Gingrich Rips RNC For Its Blagojevich Attacks

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich sent a rather scathing letter to Mike Duncan on Tuesday, accusing the RNC chairman of engaging in "a destructive distraction" by attempting to tie Barack Obama to Rod Blagojevich. In particular, Gingrich hit the RNC for putting out a web ad that made it seem as if the President-elect was hiding a nefarious chapter of his personal history with the embattled Illinois Governor.

"The RNC should pull the ad down immediately," Gingrich writes.

I was saddened to learn that at a time of national trial, when a president-elect is preparing to take office in the midst of the worst financial crisis in over seventy years, that the Republican National Committee is engaged in the sort of negative, attack politics that the voters rejected in the 2006 and 2008 election cycles.

The recent web advertisement, "Questions Remain," is a destructive distraction. Clearly, we should insist that all taped communications regarding the Senate seat should be made public. However, that should be a matter of public policy, not an excuse for political attack.

In a time when America is facing real challenges, Republicans should be working to help the incoming President succeed in meeting them, regardless of his Party.

From now until the inaugural, Republicans should be offering to help the President-elect prepare to take office.

Furthermore, once President Obama takes office, Republicans should be eager to work with him when he is right, and, when he is wrong, offer a better solution, instead of just opposing him.

This is the only way the Republican Party will become known as the "better solutions" party, not just an opposition party. And this is the only way Republicans will ever regain the trust of the voters to return to the majority.

This ad is a terrible signal to be sending about both the goals of the Republican Party in the midst of the nation's troubled economic times and about whether we have actually learned anything from the defeats of 2006 and 2008.

There has been, it seems, two mindsets within the GOP as to how to revitalize the party in the wake of its '06 and '08 losses: seek political blood against Barack Obama whenever possible, or focus on reaching out to moderates and minorities. In addition to Gingrich, Sen. John McCain -- appearing on "This Week" Sunday -- offered a dig at the RNC for their obsession with Obama's (apparently limited or nonexistent) links to Blagojevich.

A Republican strategist, asked about the Gingrich letter, said he agreed with the former House Majority Leader. But, he added, "I think that Newt wants a change at the RNC, and it is an intervention in the RNC race."

(h/t Ben Smith)

Comments

[hobbes denver]

Reading all the hyperbole directed at the Republican Party is very entertaining.

Are you people reading what you post, or the news coming from the political cradle in which Barack Obama's political career was born?

As a Libertarian, I can't wait until both major political parties in this country self-destruct from paranoia, hysterics, corruption and hypocrisy.

[Knowledgeseeker]

I applaud Newt Gingrich for standing up for principles, because it seem like some republicans don't have it or don't know what meant.

[Knowledgeseeker]

republicans are trowing stones while living in a glass house

[Dadaba]

I must say that I am very pleasantly surprised by Newt's comments. They sound very sincere, and what he is saying is very true, positive and encouraging, assuming that the nitwits in the RNC will listen. They are such opportunistic fools!

[24hourrifle]

newt,the voice of reason?
im scared.

[Zen0469]

Perhaps unbeknownst to us, newt has an incurable disease and is hedging his bets for the future as did his mentor Lee Atwater before him. Halelujah, never underestimate the power of the very very reverend jerry falwell and his recent incarnation who is licking his chops at the prospect of "invocating" us on Jan 20.

[DCCommuter]

He is masquerading as a decent person with a heart and respect for his fellow Americans. What is he going to do next? Lead a prayer for racial harmony on Martin Luther King’s birthday?

[drakke]

Correct. newt is a morbidly obese narcissist sociopath, and deserves to be "appropriately dealt with" for the good of the species.

[GregorZap]

Newt is getting ready to run again. But he's being sly about it. It is discouraging, though, to hear of candidates already talking about 2012 when there are four years of hard work ahead of us. We are all iin this together, unless you're some kind of multi-millionaire.

[nanchassch]

come on newt. what a party pooper. we can finally stop worrying about the ayers relationship and worry about the blago relationship. a breath of fresh air.

[steveinohio]

nice little deathbed conversion here on guilt by rumor of association

[gevan]

So now Newt is concerned with the veracity of claims made against the members of the other party? Did he suddenly find religion or something?

[JZ735]

Has Newt drunk the Obama Kool Aid???

[KarlaElisa]

Come to hubdub.com and bet on whether Rick Warren will have donuts thrown at him between now and Inauguration Day!

Will Mega Church leader Rick Warren have a donut thrown at him before or on Inauguration Day?
Current forecast: NO, no food is wasted (54% chance)

http://www.hubdub.com/m26104/Will_Mega_Church_leader_Rick_Warren

[rich misty]

The Gingrinch pretending he has a heart... He has stole many a Christmas, and despite his words, will never repent in actions.

[youknowwhat]

Hey Newt, you taught the RNC how to be the way they are now, remember. Don't get all nicey nicey on us now. Nice try though.

[rich misty]

Gingrinch never had a problem with distracting America before... That is his stock and trade

[subucni 1 1]

For the record I do not fully trust Gingrich's sincerity in his comments nonetheless he is accurate. I believe however he is looking to spearhead the next great conservative movement by preaching moderation now but just waiting for Obama to fail and him to swoop in and take his seat at the head of the ever diminishing Republican table.

[memphispaul]

The concept that the republican party could ever offer a positive alternative when in a policy disagreement is laughable. The only thing the republican party and its members know to do is destroy and slander.

[rich misty]

I remember when he tucked in the little girl before stealing her Christmas

He called it "Compassionate Conservatism"