Is Newt Our Man?

There seems to be a candidate I have never really discussed or given much thought to, but now that he has gained a little more attention maybe it is time to do so.

            Newt Gingrich, or Mr. Speaker, has recently been endorsed by New Hampshire’s largest newspaper, The Union Leader.  Now, this is a state that Mitt Romney is usually the guy they’re talking about. So why Gingrich?

            Gingrich grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He received his Bachelor’s degree in History from Emory University and his master’s, as well as his doctorate, in Modern European History from Tulane University. In the 1970s Gingrich ran for the House of Representatives two times before being elected on the third try in 1978, then was notably re-elected ten times. It was not until twenty years later, in 1998 that he resigned.

In those twenty years Gingrich really got things done. He was the architect for the “Contract With America.” This contract was a detailed plan of action from the Republican Party that stated what they would do if they became the majority party in the United States House of Representatives.

According to Newt’s website there are a couple of more things to take note on.

“Under Newt’s leadership, Congress passed the first balanced budget in a generation, leading to the repayment of over $400 billion in debt.  Congress also cut taxes for the first time in sixteen years and reformed welfare, leading to over sixty percent of welfare recipients either getting a job or going to school.  In addition, the Congress restored funding to strengthen our defense and intelligence capabilities, an action later lauded by the bipartisan 9/11 Commission.”

            Newt Gingrich has the stuff to back up his candidacy, but where does he stand now? (Again, going through his website you can find more detailed descriptions, but here is a brief overview.)

Gingrich has ten solutions for Immigration. To name a few:

-Control the Border

-Create a 21^st Century Visa Program

- “In-source” the best brains in the world (Which basically means allowing foreign students to immediately start working in America, instead of forcing them to leave and start from scratch.)

-Allow foreigners, who want to spend money, invest and create jobs in America to do so.

As far as Jobs & Economy goes, he has a strategy that balances the budget, pays down the debt, and creates more jobs.

-Stop 2013 tax increases

-Strengthen the dollar

-Move toward an optional flat tax of 15%

-Repeal & Replace Obamacare (Shocking)

-Balance the Budget

Newt has always been a leader on Healthcare. On his website he has a thirteen point solutions plan that he calls Patient Power reforms.

“Everyone would be able to obtain essential health care and coverage when needed.  For those who are too poor to buy health insurance, states will have more flexibility to provide them with the assistance they need to buy it.  For those who nevertheless choose not to purchase coverage and then become too sick to do so, high-risk pools will provide access to coverage.”

Clearly Newt Gingrich appears to have the experience and the knowledge to really do something in this race. But there has to be something about him that is holding him back from overshadowing a former CEO of a pizza company. For me, it has little to do with the experience he has had in politics, but more so to do with his personal “affairs”. Gingrich has been married three times, and both marriages, previous to his current marriage to Callista Bisek, ended in divorce because he had an affair… twice! Gingrich does not appear to be the upstanding and honorable man the People usually want to elect.

Unfortunately, for Newt Gingrich, personal affairs are just about as important as political affairs.

How 'bout some Obama?

For the first time, I will be talking about President Obama, and in keeping with the theme of campaign advertising there seems to be a decent amount happening to look over.

As we all know, commercial campaign ads can have a number of purposes. Whether those purposes be promoting themselves in a certain light or trying to put their fellow candidates in a certain light.

Well, in this particular instance it is Obama being attacked by the Republican GOP candidates. More specifically jabs from Governor Rick Perry & Mitt Romney. Perry’s thirty-second, national running advertisement starts out with a clip of Obama talking about how Americans have been “lazy”. Perry goes on to disagree with him and says, “Obama’s socialist policies are bankrupting America. We must stop him now.” And of course, the message is “approved” by Perry.

Mitt Romney’s approved one-minute ad starts with a clip of Obama giving a speech accompanied with ominous music. Words flash on the screen displaying the promises the president spoke of and then the words, “He failed.” Then as if the sun has risen after four years, we hear bright cheery music and see Romney’s smiling face as he speaks his assuring words. The purposes of these ads are clear: Attack Obama now.

Both Perry and Romney have received criticisms about the ads and are being accused of changing President Obama’s words. But the Republicans seem to be pushing forward full force, dropping over $13 million dollars on ads that put Obama in that negative light, and it will only continue to grow. This particular form of campaign advertising is just another way to get in the game. However, these attacks seem to be a bit early in this game, don’t they?

            According to an article recently published on The New York Times website, there might be a downside to these early attacks.

