POLITICS - "Nutty's" Latest Misstep

"Former GOP lawmakers blast Newt Gingrich" by SEUNG MIN KIM, Politico 10/7/2010

Two former House Republicans who served with ex-Speaker Newt Gingrich scolded their old colleague Thursday for his comments that the Democrats are the “party of food stamps.”

“At some point, people will learn to stop taking Newt Gingrich seriously,” said former Rep. Mickey Edwards (R-Okla.) in POLITICO’s Arena. “Newt is utterly unconcerned with the welfare of the country ... he cares about (a) Newt and (b) power for Newt.”

Gingrich, who is widely considered to be eyeing a potential presidential bid for 2012, unveiled the “food stamps” strategy earlier this week in a memo. He urged Republican candidates nationwide to draw a sharp contrast “between the Democrat Party of food stamps and the Republican Party of paychecks.”

“This year, the House Republicans’ Pledge to America has set the stage for a powerful, symbolic closing argument for candidates seeking to unseat the left-wing, big-spending, job-killing Democrats: paychecks versus food stamps,” Gingrich wrote in the memo.

But Edwards, who served in the House from 1977 to 1993, warned Republicans that those who back Gingrich’s strategy will turn off independent voters and “intelligent conservatives.”

Former Rep. John Hostettler (R-Ind.) blasted Gingrich from the right. Hostettler pointed out in Arena that the 1994 Contract with America — the blueprint drafted by Republicans outlining legislative promises if they won the House — included a provision that transformed federal food stamp entitlements into a state block grant. Once Republicans held a House majority, they failed to make good on that promise despite then-freshman lawmaker Hostettler’s efforts to do so in committee.

“The GOP is the party of food stamps also. The former speaker’s recollection of history may be a bit foggy,” Hostettler said. “My recommendation is that the memo needs revising.”