Former GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich told Newsmax late on Monday that 20 percent of President Barack Obama’s second inauguration speech was “goofy left-wingism.”
“Eighty percent was a very good, American speech that Republicans can use to make their case to the American people: the Declaration of Independence, having a good work ethic,” Gingrich, the former House Speaker, told Newsmax in an exclusive interview. “The other 20 percent was just left-wingism.”
Gingrich, who attended the inauguration, was among many GOP legislators and conservatives who shared their opinions on Obama’s second address. Many attacked the speech for its lack of specificity and bipartisan outreach.
As for Gingrich, the former Georgia representative said President Obama’s lack of clarity gave Republicans much fodder as his new term begins.
“For instance, he talked about how children need to feel safe,” he told Newsmax. “One left-wing reporter asked me if it was a call for gun control. I said that it was a call for armed guards in schools. He wasn’t clear.”
This fuzziness marks the foundation of a new, effective GOP strategy, Gingrich said.
“To conservatives, we have a choice,” he added. “Because he talked about having a good work ethic, I’d say: ‘Let’s reform unemployment compensation, with a requirement that you educate yourself so you can get a new job – because we should not be paying people to do nothing’ – and we can cite it as being a part of Barack Obama’s agenda.”
Gingrich likened the 80 percent of the president’s speech to words that might have been spoken by former GOP President Ronald Reagan.
“I’d say, ‘Let’s look at this speech and underline everything you agree with,'” he said. “If Ronald Reagan had given this speech, and you read it – and, not knowing who gave it – you could see that it was almost identical to something he would have said.
“But 20 percent is goofy left-wingism – and we’d cheerfully fight him on that. The whole section about climate change is nonsense. The great energy revolution we’re living through is called ‘oil and gas.'”
“There are portions of his speech that we can totally support,” Gingrich added – and embracing those sections, in particular, “would totally confuse Obama and the Democrats. That’s not quite what the Left expects.”
Meanwhile, Arizona Sen. John McCain expressed displeasure with Obama’s failure to discuss bipartisanship.
“I would have liked to have seen some outreach,” the 2008 GOP presidential candidate told the Los Angeles Times. “This is the eighth [inauguration] that I’ve been to – and always there’s been a portion of the speech where [the president says] ‘I reach out my hand because we need to work together.’ That wasn’t in this speech.”
Ohio Sen. Bob Portman agreed.
“My disappointment was that in the speech, I think the president missed an opportunity to talk about where we can find common ground,” Portman also told the Times. “Instead, he chose to talk about it in the abstract – and the specifics were about the things he believes, but are not issues where we, as a Congress and an executive branch, can make progress.”
In a statement, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell expressed optimism about Obama’s new term.
“The president’s second term represents a fresh start when it comes to dealing with the great challenges of our day – particularly, the transcendent challenge of unsustainable federal spending and debt,” the Kentucky Republican said in a statement.
And the No. 4 GOP representative, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, said legislators will soon need to make “hard choices” once the Obama presidency gets underway for a second time.
“House Republicans are eager to be responsible partners with the president during his second term,” McMorris Rodgers, the chairwoman of the House Republican Conference, said in a statement.
“Yet, the President’s eloquent words must be matched with deliberate actions to restore country’s fiscal health. In his Inaugural Address today, he said: ‘We must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of health care and the size of our deficit.’
“Yet, it is almost four years since the Senate passed a budget,” she added. “In the meantime, spending has raged out of control and America’s debt has ballooned.”
As for former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, he described Obama’s speech as “a very lofty address” that did not speak to the true problems facing the nation.
“I don’t think it touched what most Americans are worried about,” Card, who served the George W. Bush White House, told Fox. “It didn’t talk about protecting us – and that’s the oath of office – but it didn’t talk about the real concerns we have in America.
“We have an economy that’s not growing and spending that’s out of sight. We also don’t have a situation where there seems to be any interest in working together to address those problems.”
Card said he was looking to next month’s State of the Union address for more specifics from the president.
“I hope the president comes out and says: ‘I care about what’s happening in America right now. I want to make sure people have a job, that people have an economy that’s growing – and don’t worry, I’m going to protect you. There’s a war on terror going on around the world, and I’m going to focus on that.’
“I think he was really speaking past us,” Card told Fox. “A lot of people have said, ‘Nice speech, but, really what are you going to do about the real problems we have in America today?'”
Read more at NEWSMAX.
{Matzav.com Newscenter}
I dont know why he went to the inauguration ?
