about their character and abilities to manage political situations.

    We citizens should be vetting not bashing.

    Report Post »  
  • jpndhouse
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 9:14pm

    Gingrich and Perry can go to hell.

    They sell out free market capitalism to try and land the White House and thus play right into Obama’s hands.

    Shame on Sarah Palin for trying to defend Rick Perry’s attacks on the Sean Hannity Show. In the words of Rush Limbaugh today (whom I do not always agree with): “The attacks against Bain and Romney by Gingrich and Perry are indefensible.”

    Sarah Palin is really going rogue here against the best argument that we have against Obama: free market capitalism.

    Report Post »  
  • drattastic
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 8:55pm

    I think Newt just“ jumped the shark” . You start playing class warfare games you might as well be a socialist. I have no respect for that at all.

    Report Post » drattastic  
  • Speakin'mymind
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 7:44pm

    What would Gingrich know about character? Zero….Zip…Nada!

    Report Post »  
    • jhaydeng
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 9:08pm

      He’s always apologizing because he cracks under scrutiny to appease the MSM!

      Report Post »  
    • ds7
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 10:04pm

      that’s just special…newt, the serial philanderer wants us to believe his version of what gives somebody “character” or “morals” or what constitutes a liar.

      he has outlived his usefulness in this campaign season.

      Report Post » ds7  
  • nathanoc
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 7:30pm

    I wish this angry little attack muffin would stop calling Mitt a Massachusetts moderate while labeling himself as a Ronald Reagan conservative. His ads makes it seem he did all work in the Reagan years. Just a few years ago he was a Realpolitik Wilsonian, and a big-government FDR loving fanboy.

    Report Post »  
  • LibertyGoddess
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 7:23pm

    Great response.

    Newt is the last person to talk about integrity. He should be in jail, not running for the presidency. wwwnewtexposed.com

    Report Post » LibertyGoddess  
  • inferno
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 7:13pm

    I was impressed by what Gingrich had to say in the first few debates. I was willing to overlook his sit down with Pelosi. Lately however, he has joined Obama and the left by attacking anyone who is successful. It’s dificult to understand what he is attempting to do, while claiming he is more conservative than Romney. Earlier, the media attacked him for making what they considered off the cuff outragous marks, suddenly however, they are all but praising him as he attemprs to denegrate Romney. Sorry Newt, you just lost any respect I have had for you over the years. Winning is important, but not at the expense of badmouthing anyone who has a chance to unseat Obama.. Anyone who goes that far off the deep end, has lost whatever bit of integrity he or she may have had !

    Report Post »  
  • PJL
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 7:00pm

    I think Newt should get some character before besmirching someone elses.

    Report Post » PJL  
  • marion
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 6:59pm

    Funny how it was just fine with everyone when Mitt was attacking Newt, almost half the attacks were on him, yet he has a greater chance of beating BHO than anyone else, along with an absolute plan how to bring this country back from the abyss. Mitt will cower like a puppy in the prescence of BHO, laughed and laughed, said negative ads were just part of the vetting process, and when he had it brought back on him, what did he do? HE DEFENDED BHO for what he did with Chrysler and GM!

    Not the person I want running my country. Bad enough we have someone right now that hates this country, why do we think a person that was beat by the person that was beaten by BHO is going to beat BHO?

    Report Post »  
    • THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 7:53pm

      Actually I have a beautiful wife and a little girl in my life, but unlike romney‘s wife her salvation isn’t dictated by her submission to my sexual appetite, second she has not been “sealed” as my personal property after I die, so we can make “spirit babies” and become worshipped like God. Now deny your own cult teachings….

      Report Post » THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE  
    • jpndhouse
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 9:15pm

      There is no current poll that shows Gingrich even close to Obama. You are misinformed.

      Report Post »  
  • THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 6:24pm

    should obamas cultish black liberation theology been covered by the media? YES!! Why? Because it affects everything he has done in office. Should romney have his cultish ideas covered? YES!! Why? Because everything he does will be with his cultish beliefs first. Red flags should be raised when you learn what oath these mormons take…look it up yourself, and just a hint, Their loyalty IS NOT to our Country and Constitution first…in fact it’s not even to God…it’s to the “ church ” or in other words the cult. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q6brMrFw0E&feature=s
    hare

    Report Post » THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE  
  • abbygirl1994
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 6:22pm

    Hahahahahahhaahha, Newt and character.. hahahahahhahha.. cheating on wives, lobbying to enrich himself hahahahahahhahah Mitt has more character in his little finger than Newt has throughout his whole body.. Mitt has been married to the same woman and has never had outside relationships with anyone but his wife.. and that is something I can guarantee.. The left.. and I promise Newt is the left do not Mitt to win, because he will undo what they have done.

