Hello, I Must Be Going
by Don Wrege
I have to admit that I'm a fan of Newt Gingrich for the same reason
I'm a fan of Ross Perot: the pure entertainment value of their mouths.
Newt, like a spoiled child, took his ball and went home as a result
of the Republicans' poor showing in the November elections. As head
of the party, Gingrich had become a lightning rod for negative attacks
from both sides of the aisle.
Newt became a symbol embodying all the qualities of a Republican that
the Democrats find reprehensible: he's white, he's male, he's rich,
he's mean-spirited, he's brilliant and he wants you to acknowledge it.
Not that being smart kept him out of trouble, far from it.Newt's mind
and mouth always moved faster than his better political instincts. Take,
for example this paraphrase of his televised classroom comments regarding
females in combat: "Women would have biological problems sitting in
a ditch for thirty days . . . they're better suited for sitting at desks
for long periods of time and men are better suited for hunting giraffes
all day."
Whom did he not he insult?
I'm the only person I know who sat through hours and hours of Newt's
televised college course, "Renewing American Civilization." I caught
the comment as he delivered it within a two-hour lecture. It was a brief
humorous aside (or so he thought). A toss off. A quip. A headline. A
legacy. Anyone who has had to endure a scholarly two-hour lecture in
one sitting appreciates a little humor thrown in along the way. But
the Speaker found out that stand-up comedy and the high profile political
scrutiny of the times don't mix. Especially if the funding behind the
college course comes into question (which it did).
Newt's careless blathering cost him his job, his reputation as a statesman
and his career as the most powerful Republican in government. I don't
believe, however, that it is in this man's constitution (if you'll forgive
the pun) to simply step aside and live the rest of his life in the echoes.
A self-proclaimed revolutionary, Newt undoubtedly has a plan. His stepping
down from the Speaker's post and the surrendering of his Congressional
seat "for the good of the party," are deeds far too classy for a man
of his drive and mind.
I smell strategy.
My prediction: Gingich and George Bush Jr. as the Republican presidential
ticket in 2000. Not necessarily in that order. Light anyone?
