Gingrich went too far, says Buchanan
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/08/17/art.gingrich.buchanan.8.17.10.gi.jpg caption =" Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich, left, is being criticized by conservative stalwart Pat Buchanan."]
(CNN) - Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's latest comments regarding the controversial Islamic center near the site of the 9/11 World Trade Center attack are being called "absurd" - from no less a conservative stalwart than Pat Buchanan.
Speaking on MSNBC on Tuesday, the former presidential candidate and conservative commentator said recent comments from Gingrich likening the proposed project to the hanging of a Nazi symbol outside the Holocaust Museum were merely part of the former Speaker's efforts to appear more controversial than Sarah Palin.
"Newt is a political opportunist," Buchanan said. "What Newt is doing is he's trying to get out and be more flamboyant and more charismatic, if you will, and more controversial than Sarah Palin, who is his primary challenger, if he gets into Iowa and New Hampshire. She will take all his oxygen and a lot of his support."
Both Palin, the former vice presidential nominee, and Gingrich are thought to be among the leading Republicans considering a presidential bid next year.
Gingrich's original comments came Monday, when in an apperance on Fox News he targeted President Obama for appearing to support the proposed controversial construction near ground zero.
"Nazis don't have the right to put up a sign next to the Holocaust Museum in Washington," Gingrich said, adding, "We would never accept the Japanese putting up a site next to Pearl Harbor."
"I think bringing the Nazis into the argument is always absurd in American politics, because there is no valid comparison there," Buchanan said. "And secondly, you know, you bring that in, and that's all we start talking about. So I think Newt went too far with that comment. But I know why he's doing it."
Buchanan is no stranger to controversial statements - he's perhaps best known for his 1992 Republican National Convention speech that, among other things, derided abortion rights and the homosexual rights movement.
This guy is just another right-wing extremist. Only the empty-headed and numb believe anything he and his hate & fear pushing cronies say. ALL extremism should be avoided as it just leads to death and hate. Gingrich and his ilk (especially the Faux 'news' people) seem to worship hate and are spreading it and lies all the time. It's pretty easy to do when a large percentage of the population are obviously uneducated and pretty stupid.
Steve in Denver....
Great post!!!! Right on the mark......
I never thought I'd see the day again when groups are ostracized for their differences. Each voting block that went for Obama have had to endure the wrath of the right-wing through FOX, Republicans and the kooks. Blue-collar workers denied unemployment benefits. Senior citizens told that their social security should be privatized and medicare ended. Women's rights under seiged in varying states. Latinos facing deportation regardless of whether they are documented or citizens or not. African Americans seeing the erosion of long fought for rights. No matter the group, the right-wing has declared war against them.
But two of the most frightening events this summer was Shirley Sherrod situation and that Newt's statements were not vilified by more so-called leaders including Obama. Sherrod's history took me back to those long hot summers of southern marches just to gain the right to drink from any fountain anyone wanted to use. Worse, her long history and that of her husband's had been forgotten, it had to be GOOGLED and good journalism also confirmed her a shero. Finally, is this America when a so-called leader can say what Newt did on FOX and not be shamed for it. Too much blood has been spilled, too much blood continues to be shed for that individual to dismiss a fellow American, just because of their God. And my son is in Afghanistan fighting to give that person that right and he would dare belittle my son's sacrifice. This, people, is what the discussion is about!
Stupid is as Stupid does
Racism is, as racism does
The tactics of the GOP disgust me ... how bout you ???
When an old racist like Pat Buchanan says you went to far, you have went too far. Newt is a old washed up has been nobody under the age of 60 is going to vote for him in a national election. Please run him against Obama it will make a lot of people's day. I don't agree with Obama's stance on the Mosque, but I would still vote for him before I put a blatant racist in the white house.
What so many Americans don't realize is near Pearl Harbor, another dark mark in our nation's history, are two, not one, but two Shintoist Temples that have never been argued about and many Hawaiians visit them every day.
When are the repubs going to realize that they are the Talibans' employees that WE are paying for?
This is only a distraction for them not answer questions such as:
– How do the Bush Tax cuts pay for themselves, reduce the deficits and create jobs?
– What are your solutions to get the fix the economy you screwed up?
– What are your plan for Iran and North Korea?
– What are your plans to get us off those extremists' oil?
What are your plans on comprehensive immigration, now that Obama has signed $600Mil for border security that you asked for?
Sensitivity/Opinion/Preference from Dem or GOP is TOTALLY IRRELEVANT. The Constitution says they have the right, THEN NOTHING ELSE MATTERS. It's the president's job to stand for the constitution, even when the public does not agree.
That's called: COJONES!!!
Just because $arah $aid that he's insensitive, does not make it true you teabaggers!!
Watch the whole clip when Obama made the comment that night. HE STARTED BY SAYING HOW MUCH HE UNDERSTOOD AND FELT THEIR PAIN.
But you guys just LOVE TO HATE!!!
@David03:
1. The taxes have gone DOWN for the Middle Class.
2. The Bush tax cuts for the upper ......1% ........ will end.
BTW the Republicans were in charge of Congress from 1994-2007 (January). How did that work for ya?
Bush created a grand .......total....... of........one million jobs in 8 years (fact, look it up)
And ran the Nation's Economy into the ditch. Now IF Americans loved the GOP SO much........... then vote for them in NOvember! IF not........ America......... vote NO for the Party of NO in NOvember!
PS. The Republicans have managed to INSULT and ALIENATE:
Women...... Muslims......... African-Americans........ Gays & Latinos..... and ALL immigrants, who will vote for the GOP in NOvember?
So not ok to build a mosque close to ground zero, but ok to protest at a soldier's funeral that died fighting to save our CONSTITUTION?!?! I just don’t get these double standards.
Peace 🙂
If anyone knows about going too far it's Newt. Unless it's Rove.
The sleeping bigot has certainly lost it about the mosque.
Newt is just another republican idiot trying to become president by using the old concord and divide that puts one american against the other and before anyone can realize it he is in charge its never about the solution its always about the none economic ones they are easy to use and in the end there will be more hatred towards one another just what the republican party wants IT IS CALLED FEAR THEY ARE COMING TO GET YOU SO RUN TO A REPUBLICAN DO YOU REALLY WANT TO BUY IN TO THAT AGAIN
I wonder how someone can still call him/herself republican in USA.
Here are the fundamentals of the republican belief that should make everyone cringe:
1- They are patriot. They love the constitution. They defend the various amendments, ...if it has to do with
-guns,
-christian religion,
-money and taxes
-abortion
2-They support the president, or a co-worker if they are arien race or nearly
3-they support the troops, if they are going to war, and not at all after if they are black.
4-They would banckrupt the country if they can make a buck in China at no cost, so we end up with an unfavorable balance of trade, (therefore foreign debt).
5-They want the government out of their lives,
6-Yet they want the government to spend more to protect their foreign investment, start wars to give them access to foreign markets,
7- and balance the budget,
I guess the constitution only works for some people if your not one of them then lets change it. Private property is just that and any citizen has the right to build if the zoning is ok. So change the zoneing and loose not only the mosic but also the girly bars and liquore stores that are within the 5 block area of the trade center. You deceide which is worse. I don't want to loose my relegious freedoms.
All these Republicans trying to outdo each other as being more right wing extremest. They are all lunatics, including Pat Buchanan.
When Buchanan starts to make sense, you know we have moved to another universe! I can't believe I am saying this but Buchanan is right.
I was just teasing. I really do support the Democrats and our President against these loser RepubliCANT.