Lindsey Graham On Gingrich Coup: 'We Were Too Hard On Him'

WASHINGTON -- Newt Gingrich's difficulties in winning the endorsements of Republican lawmakers are no secret. The animus still held by those who worked with the former Speaker has become, in no small part, a defining feature of his presidential campaign: evidence that he is volatile, unprincipled and incapable of effective governance.

So it must have come as a nice surprise for the Gingrich campaign when he got the equivalent of a vote of confidence from a longtime detractor Wednesday night. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who was part of the coup to unseat Gingrich as speaker back in the late-1990s, said that he not only would be comfortable with him as president but was wrong for having been so critical in the past.

From Graham's interview with Fox News' Greta Van Susteren:

When you talk about conservatism, when [Gingrich] is on there is no better messenger for what we believe as conservatives and when he is not on, he is a danger to himself and others at times. But what I see in this version of Newt Gingrich is the guy who feels more comfortable with who he is. And if you are going to change the place behind me, Washington, if you really want to make change substantial and real, somebody has to come in here and rock this place because we are going nowhere quick with the current formula. So from my point of view, Newt's candidacy is okay if he stays in. I don't mind it one bit.

What I'm saying about Newt, why did we lose confidence in him? Because he was changing the game plan. The last group to talk to him sort of won the day. But I can't imagine his job. The first time Republicans had the congress in 40 years, trying to lead a revolution, taking people like me that came here to burn the place down and govern the country and deal with Bill Clinton -- a good politician. Looking back, I appreciate how hard his job was better than I did in 1997. And I'm here to say, as the guy who was in the coup, that looking back we were too hard on him and if he got to be the nominee I think he could win.

Graham, of course, hails from South Carolina, a state that just went heavily for Gingrich in its primary. But it wasn't as if he faced immense in-state pressure to offer a testimonial on the former speaker's behalf.

Comments

[l78lancer]

01:05 AM on 02/04/2012

I guess it's true. The right wants so badly to not nominate Mitt that they are willing to sell out and say anything.

Lindsay Graham is proof of that.

[abbadabba]

12:36 PM on 02/03/2012

Weird photo. Are those crosses in the background? Lindsay is trying to make nice so if Newt gets in he won't out him.

[Jordan Willis]

12:15 PM on 02/03/2012

Meanwhile, many an SC GOTPer are counting down the days until Lindsey is up for re-election. He's got to pander like this before 2014 becomes his expiration date. Now, I'm not saying the person they send in his place would really be in better. I'm just saying that is their plan.

[dasherdog]

11:08 AM on 02/03/2012

OK, I'm going to tell my Lindsay Graham story again...During the Clinton impeachment hearings Lindsay was on the committee presenting evidence blah, blah, blah. And one day he TOTALLY went off on this stream of consciousness thing about what "must" have gone on in the Oval Office. And he started describing this "horrible" act committed against a "young and innocent" (yeah right) intern. Suddenly, his hands disappeared under the table, he started pulling his lips back over his teeth, his eyes started getting glazed and losing focus and his upper arms were jerking. I think he was jacking off under the table. It looked pretty obvious to me that he was REALLY enjoying his little tirade if you know what I mean. I would LOVE to be able to see that clip again..

[Ankaret LeStrange]

10:25 AM on 02/03/2012

" trying to lead a revolution, taking people like me that came here to burn the place down and govern the country and deal with Bill Clinton"

Oh...gotta love that false bravado...even on YOUR best day, Graham..Clinton would have eaten you up alive.

[dpooch]

07:24 AM on 02/03/2012

Who gives a doggy do.

[NovemberScorp]

09:56 AM on 02/03/2012

Nope. L. Graham = MORON

[boberrigan]

12:24 AM on 02/03/2012

Lindsay's kind words don't surprise me. He was one of the House managers during the witch hunt and impeachment of Bill Clinton. And I'm sure he remembers how Newt told the press at that time of his intention to speak Monica Lewinsky's name at every opportunity in front of the network cameras and during each speech he gave. But Lindsay apparently isn't put off by juvenile behavior or bullies trying to virtually overthrow a president. By all means, let's not be too hard on poor Newt.

[toffee]

12:21 AM on 02/03/2012

OK, one more supporting Newt. One less supporting that RINO.

Go conservatives, we don't have to take that RINO.

[zenman2]

12:30 PM on 02/03/2012

graham is still in the closet we all know it. You should own it.

[The Anti-Con]

12:21 AM on 02/03/2012

Graham is in the closet no wonder Newt is by his side... or is he?

[Ninotchka KS]

02:29 AM on 02/03/2012

Or was it on his knees?

[Micheal Anderson]

11:36 PM on 02/02/2012

What a load. Last time I saw a load like that it was swirling down the toilet.

[schnauzergirl]

12:15 PM on 02/03/2012

Wow, you may want to reduce your fiber intake.

[Lynette]

11:13 PM on 02/02/2012

Hey Newt is on Graham's team, he should get with the space program going to the moon!

[NovemberScorp]

09:57 AM on 02/03/2012

BINGO! You win the prize!

[mishanti]

10:40 PM on 02/02/2012

This is one of the few Senators who makes me laugh on an almost daily basis. He is such an idiot.

[dave6686]

11:22 PM on 02/02/2012

and such a lying con..

[GhostofEugeneDebs]

10:21 PM on 02/02/2012

How exactly do you go to Congress, BURN IT DOWN, and then 'govern the country'? Govern it with what--a burned-down Congress?

[sal ear]

03:38 AM on 02/03/2012

Well....our stupid Congress is in shambles anyway - the sitting Congress is ridiculous. But why burn down the BUILDING? We can get NEW legislators in 2012! - hopefully, ethical intelligent Legislators - or we're doomed.

[schnauzergirl]

12:17 PM on 02/03/2012

We are pretty much doomed if the money stays in politics. People who are ethical and intelligent don't want to have anything to do with it as it is now.