Newt Gingrich Declares: "I Am Not A Citizen Of The World!"

This evening at a Washington DC fundraiser, in a statement that can best be described as regressive American exceptionalism, former Republican Speaker Newt Gingrich said of himself:

"I am not a citizen of the world. I think the entire concept is intellectual nonsense and stunningly dangerous!"

Witness the video below of Mr. Gingrich's pronouncement that defines in two simple sentences the elitism, racism and egotism that have destroyed his Republican Party:

The question is, how can this protectionist, elitist, and even racist declaration be in the best interests of America, which despite Mr. Gingrich's supremacist notion, is part of the global community?

What's most frightening is the air of superiority with which Gingrich made his statement. Staring straight into the camera before a room of Republicans, this leader of his party defamed any benefit he might derive as a citizen of the world. With George W's arrogance, Dick Cheney's sociopathy, and Donald Rumsfeld's bravado all rolled into one, Gingrich equates a citizen of the world to "intellectual nonsense." He typifies the very characteristics of the Bush years that thrust this nation into its abyss.

Clearly Gingrich's "I'm not a citizen of the world" is a slam on Obama after the President's recent Mid-East & Europe tour. But undermining Obama's global popularity won't alter the fact that Gingrich could never achieve such acceptance. In the ever blending global arena, Gingrich is consistently bland.

Mr. Gingrich, if you are not a citizen of this world, then stay the eff out of it. Go back to where you went ten years ago when you were forced from the House in disgrace.

Follow Linda Milazzo on Twitter: www.twitter.com/LindaMilazzo

Comments

[reader110]

If I declare that I'm a citizen of the world, can I get government sponsored healthcare? Please?

[NotYourAvg]

So what would the "everyonephobic" GOP think of their beloved Reagan making the same declaration Obama did???

*crickets*

[pakaal]

What Newt conveniently leaves out is, of course, the truth. While America - and all countries - enjoy sovereign rights, there is of course a substantial body of international law reaching back centuries. Sure, we're not literally "citizens of the world," but Newt's either grossly ignorant of the law or intentionally lying through his teeth.

Gee, I really wonder which one it might be.

[UncleMilo]

NEWT IS AN ALIEN!!! I KNEW IT!!!!

[BumpyKnight]

Yes, to think that he's one of us is stunningly dangerous too.

[fishgirl26]

Newt is not a citizen of the world, and the world says "thank you!"..that's one less @ss for the world to worry about.

[SunnyT]

President Obama says that he is a citizen of the world. So naturally a high-profile member of the loyal opposition and the party of no has to say exactly the opposite. It makes no difference at all if it's Newt or Dick or Rush. They don't even have to think. They don't have to decide what they stand for. They don't have to develop a vision of America. They don't have to actually do something for the citizens of this country. They just have to impugn anything and everything President Obama stands for and works for.

Which is why Barack Obama is the true leader of the Republican Party.

[RRanch]

Newt Gingrich Declares: "I Am Not A Citizen Of The World!"

Thats right, nobody else would take you!!!

[nightwind928]

There's a very real possibility that Newt, Cheny and Rush aren't even members of this planet.

[larry278]

Has it been firmly established that Newt, Dick & Rush are human beings &/or sentient beings?
As RRanch points out, even if Newt wanted to become a 'Citizen of the World', who in the world would accept Newt's application to become a 'Citizen of the World'? There is a distinct possibility, if not a certainty, that Newt & America is stuck with Newt being an American Citizen since he was born in the USA. Has anyone established how anyone becomes a 'Citizen of the World'? Must 1 earn the right to become a 'Citizen of the World' or will being born on earth give 1 the birthright to be considered to be a 'Citizen of the World'? OK, that complicates & inserts excreta in the game.
Others may wish to post a comment on HP.

[jadeba]

or the human race.

[LaurieAnn]

You took the words right out of my mouth.

[Budokan]

So Newt distanced himself from Reagan. How long before he apologized for THAT?

[Skua]

Hey, if Newt wants to be an undocumented resident of the world, fine by me. Does that mean we can intern him until we find a planet that will take him?

[MikeDu]

Do you recall that small (unsuccessful) war Israel fought with Lebanon back in 06? My most vivid memory is of a VERY agitated Newt telling all who would listen that this was the start of World War Three! An almost laughable combination of hysterics and histrionics. So this is the leader of the Right?

[ayisha]

i believe you will find that Newt has one of the strongest, most consistent record of your political types...he almost always seems to be wrong.

[dwatkins9]

If you are a "citizen of the world," why would you care about what's "best for America"? As a citizen of the world, your loyalty should be to "the world."

To be a citizen is to be attached to a particular place. Mr. Gingrich is perfectly correct. When you declare yourself a cosmopolitan - a citizen of the world - you declare that your first loyalty is not to your own country. Don't be surprised, then, if people take you at your word, and call into question your loyalty, patriotism, and trustworthiness.

You're a loyal member of the tribe, or you're not. The other alternatives are (1) stranger or (2) enemy. Forever and ever, amen.