    Report Post » abbygirl1994  
    • THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 6:26pm

      ROMNEY believes Jesus and Satan were spirit brothers,ROMNEY believes blacks were fatherd by Satan ROMNEY believes Mary had physical sex with God ROMNEY believes underwear have holy power ROMNEY believes that men will become GodROMNEY believes there are many God’s ROMNEY believes his wives salvation is dependant on her submission to his sexual appetite. ROMNEY believes the bible is not as inspired as the “other” books. ROMNEY believes that God is currently by the star of Kolab having sex and producing “spirit babies”.ROMNEY believes in blood oaths. ROMNEY believes that Christians are a cultROMNEY believes his oath to the cult is more important than the Constitution.ASK YOURSELF, WHO IS THE CRAZY ONE? WHO IS UNELECTABLE? I KNOW THE ANSWER DO YOU?

      THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE  
    • RedHotFuzz
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 7:20pm

      Getting tired of Mormon bashers spreading their ignorance to the world. Mormons believe blacks were fathered by Satan? Sexual submission of wives? Give me a break. Maybe you need to stop believing everything in those pamphlets your pastor gives you. You obviously know nothing about the LDS faith.

      “The Truth Shall Make You Free” huh? Please. Maybe you should try a little truth, hmm?

      Report Post »  
    • iblvingd
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 8:58pm

      Your rant about Mormans only makes you look very uneducated. Sorry!

      Report Post »  
    • THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 9:02pm

      Mormonism teaches that there is a hell, but only for the “sons of perdition,” a very small number of souls that cannot be redeemed. According to Mormonism, then, the vast majority of mankind will be “saved,” though it should be obvious that no one will make it to the Celestial Kingdom. [Blacks used to be totally out of the equation: "Black people are black because of their misdeeds in the pre-existence" (Three Degrees of Glory, LDS Apostle Melvin J. Ballard, p. 21); "The ***** is an unfortunate man. He has been given a black skin. But that is nothing compared with that greater handicap. He is not permitted to receive the priesthood and the ordinances of the temple, necessary to prepare men and women to enter into and enjoy a fullness of glory in the Celestial Kingdom" (Elder George E. Richards). In 1978, however, the Mormon Church announced that God had lifted his curse from the African race.] 

      Report Post » THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE  
    • jpndhouse
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 9:31pm

      Wow you are misinformed. Too many of your “accusations” are not the complete truth and swung to make Mormons look weird. Every religion has there interesting doctrine.

      I like this one the best though:
      ROMNEY believes Mary had physical sex with God:

      Ha, ha! LOL. Not True, how would she be a “virgin” then moron?

      Report Post »  
    • THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 9:33pm

          LDS Apostle Erastus Snow preached the following on Sunday, Oct. 4, 1857:    Do the women, when they pray, remember their husbands?… Do you uphold your husband before God as your lord? “What!—my husband to be my lord?” I ask, Can you get into the celestial kingdom without him? Haveany of you been there? You will remember that you never got into the celestial kingdom [during the temple ceremony] without the aid of your husband. If you did, it was because your husband was away, and some one had to act proxy for him. No woman will get into the celestial kingdom, except her husband receives her, if she is worthy to have a husband; and if not, somebody will receive her as a servant. (Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, p. 291)

      We were next led into what is called the Terrestrial Glory; where Brigham Young received us, . . . he gave each apass-word and grip necessary, he said, to admit us into the “Celestial Glory;” . . . there are many gods, and they do notacknowledge the one Triune God of the Bible, but that every man will sometime be a ”god;” and that women are to be the ornaments of his kingdom, anddependent upon him for resurrectionand salvation; and that our salvation isdependent upon the recollection of these passwords; . . .” (Mormonism: Its Rise, Progress, and Present Condition. Embracing the Narrative of Mrs. Mary Ettie V. Smith, of Her Residence and Experience of Fifteen Years with theMormons…, by N.

      Report Post » THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE  
    • THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 11:07pm

      @jpnd. Cat got your tongue?….

