Gingrich, Newt
_Bio:
Son of a career military member. Bachelor’s degree from Emory University and Master’s and Doctorate in Modern European History from Tulane University. Taught History and Environmental Studies at West Georgia College for eight years. Represented Georgia in Congress for 20 years, including four years as Speaker of the House.
Views:
Immigration conservative. On Day 1 on office he plans to end all immigration-related lawsuits against states immediately, including those pending in Arizona and South Carolina. Website states “The Gingrich Administration will secure the border by Jan. 1, 2014 by any means necessary.”
Pro-Israel- wants to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, in accordance with Israel’s statement that Jerusalem is their capital.
Wants to restore “conscience clause” and strengthen existing ones. This clause allows anyone in the medical environment to refuse to perform a procedure that he or she finds morally or ethically objectionable based on religious teaching.
Repeal and re-place Obamacare.
Option of a 15% flat income tax.
Media/Outside Commentary:
Chicago Tribune contributor Steve Chapman: “Gingrich is an condescending, self-important egotist.” (Source1)
Weekly Standard editor William Kristol: ...who mocked the "Olympian sense of exemption from standards and logic" that he said allowed the candidate to claim he was not a Washington lobbyist, despite pocketing $1.6 million in fees from Freddie Mac. The mortgage giant is a bête noir of small-government purists.” (Source2)
On Friday’s “Morning Joe,’’ on MSNBC, host Joe Scarborough, who’s had his own problems with the former House speaker, noted that “Newt Gingrich, when he attacks Michele Bachmann, sort of speaks in a different tone and is far more condescending to Michele Bachmann than he is the men on the stage.’’ (Source3)
Newt Gingrich Quote: (yes, I only have one…this one says everything you need to know about the guy.)
"It doesn't matter what I do," he answered. "People need to hear what I have to say. There's no one else who can say what I can say. It doesn't matter what I live." (Note 1)
Son of a career military member. Bachelor’s degree from Emory University and Master’s and Doctorate in Modern European History from Tulane University. Taught History and Environmental Studies at West Georgia College for eight years. Represented Georgia in Congress for 20 years, including four years as Speaker of the House.
Views:
Immigration conservative. On Day 1 on office he plans to end all immigration-related lawsuits against states immediately, including those pending in Arizona and South Carolina. Website states “The Gingrich Administration will secure the border by Jan. 1, 2014 by any means necessary.”
Pro-Israel- wants to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, in accordance with Israel’s statement that Jerusalem is their capital.
Wants to restore “conscience clause” and strengthen existing ones. This clause allows anyone in the medical environment to refuse to perform a procedure that he or she finds morally or ethically objectionable based on religious teaching.
Repeal and re-place Obamacare.
Option of a 15% flat income tax.
Media/Outside Commentary:
Chicago Tribune contributor Steve Chapman: “Gingrich is an condescending, self-important egotist.” (Source1)
Weekly Standard editor William Kristol: ...who mocked the "Olympian sense of exemption from standards and logic" that he said allowed the candidate to claim he was not a Washington lobbyist, despite pocketing $1.6 million in fees from Freddie Mac. The mortgage giant is a bête noir of small-government purists.” (Source2)
On Friday’s “Morning Joe,’’ on MSNBC, host Joe Scarborough, who’s had his own problems with the former House speaker, noted that “Newt Gingrich, when he attacks Michele Bachmann, sort of speaks in a different tone and is far more condescending to Michele Bachmann than he is the men on the stage.’’ (Source3)
Newt Gingrich Quote: (yes, I only have one…this one says everything you need to know about the guy.)
"It doesn't matter what I do," he answered. "People need to hear what I have to say. There's no one else who can say what I can say. It doesn't matter what I live." (Note 1)
Romney, Mitt
_Bio:
Son of Michigan governor, George Romney. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 1971, and then earned dual degrees from Harvard Law and Harvard Business School (1). Worked as business consultant for firm Bain & Company for years, and then founded investment firm Bain Capital in 1984 (2). In 1999, he took over as president of the Salt Lake Olympics Organizing Committee, and helped “rescue” them. In 2003, he was elected governor of Massachusetts. Ran for president in 2008, but was beat by Republican John McCain.
