Editor's Note: Dr. James M. Lindsay is a Senior Vice President at the Council on Foreign Relations (where he blogs), co-author of "America Unbound: The Bush Revolution in Foreign Policy" and a former director for global issues and multilateral affairs at the National Security Council.
By James M. Lindsay, CFR.org
It’s official. Newt Gingrich announced today via Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube that he is running for president. As the New York Times’s Matt Bai points out, if Gingrich succeeds, he would be the first person since Dwight D. Eisenhower to win the presidency without previously being elected to statewide or national office.
I don’t see Gingrich duplicating Ike’s feat. Here are four reasons why:
1. He has alienated people who can help him win. Sarah Palin isn’t a Gingrich fan. She referred to him and other Republican colleagues in a 2009 email as “egotistical, narrow-minded machine goons.” Don’t ask New York Times columnist David Brooks for a Gingrich endorsement. He recently told Time:
Newt Gingrich is not going to be president. I wouldn’t let that guy run a 7-Eleven, let alone a country.
2. He can’t stay on message. Gingrich’s fits of pique derailed his speakership. He led reporters to believe he was declaring his candidacy back in February and then decided not to. On March 7 he called for a no-fly zone over Libya and the ouster of Qaddafi. Sixteen days later, he criticized President Obama for imposing a no-fly zone on Libya.
3. He has a long political history, emphasis on long. Republicans are hungering for a fresh face. Gingrich is anything but. As former George W. Bush adviser Mark McKinnon explains, he has:
been around the track one too many times. At a time when people are hungry for something different, new and refreshing, Newt just feels stale.
Gallup poll data sums up the problem: Gingrich is well-known to Republicans and Republican-leaning independents. But he is also widely – and his negative ratings are growing.
4. His, ahem, complicated personal history. Gingrich has been divorced twice and has admitted to infidelity. That’s a high hurdle to overcome in American politics. His explanation for what he agrees were poor choices is that he loved America too much. That at least seems to be his explanation:
There’s no question at times of my life, partially driven by how passionately I felt about this country, that I worked far too hard and things happened in my life that were not appropriate.
It’s hard to see that argument winning many votes in Graettinger, Iowa, Gilmanton, New Hampshire, or Gaffney, South Carolina.
Callista, Gingrich’s third and current wife, plans to play a vital role in his campaign. Expect her to talk about his conversion to Roman Catholicism and his commitment to Christian causes. Redemption provides a powerful narrative in American politics. Still, it’s probably not powerful enough to vault Gingrich into the White House.
What Gingrich brings to the GOP race is provocative and innovative thinking. Count on him to say something that shakes up the race. Just don’t count on it helping his electoral chances.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of Dr. James M. Lindsay.
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Newt Gingrich is a man whose character is not a question mark but rather a huge black mark. This is instead a case of one who has time and again illustrated that he operates in a vacuum with a complete, total and blatant disregard for human indignity while voicing in a rather out spoken fashion his condemnation of those who are guilty of lesser indiscretions The extent and depth of Gingrich’s hypocrisy and the never ending questions about his character and integrity or lack thereof should have disqualified him from serious consideration for any high office in America a long time ago. This is not a case where there are merely some outstanding or lingering questions about a man’s character or integrity but rather about one who evidences a total lack of both. This is true no matter how many for profit and advocacy groups (see American Solutions) he has or will launch as part of what the Wall Street Journal has referred to as Newt, Inc. A veritable Dr. Seuss character like the Grinch who launched the Contract on America and has been feeding at the trough ever since, perhaps Newt Gingrich might at least try to figure out how to be a less vile or repugnant member of the human race before pontificating how we can become a better society.
-Christopher London, NYC
The GOP would get bad press, if it nominated a bunch of eccentrics like Donald Trump and Newt Gingrich to run for president. The country needs a candidate, who has the ability to weather the storm in an unseaworthy vessel.
You may want to consider that Newt's Presidential candidacy is sort of like you or I getting drunk and molesting your secretary on the first week of an entry level job, being forced to tender your resignation, submit to alcohol rehab and serving time in a federal penententiary and then a few weeks or months later upon release, submitting your resume for the CEO spot of that same company. If you think there is nothing wrong with that scenario then you likely find nothing wrong with this man's candidacy for President.
For a minute there I thought you were talking about Bill Clinton.
