Newt Gingrich and Amazing Grace
For quite a few days now, I've joined everybody else in scratching my head, trying to figure out Newt's appeal. Although I've always had a soft spot for him myself, I've been almost as baffled as Ann Coulter about how a man whose life, both personal and political, has proven so, shall we say, uneven, could have possibly have appealled to so many tea partiers and social conservatives alike. Romney's right about Newt, of course. Newt has spent four decades in Washington. Yet when Newt says "I'm one of you," people believe him. How can this be?
In "The Transom" this morning, Ben Domenech quotes Aaron Gardner, providing a big part of the answer:
From @Aaron_RS: “I think much of Newt's appeal is that he is on a journey of redemption, and the people want to believe they are as well. His conversion, and the broader idea of Americans being able to bounce back. His story fits the mood. You add the redemption theme to Newt being able to appear confident and communicate ideas to people, and you have a result like SC. Mitt, on the other hand, has no redemption story because to repudiate any past position is to admit he was wrong. In the end, Newt is more optimistic while being honest and that goes a long way in building trust. Mitt isn't getting that benefit.”
Romney, in other words, is the diligent older brother, the one who has behaved himself all his life and just can't understand why he doesn't get more credit.
Newt? Newt's the prodigal son--a sinner like everyone else.
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Apr '11
Re: Newt Gingrich and Amazing Grace
Aaron Miller: I don't believe Newt is honest, but I do believe he is the only candidate who regularly cuts through the political correctness which has suffocated this nation's political discourse my entire life.
Is he an egomaniac? Yes. Is that a dangerous quality for a President? Yes. But you know what? General Patton had a big ego, too, and he earned it.
Moderate men propose moderate changes. Romney is the sort of run-of-the-mill Republican who proposes corrections over the course of decades and then shrugs when the next Democrat-controlled Congress reverses everything he accomplished. · 11 minutes ago
I agree with all of your posts relating to Newt, Aaron. If we are in the battle for the soul of America that everyone claims we are in and of which I agree, then what is wrong with getting behind Patton and win the battle.
Newt seems to have picked up the mantle that any of the past and current candidates might have, but for whatever reason couldn't or wouldn't.
The most important point is what he is saying and displaying is resonating with the electorate and is overshadowing all his "baggage".
Nov '11
Re: Newt Gingrich and Amazing Grace
I agree. Here's what I like about Newt.
For at least two decades, I've been repeatedly frustrated by "conservative" politicians who accept flawed left-wing premises and end up making some mealy-mouthed response that comes out as either: "I'm sorry"; "We can do statism more efficiently than the Democrats"; "I know you are but what am I?"; or "Look! A squirrel!"
Newt disputes the flawed premise, with conviction. That's what won him those two debates last week. That's what has me considering supporting him for the first time in this long nomination cycle. This single, simple, effective approach trumps whole trunks full of baggage.
The approach is so simple and effective, the only thing you can surmise about those that don't use it is that either they're terrible politicians, or they don't believe it -- i.e. they accept the premise. In this game, once you accept the premise, you've lost the battle.
Edited on January 24, 2012 at 8:52pmJan '11
Re: Newt Gingrich and Amazing Grace
Stephen Spicer
The most important point is what he is saying and displaying is resonating with the electorate and is overshadowing all his "baggage". ·
That's because the things that resonate with the electorate are conservative.
It's his conservatism that attracts us, not his demeanor or his history lectures or his ego. If Obama had the exact same personality that he has (narcissist, overly sensitive, even his naivete and duplicity), but he espoused conservative principles, then I'd tolerate the guy. It's when you put that spoiled sensitivity with a liberal message that really drives us crazy.
Santorum has gotten as far as he has simply because he's a conservative. It ain't his personality.
Mitt's problem is that he thinks being a Republican and being conservative are the same thing.
Newt can explain conservatism, inside and out. His problem is sticking to it when the going gets tough. But at least he understands it.
The proof is in the contrast. If Paul Ryan ran, who also knows conservatism but has none of the abrasive personality - we'd drop Newt in a heartbeat.
(To no one in particular:) It's the conservatism, stupid.
Oct '11
Re: Newt Gingrich and Amazing Grace
Aaron Gardner put his finger right on it. Give me a repentant sinner any day: someone (like me) who has made stupid mistakes and has learned the hard way that "sins repented are the ballast of a Christian life," ballast, I might add, that steady the ship even in political storms. Thanks, Peter, for passing that along.