Views:
On a banner under the navigation menu on every page of his 2012 Presidential Campaign site, is the phrase “We have a moral responsibility not to spend more than we take in" (3).
For taxes, his motto is “Fairer. Flatter. Simpler.” Wants to reduce corporate tax rates, and make other tax cuts (fairly traditional Republican views).
Open trade with other countries and wants to change the dynamics of our trade relationship with China.
Healthcare: Repeal Obamacare; give states more responsibility and resources to act; make individual tax situation the same for individuals w/ employer-sponsored health plans as well as individuals who purchase their own; general regulatory reform; malpractice reform; and encouraging market forces to help solve some of the problems.
Media/Outside Commentary:
Newsweek magazine has a negative view, and is blunt about it.
Direct quote: "And so we’re back to the 'Have a Beer' test. Imagine a guy with hundreds of millions in the bank (again, some of it from laying off working folks) telling a bunch of laid-off working folks, “I’m also unemployed.” How clueless, how clumsy, how cloying can you get?" (4).
Fox News, in the articles I accessed, worked very hard to keep a balanced view. In an article covering Romney’s wealth and taxes, they report not only the good and bad, but maintain a balanced "commentary" throughout the article. The following section of the article- though a bit long- seems to sum up the balanced view. Note the two sections in bold (my emphasis), one seeming "pro-Romney," the other "anti-Romney."
"Tormented by Democrats and Republicans, particularly Gingrich, who insisted on knowing about the sources of Romney's massive wealth and his holdings in offshore accounts, Romney revealed last week he pays an effective tax rate of about 15 percent. Though lower than the 35 percent income tax rate of high-earning Americans, it is in line with his primarily receiving most of his earnings not through wages, but through investments taxed at the 15 percent rate. According to the financial disclosure released by Romney, during 2010 and the first nine months of 2011, his family had at least $9.6 million in income. In addition, Romney investments -- worth between $7 million and $32 million -- are being held in offshore-based holdings. Such offshore accounts also can enable wealthy investors to defer paying U.S. taxes on some assets, according to tax experts, but Romney said that he's not done anything that can be used against him. (5)"
And my very favorite part of these posts....the "Quotes" section:
entire: (6)
“I don’t speak for the scientific community, of course, but I believe the world’s getting warmer. I can’t prove that, but I believe based on what I read that the world is getting warmer. And number two, I believe that humans contribute to that. I don’t know how much our contribution is to that, because I know that there have been periods of greater heat and warmth in the past but I believe we contribute to that. And so I think it’s important for us to reduce our emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases that may well be significant contributors to the climate change and the global warming that you’re seeing.” -Mitt Romney during a campaign stop in New Hampshire in June of 2011. (7)
-and, a few short months later-
“My view is that we don’t know what’s causing climate change on this planet. And the idea of spending trillions and trillions of dollars to try to reduce CO2 emissions is not the right course for us.” - Mitt Romney during a campaign stop in Pittsburgh on October 28, 2011. (8)
For the "Quotes" section, a giant "Thank You!" to "Think Progress" for posting the ACTUAL VIDEO for both quotes.
Son of Michigan governor, George Romney. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 1971, and then earned dual degrees from Harvard Law and Harvard Business School (1). Worked as business consultant for firm Bain & Company for years, and then founded investment firm Bain Capital in 1984 (2). In 1999, he took over as president of the Salt Lake Olympics Organizing Committee, and helped “rescue” them. In 2003, he was elected governor of Massachusetts. Ran for president in 2008, but was beat by Republican John McCain.
Views:
On a banner under the navigation menu on every page of his 2012 Presidential Campaign site, is the phrase “We have a moral responsibility not to spend more than we take in" (3).