Cute, entertaining, image provoking metaphors (drunk, molesting, ...) will likely be the SOP for the Newt bashers.
I'm not on the Newt bandwagon, but would be refreshing to have a candidate provide some specifics instead of nebulous promises of "Hope and Change".
Part of the problem with Newt is he will give a speech in one place, then a couple of days later will give a different speech where his proposals are a 180 degree turnaround from the original. Then he gets indignant when someone points out his previous speech.
While I find Gingrich to be an intelligent individual with strong convictions of certain ideas, I find his amoral actions while House Minority Whip, Speaker and after to be the primary reason why he should not be President. Even though he is the most intelligent and well-educated of all the candidates, he would be worse for the country than Wilson (reinforcement of Jim Crow and Segregation), Coolidge (saw the Crash coming and bailed so he wouldn't get the blame even though it was due to policies he set in motion – sound familiar?) and Hoover (had the chance to correct the economy after the crash but didn't because of his belief in Limited Government) combined, along with the same respect for laws as shown by the Nixon and Bush Junior presidencies.
Newt (multiple personalities) even his mom knew he was going to be a slimy sleeze – she named him appropriately.
At least the man can prove he was born here and is eligible to run for president.
He can also talk without following a TelePrompTer.
Wow! Amazing credentials! I guess he's the best the GOP has to offer then. (Although I want to see his marriage license to see who's really his wife, and which ones are really his kids.)
Wow! What's it like living 3 weeks in the past?
Why do you assume he can prove that he was born here? Have you seen his birth certificate? Have you demanded it yet?
the teleprompter is obvious since he says one thing in one speech and then contradicts is in the next! hmmm maybe the teleprompter isn't such a bad idea! Anyway dude, if that's the best you can come up with – you make the case against him not for him. SHEESH!
I want to see Newt's long form birth certificate immediately, until I see it I will not consider him a citizen of this country. I think all the republican candidates should have to post their long form BC on the web, I mean, how else will we know they're citizens??
I can't stand articles like this that discourage voters from voting for the various losers on the Republican roster. It only encourages facing reality and discourages living in denial. Give ignorance and hopelessness a chance!
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!! thank you Abe – I laughed right out loud at work thanks to you....now everyone is starring!!! LOL
Thank you
The only thing the Grinch is qualified for is a spot on Jerry Springer's show 'Baggage'. Nuff said.
NOT too long ago there was a big media frenzy of a bigot lable attached to Gingrich this guy will never run the black vote, Hispanic vote, Asian vote, middlestern vote, or the Jewish vote and anything non white. Hope he runs cause he will def lose. Obama 2012.
Sounds like 4 weak and typical Newt bashing reasons. Do Newt bashers ever provide any substance to their rhetoric? The far left just hate him because they know he is right. And unlike Palin and Trump, Newt can provide a significant challenge failed liberal Illinois governing.
@jroper73 ... Those four items listed in the article are based on actual events. Stating facts is quite different from "bashing" (pre-judgmental criticism). I could say Newt Gingrich is an incompetent amoral elitist corporatist DC-Insider whose hand is in more pockets than fluff and defines straight-and-narrow as the Amazon River ... but that would be bashing. Instead, it's factual to say he's intelligent and has great ideas, but has a personal history and career history with problems that could hamper his bid for the White House.
He's got my vote. I think hilary is a bitch too
I understand you hate our State Secretary. That being said, please use appropriate terms in this forum. You are only embarassing yourself and your loose lips.
What a mature and well thought out post. After hearing these reasons not to vote for him (and perhaps to vote for another Republican candidate), you say without giving any reasons for why he got your vote. Perhaps it is because you approve of cheating on one's wife? Or perhaps you mistakenly thought that being a hypocrite is a Constitutional requirement for being president. Oh, I got it. You just hate people with cancer, so anyone who makes life harder on someone with cancer has got your vote.
Newt will fit right in with the rest of the GOP clowns.. I would love for Palin, Trump, Bachman and Newt to all run just for he entertainment value.
Absolutely, It would be a series of performance that will put Hollywood's entertainment industry in shade.
Hilary for Prez!!
"She turned me into a Newt!"
Gingrich feels he has redeemed himself, but in truth he has redeemed himself only to himself, not to America. He will never be elected president.
And why the home-wrecker wife thinks Americans would EVER allow her as the First Lady, they must both be on something...seriously!
