(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."
Newt should shut his mouth, drop out, and do what he does best: lie and cheat his way to more money. I would rather have an amoeba running this country than his greedy, pompous self.
LOL, neither one of them wiill be the nominee
and I would not vote for Newt Gingrich...
probably the best endorsement Ron Paul could ever get!
Ron Paul is most electable candidate in GOP part
Newt cant even get enough votes to get on the ballot in virgina who cares who he votes for, i think Dr. Paul will do just fine without the endorsement of a lobbyist
When both sides of the isle are attacking him the man is doing something right.
Ron Paul 2012!
Who wrote those remarks for you Newt? Was it the Powell-Tate PR Firm? You know, the place where Lance Morgan works? You know, Lance Morgan, the husband of Gloria Borger. Or maybe it was the Rendon Group. Newt, you think that people are ignorant of your background. Like you being a member of the Defense Policy Board. Your affiliations with the Office of Special Plans or the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq and many many more things while on K Street.
So I see Newt is now classfying what a decent American is? Also, I do believe Ron Paul dievowed the newsletters.....back in 2008 and earlier. And Newt, I do not think Ron Paul has any house ethics violations...you received 86 or so. Better rethink your self classification of a "decent" American.
Although Dr. Paul has disavowed the newsletters, contrary to what Mr. Gingrich says in the article, they were still published with his blessing. To me, this represents the inherent flaw in Libertarianism that no one wants to admit – it is not the additional responsibly that is desired, it is the lack of accountability.
Ron Paul's foreign policy is naive and dangerous. He stands to the left Obama with is policies of appeasement guised as fiscally conscious but in reality grounded in the best traditions of Lew Rockwell et. al.
"I think Ron Paul's views are totally outside the mainstream of virtually every decent American," ... Gingrich is obviously not a very bright man ... or woman or troll or whatever he is supposed to be....
Newt is really doubling down on this, this must mean Ron Paul has more support than he does. I mean why would he talk about RP if if was so much better? Looks like classic beltway smoke and mirrors.
The headline should read Newt supports Obama over Ron Paul.
NO to Ron Paul.... NOT now and NOT ever!
Foreign Policy will always be Ron Paul's Achilles' heel and FATAL flaw.
Vast majority of the conservative Republican primary base will rally behind Newt but NOT Mitt nor Ron Paul.
Ya, count Me as one of the indecent Americans' , as if he would know! Ron Paul is a TRUE christian, a true patriot, a
true congressman, and a true American. Beware of imitations, specially those wolves who are scared of Iran, yet bomb the only muslim country that actually HAS A NUKE!!!
Newt, you're awkward and weird. I don't know whose hanging out with you and telling you that you're cool, or that you're even nearly mainstream.
I know people who don't know anything about Politics who tell me they hate Mr. Gingrich.
Go back to Virginia, and no, you won't be on the ballot there. Be sure not to punch your neighbors in the nose like we know you all want to.
Paul 2012
"I think Ron Paul's views are totally outside the mainstream of virtually every decent American," Gingrich said. "I mean, he doesn't even have a Tiffanny's account!." He continued smugly.
Now now Newtie, you're getting awfully close to being negative.
How about Selling the Iraq War via Ahmed Chalabi (US paid him over $300,000 a month to tell falsehoods about WMD in Iraq etc) or "Curveball"????
I wouldn't vote for either one of them.
They're both regressive social neanderthals unfit for office.
Newt's opinions are irrelevant considering he flew from a big first to third place in Iowa and other states. Ron Paul 2012!
Ron Paul is the Neville Chamberlin of the GOP. His isolationist views of the world are supremely dangerous for America. Ask any world war 2 veteran if what happens in other countries doesn't effect America. That dangerous view, a view espoused by Dr. Paul, is one of the prime reasons several hundred thousand Americans lost their lives.
memine wrote:
Newt is a liar. Ron Paul has repeatedly disavowed the newsletters.
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Well, then Ron Paul is a liar, too. Dr. Paul has views that I would describe as isolationist. He feels that our military should be less involved around the world, and stop acting like the policemen of the world. I would agree with that sentiment because that is what destroyed the British Empire a century ago. But, Dr. Paul extends that isolationist sentiment all the way down to Main Street. Like his son, Rand, Ron Paul believes that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 should be repealed because they feel it violates the 1st Amendment freedom of speech.
The Pauls feel that you have a fundamental right to be a bigot, which means Dr. Paul would be president for only some of The People, not all of The People. Dr. Paul is also the darling of a number of white supremacist groups, which he fails to disavow.
Boo hoo! Paul probably wouldn't vote for Gingrich either. And *I* wouldn't vote for any Republican.
GOOD! If he did, it would make me feel so....dirty. LOL