For taxes, his motto is “Fairer. Flatter. Simpler.” Wants to reduce corporate tax rates, and make other tax cuts (fairly traditional Republican views).
Open trade with other countries and wants to change the dynamics of our trade relationship with China.
Healthcare: Repeal Obamacare; give states more responsibility and resources to act; make individual tax situation the same for individuals w/ employer-sponsored health plans as well as individuals who purchase their own; general regulatory reform; malpractice reform; and encouraging market forces to help solve some of the problems.
Media/Outside Commentary:
Newsweek magazine has a negative view, and is blunt about it.
Direct quote: "And so we’re back to the 'Have a Beer' test. Imagine a guy with hundreds of millions in the bank (again, some of it from laying off working folks) telling a bunch of laid-off working folks, “I’m also unemployed.” How clueless, how clumsy, how cloying can you get?" (4).
Fox News, in the articles I accessed, worked very hard to keep a balanced view. In an article covering Romney’s wealth and taxes, they report not only the good and bad, but maintain a balanced "commentary" throughout the article. The following section of the article- though a bit long- seems to sum up the balanced view. Note the two sections in bold (my emphasis), one seeming "pro-Romney," the other "anti-Romney."
"Tormented by Democrats and Republicans, particularly Gingrich, who insisted on knowing about the sources of Romney's massive wealth and his holdings in offshore accounts, Romney revealed last week he pays an effective tax rate of about 15 percent. Though lower than the 35 percent income tax rate of high-earning Americans, it is in line with his primarily receiving most of his earnings not through wages, but through investments taxed at the 15 percent rate. According to the financial disclosure released by Romney, during 2010 and the first nine months of 2011, his family had at least $9.6 million in income. In addition, Romney investments -- worth between $7 million and $32 million -- are being held in offshore-based holdings. Such offshore accounts also can enable wealthy investors to defer paying U.S. taxes on some assets, according to tax experts, but Romney said that he's not done anything that can be used against him. (5)"
And my very favorite part of these posts....the "Quotes" section:
entire: (6)
“I don’t speak for the scientific community, of course, but I believe the world’s getting warmer. I can’t prove that, but I believe based on what I read that the world is getting warmer. And number two, I believe that humans contribute to that. I don’t know how much our contribution is to that, because I know that there have been periods of greater heat and warmth in the past but I believe we contribute to that. And so I think it’s important for us to reduce our emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases that may well be significant contributors to the climate change and the global warming that you’re seeing.” -Mitt Romney during a campaign stop in New Hampshire in June of 2011. (7)
-and, a few short months later-
“My view is that we don’t know what’s causing climate change on this planet. And the idea of spending trillions and trillions of dollars to try to reduce CO2 emissions is not the right course for us.” - Mitt Romney during a campaign stop in Pittsburgh on October 28, 2011. (8)
For the "Quotes" section, a giant "Thank You!" to "Think Progress" for posting the ACTUAL VIDEO for both quotes.
Officially Withdrawn
Bachmann, Michele
_Bio:
Graduate of Winona State University, received J.D. at the O.W. Coburn School of Law at Oral Roberts University and an L.L.M. in Tax Law at the College of William and Mary. Worked as a tax attorney, and then in the Minnesota State Senate from 2000-2006. In 2006, she was the first Republican woman to be elected to represent Minnesota in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Views:
Self-proclaimed “Constitutional Conservative.”
Wants to repeal Obamacare.
Believes the government “needs to make the serious spending decisions that many families and small businesses across America have been forced to make.”
Pro-Life.
Opponent of taxpayer-funded bailout of Wall Street and the Dodd-Frank legislation.
Media/Outside Commentary:
CNN Contributor John Avlon says, “It's part of her usual schtick: playing politics by talk radio rules, where impact is far more important than accuracy.”
Glenn Beck showing initial support, but said that since MSNBC now likes her, he’s pulling his support (I can’t tell if he’s joking or not).