*-Peyton Manning, Denver
x-Tom Brady, New England
y-Andrew Luck, Indianapolis
Matt Schaub, Houston
Running back *Arian Foster, Houston
Jamaal Charles, Kansas City
z-Ray Rice, Baltimore
y-C.J. Spiller, Buffalo
Fullback z-Vonta Leach, Baltimore
*y-Marcel Reece, Oakland
Wide receiver *-A.J. Green, Cincinnati
*-Andre Johnson, Houston
Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis
x-Wes Welker, New England
y-Demaryius Thomas, Denver
Tight end x-Rob Gronkowski, New England
x-Heath Miller, Pittsburgh
y-Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati
y-Owen Daniels, Houston
Tackle *-Joe Thomas, Cleveland
*-Duane Brown, Houston
x-Ryan Clady, Denver
y-Andrew Whitworth, Cincinnati
Guard x-Logan Mankins, New England
z-Marshal Yanda, Baltimore
y-Richie Incognito, Miami
Wade Smith, Houston
y-Zane Beadles, Denver
Center *-Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh
Chris Myers, Houston
Defense
Position Player(s)
Defensive end *-J.J. Watt, Houston
*-Cameron Wake, Miami
Elvis Dumervil, Denver
Interior linemen *-Geno Atkins, Cincinnati
x-Vince Wilfork, New England
z-Haloti Ngata, Baltimore
y-Randy Starks, Miami
y-Kyle Williams, Buffalo
Outside linebacker x-Von Miller, Denver
*-Tamba Hali, Kansas City
Robert Mathis, Indianapolis
Inside/Middle linebacker *-Jerod Mayo, New England
Derrick Johnson, Kansas City
Cornerback *-Champ Bailey, Denver
*-Johnathan Joseph, Houston
Antonio Cromartie, N.Y. Jets
Free safety z-Ed Reed, Baltimore
y-Jairus Byrd, Buffalo
Strong safety *-Eric Berry, Kansas City
LaRon Landry, N.Y. Jets
Special teams
Position Player(s)
Punter Dustin Colquitt, Kansas City
Placekicker Phil Dawson, Cleveland
Kick returner z-Jacoby Jones, Baltimore
y-Josh Cribbs, Cleveland
Special-teamer Matthew Slater, New England
Long snapper John Denney, Miami
NFC
Offense
Position Player(s)
Quarterback x-Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay
x-Matt Ryan, Atlanta
y-Drew Brees, New Orleans
y-Eli Manning, N.Y. Giants
x-Robert Griffin III, Washington
y-Russell Wilson, Seattle
Running back *-Adrian Peterson, Minnesota
Marshawn Lynch, Seattle
y-Doug Martin, Tampa Bay
z-Frank Gore, San Francisco
Fullback *-Jerome Felton, Minnesota
Wide receiver x-Calvin Johnson, Detroit
x-Brandon Marshall, Chicago
*-Julio Jones, Atlanta
*-Victor Cruz, N.Y. Giants
y-Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona
y-Vincent Jackson, Tampa Bay
Tight end x-Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta
y-Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota
Jason Witten, Dallas
Tackle z-Joe Staley, San Francisco
*-Russell Okung, Seattle
y-Jermon Bushrod, New Orleans
Trent Williams, Washington
Guard z-Mike Iupati, San Francisco
y-Josh Sitton, Green Bay
*-Jahri Evans, New Orleans
Chris Snee, N.Y. Giants
Center *-Max Unger, Seattle
Jeff Saturday, Green Bay
Defense
Position Player(s)
Defensive end *-Jason Pierre-Paul, N.Y. Giants
*-Julius Peppers, Chicago
Jared Allen, Minnesota
Interior linemen z-Justin Smith, San Francisco
*-Henry Melton, Chicago
y-Ndamukong Suh, Detroit
Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay
Outside linebacker z-Aldon Smith, San Francisco
x-DeMarcus Ware, Dallas
x-Clay Matthews, Green Bay
y-Chad Greenway, Minnesota
y-Ryan Kerrigan, Washington
y-Anthony Spencer, Dallas
Inside/Middle linebacker y-Daryl Washington, Arizona
y-London Fletcher, Washington
z-Patrick Willis, San Francisco
z-NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco
Cornerback *-Charles Tillman, Chicago
*-Tim Jennings, Chicago
Patrick Peterson, Arizona
Free safety z-Dashon Goldson, San Francisco
Earl Thomas, Seattle
y-Thomas DeCoud, Atlanta
Strong safety z-Donte Whitner, San Francisco
y-William Moore, Atlanta
Special teams
Position Player(s)
Punter Thomas Morstead, New Orleans
Placekicker Blair Walsh, Minnesota
Kick returner Leon Washington, Seattle
Special-teamer Lorenzo Alexander, Washington
Long snapper Don Muhlbach, Detroit
Rosters by team
*-denotes starter