“But going negative so early also carries substantial risks. One is that many voters are not yet paying much attention to the campaign and will not do so until much closer to next November, meaning the advertising expenditures could be largely wasted. And negative messages now could alienate moderate and independent voters who blame excessive partisanship for Washington’s troubles in addressing the nation’s big problems.” (Jeremy W. Peters)

            This Times article also goes on to talk about another conservative advocacy group, called Crossroads GPS, that has already spent $20 million dollars on negative Obama advertisements. Americans for Prosperity is another group that is pitching on the anti-Obama ad campaigns, spending $2.4 million dollars.

            Now, I can understand that there is a campaign strategy in there for some of these groups and individuals. But let’s be honest. The messages that they are spending millions and millions of dollars on are words we have already heard. They may think that by putting these ads out a few months ahead of time is sure fire way to get people on the right band wagon, but all it does is beat us over the head with how much they hate Obama. And the fact that they’re spending that much money to tell us over and over again, is absurd. We get it. Now save it for game time.

Campaign Advertising

As you can see these are three different clips from the same video, but the entire video is worth watching. (That is if you really care about Campaign Commercials, or Bush & Dukakis)



Greg Katz discusses the first of a couple campaign commercials; its pros, cons, and purpose. He also discusses the process of placing these commercial ads and rough figures of their costs.



Here's another campaign ad from Mike Dukakis and then Katz's helpful feedback.



Here I give you the Mike Dukakis "tank ride".

Debate Debate Debate

Buddy Roemer discusses exactly what is expected of a Presidential candidate if he/she wishes to be a part of the debates.



After a debate press, candidates, and candidate representatives gather in the "Spin Room" and discuss the evening's debate.



A question is raised and discussed about the pros and cons of a "Single Moderator" format or a "Richmond" format for debates. Also, a side note is mentioned by Diana Carlin about how there was an interest in seeing the candidates ask each other questions in debates.

A Perry Flaw Strikes Again

“Um, oops” is exactly what Rick Perry while we all said, “Wait, seriously?”

In a recent debate, Perry started to answer a question about tax code by stating which three federal agencies he would eliminate: Commerce, Education, and um…

Oh. Embarrassing. He forgot the third one. And not just for that one moment. Perry made several attempts to remember the one he forgot. Even our good ol’ Ron Paul tried to help him out with, “The E.P.A.?”

Apparently, that would go too, but that was not exactly the one federal agency Perry was thinking of.  After more stumbles and failed attempts, he even looked down to see if it was written somewhere. It’s not there, Perry. So what did he say when he ran out of “ums”? “I can’t remember. Oops.” OOPS!

Now while this is actually quite entertaining, and the audience laughed and clapped as well, it is just another rather unfortunate set back for the Governor of Texas. Perry has already shown that he’s not the best at debating. He also had quite the setback on coming out with an actual PLAN. For the longest time, all we heard was that he was going to get America working again. Looks like he still does not know. Either Perry simply has a bad memory or he did not create his own ideas.

After the debate, Perry discussed his little flub with reporters.  Now, this is a long quote I found in an article from The New York Times, but the entirety of it is not a waste of reading, that is for sure.

“I’m glad I had my boots on tonight, because I sure stepped in it out there.

Well, I tell you what, I named two more agencies in government than what the current administration has talked about getting rid of, and the Energy just wouldn’t come out. So anyways, those three agencies of government — Education and Energy and Commerce are part of it, and the bottom line is, I may have forgotten Energy, but I haven’t forgotten my conservative principles. And that’s what this campaign is really going to be about, laying out our tax plan.

Look, I’m focused on my issues, and my issues are about our tax plan, it’s about our budget, it’s about our cutting spending, it’s about giving Americans real hope for a vision that you get this country back to work again, and it’s really not that difficult. The fact is you just have to have some courage. From time to time you may forget about an agency that you are gonna zero out, but everybody tomorrow will understand that the Energy Department needs to be done away with…

I stepped in it, man. Yeah it was embarrassing, of course it was.”

It is completely understandable to have a flub. That is a normal, human error that is frequently made. However, you would think that under such circumstances (circumstances being that you are a candidate for the President of the United States) that you would do everything in your power to at the very least remember your tactics to “get America working again.” Come on Perry. You are a funny guy, but there is no room for “ums”.

A Late Follow Up

As we all know, and as I have previously discussed, there have been allegations directed towards Herman Cain in regards to sexual harassment. So how about we follow up?

On Tuesday, November 8^th Cain assembled a nationally televised conference to deny the harassment accusations and stand by his innocent plea. “Because that’s the person Herman Cain is,” spoken by Cain in the beginning of the conference. Four women have now come out to claim that Cain has addressed them inappropriately. So Cain starts explaining and defending his honor, by talking about each woman individually. In regards to one of the latest accusers, Cain claims to have never known this woman at all, much less recognized her name. Thus, rejecting her accusation with ease. He says sexual harassment accusations are of a serious matter, and that these particular allegations and statements exceed common sense and the standards of decency in America.  