On the “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” (NBC) the band their views clear when they played “Lyin’ A** B*tch” as Bachmann first appeared on stage.
Michele Bachmann Quotes:
“And what a bizarre time we’re in, when a judge will say to little children that you can’t say the pledge of allegiance, but you must learn that homosexuality is normal and you should try it.” (see note 1)
"This is one thing we know about Barack Obama. He has essentially handed over our interrogation of terrorists to the ACLU. He's outsourced it to them. Our CIA has no ability to have any form of interrogation for terrorists." (debate)
"hundreds and hundreds of scientists, many of them holding Nobel Prizes, who believe in 'intelligent design.'" (see note 2)
Graduate of Winona State University, received J.D. at the O.W. Coburn School of Law at Oral Roberts University and an L.L.M. in Tax Law at the College of William and Mary. Worked as a tax attorney, and then in the Minnesota State Senate from 2000-2006. In 2006, she was the first Republican woman to be elected to represent Minnesota in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Views:
Self-proclaimed “Constitutional Conservative.”
Wants to repeal Obamacare.
Believes the government “needs to make the serious spending decisions that many families and small businesses across America have been forced to make.”
Pro-Life.
Opponent of taxpayer-funded bailout of Wall Street and the Dodd-Frank legislation.
Media/Outside Commentary:
CNN Contributor John Avlon says, “It's part of her usual schtick: playing politics by talk radio rules, where impact is far more important than accuracy.”
Glenn Beck showing initial support, but said that since MSNBC now likes her, he’s pulling his support (I can’t tell if he’s joking or not).
On the “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” (NBC) the band their views clear when they played “Lyin’ A** B*tch” as Bachmann first appeared on stage.
Michele Bachmann Quotes:
“And what a bizarre time we’re in, when a judge will say to little children that you can’t say the pledge of allegiance, but you must learn that homosexuality is normal and you should try it.” (see note 1)
"This is one thing we know about Barack Obama. He has essentially handed over our interrogation of terrorists to the ACLU. He's outsourced it to them. Our CIA has no ability to have any form of interrogation for terrorists." (debate)
"hundreds and hundreds of scientists, many of them holding Nobel Prizes, who believe in 'intelligent design.'" (see note 2)
Sources & Notes for everything above
Gingrich, Newt
Note 1: I found this quote in multiple places. Both the Huffington Post and The Guardian report the quote, stating that it came from an interview conducted by Esquire with Newt Gingrich’s second wife. Sources for this quote:
Michael Tomasky, “I report, you decide,” The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/2010/aug/10/us-politics-newt-gingrich-sociopath
Elyse Siegel, “Newt Gingrich’s Ex-Wife Goes Public: Messy Relationship Life, Meltdowns, and 2012,” The Huffington Post, August 10, 2010. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/10/newt-gingrichs-ex-wife-go_n_676834.html
Source1: Steve Chapman, “Newt Gingrich’s biggest problem,” Chicago Tribune, December 16, 2011. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chapman/chi-gingrichs-big-problem-20111216,0,3076773.story
Source2: James Rainey, “United on the right, against New Gingrich,” Los Angeles Times, December 16, 2011. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-gingrich-20111216,0,3186074.story
Source 3: Melinda Henneberger, “Opinion: Does Newt Gingrich have a woman problem? With Michele Bachmann, yes,” The Washington Post, December 16, 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/opinion-does-newt-gingrich-have-a-woman-problem-with-michele-bachmann-yes/2011/12/16/gIQA4lYuyO_story.html?tid=pm_politics_pop
Romney, Mitt
Notes:
1. “Mitt Romney Bio,” Romney for President, Inc., accessed January 23, 2012, http://mittromney.com/learn/mitt
