(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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Eureka...I totally agree with the RNC here. What the GOP now needs more than ever is more guys willing to keep up the attacks on Obama's past, despite the fact that he won, question his citizenship in the Courts, and fire up our racist religo-nut head real American Joe Six-Pack base. We lost so many seats in Congress and the WH because we obviously didn't push this tactic far enough. Not because we completely allienated the interests of our moderate republicans sellouts, those pesky flip-flopping independents, and grossly underestimated the power of the interent to increase new voter turnout amoung young people and minorities. Please RNC...how can I help??? Maybe a KKKanvas for votes?
what gives? nothing STUCK...absolutely nothing they did to scandalize the man's name nothing worked...let it go and you still wonder why you nut heads lost...people want so much more than this!
stop wasting your pennies on ads you should be saving your money you will need it
What's great is that the RNC just doesn't yet understand ho wmuch smarter Obama is than all of them. He's wawiting until next week to release the findings of his internal investigation NOT because it will be buried in the holidays, but because further delay gives the RNC more rope with which to hang itself. Hook, line and sinker boys. The GOP deserves a Darwin Award.
Yes lets all bury our heads in the sand and play like Obama was never a part of the Illinois corruption and he did not know there was anything wrong in Chicago.
HE did not know all the illegal dealings were going on and he did not know that crooked deals were being made all around him and he was not envolved in anything.
Obama did not try to get his pick placed in the vacant senate seat, nor did anyone he knew have contact with Blagojevich.
Of course, Gingrich and McCain are both publicly calling attention to the video while distancing themselves from it. Are they really separating themselves from smear tactics - or supporting them?
Great job Newt, maybe you can convice some of the Obama-haters that post here daily that working together is the RIGHT thing to do instead of being divisive.
Geeze... Some people just want to HATE everything and anything. Gingrich is correct. Get on with business and quit being childish, immature and SO hateful. Who needs people like the RNC if all they want to do is sling mud and HATE. Boy o boy... Who's running that bunch of crap. Move on towards the future. The American people HAVE SPOKE!
Newt must be up to something.
Finally, Newt has a position that I can agree with. The RNC obviously cares nothing about the country but only themselves by running this ad now. Note to RNC....The election is over....Obama will be our President........GET OVER IT and help him try to clean up the mess W created over the past 8 years..........
The country is facing such grave problems that affect all Americans and the Republicans are still playing negative politics. We need to solve our problems and that requires Republicans and Democrats to work together. Thank you Gingrich and McCain for speaking on behalf of all Americans.
Just Keep it up RNC....this is a major reason why CHANGE was & will continue to be voted in and the Repubs and the same old crap has been and will also continue to be VOTED OUT!
Yeah, just KEEP IT UP!!
Newt Gingrich is on target this time. No "Drama Obama" is like the teflon man. He can take critical remarks or whatever the opposite political party throws at him, and he "stays on message". The opposing partiy is only "shooting themselves in the foot". Four years from now when this country is "back on track" the other political party will wish they would have made some helpful suggestions to President Obama so that they could say "we helped President Obama in time of need".
America first !!
Partisan politics is a disservice to America during this very trying times. Great Newt !
I am not suprised really. This is the only kind of politics RNC knows.
Look at America for the Truth comments, seems like Democrats resort to name calling if anyone has a legitimate dissent. And of course CNN does not publish any contrary comments. Where is America headed. Kinda reminds me of the old Soviet Union. Expect Obama T-shirt clad people to knock in my door any second now and arrest me.
It's really amazing how President elect Obama has managed to set
the tone for positive behavior in everyone. I believe we are going to unite across the isle like never before in history.
First time for everything....I couldn't agree with Newt more!!! Right now, our country is in too much of a slump to be continuing to campaign. The election is over and your guy lost. Now is the time to come together and help each other come up with real ideas and ways to fix our economy. The time for campaigning is over!! Obama can do nothing right to please these people. Every move he makes he is criticized, will you let him get in office first??
Get on with the people's business!
I am SO sick of this nasty venemous kind of politics the RNC is playing. Wake up Repubicans!!! This is one reason people have defected from the party. They are sick & tired of this negative nasty kind of garbage. Look in the mirror– the GOP isn't exactly the poster child for honesty & integrity in politics, you know!!!
This is unbelieveable. This is the reason many republicans (like me) voted for Obama in the first place. To continue with this negative image makes me ashame to say that I am a republican. I mean, give me a break. Even after the investigation found no wrong doing with any of Obama's team, they still won't let it go. Oh well.... Obama/Biden til 2016!!!
All 12.8million people from Illinois are corrupt politicians
Hey Ronnie....
OBAMA is from Illinois
OBAMA must be involved in Blago-gate
Seriously...what could he possibly have to gain from being involved? Money? Are you insane? How much money could he possibly get a cut from?
When Preseidents want to get rich they declare wars on countries that were minding their own business, run up trillion dollar wartime deficits and give no-bid contracts to companies they own stock in.
I read this post and my jaw dropped, wow! First time Newt's ever said anything I could respect (although me thinks he's looking ahead for a possible office run again). But until there is proof that Obama is connected to Blagojevich, then the RNC and people like Ron should shut up. You just make yourselves look bad when you try to smear dirt on someone else's face.
Cheney served under Richard Nixon.
Dear RNC, this is one of the reasons you guys lost and lost big this year. It will probably be the reason you will lose even more in the future. You cannnot seem to learn by your mistakes. The Gov was taped calling Obama names. It is clear there is no actual link. Stop with the stupid tactics, it loses elections. DUH
CNN please continue to request a comment from RNC.
Gingrich is right...The American people are sick and tired of this.