The NY Times is out with a scorching editorial against Newt Gingrich as a presidential contender   (5.12.11). The editorial reflects the fact the Gingrich has engaged in wild rhetoric in the last couple of years to try to boost his possibilities in the Republican primaries. Gingrich has long wanted to be president and he most likely sees 2012 as a do or die year. (He’s getting older, we all are.)

It would be grand if everyone could read the editorial not as a political attack by a liberal leaning newspaper, but for the facts it contains and the seriousness of the damaging talk that Gingrich has engaged in over recent times. The former Speaker of the House has called Obama and the Democrats just about everything but baby rapers. He is obviously playing to the far right fringe with the idea that they will turn out to vote and drag the votes of many more moderate Republicans with them, assuming there are any moderate Republicans left.

The likely course of the Gingrich candidacy is a lot of smoke and not much fire. He probably wants to make it to the primary in South Carolina to have a chance to get a rocket boost toward the nomination. If he can survive long enough for the field to be narrowed down to two or three candidates, he might have a real shot at the nomination.

What is key is what Republicans want for themselves and their party. The far right fringe is pushing for more and more power, virtually taking control of the party as of last year’s elections. Gingrich is a man who apparently believes that no rules apply to him. The Times editorial makes clear that he has no trouble disregarding facts and decency in formulating his attacks.

Doug Terry

Editorial

Mr. Gingrich’s Intolerant History

Newt Gingrich’s bid for the Republican presidential nomination is built on divisiveness and name-calling.