Gingrich: I wouldn't accept debate versus Obama moderated by reporters

[kpete]

Gingrich: I wouldn't accept debate versus Obama moderated by reporters
By NBC's Jamie Novogrod and msnbc.com's Michael O'Brien

Newt Gingrich threatened Monday to skip any debate as the Republican nominee versus President Obama that's moderated by a member of the media.

"As your nominee, I will not accept debates in the fall in which the reporters are the moderators," Gingrich said at a rally in Pensacola. "We don’t need to have a second Obama person at the debate."

The threat is in keeping with the scorn with which the former House speaker has treated the press throughout the campaign, particularly at debates. Gingrich most notably won a standing ovation by angrily dismissing a question at a South Carolina debate having to do with extramarital allegations made by an ex-wife.

Moreover, Gingrich has made his debating prowess a central selling point of his candidacy, promising fantastical showdowns with Obama in the general election. A frequent applause line for Gingrich, for instance, is his promise to challenge the president to seven, three-hour Lincoln-Douglas style debates.

MORE:
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/30/10271619-gingrich-i-wouldnt-accept-debate-versus-obama-moderated-by-reporters

[ProfessionalLeftist]

1. He's such a royal ass

Narcissist du Jour.

[lsewpershad]

13. +1

[nanabugg]

42. Obama should say he won't debate any GOP nominee who's been divorced., nt

[TahitiNut]

2. Typical blowhard bully ... coward to the core.

What an abysmal ass.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

3. don't worry, Chickenshit. You're not getting the nomination.

[Happyhippychick]

4. I don't think he'll have to worry about that. Next fall he will be irrelevant again.

[Tx4obama]

5. Newt has forgotten who he is running against, he's confused and thinks it's the media/reporters...

instead of the other candidates.
His 'strategy' is getting old.

Newt seems to like to TALK ABOUT debates, debate questions, debate moderators, and debate audiences more than any thing else.

Related
A partial list of the times Newt has verbally attacked debate moderators:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=3463

[stockholmer]

6. he won't have to, he will NEVER be the Republican nominee

[tanyev]

7. Oh dear, oh dear. What an intractable, and completely hypothetical, dilemma.

[truthisfreedom]

8. Newt, you're getting newtier all the time. You don't get to set the rules.

You don't even get to run for president when it comes time. You're just a has-been wannabe who's selling a few books along the way.

[existentialist]

22. But he can

take his ball and go home.


Ooops?

What do you mean it isn't his ball?

[Bruce Wayne]

9. The pathology of a paranoic

First off, an experienced prof like Obama would mop up Gingrich with a Lincoln-Douglas format. Gingrich may make good punch lines in short little outbursts. But a sustained 30 minute speech by Gingrich would quickly expose him as a delusional egomaniac with little understanding of how to govern a nation or solve our problems.

Secondly, the more interesting point is the "lone bastion of morality in a sea of corruption" stance he's making here. Ever single member of the media is an Obama campaign operative. In other words, "they're all against me; they're all out to get me!"

Thirdly, it's not gonna be you, Newton. You might wanna keep an eye out for Kleenex coupons.

[existentialist]

23. You know it's bad when

Faux News has turned against a Republican and Newt finds need to castigate with them with the rest of the media.

[BeyondGeography]

10. That's called, "I'm running out of tricks."

[klook]

11. He challenges Obama to a series of

debates on the Moon, moderated by Commander Powell from the Dark Star.

[yellowcanine]

12. Moot point Newt. But if by some accident you WERE the nominee....

I guess we wouldn't be having any debates then.

[Richardo]

14. I agree with him.

Reporters pretty much suck at debate moderation.

Give it back to the League of Women Voters, I say.

[skepticscott]

17. Well, of course these things aren't even really debates

They're more like group press conferences...glorified question and answer sessions. They dress up the format a bit to make them seem like debates, but they're not.

[Populist_Prole]

15. Desperate attempt to go down swinging

But going down he is. S'long!

[Lil Missy]

16. He won't have to worry about it - Romney with be debating Obama. n/t

[Fearless]

18. So have a few... the president shows up... it's a one-way conversation...

He'll learn real quick.

[msanthrope]

19. I propose former Presidents as moderators.

It's a win-win..for us.

[Thinkingabout]

20. Proof Newt is scared of Obama

He is running scared and is already whining. He does not have anything to offer but same old crap he has offered for years. He needs to continue his life as he sees it and the House gave him a hint in his removal. He will not be lying to his wives when he meets in a true debate. He says he wants to debate about the issues, which issues is he speaking about, Romey's tax returns. His vision for the USA is just has his whole life is. Run Newt Run while you can, blame the media, most of us sees through your turkey.

[Skittles]

36. Newt knows Obama would whip his ass

hoo BOY does he know

[Cass]

21. But I bet it would be ok with him if one of the Faux News talking heads was the moderator.

But then again, none of those fatheads are real reporters anyway.

[Faygo Kid]

24. Especially Sean "Only the toughest questions" Hannity

That dirtbag wouldn't ask a tough question of a Republican.

