(CNN) - GOP White House hopeful Mitt Romney picked up the endorsement of the Washington Examiner Wednesday, a boost from an editorial page with a long history in conservative politics.
In an editorial that spends as much space slamming Newt Gingrich as it does praising Romney, the Examiner declares Romney "the only Republican who can beat Obama," citing recent polls that show the former Massachusetts governor faring better against President Barack Obama than Gingrich.
"The Washington Examiner believes Romney can defeat Obama, but Gingrich cannot," the newspaper wrote. "And Romney the businessman is far better suited to the nation's highest office - by temperament, experience, and cast of mind - than Gingrich the consummate Washington insider. By fits and starts over the years, Romney has become the reliable conservative that America so badly needs at this crucial moment in her history."
The editorial goes on to deride Gingrich's role consulting with Freddie Mac after he left Congress.
"The fact is, Gingrich is part of the problem, not part of the solution," the newspaper wrote. "He has tried mightily to shift attention away from his Washington insider status, saying, 'I have never done lobbying of any kind.' But that claim simply does not square with the facts, especially concerning Gingrich's lobbying Republicans in Congress for a new Medicare entitlement in 2003."
The Washington Examiner doesn't shy away from questioning Gingrich's appeal to voters for his past personal transgressions, writing that Gingrich is far from a "blank slate."
"It should be remembered that he is the only Speaker ever to be reprimanded by the House of Representatives, and was ordered to pay $300,000 in penalties because of his ethical transgressions," the paper wrote. "It also needs to be remembered that he was engaging in an adulterous affair with a twenty-something aide (now his wife) even as he was preparing the impeachment of President Clinton for having an adulterous affair with a twenty-something intern."
The Examiner cites three items it said sealed their endorsement of Romney: his solid governing plan that would begin the day he took office, his record of job creation, and his faith in American exceptionalism.
"Romney will bring back to the Oval Office a faith in the ability of every individual to achieve his or her greatest hopes, and an unwavering pride in America and its limitless potential for greatness," the paper wrote. “He understands the American dream because his family has lived it.”
From CNN Politics
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I agree. Romney is the only one who can beat Obama. It will be a tough race but he's cut out for the job
wishful thinking
i still don't comprehend how Romney is "the only one that can beat Obama." how is he going to win a general election when his OWN party doesn't like him!?
At this stage, the only opinions that really matter are the republicans voting in the primary. Liberal opinions are worth nothing right now.
The Washington Examiner is a owned by the Moonies, so figures they would promote another cult member.
Good for them. I think that Romney would be a great president. I haven't decided yet who will get my vote. Maybe mitt maybe newt. The other candidates are a wasted vote. They couldn't compete with obama.
I guess that the American Dream must have changed from being able to work your way up to being born with a silver spoon if they are saying that Romney has lived it. I don't get it. All of the things that they profess or wish for in a candidate, Obama has in abundance.
We agree Romney will be nominated and be the President of the United states. ROMNEY 2012
Romney 2012! Goodbye Obama.
kayla' I agree with you. wishful thinking indeed!!!
No rethug can possible beat Obama/2012
Republicans have 4 choices to pick from to run against Obama and none of them pass the smell test. There is Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Newt Rompney and Mitt Gingrich, the 4 devils they don't know vs Obams, the devil they do know and they prrefer what they know rather than the 4 they don't know.
By fits and starts over the years, Romney has become the reliable conservative that America so badly needs at this crucial moment in her history."
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Very well stated. There is a significant amount of work to be done in Washington and it will take someone with Mitt Romney's ability to develop a set of objectives, create a plan to get there and to manage that process through all of the resistance and challenges. Hopefully the Independents are on board like they were in 2010 and we also get a Senate to will support that work.
The Koch brothers et. al. believe they can manipulate Romney better than Gingrich. This conservative rag is like a written version of Fox News. That may be true in that Romney changes his positions like other change their socks – and GZingrich has a history of betraying those who trust him.
"It should be remembered that he is the only Speaker ever to be reprimanded by the House of Representatives, and was ordered to pay $300,000 in penalties because of his ethical transgressions," the paper wrote. "It also needs to be remembered that he was engaging in an adulterous affair with a twenty-something aide (now his wife) even as he was preparing the impeachment of President Clinton for having an adulterous affair with a twenty-something intern." This is concerning Gingrich and it is the truth.
Romney, however, is a flip-flopper and won't get the support of evangelicals who truly believe Mormonism is a cult. The republicans are losers. They have no one qualified to match Obama.
I personally think all news outlet, whether they are news papers, TV channels, or website, should be as fair and impartial as possible.
While I agree that Newt's history is very bad, I don't think the news should "pick winners and losers."
Besides, it isn't like Romney has a good history either since he voted for the TARP and constantly changes positions.
I won't say who I've voting for but I'll let you he has never flip flopped and has a dependable voting history.
He can get all of the endorsements he wants, conservatives don't like him and he's going to lose the nomination to Newt. Just the way it is.
Who polls best among independents? Ron Paul.
If it came down to Gingrich and Obama. I would probably vote Obama. I side more with Gingrich's policies than obama's. But ethically, Gingrich is at the bottom of the list of any candidate on either side
This Shoot-from-the-Hip Gingrich scares me. A president who talks like him would not go over well with world leaders.
He's antagonistic, promises more than he can deliver(his failure to get term limits, official English, and the balanced
budget amendment made into law.)
Vote for Mitt Romney!!!
I'm not too worried about Mr 1%, AKA Flip Flopper winning the nomination. This guy has 0 scruples. America will hopefully see through his facade.
The Onion thinks so too...
They just want to beat President Obama. Doesn't matter that the person is not qualified.
Their is a choice in the Gop,
1. Flop-Flop Willard..Hot/cold..East/West..north/south, He will be what ever he needs to be according to the crowd
he is talking to.
2.Newt...Wow the God Father of sleeze. HE is perfect for the Rightous/Family Values Republicans {our crap don't
stink}.
3.The rest of the circus, low numbers and nobody cares.