      Report Post » THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE  
    • Luke611
      Posted on January 12, 2012 at 11:49am

      Truth Shall Make You Free / Martinez

      Thank you for seeking to define the Church has something it is not. Linch_em_High went to great lengths to contact me, inspired to do so based upon past post you applied to articles. My replies concerning Bible Origin, missing scriptures, contrast between Arianism versus the blend of Christainity/ paganism to ascertain the CREED…and so forth; led this man to seek me out to discuss true LDS (Mormon) doctrine. If it wasn’t for you, this miraculous chain of events would not have occured….nor continue into what he and his wife are now doing, sitting through missionary discussions.

      For those of you that wish to truly discover what Mormons teach; why LDS is the fast growing christian church worldwide by conversion and tripling in size in the past twenty years…why we believe we can each receive the blessings to be “ joint hiers” with Christ (Romans 8;14-18), why we baptize for the dead as the ancient church (1 Corinthians 15:29); what we believe about the plan of salvation and exaltation and why we believe that marriage and family is an eternal blessing and opportunity for all….please call our missionaries.

      Regardless of your feeling for the politics of Bro Romney and Bro Huntsman, do they seem to be in tranced with something so sinsiter and dark to affect their life into ruin? Do you really see Hunstman’s SMOKING hot wife and the angelic Mrs Romney and their children as someone so fooled? I see the Holy Spirit shine from the

      Report Post »  
  • Tower7_TRUTH
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 6:17pm

    Ron Paul is the only true Republican …. Ironic isn’t it ?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia8GoThBBhY&feature=related

    So are you all surprised the Media is Ignoring or slandering him ?

    Money talks and Slaves walk

    Report Post » Tower7_TRUTH  
    • jpndhouse
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 9:33pm

      Ron Paul is a Libertarian, which is not a Republican.

      Report Post »  
  • slr4528
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 6:16pm

    I love how Newt is placing all the blame on negative ads on Romney and not Perry and Paul in Iowa.
    Paul’s ads against Gingrich were the most effective and they stuck because they were the truth! The Romney Pac ads were also true. Someone please tell me what was false in the Paul and Romney PAC ads against Gingrich in Iowa.

    Report Post »  
    • jpndhouse
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 9:34pm

      He has yet to come out and say which are false. Seems like that should have been his first move.

      Report Post »  
  • saranda
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 6:15pm

    Obama will be trying to license the use of Newt’s ads to use in the general election. Newt is hugely aiding Obama get re elected and he could care less.

    Report Post »  
    • slr4528
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 6:17pm

      I think Newty is hoping to replace Biden as Obama’s V.P..

      Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 6:29pm

      Newt is melting down… seriously .. remember when he pronounced himself the nominee .. it hasn’t worked out that way and he is acting like a teenage girl scorned.

      Report Post »  
  • Brad Wesselmann
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 6:14pm

    The word, as much as the arrow, no longer belongs to the speaker as the arrow to the archer once it is released…and Newt knows it. We do not need a passive/aggressive leader, we need an intentional man to set straight the wrongs of the past.

    Report Post » Brad Wesselmann  
  • crackerone
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 6:13pm

    Buggar off Newt, and take your couch and Nancy Pelosi with you!

    Report Post »  
  • disenlightened
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 6:08pm

    Go home, Newt, and take that woman with the blonde, rock-hard helmet on her head with you.

    Report Post » disenlightened  
    • Jackers
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 6:27pm

      So now we get to see the REAL Newt Gingrich! All for a “positive” campaign until he lost Iowa. Now he’s turned over-the-line negative! A personal vendetta against Mitt Romney without any regard as to how he’s hurting the Republican Party…

      Since Newt lost any chance of becoming the nominee, that he ever so arrogantly expected to receive, he’ll say and do anything to make sure he brings Mitt down with him… Wow. So much for character and integrity…

      This man is selfishly throwing Mitt Romney, the cause for capitalism, and the whole Republican Party under the bus for the sheer sake of a personal vendetta; and worse, he’s giving ammunition to the Barack Obama re-election regime! This new 28-minute Attack Ad is a victory for Obama providing strong guns to use against Mitt.

      Disgusting behavior by someone who portrays himself as a man of moral character and integrity… Ca you imagine how Mr. Newt would have behaved as President? No wonder Newt got the boot as Speaker of the House for “ethical” reasons…

      This man is a disgrace…

      Report Post » Jackers  
  • FreedomPurveyor
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 6:05pm

    Define “speaking out of both sides of your mouth”

    Report Post » FreedomPurveyor  
  • Tower7_TRUTH
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 6:05pm

    good thing Newt Promised to Not go negative.

    Report Post » Tower7_TRUTH  
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