Lies and Political Ads

It bothers me when blatant lies are sold as the truth. Newt Gingrich has been hit very hard the past few days, not only by the liberal left, but by Establishment Republicans and people in his own party. One thing I've learned about politics: you may not like the man (it helps to like him to support him), but look at his achievements, then determine whether he failed or got the job done.

Anyone in leadership who is trying to change the status quo is going to make enemies.

Newt made his share of enemies. Elliott Abrams, who served under President Reagan, is obviously one of them. He attributed a quote to Newt this week, saying that Gingrich admitted that President Reagan's Soviet Union policy was failing. He supposedly said, "President Reagan is clearly failing." But the facts tell a different story. Here is exactly what Newt said about Reagan's policy on the Soviet Union:

“The fact is that George Will, Charles Krauthammer, Irving Kristol, and Jeane Kirkpatrick are right in pointing out the enormous gap between President Reagan’s strong rhetoric, which is adequate, and his administration’s weak policies, which are inadequate and will ultimately fail.”

Note the words, "Enormous gap between...Reagan..and his administration's weak policies." The administration's weak policies is the focal point of this quote, not Reagan. The people in his administration did not agree with Reagan's strong words against the Soviet Union. Newt was FOR Reagan's strong approach; the people in his administration were not.

Such a simple thing, the truth. Remember Nancy Reagan passing the conservative mantle to Newt Gingrich in 1995? No way would she have done that, if her husband was against Newt.