The Boy Speaker

By R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. - June 15th, 2006 - The American Spectator

WASHINGTON -- The Hon. Newt Gingrich's recent oracular rumble to a luncheon audience at the Brookings Institution, during which he threatened to seek the Republican presidential nomination if a "vacuum" remains in the Republican field, reminded me of an inescapable insight I suffered sometime in 1998. Gingrich is the Republicans' Bill Clinton.

Newt Gingrich was thrown out of his position as speaker because it became clear to Republicans that he was self absorbed and was perfectly willing to use his power for sex, just like the President many despised. Democrats have missed Newt more than Republicans have, since they loved to hold Gingrich up as the image for the Republican Party. In reality, most Republicans were glad to see him go.

Having seen him leave the stage for moral transgressions, I am more concerned at the posibility that Gingrich could be one of the candidates in the next Presidential primary season than I am that Hillary could be one of the candidates. Both are politically astute and smart . . . . but both are amoral and unfit for that office.

It is too bad that Gingrich is not happy filling the role at which he is master; strategy on the issues of the day. His Contract with America is still the most brilliant political move of the last century moving the Republican Party from 40% of the vote, to 53% of the vote in a single four year period. That incredible feat, never equalled in history, is why he is still on the scene.