WillowTree
Diamond Member
- Sep 15, 2008
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Before you dismiss Newt Gingrich for having too much baggage to win the Republican presidential nomination, much less the presidency, consider this:
In 1980, when Ronald Reagan emerged as the likely Republican presidential nominee, President Carters advisers were thrilled. Theyd done extensive opposition research. By pointing to what Reagan had said in speeches, radio commentaries, newspaper columns, and conversations, they assumed it would be easy to characterize him as a right-wing extremist. And enough voters would reject him and reelect Carter.
They were wrong. It wasnt that voters ignored Reagans offbeat comments. They just didnt think eccentric statements hed made over the years were important. Bigger things were at stake, like Soviet aggression and a stagnant economy. And Reagan had better answers than Carter.
And this:
A similar phenomenon occurred in 2003 when Arnold Schwarzenegger ran for California governor in a recall election. The media dredged up stories of his chronic groping of women. Voters, intent on ousting Governor Gray Davis, didnt care. Schwarzenegger won and was reelected in 2006.
And this:
Republicans figured that once voters learned of President Clintons White House trysts with intern Monica Lewinsky and dalliances with other women, theyd turn on him and give Republicans a big victory in the 1998 midterm elections. Instead, Clintons popularity held steady, and Republicans lost five House seats.
The History of Newt | The Weekly Standard
In 1980, when Ronald Reagan emerged as the likely Republican presidential nominee, President Carters advisers were thrilled. Theyd done extensive opposition research. By pointing to what Reagan had said in speeches, radio commentaries, newspaper columns, and conversations, they assumed it would be easy to characterize him as a right-wing extremist. And enough voters would reject him and reelect Carter.
They were wrong. It wasnt that voters ignored Reagans offbeat comments. They just didnt think eccentric statements hed made over the years were important. Bigger things were at stake, like Soviet aggression and a stagnant economy. And Reagan had better answers than Carter.
And this:
A similar phenomenon occurred in 2003 when Arnold Schwarzenegger ran for California governor in a recall election. The media dredged up stories of his chronic groping of women. Voters, intent on ousting Governor Gray Davis, didnt care. Schwarzenegger won and was reelected in 2006.
And this:
Republicans figured that once voters learned of President Clintons White House trysts with intern Monica Lewinsky and dalliances with other women, theyd turn on him and give Republicans a big victory in the 1998 midterm elections. Instead, Clintons popularity held steady, and Republicans lost five House seats.
The History of Newt | The Weekly Standard
He's the ULTIMATE insider that the T-Party claims to be against.