x-denotes out because of injury
y-denotes replacement for injured or Super Bowl player
z-will not play; Super Bowl participant
AFC
Team Player(s)
Baltimore (6) z-Jacoby Jones, kick returner
z-Vonta Leach, fullback
z-Haloti Ngata, interior lineman
z-Ed Reed, free safety
z-Ray Rice, running back
z-Marshal Yanda, guard
Buffalo (3) y-Jairus Byrd, free safety
y-C.J. Spiller, running back
y-Kyle Williams, defensive tackle
Cincinnati (4) *-Geno Atkins, interior lineman
*-A.J. Green, wide receiver
y-Jermaine Gresham, tight end
y-Andrew Whitworth, tackle
Cleveland (3) Phil Dawson, placekicker
Josh Cribbs, kick returner
*-Joe Thomas, offensive tackle
Denver (7) *-Champ Bailey, cornerback
x-Ryan Clady, tackle
Elvis Dumervil, defensive end
*-Peyton Manning, quarterback
x-Von Miller, outside linebacker
y-Zane Beadles, guard
y-Demaryius Thomas, wide receiver
Houston (9) *-Duane Brown, tackle
Owen Daniels, tight end
*-Arian Foster, running back
*-Andre Johnson, wide receiver
*-Johnathan Joseph, cornerback
Chris Myers, center
Matt Schaub, quarterback
Wade Smith, guard
*-J.J. Watt, defensive end
Indianapolis (3) Robert Mathis, outside linebacker
y-Andrew Luck, quarterback
Reggie Wayne, wide receiver
Kansas City (5) *-Eric Berry, strong safety
Jamaal Charles, running back
Dustin Colquitt, punter
*-Tamba Hali, outside linebacker
Derrick Johnson, inside/middle linebacker
Miami (4) *-Cameron Wake, defensive end
John Denney, long snapper
y-Richie Incognito, guard
y-Randy Starks, defensive end
New England (7) x-Tom Brady, quarterback
x-Rob Gronkowski, tight end
x-Logan Mankins, guard
*-Jerod Mayo, inside/middle linebacker
Matthew Slater, special-teamer
x-Wes Welker, wide receiver
x-Vince Wilfork, interior lineman
N.Y. Jets (2) Antonio Cromartie, cornerback
LaRon Landry, strong safety
Oakland (1) y-Marcel Reece, fullback
Pittsburgh (2) x-Heath Miller, tight end
*-Maurkice Pouncey, center
NFC
Team Player(s)
Arizona (3) y-Larry Fitzgerald,wide receiver
Patrick Peterson, cornerback
y-Daryl Washington, inside linebacker
Atlanta (5) x-Tony Gonzalez, tight end
*-Julio Jones, wide receiver
x-Matt Ryan, quarterback
y-Thomas Decoud, free safety
y-William Moore, strong safety
Chicago (5) *-Tim Jennings, cornerback
x-Brandon Marshall, wide receiver
*-Henry Melton, interior lineman
*-Julius Peppers, defensive end
*-Charles Tillman, cornerback
Dallas (3) x-DeMarcus Ware, outside linebacker
Jason Witten, tight end
y-Anthony Spencer, outside linebacker
Detroit (3) x-Calvin Johnson, wide receiver
y-Ndamukong Suh, interior lineman
Don Muhlbach, long snapper
Green Bay (4) x-Clay Matthews, outside linebacker
x-Aaron Rodgers, quarterback
y-Josh Sitton, guard
Jeff Saturday, center
Minnesota (6) Jared Allen, defensive end
*-Jerome Felton, fullback
*-Adrian Peterson, running back
Blair Walsh, placekicker
y-Kyle Rudolph, tight end
y-Chad Greenway, outside linebacker
New Orleans (4) y-Drew Brees, quarterback
*-Jahri Evans, guard
y-Jermon Bushrod, tackle
Thomas Morstead, punter
N.Y. Giants (3) Victor Cruz, wide receiver
*-Jason Pierre-Paul, defensive end
Chris Snee, guard
San Francisco (9) z-NaVorro Bowman, inside/middle linebacker
z-Dashon Goldson, free safety
z-Frank Gore, running back
z-Mike Iupati, guard
z-Aldon Smith, outside linebacker
z-Justin Smith, interior lineman
z-Joe Staley, tackle
z-Donte Whitner, strong safety
z-Patrick Willis, inside/middle linebacker
Seattle (6) Marshawn Lynch, running back
*-Russell Okung, tackle
Earl Thomas, free safety
*-Max Unger, center
Leon Washington, kick returner
y-Russell Wilson, quarterback
Tampa Bay (3) Gerald McCoy, interior lineman
y-Vincent Jackson, wide receiver
y-Doug Martin, running back
Washington (4) Lorenzo Alexander, special-teamer
x-Robert Griffin III, quarterback
y-London Flectcher, inside linebacker
y-Ryan Kerrigan, outside linebacker
Trent Williams, offensive tackle
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Newt – which one of you is president?