HuffPost's Ryan Grim appeared Tuesday night on MSNBC's 'The Ed Show' to discuss Newt Gingrich's criticism of Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) Medicare proposal. Gingrich recently apologized to Ryan for his comments.
Addressing whether Newt can recover from this, Grim explained, "saying that Newt could recover from this implies that he had a chance to become president in the first place, and I don't quite buy into that to begin with. But what's really remarkable about this is that it shows that it is universally considered to be political suicide in a Republican primary to defend Medicare. I mean think about how far we've come just in a few months. You cannot defend Medicare in a Republican primary and survive. And I don't see how they can produce a viable presidential candidate through that kind of a primary process."
Grim also explained how Republican leadership now seems quite united around Ryan's Medicare proposal, which is why Gingrich faced so much push-back about his comments.
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I would listen to the House Republican reply, then ask them how anything they said helps me get re-elected? If I am in a district that the President won in 2008 that would have to be a really good answer because my reply to anything short of a miracle would be that I am on my way to write a jobs Bill with a Democrat and make sure every voter in my district knows this fact. Everything I do like it until election day in order to get Republican and Democratic voters to support my re-election will be shouted from the rooftops back home. Then, likely (knowing myself) call them a foul name, paint on a smile, walk to the floor, and request time at the mic to address the House.
Today, what this means is that in order to follow the natural curve you have a dilemma. If your candidate runs hard to the right to attract the early primary goers that have become used to demanding a lot of the candidate. This is not sellable (made up a word) to the general audience. These same people are also likely to leave and support a third party Libertarian or Tea Party candidate instead of the GOP if they are displeased when they are forced to moderate for a general election audience. This will result in one side assuming they are all talk and not worth their effort to work to get elected or the general audience will assume that candidate is disingenuous. So, the fire that is needed to get that rocket off the ground will burn up everything that you've got. This is a direct result of attempting to lead folks that don't really like you. Seriously, the Tea Partiers hate you, but in this relationship out of convenience just like you.
He could not even win his home State.