Newt vs. Newt

Gingrich's most outrageous foreign-policy flip-flops.

BY URI FRIEDMAN, JOSHUA E. KEATING | DECEMBER 9, 2011

Newt Gingrich's emergence as the front-runner among the Republican presidential candidates has created a virtual cottage industry around chronicling his flip flops, whether through Ron Paul attack ads or analyses dissecting the "difference between MittFlops and NewtFlops." Gingrich, for his part, has fought back, regularly updating a section on his website dedicated to setting his positions on the issues straight. But given his back-and-forth record, it's not an easy task. Here are six instances in which Gingrich shifted his position on pressing foreign-policy issues.

Alex Wong/Getty Images; DMITRY ASTAKHOV/AFP/Getty Images; MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images; John Moore/Getty Images; PATRICK BAZ/AFP/Getty Images; GILLES LEIMDORFER/AFP/Getty Images; Monika Graff/Getty Images

 

Uri Friedman and Joshua E. Keating are associate editors at Foreign Policy.

MICHELLE OWNE

7:50 PM ET

December 9, 2011

Biased

Hmm, a bit biased no? Writing requires better training than this I think

 

MCOMPTON

11:56 PM ET

December 9, 2011

Really?

-Are we supposed to believe that Newt could predict every aspect of Putin's character and future actions?
-Can an opinion change when the facts change?
-Or can a general principal sometimes have an exception based on specific circumstances?

This article pastes together quotes to make apparent contradictions, but with any careful reading there aren't any contradictions here and no flip flops. This is such a perfect example of poor journalism and media bias. Put the true context and facts in place and don't just try and sell a great story line.

 

GRANDEROHO

4:35 AM ET

December 10, 2011

I could see how you could

I could see how you could make that argument with Putin, maybe but his position on Libya for example was a clear flip flop to try to benefit politically, so no it's not bad journalism or media bias. If you like Newt you should look forward to these sorts of articles in my opinion, Newt is clearly well read and he needs to know when he's changed his position so dramatically and it's effects on foreign policy if he's going to be an effective commander in chief.

 

KATREENAKAIF

7:49 AM ET

December 10, 2011

Newt

"It's a comment I've heard before because I've covered the far right in the Jewish community and the pro-Israel community," he said. "But I was surprised to hear a mainstream Republican figure say it, and I've tried to research to find other mainstream Republican figures who said it. I've yet to find that."

In other excerpts of the interview posted online, Gingrich suggested there was a moral equivalence between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, which he said both "represent an enormous desire to destroy Israel," and said the Obama administration's policies of "evenhandedness" are "out of touch with reality."

"If I'm evenhanded between a civilian democracy that obeys the rule of law and a group of terrorists that are firing missiles every day, that's not even handed, that's favoring the terrorists," he said.

"It's a comment I've heard before because I've covered the far right in the Jewish community and the pro-Israel community," he said. "But I was surprised to hear a mainstream Republican figure say it, and I've tried to research to find other mainstream Republican figures who said it. I've yet to find that."

In other excerpts of the interview posted online, Gingrich suggested there was a moral equivalence between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, which he said both "represent an enormous desire to destroy Israel," and said the Obama administration's policies of "evenhandedness" are "out of touch with reality."

"If I'm evenhanded between a civilian democracy that obeys the rule of law and a group of terrorists that are firing missiles every day, that's not even handed, that's favoring the terrorists," he said.

"It's a comment I've heard before because I've covered the far right in the Jewish community and the pro-Israel community," he said. "But I was surprised to hear a mainstream Republican figure say it, and I've tried to research to find other mainstream Republican figures who said it. I've yet to find that."

In other excerpts of the interview posted online, Gingrich suggested there was a moral equivalence between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, which he said both "represent an enormous desire to destroy Israel," and said the Obama administration's policies of "evenhandedness" are "out of touch with reality."

"If I'm evenhanded between a civilian democracy that obeys the rule of law and a group of terrorists that are firing missiles every day, that's not even handed, that's favoring the terrorists," he said.

"It's a comment I've heard before because I've covered the far right in the Jewish community and the pro-Israel community," he said. "But I was surprised to hear a mainstream Republican figure say it, and I've tried to research to find other mainstream Republican figures who said it. I've yet to find that."

In other excerpts of the interview posted online, Gingrich suggested there was a moral equivalence between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, which he said both "represent an enormous desire to destroy Israel," and said the Obama administration's policies of "evenhandedness" are "out of touch with reality."

"If I'm evenhanded between a civilian democracy that obeys the rule of law and a group of terrorists that are firing missiles every day, that's not even handed, that's favoring the terrorists," he said.