Sep '11
Re: Newt Gingrich and Amazing Grace
Peter, the populace at large bought into a perceived "hope and change" mantra 3 years ago. The conservative populace is not immune from self-delusion, either. I think @Aaron_RS has rightly identified Newt's current appeal. The so-called independent populace may also be willing to once again buy into a candidate hoping reality will align with their perception, or fantasy.
Sep '10
Re: Newt Gingrich and Amazing Grace
It's not "redemption". I don't think they see him as such a sinner anyway. Everyone is trying to put things they don't understand into their own world-views but they aren't LISTENING to people. Ordinary people all over the country are TELLING you and others what is behind their politics.
KC said it well:
"Mitt's problem is that he thinks being a Republican and being conservative are the same thing.
Newt can explain conservatism, inside and out. His problem is sticking to it when the going gets tough. But at least he understands it.
The proof is in the contrast. If Paul Ryan ran, who also knows conservatism but has none of the abrasive personality - we'd drop Newt in a heartbeat.
(To no one in particular:) It's the conservatism, stupid."
It's not rocket science and it's not religion either. It is simple conservatism and by now pragmatic conservatism. We'll take Newt, redeemed or unredeemed, over Mitt.
May '11
Re: Newt Gingrich and Amazing Grace
I think it's simpler than all this. Tea party types know that even if Mitt Romney wins, nothing they want to see will happen. After "sending a clear message" in 2010 and having nothing happen, they are not interested in more of the same. Newt is the only one with a revolutionary "feel", and there is a sense he'd enjoy disturbing the status quo. And he is the only one saying what those who are angry at DC want to hear, and sounding like he knows they want him to mean it. They forgive the rest, as they have exhausted all other options and are very scared this is the last chance.
May '11
Re: Newt Gingrich and Amazing Grace
I don't buy this redemption argument for a minute. Although I don't believe he should be our nominee (too scary to moderates), I understand his appeal. Many of us share the belief that this country is in big trouble; politically, financially and culturally. He is the candidate that best expresses our collective frustration even if his solutions aren't always coherent or consistent. Many believe that it will take a Hercules to clean out the Augean Stables in Washington. Although Newt certainly isn't a mythical hero he can talk the talk better than anyone else.
Jul '11
Re: Newt Gingrich and Amazing Grace
Why Newt? Why Not?
Dec '10
Re: Newt Gingrich and Amazing Grace
Doesn't the fact that all the people already (and still) in D.C. really don't want Newt back in town say a lot? Let's send him back with a mandate and some authority. That will pee in their Wheaties way more than the angry town halls ever did.
Apr '11
Re: Newt Gingrich and Amazing Grace
The argument that Newt is an "insider" seems ridiculous to me. He is not on the inside of some group of log rollers.
The insiders hate him. He created a lot of problems for them when he was speaker and they don't want him elected.
Fox News daily recites stories of their panic and dislike. Even my hero, Tom Coburn, is very unsettled about Nest coming back.
I don't think he is an insider and I don't sense the voters think so either.
Dec '10
Re: Newt Gingrich and Amazing Grace
It's the rhetoric, stupid. Newt is vapor cloud, the "great debater." Shooting off his mouth is not going to solve our domestic or foreign policy problems. I have no confidence in his "solutions." We already have a former academic in the White House. Why would we want another?
Apr '11
Re: Newt Gingrich and Amazing Grace
The more I talk to people here and elsewhere about Newt, the more I get the impression that this is the chief argument for him. He may be the engineer of modern pork politics, have supported Bush's big government initiatives, and proposed and voted for many of his own, whether fiscal expansions (his Medicare expansion, S CHIP, NCLB) or simply controlling (fairness doctrine), and love ethanol subsidies. He might have a campaign website that promises to a "repeal and replace" Obamacare program that amounts to leaving Obamacare intact while implementing a tax cut, and promises to introduce new subsidies for "clean energy". He may be willing to "go against [his own] values" on the campaign.
But, man, anyone that makes House and Senate Republicans feel uncomfortable has got to be alright, right?
I'm disappointed to hear that kind of nihilism from you, though, KP.
Oct '11
Re: Newt Gingrich and Amazing Grace