| Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich (born June 17, 1943, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) is an American politician, writer, journalist and businessman. He was a former speaker of the US House of Representatives (1995 - 1999). Gingrich is a follower of Leo Strauss.
Political activity:
In the past, Gingrich was a professor in history (holds a doctorate degree in history). He created history in the United States as an ideologue of the "Republican Revolution" - in 1994, the Republican Party, for the first time in four decades, gained control over the US House of Representatives (plus 54 seats in the House of Representatives - total of 230, when the minimum for majority is 218 seats and 53 seats in Senate with the minimum majority being 51 seats). In 1995, Time magazine named him "Person of the Year". At the end of 1995, some serious differences erupted between Gingrich and President Bill Clinton, which were regarding the formation of the 1996 federal budget. The majority of members of the Republican Party rejected the President's decision to increase social spending but Clinton vetoed the decision of opponents. No decision could be made out of deadlock, which had a negative impact on the ratings of Clinton and in 1996 elections, the Republican Party lost 8 seats in the House of Representatives. In 1996, Gingrich was awarded the diploma of "Keeper of Flame" from the U.S. Center for Security Policy.
Newt Gingrich was one of the initiators of Bill Clinton's impeachment and since this decision was extremely unpopular, the Republican Party lost five seats in the House of Representatives in the next midterm elections in 1998. Gingrich, after being unsuccessful, resigned from his post of speaker and resigned from Parliament. (However, the impeachment of Clinton was still debated in the House of Representatives and was approved in December, 1998).
In the last few years, Gingrich is seen as a political analyst and commentator. In 2011, Gingrich proposed his candidature in the upcoming presidential elections from Georgia. He is a consistent and fierce critic of Obama's administration.
On January 21, 2012, Gingrich won convincingly in the Republican primaries in South Carolina.
Vice President Albert Gore, President Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich. "Message to America", February 1997.
Presently, Gingrich is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
2012 Presidential Campaign:
In March 2011, journalists wrote about the participation of Newt Gingrich in the 2012 presidential race, but officially, he joined the campaign on May 11, 2011, announcing this via Twitter and Youtube. According to the resource of "realclearpolitics.com", his national rating stood at 10.5% till November 2011 and in November, Gingrich's rating rose to 35% and stood first amongst Republican candidates. However, further support decreased and constituted around 25% and second placed in a poll survey. Gingrich is next only to former governor Mitt Romney.
Gingrich suffered defeat during the first primaries in Iowa ( 4th position) and New Hampshire (4th place) but is on top in South Carolina.
Political views:
Gingrich is a clearly expressing right-conservative candidate. He is against abortion, excessive spending on environment protection, on "social programs", same-sex marriages and illegal migration; for an uncompromising fight against terrorism, Gingrich supports the creation of federal legislation, which would prohibit the implementation of Sharia Law in courts of any jurisdiction in the United States. In foreign policy, Gingrich is a supporter of "rigid decisions" with respect to "rogue countries". Newt Gingrich is negative towards the activities of President Barack Obama, openly calling him "the most radical president in history" and argued that it was time to "save America" and stop "secular socialist Obama". Gingrich characterized patient's rights and draft laws on "Caring" as a citation: "Leading America towards authoritarianism, totalitarianism and to the end of democracy". Also, the former Speaker was criticized in 2010 by Andrew Card, White House Chief of staff under George Bush Jr. From the remarks, which were made by a former official during an interview with the "National Review", regarding extremely controversial statements by Gingrich: "what if Obama is so outside our understanding that only if you understand Kenyan, anti-colonial behavior, can you correlate his actions? This is the most accurate model of his behavior". Card described these comments as "harmful to Republicans", who are attempting to win in midterm elections.
Economy:
Gingrich supports private business and its freedom from government interference. Interference means increase in taxes, which are spent on social benefits and thereby creating demand for poverty.
Interests:
Gingrich is interested in palentology and astronomy.
Religious views:
Newt was raised in Lutheran family. Since graduation from school, he was a Southern Baptist, but from March 29, 2009, he converted to the religion of his wife Callista Bisek - Catholicism. This decision was finally taken in 2008 during the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to U.S.
Personal life:
Gingrich is married thrice. He has two daughters from the first marriage.
His eldest daughter, Kathy Gingrich Lubbers, is President of Gingrich Communications and the youngest Jackie Gingrich Cushman is an author, conservative columnist and political commentator, whose books include 5 Principles for a Successful Life, co-authored by Newt Gingrich.
In 1998, Gingrich was found to be involved in an extramarital affair with Callista Bisek, who later on became his third wife.
Newt Gingrich's sister, Candace Gingrich, does not hide her homosexuality and is actively involved in fight for equal rights for gays and lesbians. |
Newt Gingrich has won the South Carolina Republican primary, capping off a remarkable comeback for his presidential bid that reshapes the trajectory of the battle for the GOP nomination as the race now heads to Florida and beyond. With this victory Gingrich urged Ron Paul and Rick Santorum to drop out and unite behind his campaign, as he declared himself the only Republican candidate who can stop seemingly unstoppable lead of Mitt Romney and win the nomination. Gingrich managed to beat Romney in South Carolina even after he came under fire for his marriage ethics, as Marianne Gingrich, his second wife, claimed in an ABC News "Nightline" interview that her ex asked her to enter into an "open marriage" arrangement so he could continue to see his affair partner, Callista Bisek.
