Gingrich wouldn't vote for Ron Paul
(CNN) - Newt Gingrich said Tuesday he wouldn't vote for Ron Paul if the Texas congressman won the 2012 GOP nomination.
Speaking to CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Gingrich slammed Paul as out of line with mainstream Republican viewpoints, including his stance on Israel, Iran, and September 11.
"I think Ron Paul's views are totally outside the mainstream of virtually every decent American," Gingrich said on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer."
Gingrich continued: "He's got to come up with some very straight answers to get somebody to take him seriously. Would I be willing to listen to him? Sure. I think the choice of Ron Paul or Barack Obama would be a very bad choice for America."
When asked if he would be able to vote for Paul if his rival won the 2012 GOP nomination, Gingrich said unequivocally "No."
"I think it's very difficult to see how you would engage in dealing with Ron Paul as a nominee," Gingrich said. "Given the newsletters, which he has not yet disowned. He would have to go a long way to explain himself and I think it would be very difficult to see today, Ron Paul as the Republican nominee."
Paul's role in writing newsletters with racist remarks came under increased scrutiny last week as polls showed the Texas rising in popularity among Iowa voters. The most recent, from the American Research Group, shows Paul, Gingrich and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in a dead heat for first place. Paul has indicated he did not write all of the content in his newsletters and had not read some of it before publication.
In responding to negative ads Paul's campaign has released slamming Gingrich's record as a conservative, the former House speaker said the spots were inaccurate.
"You look at Ron Paul's record of systemic avoidance of reality, his ads are about as accurate as his newsletter," Gingrich said.
Gingrich named Paul's stance on Iran as representative of Paul's extremist viewpoints.
"He's not going to get the nomination. It won't happen," Gingrich said. "The people in the United States are not going to accept somebody who thinks it's irrelevant if Iran gets a nuclear weapon."
Paul's campaign responded to Gingrich Tuesday, calling his remarks "childish."
"Frustration from his floundering campaign has Newt Gingrich showing who he really is: a divisive, big-government liberal," Paul Campaign Chairman Jesse Benton said. "Newt has a long record of standing against conservatives dating back to his support for liberal Nelson Rockefeller over Barry Goldwater, so this sort of childish outburst is nothing new."
From CNN Politics
- How Liz Cheney went from Republican scion to party pariah
- Elise Stefanik faces increased conservative headwinds in rise to leadership May 13, 2021 12:50 am
- Inhofe tells EPA nominee, 'if you don't behave, I'm going to talk to your daddy' May 13, 2021 12:45 am
- Colonial Pipeline not likely to pay millions in ransom demanded by hackers May 12, 2021 11:44 pm
- Federal prosecutor overseeing Rudy Giuliani probe stepping down May 12, 2021 11:09 pm
- Biden signs cybersecurity executive order, though rules wouldn't have applied to Colonial Pipeline May 12, 2021 10:51 pm
...and everyone else has been criticizing Ron Paul for not ruling out a third party run or promising to support the GOP candidate against Obama. Will Gingrich receive the same kind of criticism for this?
Ron Paul. Restore America. Big newt-selling books and insider information.Go away newt
Newt Gingrich taking his ball and goes home. Will Gingrich run as a third party candidate?
congratulations newt, you just ostracized a huge number of independents who believe ron paul is exactly what this country needs
This guy is an expert liar.
Why people continue to listen to him is beyond the comprehension of "any decent American" as he puts it.
"He's not going to get the nomination. It won't happen," Gingrich said.
AIN'T that the truth? Here come the Paul supporters in an uproar about REALITY - but let them enjoy their 15 mins. Bless their little (childish) hearts.
Good to know. That means one more vote for Obama! Give Paul the nomination!
So is Newt going to run third party if Paul wins the nomination? And I find it fascinating that the "left" and the "right" are hammering Paul from every possible angle. They usually fight each other so that one of them has control of the purse strings, but knowing that President Paul ends the gravy train, they are now uniting lockstep to squash the "Ron Paul problem". It's hilarious to watch all this unity going on between CNN, FOX, and MSNBC. Laughable.
The Revolution WILL NOT be televised.. Keep it up Mainstream Media... its not working.. even if Ron Paul doesnt win
he is indeed injecting true real issues... but its looking good!!! Oh and Newt... republicans find his defense mindset wrong?? then tell me... why does most of the military support him Wake up AMERICA!!!!!
The feeling is mutual, though hopefully we'll never see this in action. Signed, one of Newt's "indecent Americans"
No surprise that Newt would rather vote for Obama than Ron Paul. He's a whole lot more like Obama than he is Dr. Paul. I used to dislike Gingrich, now I'm learning to hate him.
Newt wouldn't vote for Ron Paul? Newt can't even vote for himself, because he didn't get on the ballet in his home state!
Ron Paul 2012!!!!
"I think Ron Paul's views are totally outside the mainstream of virtually every decent American," Gingrich said on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer."
This coming from the mouth of Mr Decent himself , Newt your bubble is about to POP !
"You look at Ron Paul's record of systemic avoidance of reality, his ads are about as accurate as his newsletter," Gingrich said.
'systemic avoidance of reality' So much for not going negative...
Obama 2012
I can think of a very large group of military personnel who might resent being categorically labeled as "indecent Americans."
It was the establishment's avoidance of reality, the very reality that Ron Paul warned of for decades and specifically detailed years in advance, that resulted in the huge debt, unemployment, housing crisis, and international ill will towards us, among other things. If that's "avoiding reality," then I'll take Ron Paul's fantasy over Gingrich's reality any day.
After reading Jeffrey Sachs book, I don't know who to believe. I think both the political and economic systems need to be overhauled. Oh and don't forget to religion too.
The truth will set you free America! Ron Paul 2012
I wouldn't vote for Ron Paul either...The man is dangerous and so is Gingrinch!
Gingrich is the spokesperson for the dying GOP. He's for war-mongering foreign policy and big-spending domestic policy. In other words the dying GOP is merging with the Obamacrats.
So basically – You are more concerned with Israel than you are with the USA. You should go run for President of Israel then.
that is so funny! I don't think Ron Paul would vote for New Gingrich either
These political comment boards are a waste of time. No one reads this format. What a waste of CNN money. Doug.
There is no "if" Iran gets nukes. Nuclear weapons control works about as well as gun control.
Newt is a liar. Ron Paul has repeatedly disavowed the newsletters. Ron Paul is NOT is line with mainstream Republicans...THAT'S WHY SO MAY AMERICANS LIKE HIM!
If CNN were treating Gingrich with the same "fairness" they gave Ron Paul, there would be 3 different Opinion pieces tomorrow asking "Will Gingrich Run 3rd Party?" "The Gingrich 3rd Party Scenario" and "Is Gingrich too 'Mainstream' for a 3rd Party Run?"
Does anyone here actually expect to see those articles tomorrow?