General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe origins of today's vile ultra-right Republicans: Newt Gingrich
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A number of scholars have credited Gingrich with playing a key role in undermining democratic norms in the United States, and hastening political polarization and partisan prejudice According to Harvard University political scientists Daniel Ziblatt and Steven Levitsky, Gingrich's speakership had a profound and lasting impact on American politics and health of American democracy. They argue that Gingrich instilled a "combative" approach in the Republican Party, where hateful language and hyper-partisanship became commonplace, and where democratic norms were abandoned. Gingrich frequently questioned the patriotism of Democrats, called them corrupt, compared them to fascists, and accused them of wanting to destroy the United States. Gingrich furthermore oversaw several major government shutdowns.
University of Maryland political scientist Lilliana Mason uses Gingrich's instructions to Republicans to use words such as betray, bizarre, decay, destroy, devour, greed, lie, pathetic, radical, selfish, shame, sick, steal, and traitors about Democrats as an example of a breach in social norms and exacerbation of partisan prejudice. Gingrich is a key figure in the 2017 book The Polarizers by Colgate University political scientist Sam Rosenfeld about the American political system's shift to polarization and gridlock. Rosenfeld describes Gingrich as follows, "For Gingrich, responsible party principles were paramount... From the outset, he viewed the congressional minority party's role in terms akin to those found in parliamentary systems, prioritizing drawing stark programmatic contrasts over engaging the majority party as junior participants in governance.
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A number of scholars have credited Gingrich with playing a key role in undermining democratic norms in the United States, and hastening political polarization and partisan prejudice. According to Harvard University political scientists Daniel Ziblatt and Steven Levitsky, Gingrich's speakership had a profound and lasting impact on American politics and health of American democracy. They argue that Gingrich instilled a "combative" approach in the Republican Party, where hateful language and hyper-partisanship became commonplace, and where democratic norms were abandoned. Gingrich frequently questioned the patriotism of Democrats, called them corrupt, compared them to fascists, and accused them of wanting to destroy the United States. Gingrich furthermore oversaw several major government shutdowns.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newt_Gingrich
He's not finished either: While ballots were being counted during the 2020 election, Gingrich supported President Trump in his attempt to win re-election and called on him to stop the vote counts after allegations of fraud emerged. After the 2020 election, Gingrich made claims of election fraud and refused to acknowledge Joe Biden's victory. He called for the arrest of poll workers in Pennsylvania following the election.
FoxNewsSucks
(10,435 posts)That pasty walking bag of shit is one of the worst hypocrites they have.
DeeNice
(575 posts)A weird way of saying "after the right promoted false and damaging accusations about voter fraud"
Thomas Hurt
(13,903 posts)dominionists, Christian Identity, Patriot Movement, Militias, sovereigns/constitutionalists. So called Trumpism is a just a rebranded version of these antecedents.
empedocles
(15,751 posts)Turbineguy
(37,392 posts)of politics.
Response to billh58 (Original post)
empedocles This message was self-deleted by its author.
dalton99a
(81,673 posts)Progressive Jones
(6,011 posts)Polybius
(15,518 posts)I'll never forget him saying that FDR was the greatest President of the century. Many on the right-wing were done with him after that, even though it was true.
betsuni
(25,764 posts)there was socializing on weekends. It was Newt's idea that Republicans keep their families in their home districts. Easier to demonize your colleagues that way. I remember a famous socialite saying that by the time G.W. Bush was elected, with his early bedtimes and dislike of social events, Washington social life was dead.
3catwoman3
(24,092 posts)I raised Catholic, but I was disgusted when Trump appointed helmet-haired Callista Gingrich to be ambassador to the Vatican. A complete FU to sincere practicing Catholics.
lees1975
(3,913 posts)and used it to build his niche extremist right wing audience. He was a blip on the small-town radio station circuit up to that point. He pushed the "no compromise, own the libs" rhetoric.
DanieRains
(4,619 posts)Our term.
UGADawg
(501 posts)MR Quitter every time I hear Mr Speaker.
He was my Congressman.
electric_blue68
(14,996 posts)Ugh.
I remember when he started up all that up!
He was/is disgusting.
moondust
(20,019 posts)He's the first one I recall demanding that his caucus "march in lockstep." That's when I started wondering why their voters back home would keep voting for somebody who cared more about serving the party than serving the voters who sent them there. Didn't make sense.