Gingrich's after-the-couch redemption conservatives should see
Friday, November 4, 2011 at 3:35PM
As former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich gains momentum, I’ve seen some pretty nasty comments about his couch moment, when he made an ad about climate change with then Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) Gingrich was making a case for alternative energy, by the way, not the massive Cap and Trade bill Democrats wanted to pass without even reading.
The first couch moment occurred in 2008. There was a significant off the couch moment, however, in 2009.
In April, 2009, when the US House held hearings, then chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) refused a British expert’s testimony. Even though Lord Christopher Monckton had flown to the U.S., Waxman rudely refused to permit Monckton to speak.
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich stepped in to testify.
What Gingrich said in that hearing—how he handled Waxman, whose approach bordered on totalitarianism—exhibited the character of a true statesman.
Waxman insulted Gingrich, interrupted him, treated him disrespectfully. Gingrich didn’t blink even though Waxman threw protocol out the window. Gingrich gave Waxman a civics lesson and that exchange is captured on videotape.
Whatever you think of Gingrich, watch the video below. The exchange starts around 3:15 if you want to advance the video to the drama between Gingrich and Waxman.
Say what you like, but in that moment, Gingrich saved every one of us a lot of money because Congress backed off a bill that would’ve kept Obama’s promise. Your electricity bill would have indeed “skyrocketed.”
This is the off the couch moment you’ve all forgotten and I figured it was time I reminded you.
Furthermore, Congress should look hard at Waxman. Seems to me he was very eager to push the energy policy that sunk American taxpayer dollars into a dark black hole. Waxman appeared a little too eager. What was the benefit for him?
So yes, Gingrich screwed up by sitting on that couch with Pelosi though that message was misconstrued.
Point is Gingrich wised up, got off the couch and saved each of us a lot of money. Conservatives should view this video at least in the interest of correcting the overall record.
Show me a candidate who hasn’t erred or changed his mind at some point, and I’ll show you a phantom.
And furthermore, whether you like it or not, debate skills do count in the real world. This videotape is a perfect example of that assertion.
(Commentary by Kay B. Day/Nov. 4, 2011)