Cain continues to discuss his family, particularly his wife at first, whom he’s been married to for forty-three years. Cain said Gloria, his wife, said that all of these accusations don’t even sound like something he would do. So Cain asks that the media not drag his family into this matter, because they are not the ones running for president. Apparently some of his family members have even been stalked by members of the media, and that the media continues to be professional by only approaching himself about these issues. 

Herman Cain graciously opens the floor for questions, and by doing so proves that he can continue to handle these accusations with confidence in his innocence. The first question refers to whether or not a candidate’s integrity and character should be under such microscopic pressure, to which he replies with a resounding yes. “With facts, not accusations,” he states. 

It is fact that Karen Kraushaar did file a sexual harassment complaint against Mr. Cain when they were employed together. However, the complaint was found “baseless” as Cain stated, and that there was an agreement that was dealt with in personnel between Ms. Kraushaar and the company. 

Another questioner from The New York Times asks that Cain level with them and that he takes the chance to really tell them what Ms. Kraushaar accused him of and what actually happened. In response, he explains the gesture he made that compared Kraushaar’s height to his wife. Which apparently is the gesture she was most upset about. I’ll give that a 2.2 on my I.B.I scale.

In closing, Herman Cain begs the media to focus on the issues that really matter, and that we not get distracted by these false allegations that, as he previously mentions, are just trying to bring his campaign down.

So are these allegations posing a major threat to Herman Cain? Maybe to the people who plan to vote in the upcoming election, but Cain certainly does not plan on backing down anytime soon.

“It “ain’t gonna happen because I’m doing this for the American people and for the children and the grandchildren. And I will not be deterred by false, anonymous, incorrect accusations.”  -Herman Cain

Social Media

Even though it is barely mentioned, Jim Messina speaks to a younger crowd about how social media is a way to help break up the rumors and tell the truth.



Heather Smith discusses how important the new media and "online" way of life has helped get more involved in the election process.



In this video, it states the percentage of people that use different aspects of technology/social media in disasters, etc. This doesn't exactly relate to politics, but it is very interesting to hear.

So-So Santorum

As it would appear, Rick Santorum has been fighting and fighting, but does not seem to be reaping very man benefits. So I have decided to figure out what it is about him,that is just not clicking. He seems to be the “family man” of the bunch, but does he merely pale in comparison to the other Republican candidates?

Last Wednesday morning, Santorum answered a few questions at Copper Lantern Restaurant in Iowa. On this particular occasion Santorum mainly discussed the issue of education, but seemed to really make a connection with the small but appreciative few who gathered to meet him. Santorum has been to every single one of the ninety-nine counties in Iowa to reach out to potential voters. This is a quest he began in June when declared his candidacy.

Even though this has been quite a feat, Santorum seems to be encouraged by his campaigning efforts. “I prayed a lot about this and thought a lot about stepping out and putting my family through this, from the point of view of not being there. Financially, I’m not making a whole lot of income right now. We’re going through our savings, and I got seven kids. But you’ve got to feel like your country is at stake. If that doesn’t motivate you, you shouldn’t be doing this. I don’t get a whole lot of sleep,” he stated in an interview that Wednesday morning. Definitely give that a 9 on my I.B.I. scale.

In previous debates, we have not been able to hear too much from his side of the stage. So what exactly does Rick Santorum stand for? Is there anything that makes him different from the other hopeful candidates?

He has experience no doubt. At the age of thirty-two he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, later served in the U.S. Senate, then in 2000 was elected to the position of Senate Republican Conference Chairman. While researching his website, I learned that Santorum was a member of the “Gang of Seven”. Gang of Seven was a group of seven men (of course) who exposed the Congressional Banking and Congressional Post Office scandals. And according to his website, Santorum also served eight years on the Senate Armed Services Committee where he led the fight before the attacks of September 11th, 2001 to transform our military from a Cold War force to meet today's threats.

Where does Rick Santorum stand on the issues? Well, let us take a look at his website for his stances. There are three sections to describe the kind of candidate he is. These sections are entitled, Champion of Faith & Families, Defender of the Taxpayer, and Believer in American Exceptionalism.

Being a champion of faith and families means he is against gay marriage and abortion rights. A defender is defined as reforming congress and changing the nation’s entitlement programs. And a believer means protecting our American soil by not backing down to the Jihadists. A champion, defender and believer sounds like a great kind of guy, right?

So where is he going wrong? This is a question I ask myself every time his name is mentioned. Watching the debates and reading articles about Santorum help clarify a little bit. For me, Rick Santorum doesn’t “sparkle” enough to be a leading man; a man to lead our country. And maybe, just maybe… he’s not quite tall enough.