Newt Gingrich Invokes Ronald Reagan In Addressing Palestinian 'Invented People' Remarks (VIDEO)

At Saturday night's Republican presidential debate, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich went back and forth over Gingrich's comment that the Palestinians are an "invented people." Toward the end of the exchange, Romney attempted to use the issue to paint Gingrich as someone who, as president, would shoot from the hip and whose lack of discipline would cause problems for the U.S. abroad and hurt the nation's foreign diplomacy.

"If I'm president of the United States, I will exercise sobriety, care, stability, and make sure that in a setting like this, anything I say that can affect a place with rockets going in, with people dying, I don't do anything that will harm that process," Romney said of Israel.

"And therefore before I made a statement of that nature, I'd get on the phone to my friend Bibi Netanyahu and say, 'Would it help if I said this? What would you like me to do? Let's work together because we're partners. I'm not a bomb-thrower, rhetorically or literally," Romney said.

Gingrich, who could be seen winking to someone in the audience as Romney talked, turned the contrast around and used it to his own advantage, and in the process effectively called Romney "timid."

"I think sometimes that it's helpful to have a president of the United States who has the courage to tell the truth," Gingrich said, arguing that then-President Ronald Reagan went around his national security advisers to call the Soviet Union an "evil empire" and "overruled" the State Department to utter his famous "Tear down this wall" line.

"Reagan believed the power of truth, restated to the world, reframed the world," Gingrich said. "I'm a Reaganite. I'm proud to be a Reaganite. I will tell the truth, even if it's at the risk of causing some confusion, sometimes with the timid."

Comments

[Sam Zervitz]

07:28 PM on 12/16/2011

Historical revisionism aside, prior to 1948, Jews in Palestine were labeled "Palestinians," not an attractive designation. Until the 1950's, or later, after it became evident Arabs would never defeat Israel militarily, a new strategy was necessary. Before this, there was no interest in Jerusalem, no refugee issue. Israel was a media darling because, miraculously, three million Jews had defeated sixty million Arabs. Suddenly most of these Arabs vanished, and little Israel became mighty Israel, the Arabs poor Palestinians. Self-imposed refugee camps became their pity party. It was forgotten that one million legit Jewish refugees we're expelled from Arab lands after 1948 and taken in by Israel. And not one Arab country agreed to take in so-called newly designated Palestinians. These folks never wanted a Palestinian state. The want a more advantageous launching pad for their next conflagration. The plan is to pack the territories around Israel with every available wandering Arab. Ten million "refugees" later, they'll cry foul they can't feed, educate, employ, provide health care, or any minimal human service. Meanwhile, little israel purrs along in its next door garden spot. Guess who's to blame for this bad neighborhood/good neighborhood condition? Once again, the Arabs can't talk peace until they've had a war.

[Gadgetman]

03:06 AM on 12/18/2011

Thank you for speaking the truth.

“Finally, a major American politician has spoken the truth about the Palestinia­ns, said Jonathan Tobin in Commentary­Magazine.c­om. Republican presidenti­al candidate Newt Gingrich said last week that the Palestinia­ns are an “invented people” and questioned their right to nationhood­. His comments triggered an internatio­nal furor, but Gingrich is right. As he explained, “there was no Palestinia­n Arab state or political entity under the Ottoman Empire or any previous ruler.” Even 50 years ago, the people now known as Palestinia­ns didn’t regard themselves as distinct from other Arabs. It was only after the 1967 war, when Israel seized the West Bank and Gaza, “that the absence of a Palestinia­n state was deemed intolerabl­e.” Even the Palestinia­ns have admitted this, said Aaron Goldstein in The American Spectator. A top Palestinia­n Liberation Organizati­on official said in 1977 that Palestinia­ns are no different from other Arabs, and that “the creation of a Palestinia­n state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel."

[basenji]

03:44 AM on 12/13/2011

Newt what changed your mind? Was it Adelson and co's millions going into your superpac? What was the price for selling American security, integrity, national interest?

"Should there be an independent Palestinian state?"

