Gingrich blasts Democratic establishment at annual summit
CNN Washington -- Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich repeatedly brought social conservatives to their feet Saturday with an impassioned address in which he warned that America faces a dual threat from the Democratic establishment on the one hand and Islamic terrorists on the other.
"We are at a point where our establishment is sliding into policies of such disastrous impact that they will in fact fundamentally challenge the survival of America as we know it," Gingrich said during his speech to the fifth annual Values Voter Summit in Washington.
"On the one front we have a secular socialist machine led by (President) Obama, (House Speaker Nancy) Pelosi, and (Senate Majority Leader Harry) Reid, and on the other front we have radical Islamists who would fundamentally change this country into a system none of us in this room would recognize," he continued to thunderous applause.
Gingrich also took aim at Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who recently sent a letter to insurance industry leaders warning them not to "falsely blame premium increases" on the recently passed health care legislation.
"If she's going to represent left-wing thought police about Obamacare, she should be forced to resign by the new Congress," he said.
Perhaps the former House Speaker's loudest applause came when he weighed in on the controversial Islamic center and mosque proposed to be built near ground zero, declaring, "We as Americans don't have to tolerate people who are supportive of violence against us, building something at the sight of the violence."
"This is not about religious liberty, they want to build that mosque in the South Bronx, frankly they need the jobs," he said. "But I am totally opposed to any effort to impose Sharia on the United States, and we should have a federal law that says under no circumstance, in any jurisdiction in the United States, will Sharia be used in any court to apply to any judgment made about American law."
Gingrich also laid heavy praise on the "energy" of the Tea Party movement and its newest victor, Republican Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell in Delaware, who defeated longtime Congressman Mike Castle. - Entire column
Blog author's comments - Newt Gingrich is a passionate, articulate and very intelligent man. He is right; we are stuck in the middle of two enemies. Progressives and Islamists appear to be a dual threat.
I am also totally opposed to any effort to impose Sharia on the United States. But, if the Democrats remain in power and Obama is in office for two terms, you will see Sharis used against us by liberal judges. This is serious folks.
Gingrich is of course testing the waters for a possible bid for president. The problem the Republicans now face is selecting someone who is electable in 2012. The Republicans cannot lose the 2012 election. If they do, I cannot see them ever regaining the power to turn around what the Obama Administration and his supporters will have accomplished.
With that said, can Sarah Palin win as a presidential candidate? Her poll numbers continue to climb, I like her very much and yes I would vote for her. But I am still not convinced she can win. I would not hesitate to have her as the VP candidate.
Could I back Newt Gingrich? Yes, possibly with his running mate being Palin. The names that are mentioned at this point, two years from the presidential election, are Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Mike Pence and others. It is too early to say who I believe to be our best chance for victory.
If Obama runs in 2012, I look for him to dump Biden and pick up Hillary Clinton. This would help his chance of winning a second term. I also believe Clinton still wants another run for president.
We still have two years before the 2012 election. The future is this November. The Republicans have to gain power to stop what is now happening to the country in the midterm election. If not, we can almost forget about 2012.