Forty-four percent of Americans approve of the job Mr. Obama is doing as president, and about as many - 46 percent - disapprove. His approval rating has remained fairly steady but below 50 percent since the spring of 2010, aside from an uptick in the spring of 2011 following the death of Osama bin Laden.

Since bin Laden's death, the president has received high marks for his handling of terrorism: In this poll, 57 percent approve. Voters are split on his handling of foreign policy overall, with 41 percent approving and 41 percent disapproving.

Views of how he has handled the economy is the obvious drag on the president's ratings: While just 33 percent approve, 60 percent disapprove. Similarly, just 35 percent approve his his handling of job creation while 58 percent disapprove. The last time Mr. Obama's approval rating on the economy was above 40 percent was in February of this year.

Views on the national economy remain very negative: Since early 2008, roughly three in four Americans (and sometimes even more) have said the economy is in bad shape. Now, 86 percent of Americans characterize the economy as at least somewhat bad, including 42 percent who say it is very bad.

Although the national unemployment rate recently dropped below 9 percent for the first time since 2009, Americans are skeptical that a recovery is on the horizon. Just 21 percent think the economy is getting better, and 39 percent think it is getting worse, up from 32 percent last month. Another 40 percent think the economy isn't changing.

When asked if Mr.Obama has made real progress fixing the economy, 68 percent say he has not, and just 28 percent say he has. And while 37 percent say the Obama administration's policies prevented the country from going into a deeper recession, just under half - 49 percent - say those policies did not do that.

In addition, more think the policies of the Obama administration have mostly favored Wall Street (42 percent) than mostly favored average Americans (38 percent).

But while they may disapprove of his handling of this issue, few Americans think the president is most to blame for the current state of the nation's economy. When asked to choose between the Bush administration, the Obama administration, Wall Street, and Congress, more Americans blame the Bush administration (22 percent) or Congress (16 percent) than Wall Street (12 percent) or Mr. Obama (12 percent), though 24 percent volunteer that a combination of all four is to blame.
Forty-four percent of Americans approve of the job Mr. Obama is doing as president, and about as many - 46 percent - disapprove. His approval rating has remained fairly steady but below 50 percent since the spring of 2010, aside from an uptick in the spring of 2011 following the death of Osama bin Laden.

Since bin Laden's death, the president has received high marks for his handling of terrorism: In this poll, 57 percent approve. Voters are split on his handling of foreign policy overall, with 41 percent approving and 41 percent disapproving.

Views of how he has handled the economy is the obvious drag on the president's ratings: While just 33 percent approve, 60 percent disapprove. Similarly, just 35 percent approve his his handling of job creation while 58 percent disapprove. The last time Mr. Obama's approval rating on the economy was above 40 percent was in February of this year.

Views on the national economy remain very negative: Since early 2008, roughly three in four Americans (and sometimes even more) have said the economy is in bad shape. Now, 86 percent of Americans characterize the economy as at least somewhat bad, including 42 percent who say it is very bad.

Although the national unemployment rate recently dropped below 9 percent for the first time since 2009, Americans are skeptical that a recovery is on the horizon. Just 21 percent think the economy is getting better, and 39 percent think it is getting worse, up from 32 percent last month. Another 40 percent think the economy isn't changing.

When asked if Mr.Obama has made real progress fixing the economy, 68 percent say he has not, and just 28 percent say he has. And while 37 percent say the Obama administration's policies prevented the country from going into a deeper recession, just under half - 49 percent - say those policies did not do that.

In addition, more think the policies of the Obama administration have mostly favored Wall Street (42 percent) than mostly favored average Americans (38 percent).

But while they may disapprove of his handling of this issue, few Americans think the president is most to blame for the current state of the nation's economy. When asked to choose between the Bush administration, the Obama administration, Wall Street, and Congress, more Americans blame the Bush administration (22 percent) or Congress (16 percent) than Wall Street (12 percent) or Mr. Obama (12 percent), though 24 percent volunteer that a combination of all four is to blame.
Forty-four percent of Americans approve of the job Mr. Obama is doing as president, and about as many - 46 percent - disapprove. His approval rating has remained fairly steady but below 50 percent since the spring of 2010, aside from an uptick in the spring of 2011 following the death of Osama bin Laden.

Since bin Laden's death, the president has received high marks for his handling of terrorism: In this poll, 57 percent approve. Voters are split on his handling of foreign policy overall, with 41 percent approving and 41 percent disapproving.