Pro: "[T]he US government should actively support a democratic Palestinian state... The US government can play a constructive role by stating the circumstances under which it would recognize a Palestinian state and establish an embassy. President George W. Bush has already taken key steps in this direction, outlining the conditions for recognizing a Palestinian state in a June 24, 2002 speech... [T]he United States should begin to take clear steps to bring a better life for the Palestinian people and should propose better systems and solutions to ease the daily depravations of the Palestinian people."
"Defeat of Terror, Not Roadmap Diplomany, Will Bring Peace," Middle East Quarterly website, Summer 2005

http://2012election.procon.org/view.source.election.php?sourceID=11137

[Lawyer13]

01:41 AM on 12/13/2011

Tip from an English guy : Newt I understand that Congress has one of the best factual libraries in the world, with great respect you go and find an atlas of 1940 and have a look, or google Palestine on google, but as a former history professor you just writ history to suit you own misguided views.

[Sam Bark]

03:09 AM on 12/13/2011

LAWYER13 - do not be so smug about your knowledge, or Google factual information, or wikipedia.....remember GIGO......... there was NEVER a country named Palestine, it was forever an area that stretch from the Med Sea to include parts of Jordan and the Golan Heights and parts of Sinai, depending on the regime at that time..... most those calling themselves palestinians are recent immigrants as much as the returning Jews......you want factual history, read J. Peters definitive book “From Time Immemorial” based on Ottoman and British archives which demonstrated that fact….
You are not as knowledgeable as you think, on the other hand N. Gingrich did state a factual historical data.
Having said that, Israel recognized the palestinians/arabs’ quest for a statehood and offer then several fair and decent resolutions, all were rejected by them, starting in 1947 to the latest one by Olmert in 2008….. while Hamas and Hezbollah do not recognize Israel right to exist….

[Lawyer13]

05:58 AM on 12/13/2011

Well I can tell you that we had troops in PALESTINE up to 1948 and some lost their lives, they and millions of others would disagree with you, trust your library of your Congress then.

[OBroadhurst]

02:35 PM on 12/12/2011

Every nation is an invented nation. The modern Palestinian national identity was forged in the decline of the Ottoman Empire, with a catalyst in the rebellion of 1834. However, this national identity had (and has) its foundation in a clear, cohesive Palestinian cultural identity forged in a shared history that dates back at least to the 10th century, perhaps earlier.

[Wide Stance]

04:40 PM on 12/12/2011

Neut is simply ignorant of the history and geography of the region if he thinks Palestine is more "invented" than other countries in the region, like Iraq, Isreal, etc.

[Maezeppa]

11:36 AM on 12/12/2011

I advise Newte to look at a 1914 map of the Middle East. It's very interesting. No Israel, no Iraq, no Iran. There is, however, a Palestine.

[BobHiggins]

02:55 PM on 12/13/2011

And here's a link:

http://unimaps.com/mideast1914/index.html

[Maezeppa]

05:22 PM on 12/13/2011

Bingo!

[Sam Zervitz]

11:47 AM on 12/18/2011

It was called Palestine because that was the generic designation. Over the centuries, back through biblical eras, a Jewish presence there has remained unbroken. Jews were the original Palestinians. If Israel laid claim to being a homeland for Palestinian Jews since time immemorial-which with great restraint it has not-the issue for Arabs would become even more smoke and mirrors. yes, Israel,with a United Nations mandate, became a Jewish state in 1948. But Israel was never an invention the likes Iraq, Iran, Kashmir, Bangledesh, et al. Wanting the United Nations to "invent" a Palestine for Arabs-or debating Newt's use of the term "invention"- then equating it to the creation of Israel, that's apples and oranges. A 1914 map of the Middle East? Read the actual history of the region. Read the bible. Read both. Denying a Jewish presence in the Middle East for thousands of years is tantamount to deny a Holocaust happened. It remains iffy whether Newt should be President. But this time he's right.

