Newt Gingrich: Today's politics too mean

In addition to advocating restrictions on freedom of speech, Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House and current presidential candidate, is bemoaning the meanness of today's politics:

Political parties in Presidential primary states should host events that invite candidates from both parties to discuss issues, said Gingrich, who criticized the sharpness of today's politics.

Just remember, this is the same man whose political action committee, GOPAC, circulated a document to Republicans titled "Language: A Key Mechanism of Control" intended to help them "speak like Newt." It urges them to refer to their opponents using "contrast" words such as "anti- (issue): flag, family, child, jobs," "betray," "corrupt," "endanger," "lie," "pathetic," "radical," "shame," "sick," "steal," "threaten," and "traitors."

Indeed, his efforts to make the Republican Party more vicious date back to his successful run for Congress in 1978 (his third), in which he said this during a speech to College Republicans:

I think that one of the great problems we have in the Republican Party is that we don't encourage you to be nasty. We encourage you to be neat, obedient, and loyal and faithful and all those Boy Scout words, which would be great around the campfire, but are lousy in politics.

So don't listen when Newt complains about today's discourse. He's shedding crocodile tears.

Comments

[Matthew]

Why does anyone even listen to Newt Gingrich anymore? He should be considered irrevelant.

And him saying that politics is too mean is like Bill Gates saying that too many people use Microsoft.