Jacksonville, Florida (CNN) – In a nod to one of Florida's key voting blocs, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich attacked Mitt Romney Monday for vetoing funding for kosher food in nursing homes when he was governor of Massachusetts.
"Governor Romney imposed activities on the Catholic hospitals against their opposition religious institution, refused them to allow right of conscience in Romneycare," Gingrich said. "Just as, by the way, he eliminated serving kosher food for elderly Jewish residents under Medicare. I did not know this, it just came out yesterday."
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The crowd responded to the plight of these elderly residents with a collective audible groan.
The former House speaker was referring to a report over the weekend about a bill Romney vetoed in Massachusetts in 2003 to "reject $600,000 in additional funds for poor Jewish nursing-home residents to get kosher meals."
According to the New York Post story, that money was later restored in an amendment approved by the state legislature. Romney's veto came during a fiscal crisis in Massachusetts when vetoes to spending provisions were common. In 2003 Romney issued line-item vetoes on hundreds of spending provisions in the state legislature's proposed budget.
Romney spokesperson Andrea Saul said Gingrich's attack revealed the former speaker's desperation.
“It’s sad to see Speaker Gingrich lashing out in a desperate attempt to try and save his floundering campaign," Saul said. "Speaker Gingrich will say anything to distract voters from the fact that he suffered an unprecedented ethics reprimand, was forced to pay a $300,000 penalty, and resigned in disgrace at the hands of his own party. His record is one of failed and unreliable leadership and simply one Americans can't risk."
In Jacksonville, his first of five campaign stops the day before the Florida primary, Gingrich was making the case that the national health care law was modeled after the statewide health plan implemented when Romney was governor.
In 2008, Jewish voters accounted for 3% of the electorate in the GOP primary.
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From CNN Politics
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Newt you have looked really really desperate these last few days just slinging whatever you can up against the wall in hopes that something would still. For the love of Pete stop making yourself out as playing the part of the fool.
Now that's desparation. Long live the cheating Newt.
Repugnant politics: Sausage-making at its finest. Blood and guts politics. Everything but brains and hearts.
I think its so cool that Cain endorsed Gingwitch. One philanderer helps another. Its the Third Wives Club I guess.
Repugs are just confirming that they are good at slinging dirt at anybody, even their own party. I wonder what the Tbaggers think of all this stuff.
Oy vey!
Just when you think he can't get worse-he proves he can. Pitiful.
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
"Ready...Aim...FIRE"....Newt to Mitt
Sarah Palin and Herman Cain " ENDORSEMENTS" are "DEATH KISSES " to Newt Gingrich. The so-called "TEA-PARTY DUDES" are all "NUT-HEADS".
"In 2008, Jewish voters accounted for 3% of the electorate in the GOP primary."
Is that for all primaries or just Florida? If the latter, I'm quite surprised. There is a significant Jewish population in Florida. If so, it tells me many of them are voting Democrat.
No kosher food for Jewish seniors. Romney also took kids' Halloween candy away, cancelled Christmas, and clubbed a baby seal on live TV.
Give it up Newt; you're done.
Willard denied knishs and hummus to old jewish women. He's in trouble now. LOL
Newt, for someone who earned a doctorate by doing original research, you are remarkably bad at checking details and sources.
One guy named after an amphibian, and the other after a piece of baseball equipment. To carry on with the baseball analogy, Mitt is the prototype for the guy who was born on third base and thought he'd hit a triple. He only plays ball with the other 1%ers. He's the moneyball of politics (or maybe a foul ball), but he'll get thrown out before he reaches home plate. In the swing states, he'll be a swing and a miss.
Yes, one of the truly pressing needs of our country Newt.... Please stop this nonsense.
I think the elitist robot lost the kosher vote when he started cutting into that pig. Unless, of course, it turns out that pig was really the family dog getting its final reward for pooping on the robot's car roof.
The Pitiful Petty Award goes to NEWT!!
::wink, wink, nod, nod:: Romney is a True Conservative as directed by the Republican Elitists.
Gingrich wouldn't have cut that money. But, he would have made them do custodial work for it.
Someone should point out to Mr. Gingrich that he's advocating government sticking their nose into places where it does not belong. The government has no more right to require a Catholic nursing home to serve kosher food than it does to require a Jewish nursing home to serve pork.
Code for: He is a Mormon and hates our Jdeo Christian faith.
First he takes their kosher food, then after they die his church baptizes them Mormon In all seriousness though either one of makes Obama the only sane choice
@Data Driven – In Newt's defense, at least he ate the baby seal so it didn't go to waste.
What a treat pig guts rice and collard green.. down home ebonic.Bless.
Wow. Really hittin' the key issues. I hope one of these guys is elected President.