Peter King: Newt Gingrich 'Does Not Have The Capacity To Control Himself'

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) blasted Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich on Tuesday, saying the former House Speaker is "too erratic."

"He's too self-centered," King said. "He does not have the discipline, does not have the capacity to control himself."

King did say that Gingrich is a "tremendously inspirational person, as far as rallying troops," and that he would prefer the Gingrich to Obama in 2012. If Newt were to take the presidency, though, King predicted "the country and Congress would be going through one crisis after another."

Others have spoken out against Gingrich since his recent surge in the polls. Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) recently said he "just found his leadership lacking."

"There's a lot of candidates out there. I'm not inclined to be a supporter of Newt Gingrich's having served under him for four years and personally experienced his leadership," said Coburn said on "Fox News Sunday."

King's opposition to the GOP hopeful dates back at least to 1996, when King said Gingrich had an "attitude that appeals to the mentality of hillbillies at revival meetings." More recently, King said Gingrich was too "undisciplined" to be the Republican presidential nominee.

Comments

[l78lancer]

11:37 PM on 12/08/2011

King calling Gingrich irratic is the pot calling the kettle black. However, he may be correct about the potentially manic nature of Newt's leasership as president. Other's have described his previous leadership that way in congress.

If little is getting done now, it's entirely possible that even less will be accomplished under a President Newt.

[joe w2]

07:16 PM on 12/08/2011

King knows a thing or two about self-centered, overly reactive 'Dividers'. Personally. John Stewart nailed-it the other night when he first bemoaned Cain's departure, then 'thanked Jesus', for the latest reports of Gingrich's popularity surge.
Today's GOP : way too entertaining...

[O K Ali]

07:15 PM on 12/08/2011

Was Stuart Smiley looking in the mirror when he said that?

[phal4875]

05:28 PM on 12/08/2011

Again and again, this is much more the Donner Party than the Republican Party. They are eating their own.

[Num1Christy]

05:18 PM on 12/08/2011

Seriously... King thinks Newt is erratic, self centered, unable to control himself, and has no discipline and yet would still rather Newt than Obama? What the... no no, this makes sense.

[chancho24]

05:15 PM on 12/08/2011

You look at Neu.ter Gingrich's face, you see a narc.issi.stic buffo.on.

[demwolf]

05:15 PM on 12/08/2011

This is the pot calling the kettle black. Neither one can control themselves.

[enigma2]

05:13 PM on 12/08/2011

TETO..chomp away goppers, yum, yumm, yummm!

[Jacukel]

04:45 PM on 12/08/2011

King's opposition to the GOP hopeful dates back at least to 1996, when King said Gingrich had an "attitude that appeals to the mentality of hillbillies at revival meetings."

Hence his ascendance to the top of GOP polls.

[Steve Davis 1]

04:35 PM on 12/08/2011

Some might find Peter King shares some of Newt's traits.

[saving1939]

04:21 PM on 12/08/2011

Does anyone here know a person who knows Ginrich and likes him for president of the U.S.?

[we-r-stardust]

05:08 PM on 12/08/2011

Gingrich

[eproduces]

05:14 PM on 12/08/2011

calista?

[saving1939]

04:19 PM on 12/08/2011

For the first time in my life I find myself on the side of Peter King.

[gerorem]

04:09 PM on 12/08/2011

Control? Depends.

[chancho24]

05:17 PM on 12/08/2011

Peter King probably wears them, depends that is...

[phal4875]

05:29 PM on 12/08/2011

He may not be wearing them just yet.

[TJ Logan]

03:33 PM on 12/08/2011

King should know. He cant control himself either.

[CCee]

03:15 PM on 12/08/2011

I's surprised Peter King took time from his busy schedule of hunting witches and supporting terrorists to make a statement about such an obvious conclusion. "WELL - DONE - Mr. - KING... Good Boy!.."