Sometimes conservative Republican politicians just puzzle me; sometimes they astound me. In the case of former Rep. Newt Gingrich, the term would be “astound.”
Here’s a guy who left the House under an ethical cloud (he paid a $300,000 fine to cover the cost of investigating some 84 ethics charges brought against him), who was forced to step down as speaker by plotters within his own party, and who certainly led a less-than-stellar moral life. I won’t say more than that, because my purpose isn’t to sling mud.
I’m writing this to encourage all of you to send a “thank-you” note or email to Mr. Gingrich for his latest declaration: He has opted out as a citizen of the world. Yes, that’s exactly right. Although no less than Presidents Ronald Reagan Obama declared themselves citizens of the U.S. and citizens of the world, good old Newt says the whole concept is “intellectual nonsense and stunningly dangerous.”
Of course, as with most conservative Republicans I know and have listened to or read over the years, Mr. Gingrich will not let contradictions or inconsistencies deter him, I’m sure. He has, however, very clearly, publicly opted out as a citizen of the world. Perhaps the world is breathing a sigh of relief — maybe even sending him thank-you notes.
Unfortunately, “theapologist.com” was already regged, that would have made the perfect domain someone could post all of the video of him apologizing for us. Heck, even some liberals are getting tired of it. If you haven’t seen it, you haven’t looked very hard.
“… simply implying that the President’s first duty is to the citizens of the United States.”
Hogwash. Newt Gingrich might have been implying a lot of things, but primarily he was playing to the right-wing crowd who form his support base.
I have little or no respect for the man, but I won’t get into trying to sling mud about the guy. Because, as with most public figures, there undoubtedly is much about him and his life that we never know — except for what we hear, see, read, in the media and other public sources. So I’ll give Newt a break on that score.
And for goodness sakes, get off the rant about Obama the Apologist. This roaming to and fro throughout the earth apologizing for America is wearing really thin when the right wing chants it. Simply not true. It’s a mythology the right wants to make true, as they do so many things, by SAYING it’s true. But saying something long enough and loud enough doesn’t make it reality.
As I am sure you understood before your post, Newt was simply implying that the President’s first duty is to the citizens of the United States. That is who he answers to. Spending tens of millions of dollars flying about the world earning his reputation as ‘The Apologist’, putting the interests of other nations before our own, is not actually solving any of our domestic problems. You understood that, though, right? I mean, this was just a dig on your part to get someone to respond, right?
Right now, the President’s got more miles on him than an Amway salesman – and he’s only six months in. He would serve his country better if he would turn the engines off, quit making grandiose misquotes from his teleprompter, and read the book ‘Budgeting For Dummies’.
I am torn, though, because I am not sure if I agree with him: every time Obama sits down in his chair, he obligates the United States to spend another trillion dollars. So maybe flying around making us look bad is cheaper in the long run.
10 trillion and counting……………………………