(CNN) – Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich isn’t happy with the Republican National Committee.
In a letter addressed Tuesday to Mike Duncan, chairman of the RNC, Gingrich slams the committee for releasing a recent Web video that seeks to connect Obama to embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
In a nearly three-minute spot entitled “Questions Remain,” the RNC seeks to raise questions about involvement by Obama or his staff in Blagojevich’s alleged plan to award Obama’s former Senate seat in exchange for political favors.
Gingrich calls the video a “destructive distraction” and asserts that the national committee “is engaged in the sort of negative, attack politics that the voters rejected in the 2006 and 2008 election cycles.”
Instead, “Republicans should be working to help the incoming president succeed in meeting” the “real challenges” the nation is facing, Gingrich writes to Duncan. When Republicans believe Obama is wrong, the GOP should “offer a better solution, instead of just opposing him,” Gingrich also wrote.
The letter ends with Gingrich’s suggestion that the RNC “pull the ad down immediately.”
Gingrich’s letter echoes recent comments from Obama’s former rival, Sen. John McCain. In a television interview Sunday, McCain also took issue with the video.
“In all due respect to the Republican National Committee,” McCain said, “right now, I think we should try to be working constructively together . . . on the economy stimulus package, reforms that are necessary.”
The RNC has not responded to CNN’s request for comment
From CNN Politics
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This just might be the last straw I think. They have learned nothing.
"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds" – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Hey Republicans...check Einstein's definition of insanity and give it a little thought.
I do agree, the ad is stupid, and as much as I hate to say is, Gingrich is right.
But here is what is funny, the Dems will slam this thing over and over again on this forum. They will yell and scream Obama won, get over it. The Repubs suck.
BUT,,,,
If you go the the one about the gal getting hurt from the shoe incident, there is a whole lot of comments about how Bush is stupid, he derserved to get shoes tossed at him, he is not liked, etc etc etc.
You know people, Obama won, so why not stop bashing Bush and Palin,,,, it is over. If you do not want Obama slammmed all the time, grow up and stop beating Bush and Palin down all the time.
I voted for McCain, I did not want Obama at all, but you know he got in. So we deal with it. I fear for myself and the country, but I will not say the man deserves to be slammed and insulted.
Here's a fact. We won't be able to vote out certain republicans...that's simply because some come from states that are seriously behind the times (ie: Republican infested), and they blindly vote for the most corrupt politician...which is always a republican.
But we can vote out those republicans of ours, that do not actively denounce these dividing tactics that their counterparts are pursuing. I say we take note of every republican in office. Silence is consent. If they are not condemning these tactics, then they are as guilty as those who are actively pursuing the tactics.
VOTE OUT ALL REPUBLICANS!
RNC LET"S ALL WORK TOGETHER TO FIX THE REAL ISSUES!!!!
THE ELECTION IS OVER YOU LOST GET OVER IT... AND MOVE FORWARD WITH SOMETHING POSITIVE.
The RNC just isn't happy unless it's attacking somebody. It's all most Republicans know how to do. If not attacking liberals, they're attacking Obama. And if not attacking him, they're attacking American workers by exporting jobs, strangling labor unions, rewarding the wealthy and CEOs with huge tax breaks and astronomical salaries. The public is sick to death of the GOP and its disgusting behavior!
I guess last Novembers election did not teach the RNC anything. Divide and conquer will not work anymore.
Stupid Repiglicans. They just dont get it. Why are they always trying to divide people? They had their turn. Now its ours.
To Chris in MI, I agree we need to stop acting like democrats
In elections Americans turn them into black and blue, Iraqis throwing shoes at them but still they dont get it. unbelievable.
True the election is over, and considering that just over half the nation dumb down and voted for an inexperience senator with a former drug habit, with friends that are vehemently anti-America, a 30 second spot linking Obama to Blagojevich is really a waste of time.
It's a SAD day when the RNC have to do such a thing. Our country is facing too many problems right now. Why don't we all just work together to try to bring the economy back up, help create more jobs, better education system and a safer place for us, not to mention change America's image.
Disgraceful.
Signed
Former Republican
AMEN.
The RNC wants to gin up the Clinton rules again. Look for more of the noise machine trying to drown out all the efforts we need to make our economy and our foreign policy better, not to mention all the other issues that need work after the past 8 years.
If Newt Gingrich is telling the RNC to stop throwing bombs, you know they've gone waaay around the bend.
WOW!
First McCain, and now Newt. Gotta hand it to these two for putting country before party. If only the remaining GOP members could open their eyes and realize that right now is not a time to be playing with fire, while our country is a dry tinder box.
Tired of W is right. The election is over. The losing party needs to work with the incoming President. Imagine how pleasant the last 8 years would have been if that had happened.
This is not the same Newt Gingrich I used to dislike. Wow – common sense!
One of a few smart things this guy has said.
No kidding! I never thought I'd agree with Gingrich on much, but he's right on with this. We're in a recession, nearing a depression, and the RNC wants to spend their money on advertisements against our not-yet-inaugurated President? Really? Come on!
Remember that all of the "Clintons are liars" "clintons are power hungry", etc, etc. started with this kind of conservative smear campaign, during the Clinton administration..
And then some years later, pro-Obama fans regurgatated the same neo-con stuff back up, without even realizing where it all started.
If years from now, the DNC is using this very rhetoric from this ad against Obama when he is out of favor, it will be karma indeed.
But I won't laugh because this continues politics as usual.
I do agree with Gingrich's comments but I still don't favor him. What is his motive behind these comments? Is he trying to rev up votes for his 2012 presidential run?
oh yes, i meant to give props to mccain too.
Obama needs all the help, because he is inexperienced, unqualified and immature.
Way to go Gingrich and McCain. I think maybe they are realizing that scare tactics and conspiracy theories are not getting their party anywhere.
The end of the world must be near: Hats off and gold stars to Newt and John McCain for putting the good of the country ahead of the usual slimy partisan politics!
The RNC finds it easier to attack Obama that to work on the challenges that face America: recession, housing crises, 2 wars, rising unemployment and sky-high deficit!
The RNC leadership is so yesterday ... party of "borrow and spend" & "fear and smear" refuses to roll up their sleeves, work with the new president for the good of America....
Again, thanks to the Republicans speaking up and speaking out for being patriots ... rather than blind, hate-filled partisans!
Duncan presided over much of the RNC's transformation into a band of misfits whose primary requirement for membership is disrespect and even hatred for a significant portion of Americans. Gingrich is right, but he didn't go far enough. Duncan needs to go, along with other polarizing figures and proxies whose only vision for the next 4 years is sniping at the President. The GOP needs to regain its place in the public debate by respect and inclusion of all Americans (even those with whom there are disagreements) and by never putting country behind party.