Newt Gingrich Engaging Uncommitted Conservatives in Tough Interviews
Byron York at the Washington Examiner:
Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich faced more than two hours of sometimes contentious questioning before a group of conservatives at a northern Virginia hotel Wednesday morning.
Gingrich requested the meeting, organized by longtime conservative leader Richard Viguerie, after learning that Viguerie had put together similar meetings for rival candidates Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, and Michele Bachmann. About 60 people were in the Gingrich meeting, which was held at the Key Bridge Marriott hotel just outside Washington.
"It was a little tense in there a couple of times," says one participant, noting that some of those gathered challenged Gingrich repeatedly on his environmental policy and support for the Medicare prescription drug entitlement. Gingrich did not back down from past positions and ended some exchanges by saying that he and the conservatives would just have to agree to disagree.
Among those attending were Gary Bauer, Brent Bozell III, Angelo Codevilla, Ken Cucinelli, Marjorie Dannenfelser, Helen Krieble, Leonard Leo, Curt Levey, Ginni Thomas, R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr., and several others.
Many candidates would not have the conviction to face a serious and substantive crowd like this for over two hours. No matter what one may think of Newt, this act commands respect. Newt also subjected himself to a lengthy interview with Glenn Beck and several in the elite media voiced their "surprise" at what a substantive and meaningful interview it was. Of course those of us who are familiar with Glenn's work know that his research team is as good if not better than any elite media news organization.
Mini UPDATE - Here is Newt's lengthy and very stimulating interview with Larry Kudlow - LINK.
Mini UPDATE II - Newt gets a standing ovation at conservative HQ event - LINK.
More from the Washington Examiner:
One attendee, who asked to remain anonymous, confirmed that the participants were undecided but suggested that few would end up with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. All of those present knew Gingrich and had ups and downs with him over the years, but none was as familiar with Romney. "We've been working with Newt for 30 years," the participant said. "For whatever reason, Romney hasn't ever been there.
While Mitt Romney has been avoiding conservatives while claiming to be the conservatives standard bearer, Gingrich has decided not to make that mistake and has let conservatives have at him at length to make his case. Romney refuses to debate Newt one on one as Herman Cain did. Romney seems to be employing a strategy of running out the clock and taking no risks. This also has made him an absentee in many circles.
Newt has been displaying a moral clarity since 2009 most have not witnessed in him before. He has been plugging away against Obama’s bad policies since and has been defending conservatives in the elite media since Obama took office. Newt defended Sarah Palin as the press trashed her; when we now know that on issue after issue after issue from death Panels, to ObamaCare costs, to the cronyism, to energy policy, to Egypt & Libya, to inflation and the increasing food problem, Palin has been almost prophetic in her correctness. Where was Mitt Romney in 2009 and 2010 when you and I were out protesting in the cold, raising awareness, networking to educate people, and raising funds for local candidates?