Gingrich: 'I was wrong'
(CNN) - Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who predicted Mitt Romney would win the presidential election in a clear victory, conceded Wednesday morning that his expectations were off.
"I was wrong," Gingrich said on CNN's "Starting Point with Soledad O'Brien."
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The former presidential candidate, who at one time ran as a fierce opponent against Romney in the GOP primary, said the president had a "very effective campaign." He also argued Republican leaders and GOP political observers were not in tune with what the population at large was seeking in a president.
"I think the country was looking at a different set of things than we were looking at," he said. "Republicans are going to have to take a very serious look at what happened and why did it happen and why were we not more competitive at the presidential level."
Handicapping the race, Gingrich had previously said Romney would get 53% of the popular vote and 300 or more electoral votes.
"This is a very serious moment," he argued. "Those of us who are Republican activists and some of the supposedly best analysts on our side in the conservative movement were just wrong. We have to think about what does that teach us."
He argued the GOP could work on becoming more inclusive–a challenge, he said, that House Republicans especially face. "The question is do they want to, in a disciplined way, create a schedule and a program and include people who are not traditionally Republican?"
"The difference between outreach and inclusion is outreach is when five white guys have a meeting and call you," he continued. "Inclusion is when you're in the meeting."
But Gingrich cautioned "Barack Obama's majority is as far as the White House" and said Republicans and Democrats still had to put forth an "immense amount of mutual effort" to work together.
As for the future of the party, the former speaker said 2016 will likely be a time for a "next generation" of Republicans, pointing to several GOP governors, whom he said do a "better job of solving problems."
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Newt being wrong, nah it can't happen this must be a mistake.
When your message is "we're delusional, come join us!" you can't expect to win elections.
I would to think that Republicans would get the message, but our Speaker of the House has already said that there would be no compromise. Still living in the 50's; but the majority of Americans will not tolerate it any longer. Get wise or get out.
"I was wrong"
Nope. "You all are wrong."
Just add it to the list of so many other things Newt has been wrong about.
The GOP brand is tarnished; just like the path to the Presidency is all about the electoral college math, the GOP will have to come to grips that the next generations are progressive and browner...the small tent of old rich white male regressive thinking will continue to cost the GOP elections on a national scale. Texas and Arizona are going to get more purple before getting a nice blueish tint in the not too distant future. GOP can either adapt or go away.
Geez, Newt, the GOP should try to pick some normal candidates for a change – people who can run on their belief system and not have to be a far right wing whack job to get the nomination by lying to one group of people and then turn around and change positions to lie to another group of people. You think that might work? You think maybe the GOP should wrest control of their party from the far right wing whackadoodles? If the GOP does not work with this president they are going to pay the price in the midterm elections and lose the House, as well. The best way for the GOP to succeed is to help work toward the success of America and all Americans and show they can and will work across party lines.
Headline news? Gingrich being RIGHT would be headline news
When has Newt ever been right??
You have alwyas been wrong on everything majority is for. GOP is our modern disaster. COME TO THE CENTER GOP!!!!!!!!!!! SERVE 98% AND NOT JUST 2%. BE THE PARTY OF ALL RACES AND RELIGIONS.
" Newt Gingrich: 'I was wrong' "
The only reason why this is headline news is because Republicans NEVER admit that they were wrong
Newt, could you say that again, maybe a little louder this time. I thought you said "I was wrong..." but I must have misunderstood.
All the republicans were wrong. You need to be less ignorant and listen to THE people instead of being hateful.
Newt – you said it before – when the Republicans put in a moderate they loose – they lost.
Lol, isn't this the guy that accidentally sent emails saying Obama will win and that instead, GOPs should focus on not letting him get a third term? xD
Newt, we looked at the same thing you did – Robme's lies.. that's why it turned out this way!
A rare lucid moment. The last one he had was labelling Ryan's plan for Medicare as right-wing social engineering: maybe his conscience is tunnelling its way out.
Newt, you are almost, always wrong.
I predict that the Repugnant Party has not yet hit bottom. I'll bet they see this election as a failure because Witt Womney was somehow too liberal. They'll start looking at people like Ted Cruz, the whacked-out nut job who just won the Senate seat in Texas. Maybe they'll find one who says the earth is flat and we should re-introduce slavery. Only when they have pushed things so far that even old white guys (of whom I am one) begin to stay home or change their vote will they rethink what it takes to win a national election.
The thing is, nut jobs can win locally, or even in a state-wide race if the state is goofy enough (e.g., Texas). But when you put crazies up for the president's job, a bit of sanity seeps through.
Newt being wrong. "I am going to be the Republican Nominee"! I would of never thought he could do no wrong! "Rolling my eyes"
"I think the country was looking at a different set of things than we were looking at," he said. "Republicans are going to have to take a very serious look at what happened and why did it happen and why were we not more competitive at the presidential level." You really think so? The people have spoken, but will the GOP listen. Everyone needs to work together, both parties for the good of our Country and it's people, no matter race, color greed or party line. I feel the GOP drew a line in the sand and the focus was on getting Obama out of the Oval Office. I found that to be very self serving.
The old white haired porky pig must be looking for a job to pay off his and his wifes HUGE Jewelry debt.Gingrich will suck up to or befreind anybody he thinks he can get a few bucks from. He continues to be the LOSER faction of the GOP.
what the republican party doesn't understand is that they alienated the most vibrant and youthful voting block to ever come to their party by thwarting grassroots movements across the country during the nomination process. The GOP is officially the party of elderly white people, nouveau riche, neo-cons, delusional working class, and theocratic christian right wingers. The youth which they could've brought into the party will go Libertarian or some other party that stands against the status quo of neo-cons and neo-liberals.
Huh! Do ya think?! The GOP needs to reassess the way the view America, because we have moved on. While Romney was playing to his base, President Obama was playing to the rest of the country, Also, do yourselves a favor and and make Jeb Bush your next chairman. He is a very pragmatic man.
Friend or Foe?
After any election
it’s back to “Friend or foe?”
everyone knowing the world
will not come to an end
though politicians like to pretend
The ebb and flow or
give and take become
fakes practiced for the game
new and old politicians chasing
a cash ball bouncing on a field
Elections change little
after players give their all
to get in and hold on for the take
kiss the babies, shake hands
watch your insider money grow
After the elections
new players replace a few who cash out
rookies study old playbooks
on the political game
of power and cash.
Newt should crawl under a rock and fade away along with Palin, Huckabee, Bachmann, Santorum, and Cain.