[Voice for Peace]

27. he'd probably be fine if Sarah Palin moderated

[colorado_ufo]

41. Oh - no - please make it stop . . .

Sides hurting! Can't stand it! Have mercy! The questions . . . one can only imagine . . .

[mulsh]

25. He's a sleazy coward but then we know that.

n/t

[pnwmom]

26. Great. We won't have to watch Gingrich debating Obama.

Because Gingrich is just too special.



What a blowhard.

[eyewall]

28. Newt would fire liberals in federal jobs,

I guess that goes for news agencies too.

Nice to see that he's in accord with Mrs. Palin.
Republican solidarity in defiance of reality.

[high density]

29. This guy is nuts

At times it feels like he's trying to torpedo his own candidacy, except every time he says something stupid his campaign gets even stronger.

[deacon]

30. He's finished. Run 3rd party newt. n/t

[JI7]

31. His ass isn't going to be the nominee so who gives a Shit

hahhahha

[DinahMoeHum]

32. Hey Newtie! Meow meow, psss psss psss psss psss!

[Major Hogwash]

33. Don't worry, H.R. Puffenstuff, you won't get the chance to debate President Obama!!!

Unless the entire Republican party starts eating Twinkies!!

You're history, fatso.
Get over it.

[alp227]

34. what a pathetic, cowardly brat.

[Historic NY]

35. Oh I was so waiting to hear more about the Newt colony on the Moon.....

will the new little Moonies become citizens? Is the Moon a country or a dead planet? So many thing to be worked out before his second term. ....

[bayareaboy]

37. Just when you think ...

that you are not going to run milk back up your nose when you read something really silly. It happens when you read about these numb-nuts! I guess I should not drink at the computer.

[Maynar]

38. The only way I can stomach

Newtie at the computer IS to drink.

And I don't drink ze milk, non?

[lunasun]

39. Dont count yer debates b4 they are hatched newtie

[Centrik]

40. Newt, you're a nut case

Keep on watching your favorite Pluto Nash movie, and day dream about an unrealistically large moon base. You're not going to win the race to be the president. And that's, that.

[karynnj]

43. Ususally it is in the incumbent President's interest NOT to debate

The debates put the two men on the same stage in the same way. All other times, the President is seen with the panoply of the Presidency. The President can ask for and get coverage where he is speaking directly to everyone from the oval office. The President can, in his role of President, visit a military base and enter to the strains of "Hail to the Chief".

It is unlikely that Newt will be the nominee, but if he is, he will not be in a position where he has much leverage in setting the terms for the debate. Not to mention, he has an inflated opinion of his ability in debating. He completely LOST a non-moderated debate on climate change with John Kerry - even conceding - after Kerry aggressively pushed him - that the situation was urgent. Obama, at this point, knows all the issues backward and forward and is at least as good a speaker as Newt - in addition, Obama is one of the most charming people there is in politics - and Newt one of the least. The last point would not matter in the scoring of the debate by experts, but it may be the most important difference to voters watching.

Newt needs to consider that an unmoderated debate given each person an enormous chance to let the viewer understand their position the way they see it. Newt sees himself as more likable than his image - which he is not. Additionally, he sees his vision (conservatism) as the real majority view. It isn't. There are two competing views of rural America - the rugged individual and the people who banded together into communities to all succeed. Both have their roots in our history. I suspect that the former is seen more in our mythology, while the latter is more reflected in immigrant communities where in many places everybody did raise barns for each other.

In urban America, more people benefited from the bravery of the early union organizers, who fought their generation's 1% to improve the lives of the 99%. It is because of them that everyone - not just union members - get things like vacation, paid sick days, health insurance and other benefits. It is because of them that the various work place safety laws exist. Many poor white male, Rush Limbaugh listeners don't really understand that it is those people - who they would call socialists - who have given them many things they take for granted.

Last summer, my husband and I were on vacation with a British friend, who is a high school English teacher. She spoke of the class looking at political posters - in Britain and the US. One they absolutely did not get and were mystified by was the Republican version of the famous Hope poster, which had the word "socialism" and Obama in white face. They were appalled by the image and they didn't understand why "socialism" - as we are not socialist and it is not a negative word (to them).

Gingrich represents a world where that poster resonates. I think it repels a majority of the country. The more the Republican race causes Romney to repeat RW mantras to compete with Gingrich, the less acceptable he will be. One reason it is hard to beat any incumbent President is that many how are not passionate supporters of one party or the other are deeply offended by anything that is perceived as unfairly attacking the President.

[Maeve]

44. Go back to your book tour, Newton. No one gives a fig. eom

[wordpix]

45. Noot is Moot - good bumper sticker

[bemildred]

46. Sorry Newt, the News Media is not running for President.

This ain't going to work either.

[cstanleytech]

47. Didnt Bush and fox news use a similar tactic when it came to the majority of the press?

I mean of bashing the press as being "liberal" and out to get him and the GOP base fell for it hook, line and sinker?