[Maezeppa]

03:21 PM on 12/18/2011

I am well aware of the Jewish presence in the region. I guarantee you I am better-read on the "actual history of the region" than 99% of the American public. Newt isn't running for President and just because he says something that is technically true, that doesn't make it right.

[gypsy508]

11:17 AM on 12/12/2011

No people are more invented than Americans

[maslin]

02:32 PM on 12/12/2011

Well, we were invented a while ago now. There are peoples with significantly shorter pedigrees, among them Israelis and Germans to name the first two that pop into my head.

[Wandaz]

08:09 AM on 12/12/2011

"If I'm president of the United States, I will exercise sobriety, care, stability, and make sure that in a setting like this, anything I say that can affect a place with rockets going in, with people dying, I don't do anything that will harm that process,"

Oh, like Romney's comments in the last debate that he would make sure Iran did not get a nuclear weapon? You mean like THAT incendiary comment?

[yauxeybalba]

05:00 AM on 12/12/2011

New's credential­s hardly qualify him as an expert on the mine field of Middle East diplomacy(­doctoral thesis on Belgian Education Policy in the Congo 1945-1960, later tenure denied). A sparrow donning
eagle plumes. Does he want to take us back to the 70's and 80's with plane hijackings­, suicide bombers , etc. - who would sit down at a table with him?

[yauxeybalba]

04:42 AM on 12/12/2011

His doctoral thesis "Belgian Education Policy in the Congo: 1945–1960" hardly seems to qualify him as an expert on Middle East diplomacy. According to Wikipedia, he was denied tenure. Is this a case of a crow decorating himself with eagle's feather?

[goserenee1]

12:58 AM on 12/12/2011

HUFF POST THIS REALLY STINKS YOU TAKE TAKE OUT A THREAD BUT STILL LEAVE IT UP AND NEVER LET MORE COMMENTS GET ON VERY MISLEADING TO ALL POSTERS. OTHER POSTER ARE GETTING FAVORITES LIKE CRAZY TAKE THIS SITE DOWN NOW

[coolhandfreak]

01:39 PM on 12/12/2011

THANK YOU Goserenee1. So many systemic problems and if you e-mail your issues you NEVER get a reply back. VERY DISTURBING!!!!

[TheEmptyMonty]

12:56 AM on 12/12/2011

How dare people demand self-governance!!! Oh wait, that's the principle the U.S. is founded on. Nevermind?

[goserenee1]

12:46 AM on 12/12/2011

Oh boy Gingrich Inteands to start telling the truth, when is this going to happen!

[Danalexa Jimenez]

12:31 AM on 12/12/2011

This nation has prospered because we had a legislative branch interested in governing. Today what we have is a group of men and women who will say anything to be elected rather than make decisions based on evidence and build alliances across the political spectrum at a very challenging time for the nation. What we see in the GOP is a disregard for the facts, clear thinking/analysis, and leadership. This unfortunate trait is not limited to Republicans, but the worst of the current crop of government operatives has been on display. I truly, as a Democrat, would like to hear sound policy options/strategies from the GOP. But that is probably not the case with the pack playing to the Dancing with the Stars fan base.
The nation needs men and women from both sides of the aisle with the backbone to say-"To hell with the leadership & the flow of funds to my next campaign." the nation needs an informed dialogue to begin addressing the economic downturn (as in bring homes underwater to market level loan balances) and prepare our workforce (make sure all kids are reading at grade level by holding parents accountable) to deal with the brainpower coming from China & India.

[Seymourhiney]

12:11 AM on 12/12/2011

America is an invented people. Come on.

[sempdog]

12:03 AM on 12/12/2011

Once again, Dr. Cockamamie invokes, excuse me, invents the cold war ending mythology of Reagan to explain away his racist rant about the Palestinians. All St. Reagan apologists fall prey to the same blind acceptance of our B-movie actor hero, bad California Governor, and not ready for coinage or Mount Rushmore late President. There's a small card that says it all.
" if you can't dazzle them with Brilliance, baffle them with Bullsh-t" Newt is the new "Great Baffler".