[Easyrollins]

Your reasoning is at the least intellectually naive, and at the most small minded, To be a world leader you would have to be able to engage the world; A small town intellect is useless on the world stage. Knowledge and respect fo all the world cultures and reasoning is a requirement for anyone to exist in the fast pace society in which global communication is but a keyboard away. albeit if you set your self apart from the world you can survive as an isolationist, then you have no business being a political figure, and surely not someone who would aspire to be a President of a nation. Saying or being a world citizen is saying that you know that you are part of the world in which you live, and know that that things happening in one part of this world can have world wide effect. Bush was not someone who understood this fact and he show his small world view, to the detriment of this nation. It is nat a matter of loyality but our everyday aspa statement of knowledge, Newt was plying to the base, who have a small town mentality in the midst of a world that more and more relevant to our everyday lives.

[dwatkins9]

I will ignore the ad hominem bits, and just respond to the irrelevancies.

Of course you have to engage the world. The Athenians "engaged" Sparta, but that did not make them Spartans. No one is suggesting that we not engage the world, or that we return to "fortress America," or anything like that.

Being a world citizen is not knowing "that you are part of the world in which you live, and know that that things happening in one part of this world can have world wide effect." Every sane person knows that. To be a world citizen is to declare that your loyalties ultimately lie with "the world," and thus to deny the actual sovereignty of your own nation. It is to put yourself under the rule of "the world," and not your own nation.

[Skua]

So, I have to choose between being a citizen of the US and a citizen of Illinois? What are you talking about? By the way, how are the United States going to prosper if the World goes to hell? Is the United States really so inimical to the rest of the world that the interests of the World require it to be excised like a cancer? - because it seems that only in that situation does one really have to choose between the part and the whole. Maybe so, but I still retain hope.

[dwatkins9]

No, you don't have to choose - that decision was made for you by the Civil War (and bloody war is what it took). Now, if Illinois were to decide to secede, then maybe you would have to choose.

The US prospered most following WWII - ie, after the world had gone to hell. But, that said, I did not say that the interests of "the world" are always antithetical to those of the USA, or that the USA should not cooperate with other sovereign nations,or take a leadership role. But- when the chips are down, and the inevitable conflicts arise, whose side are you on? A fair question.

[FrReader]

I think it's interesting that you said "how ARE the United States going to prosper." Most people would say is. That probably says something about viewing the USA as one unified country that must stand together no matter what, versus a diverse place where people can actually do their own thing... Bravo!

/grammar nerd rant over

[rjmiller]

I agree.

As a citizen of the world and a member of the human race, my first loyalty is to the world and all of humanity. Of course, as the US is full of people, I would work to support it and help its citizens assuming it is not at a greater cost to the rest of humanity. I will not support the US at the expense of the entire planet, and anyone who would is a dangerous sociopath.

Being a citizen of the world does not preclude being a citizen of the US, that is a false dilemma. However, you ask what I would do "if the chips are down." In the scenario that the US has made enemies with the entire world (as completely insane, irrelevant and improbable as that is), I would be hard pressed to believe that the US could be following a reasonable policy: one that promotes the well-being of the people, as that is the role of government. Therefore, in the face of such a colossal policy failure, I would be forced to turn my back and run for the hills.

[SunnyT]

** When you declare yourself a cosmopolitan - a citizen of the world - you declare that your first loyalty is not to your own country. **

You take that ridiculous statement to be a fact.

Listen ... just because you THINK it up, doesn't make it TRUE!

** You're a loyal member of the tribe, or you're not. The other alternatives are (1) stranger or (2) enemy. Forever and ever, amen. **

Oh, wow ... so you're operating with the reptillian brain, huh?

[Gidster]

That is the same BS "Your either with us or against us" mentality that broke our country and made America less safe, and very divided.

[standard]

If you're not a citizen of the world, Mr. Gingrich, then you ought not pretend to be a serious academic (as you've set your horizons too narrowly to be meaningfully part of a university) and ought not opine on international matters (as you've declared your interests to lie entirely within one nation's borders).

As a militarist and nationalist, who vigorously opposes progressive ideals and feels that the poor and the middle class need to fend for themselves in a nation with minimal government services and minimal market regulation, what ARE you, Mr. Gingrich? You--and your party--seem to embrace the totalitarian governmental ideal of preserving a ruling elite at home and pursuing war abroad to support them.

[hpobserver]

I can't help thinking that Kim Jong Il is pretty much saying the same thing.

[Gidster]

That is Little Kim's philosophy as well!

[AirForce Vet]

Newty you declared, “I am not a citizen of the world. I think the entire concept is intellectual nonsense and stunningly dangerous!" Well, I agree with your concept, if you are referring to yourself. It’s a disgrace that you are a citizen of United States as well. You're a relic of the past that retains little intrinsic value. Don’t get me wrong, relics of the past can retain much value, but my dear sir, you’re not one of them. Your mind has become cloudy as you lost your way in the wilderness. It seems as though you have become a grumpy old man. Newty, I agree, you’re not a citizen of the world, you’re more like a citizen of a lost world in a far, far away galaxy who speaks nonsense and who has become a menace to society. Better check Ronald Reagan's comment about being a citizen. Maybe you should have done research before you bellowed your nonsensical tirade about being a citizen.