Views of how he has handled the economy is the obvious drag on the president's ratings: While just 33 percent approve, 60 percent disapprove. Similarly, just 35 percent approve his his handling of job creation while 58 percent disapprove. The last time Mr. Obama's approval rating on the economy was above 40 percent was in February of this year.

Views on the national economy remain very negative: Since early 2008, roughly three in four Americans (and sometimes even more) have said the economy is in bad shape. Now, 86 percent of Americans characterize the economy as at least somewhat bad, including 42 percent who say it is very bad.

Although the national unemployment rate recently dropped below 9 percent for the first time since 2009, Americans are skeptical that a recovery is on the horizon. Just 21 percent think the economy is getting better, and 39 percent think it is getting worse, up from 32 percent last month. Another 40 percent think the economy isn't changing.

When asked if Mr.Obama has made real progress fixing the economy, 68 percent say he has not, and just 28 percent say he has. And while 37 percent say the Obama administration's policies prevented the country from going into a deeper recession, just under half - 49 percent - say those policies did not do that.

In addition, more think the policies of the Obama administration have mostly favored Wall Street (42 percent) than mostly favored average Americans (38 percent).

But while they may disapprove of his handling of this issue, few Americans think the president is most to blame for the current state of the nation's economy. When asked to choose between the Bush administration, the Obama administration, Wall Street, and Congress, more Americans blame the Bush administration (22 percent) or Congress (16 percent) than Wall Street (12 percent) or Mr. Obama (12 percent), though 24 percent volunteer that a combination of all four is to blame.

Thanks

Travel quotes

 

MANYHOT0

1:20 AM ET

December 11, 2011

Newt n newt

Don't really know this before. It's a good reading article. Newt vs. newt.Newt is upstanding member of the long American tradition of traducing the darkie. What's sad is Obama's role in selling out the same. Like this.
Jailbreak iPhone 4S

 

DAVECASE

10:26 PM ET

December 11, 2011

Republicans in disarray

I think the Republicans are in a bad way if they are having to rely on Newt Gingrich. There's nothing new about Newt he's just another establishment face but ehy seem to determine to pick 'anyone but Romney'. What's Romney ever done to them? Pretty soon they'll be a twisting Sarah Palin's arm to try and get her to run. Obama must be having a quiet chuckle to himself. It's pretty obvious though that the stock market is not too bothered by 4 more years of the Democrats in power.

 

CONTATOCA

9:36 AM ET

December 12, 2011

you could...

i Agree in If you like Newt you should look forward to these sorts of articles in my opinion, Newt is clearly well read and he needs to know when he's changed his position so dramatically and it's effects on foreign policy if he's going to be an effective commander in chief....thanks ! massagistas

 

MJACOBSON

2:58 AM ET

December 13, 2011

Go Newt Go

I love Newt. He tells it like it is, even if it means flip flopping like a little girl.

He means well, and with his firm dedication, marching forward, backwards, left, and right, he is a really good leader for the new free world.

Now, I wouldn't want him to feed my purple cow, because who knows what goes into the feed at Newt's farm. It certainly makes for entertaining politics, and for playing the flip flopping candidate, he's a better actor than even Obama.

 

ELI

6:36 PM ET

December 18, 2011

Newt Gingrich's emergence as

Newt Gingrich's emergence as the front-runner among the Republican presidential candidates has created a virtual cottage industry around chronicling his flip flops, whether through Ron Paul attack ads or analyses dissecting the "difference between MittFlops and NewtFlops." Gingrich, for his part, has fought back, regularly updating a section on his website dedicated to setting his positions on the issues straight. But given his back-and-forth record, it's not an easy task. Here are six instances in which Gingrich shifted his position on pressing foreign-policy issues. Search for best local deals.

 

MASSAGENS TANTRICAS

8:39 AM ET

January 5, 2012

.....Truth

His foreign policy insights reflect his racism, Kenya and Obama's anti-colonialism, and his desire to please the powers that be, Israel and AIPAC, and his racism, upstanding member of the long American tradition of traducing the darkie. What's sad is Obama's role in selling out the same.
aeronaves ar condicionado

 

CHANGS

12:48 PM ET

January 11, 2012

Newt supporst Newt

Gingrich's policies will change according to what best fits Gingrich's needs of the moment.

Since he is trying to get elected he will he will say whatever it takes to win the election. If he loses the election attempt he will go back to saying whatever he is paid to say by those paying him.

Values have no real meaning to him, they are simply a property to be assumed as needed, as insurancethat he will achieve what ever goal he is currently aiming to achieve.

Chang S