I think mit would make a good president . So he is a morman. We have a muslin now in office what does it matter aslong he is lookIng out for the country.
Newt and palin should not even thing about running. There are lots of good men and woman out there that are gop.. Newt don't waste your time and money with draw from the race. Bill
The president is not a muslim, just has a muslim name. He is christian and has raised his family that way as well. I can tell you feed from the fox news soundbite bag
Bill, go back to school-fool!
Muslin???? We have a president who is loosely woven cotton cloth? Not sure what a morman is. Don't really have a problem with the mormon faith though.
And of course Obama is a Christian, and has raised his family as christians. But never mind the evidence or facts.
Trump will never make.it or palin they are a big laugh.
I have a personal letter signed by Newt dated August 25, 1998, sitting right here on my desk. No really, I do. Right there in the Congress of the United States Envelope. Newt said he looked forward to meeting me. So I guess I can use this as a pass at some upcoming "Newt News" event. I think it will be interesting to see him handle the pundits questions and comments. He’s always been very good at clarifying his position when asked tough questions. So let's see how it goes. I plan to get as much "Newt Time" as possible. Right now he has our vote. P.S Hey you Newt campaign people, if you happen to read this, please make a point to tell Newt I'm still waiting to meet with him.
He won't and the joke's on Newt.
You don't need 4 reasons – one is enough – he is the most racist old biggot out there...
I wish Newt would not run against President Obama because I like both.
In this day and age of mass news gathering and reporting, one cannot say one thing on monday, something contradictory on tuesday and expect no one to notice. Deniability and claims of being taken out of context are impossible. Lies and hypocrisy are apparent to all. Newt should know this.
His arrogance knows no bounds. The American people won't be fooled and have not forgotten his long dirty laundry list. He should just go back to writing his history books.
i wouldnt vote for him, even if there was a gun to my head, cheating set aside, his out of date thoughts, in general dont fit.in with todays world.
NG is just one lonnnng boring rerun of an old movie. He should stay home watching his favorite movie, "Boys Town".
I just don't understand why some voters continue to support candidates who pander to their religious fantasies, only to have the candidate prove time and time again, that they have the moral character of a cockroach. When will voters realize, that religion or a lack there of, has nothing to do with moral character?
What Gingrich brings to the GOP race is provocative and innovative thinking. Count on him to say something that shakes up the race. Just don’t count on it BEING THE TRUTH! MAHHAHAHAHAHA
I agree with @chris London and @Joe from CT. Great analysis hitting the main argument against the Grinch ever stealing Xmas, much less the White House. @thestevenjcampbell,please don't bore us with your trivial idiotcy.
It is not Newt that i am worrid about but the short memory span of our fellow Americans who put republicrats in power this past election after what they did to America not too long ago.
He knows he doesn't have a chance. He's simply running for the free money/ campaign contributions. His campaign slogan might as well be "Newt – Born to lose".
This jerk is the epitome of the scum of the earth !!!
He's only running 2 get tax $$ & will keep it. He's such an a-hole. Check out his history. Why is everybody a Nazie that disagrees with him. What an ass he is.
tell ole master mr. newt that we people don't pick cotton anymore and minorities can work and visit the white house.
"Newt Gindrich" sounds like foreign name. And I heard he grew up in Europe. Is anyone sure he is really an American?
I am trying to find a single positive comment Pls help me !
He looks like he cuts his own hair...
This idiot comes with Jim Crow baggage and he will get smacked down very soon by other candidates
Ok.... He's got a nice breadbasket. A reaaaal American thar.
Cheating on your wife used to be the stuff of scandal. It would hurt your career if you were found out. Your bosses figured if your wife couldn't trust you, how could they. You might ask what is the difference between Gingrich and Bill Clinton. The answer is that Gingrich is of the party that preaches conservative religious values and self righteousness. We didn't know about Monica until after Clinton's re-election. We know about Gingrich before hand.
Look like Republican party is having a serious problem to find a right candidate to fight next Presidential race against Obama and win.
But here we are talking politics. Clinton was a big spender and Clinton fought CONTRACT WITH AMERICA tooth & nail. Clinton never had a balanced budget before Newt and took closing government down several times to get Bill to sign a balanced budget. http://bit.ly/kLS1Lj
The man just cannot let go.
I savor, cause I discovered just what I was looking for. You've ended my four day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye