Asian Conservatives

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has taken a lot of heat with his endorsement of RINO Dede Scozzafava for NY-23, but lately he’s been appearing on TV a lot and speaking at events to counter his conservative critics and to explain his reasoning:

“I just think it is a mistake for the conservative movement to think splitting in the special election is a smart idea,” Gingrich said. “If we give that seat to the Democrats, shame on us.”

…

Asked why he chose to back Scozzafava, who supports abortion rights, same sex marriage and has ties with local labor leaders, Gingrich responded, “Let’s just start with she is the nominee of the local party. My bias is to be for the nominee of the local party, and I don’t second guess the local party.”

The former Georgia congressman then rattled off a list of Scozzafava’s conservative credentials.

“She has signed a no tax increase pledge. She is endorsed by the National Rifle Association. She has come out against cap and trade…She is opposed to the Obama health care plan. She will vote for John Boehner instead of Nancy Pelosi,” Gingrich said. “All of those things together make her – it seems to me – a legitimate, authentic, Republican nominee.”

Being the sharp and seasoned political strategist that Gingrich is, perhaps his long-term vision for Scozzafava’s win deserves credit. After all, Republicans could use a few more seats in the House, and by endorsing her amidst the controversy shows the seriousness of his vision.

He also points to the whole “local party” thing, which is really a spin on the GOP’s desperation. Of course, blaming a very qualified third party candidate and his supports isn’t very effective considering how the tides have turned against the GOP establishment. Many conservatives perceive that the Republican Party is hijacking the movement, maybe in an effort to regain the conservative base. However, conservatives these days have no problem publicly criticizing the GOP or any of its members in light of the threat Democrats pose to our individual and financial freedom.

But Newt Gingrich seems conservatively clueless and politically snobbish on the whole ordeal. Does he not realize that conservatives are no longer identifying with the Republican Party? That conservatives will not support a RINO candidate anymore? History has taught conservatives a great lesson: you reap what you sow, and if you support RINOs you are going to have politicians who care more about their own power and wallets than anything else.

Sorry, Mr. Gingrich. Americans ought to vote for their principles rather than just to support a political party.