(CNN) – Newt Gingrich's campaign sent letters to certain TV stations Friday warning them against airing a commercial paid for by a super PAC supporting Mitt Romney.
According to the letter, the campaign claims the ad is "fundamentally NOT TRUE."
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Produced by the group Restore Our Future, the commercial is set to air in Georgia, a state Gingrich formerly represented as congressman, as well as other Super Tuesday states.
The spot claims Gingrich co-sponsored a 1989 bill with then-Rep. Nancy Pelosi "that would have given $60 million a year to a U.N. program supporting China's brutal one-child policy."
But the former House speaker claimed the ad is "unequivocally false."
Titled "Global Warming Prevention Act," the bill at issue was introduced while Gingrich was still a congressman but never passed. Along with supporting stricter fuel standards for cars and alternative energy, the legislation also called for sending money to developing countries to promote clean energy standards.
The bill proposed sending money to the U.N. Population Fund, some of which would go to China, but one section in the bill stipulated that no funds should go towards backing involuntary sterilization, abortion, or family planning coercion.
And while it's true Gingrich co-sponsored the legislation with Pelosi, there were a total of 144 House members who also sponsored the bill, according to PolitiFact.
On Friday, the campaign demanded the TV stations immediately refuse or cease airing the ads and "refrain from broadcasting their content until such time as the libelous statements have been removed."
The letter warned if the stations broadcast the ad after receiving the letter, they will be knowingly airing a "false statement" and potentially liable for defamatory communication.
Last month, Team Gingrich made a similar move and called on TV stations to ban another ad by Restore Our Future that claimed Gingrich was fined for an ethics violation during his tenure as speaker. Gingrich maintained he was forced to pay a "reimbursement," not a fine.
The candidate has long pushed back against negative ads from the super PAC, as well as Romney's campaign. Since placing second in Florida's primary last month, Gingrich has largely attributed negative ads for his recent decline in the polls and disappointing finishes in other contests.
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From CNN Politics
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When you are as big a liar as this fat blowhard you aren't in a position to be asking for anything.
GET OUT or...
Gingrich must simply put 'GET OUT' of the kitchen if he can't stand the smoke. Fact? this is just one facet of advertising during political campaigns. There's no way Gingrich will win on this one. If he cannot stand Romney's smoke during the primary campaign, how will he endure Obama's FIRE during the general election if he wins the nomination?
Nancy Pelosi is ready to open a 'BAG OF WORMS' to further expose him...he better me ready for the bellowing fire that's ahead.
Gingrich, you better 'GET OUT' or 'SHUT UP!", and grin and bear it!
What a crybaby, here we go again. More threats from angry Newt. Funny how Gingrich didn't seem to mind much that his SuperPac was airing a 30 min. false ad about Romney and his time at Bain in Florida until several days later when it was proven to be a complete hoax! I never heard Romney whining or threatening T.V. networks then. Go home Gingrich...your chance at the Whitehouse is over!
Oh how quickly Republicans declare dollars to be fungible when applied to insurance companies paying for contraception coverage. Now Newt wants to point out how the bill stipulated that "no funds should go towards backing involuntary sterilization, abortion, or family planning coercion." Doesn't that just free up other ROC dollars for the purpose? Once the station takes money for an ad, the courts have ruled that they cannot pull it based on content, even if the ad is blatantly false. Only if they can prove "actual malice" and that the ad is defamatory, can they pull it. Newt knows this. He's just trying to earn some free media riding on Santorum's coattails.
HAHAHAHA!!! Coming from Gingrich whose middle name should be "fundamentally not true" this is a case of pot calling kettle black; Gingrich, the biggest liar on the face of the Earth and he has the cojones to complain about someone else's ad's being fundamentally not true.... HYSTERICAL!
Really, is that all you have to do ? Someone should have told Kerry when he was Swift-boated.
Just about every word out of Gingrich's mouth for the last 2 decades has been a distortion of the truth. He can dish it out, but he sure can't take it.
"unequivocally false." Isn't that the GOP's motto? All they do is spew lies and hatred anyway. Gangrene, go home to your plastic wife and forget about ever being POTUS.
Obama 2012!
Seriously Newt? Just who do you think your are, anyway? Why don't you take plastic Barbie and go home? You will NEVER get into the Oval Office unless you are there to clean it.
"fundamentally" is a word the Gingeritch uses way to much.
And why does he always think he can demand things of other people?
He's not the supreme ruler yet, he’s not even the grand lizard of the pea-brains yet ....not fundamentally .....
Gingrich should simply let the civil courts handle such DEFAMATORY remarks seeking an injunction, a freezing of the PAC's funds and damages from the Superpac and ALL of those involved in what would be construed as a CONSPIRACY. The depositions would make great fodder for the public and for the Democratic party.
you mean similar to the smear campaigns and witch hunts you lead as Speaker of the House!? it really stinks being on the other side of this stuff, doesn't it Newt!?
Fat Newt is a fine one to be calling something libelous after he mistakenly and with ill intent attempts to link President Obama to Saul Alinsky. What a hypocrite.
Newt , Mitt and Rick are dislikable , wasteful self centered.
They bring out the worst of a past I hope we leave behind.
The three faces of denial !
Sorry Anonymous, most of the ad abut Romney's time at Bain was true, there were some exagerations. Romney is the ultimate example of vulture captialism.
Newt "THE HOOT" Gingrich can dish out the hate, racist language and lies but he can't take it. Well "Fat Boy", if ya can't stand the heat, get outta the kitchen. You come off sounding like some "BlowHard" with your demands to remove ads. STFU and sue the people if you do not like what they have done. People are not scared of your threatening big mouth.
Whine, whine, whine... Newt, it's not going to get you anywhere. Your stay on the stage is way overdue, please pack your bags and go.
That's some pretty BIG threats there fat man. threatening a TV station because your past is coming back to haunt you. Did you co sponsor the bill? YES. Did the bill what to send money to other countries though the UN? YES. Does China control its population as a whole? YES. Did you just threaten AMERICAN companies and workers if they did business with your opponents?YES. desperation as the END closes in.
Actually, Newt has a point. Lots of these ads are way over the top and those that are blatantly false should be pulled. We already have laws against speech involving deliberate lies, so I don't see this as a free speech issue. These ads decrease the effectiveness of our political system, so kudos to Newt.
A GOP candidate's PAC (read: surrogate attack dogs) is running ads that are negative, and out-of-context ?? I am shocked, I tell you – Shocked!
Who fukina cares Newt? You're done anyway... please step to the side so the circus can continue without interruption.
The letter warned if the stations broadcast the ad after receiving the letter, they will be knowingly airing a "false statement" and potentially liable for defamatory communication.
That's Funny!
Newt don't like to be one upped.
Sorry fatty, you started this atmosphere of negativity yers ago.
Deal with it
Romney and his Seamus 2012 poopshooter double barrel weapon. Still no plan Willard we have been waiting 5 years. Yes 5 years of campaigning and still more of the same. Tear down everyone around you. Kinda like gutting a company I suppose. I imagine if someone was telling lies on me I would be saying the same as Speaker Gingrich.
Instead of calling it "the Republican primary," perhaps they can just call it the "GOP Whinefest." That's all you people seem to do. You attack someone then you whine like a spoiled brat when it's turned back on you. Gingrich, Romney, and Santorum all seem to fit this characterization really well.
so let me get this straight, he wants the adds removed because they are true? yo'all want this guy to be president?
Didn't Newty start all the negative ads? Don't start something that you can't finish!