Gingrich in MD: Obama's war speech 'dangerous'
Former House Speaker and 2012 presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich called President Barack Obama's war speech "fundamentally dishonest and fundamentally dangerous" in an address this evening to Maryland Republicans.
At the appearance at the BWI Airport Marriott, Gingrich continued his criticism of the president's statement Wednesday that "the tide of war is receding." Gingrich challenged the president to withdraw the phrase, which he said was "dangerously misinformed."
Gingrich said the climates in Pakistan and North Korea are among other indications that "a potential tsunami of violence is building offshore." He sharply criticized Obama's response to American soldiers finding and killing Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.
The president, Gingrich said, should have reacted with "extraordinary aggressiveness" and "moral outrage" to word that Pakistan had arrested people believed to have assisted Americans in the raid. Obama, he said, "has no clue how dangerous the world can be."
On the economy, Gingrich said, Obama has "broken his word" to the American people by failing to put people back to work, leading to what he called "the Obama Depression."
Gingrich, whose presidential bid has stumbled in recent weeks as aides have left and he has dipped in Republican primary polls, said he is prepared to debate Obama even in blue states such as Maryland. He called Obama "the best food stamp president in American history" and said he would like to be "the best paycheck president."
Gingrich is one of several GOP presidential candidates to appear in Democrat-heavy Maryland in recent months. Last year, Maryland Republicans hosted former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, another 2012 hopeful, at their fundraiser.
A Republican who represented Georgia, Gingrich was born in Pennsylvania and said he visted Baltimore often as a child.
The Maryland GOP crowd of about 250 appeared smaller than at last year's fundraiser, which came months before a gubernatorial election. Former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., who lost his return bid last year, appeared briefly at a closed-door VIP party before departing. He did not stop to talk to reporters.
Among the dinner attendees were Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, former U.S. Rep. Marjorie Holt and congressional candidate Del. Patrick McDonough. State delegates, senators and local officials also filled the tables.
Maryland GOP Chairman Alex Mooney kicked off the dinner by saying "Maryland does not deserve a one-party state" and urged fellow state Republicans to "keep fighting."
Comments
Gingrich would've spoken longer, but the microphone and the podium resigned.
Posted by: Eric | June 23, 2011 10:17 PM
Pat McDonough...... " Former " East Baltimore City Democrate who left the party under dubious circumstances and who hasn't met a "wedge issue or piece of food he doesn't love!!!! Newt I'll just reinvent myself again " Gingrinch. And andy "Where's my healthcare from the fed's Harris. This is what the maryland repugs have been reduced to since Bobby bad hairpiece duped them last year...
Posted by: Jack | June 24, 2011 3:57 AM
Gee these comments (by Eric and Jack) seem to be more proof of the arrogance of Maryland Democrats. I suppose it's too much to hope that they could become more enlightened.
Posted by: Allen | June 24, 2011 2:49 PM
Obama is so radical, his policies could drive a man to adultery...
Posted by: Anonymous | June 24, 2011 3:35 PM
Gingrich spoke to the Republican Red White & Blue dinner in 2009 - 500 people showed up.
Now that he is running for President attendance drops in half to 250.
Does this reflect on Newt, or was Jim Pelura a better fundraiser than Alex Mooney?
Posted by: Andrew Langer | June 24, 2011 7:47 PM