2. "Mitt Romney," Biography.com, accessed January 23, 2012, http://www.biography.com/people/mitt-romney-241055
3. “Romney Believe in America,” Romney for President, Inc. accessed January 23, 2012, http://mittromney.com/
4. Paul Begala, “Mitt Romney Would Fail the Presidential Beer Test,” Newsweek, January 23, 2012, http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/01/22/mitt-romney-would-fail-the-presidential-beer-test.html
5. "Romney to release 2010 tax returns this week,” FoxNews.com, published January 22, 2012, http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/01/22/romney-to-release-2010-tax-returns-this-week/
6. Stephen D. Foster, Jr., "25 of The Best Crazy, Stupid, and Scary Quotes Uttered By The Republican Presidential Candidates in 2011," AddictingInfo.org, accessed January 24, 2012, http://www.addictinginfo.org/2011/12/31/25-of-the-best-crazy-stupid-and-scary-quotes-uttered-by-the-republican-presidential-candidates-in-2011/
7. Brad Johnson, "Reducing Global Warming Pollution is 'Important'," Think Progress, accessed January 23, 2012, http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/06/03/236305/mitt-romney-reducing-global-warming-pollution-is-important/?mobile=nc
8. Brad Johnson, "Romney Flip to Denial: 'We Don't Know What's Causing Climate Change'," Think Progress, accessed January 23, 2012, http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/10/28/355736/romney-flips-to-denial-we-dont-know-whats-causing-climate-change/
Bachmann, Michele
Note 1: while this quote is quoted many places on the internet, here is ONLY two even semi-legitimate news sources I could find for it. Almost every site says this quote was from a radio news interview (“Prophetic Views Behind The News”, hosted by Jan Markell, KKMS 980-AM, March 6, 2004) but I cannot find an original news story from that time period. Also, the quote changes slightly from site to site…I can’t tell if this is from sloppy reporting or if the quote was made up in the first place. I have contacted Olive Tree Ministries (Jan Markell’s current home) and am awaiting a response.
-Pauley, Donna Cozart. (2011, Oct. 7). “Views From the Left: Loud Whispers.” Alvin Sun Editorials. http://www.alvinsun.net/articles/2011/10/07/opinion/editorials/doc4e8f4f25e92cc643301005.txt
-Bakay, Dennis. (2011, Aug. 14). “Michele Bachmann’s Anti-Gay Stance Makes Her an Irrational Presidential Candidate.” Philly2philly.com. http://www.philly2philly.com/politics_community/the_water_cooler/2011/8/14/47598/michele_bachmanns_anti_gay_stance_makes_her_irra
Note 2: I agree with CNN’s John Avlon who says that she plays a little fast and loose with the facts. However, to give her credit, I did actually find a Nobel Peace Prize winner who is on the record for intelligent design.
-Powell, Bonnie Azab. (2005, June 17). “’Explore as much as we can’: Nobel Prize winner Charles Townes on evolution, intelligent design, and the meaning of life.” NewsCenter, UC Berkeley News. http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2005/06/17_townes.shtml
Note 1: I found this quote in multiple places. Both the Huffington Post and The Guardian report the quote, stating that it came from an interview conducted by Esquire with Newt Gingrich’s second wife. Sources for this quote:
Michael Tomasky, “I report, you decide,” The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/2010/aug/10/us-politics-newt-gingrich-sociopath
Elyse Siegel, “Newt Gingrich’s Ex-Wife Goes Public: Messy Relationship Life, Meltdowns, and 2012,” The Huffington Post, August 10, 2010. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/10/newt-gingrichs-ex-wife-go_n_676834.html
Source1: Steve Chapman, “Newt Gingrich’s biggest problem,” Chicago Tribune, December 16, 2011. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chapman/chi-gingrichs-big-problem-20111216,0,3076773.story
Source2: James Rainey, “United on the right, against New Gingrich,” Los Angeles Times, December 16, 2011. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-gingrich-20111216,0,3186074.story
Source 3: Melinda Henneberger, “Opinion: Does Newt Gingrich have a woman problem? With Michele Bachmann, yes,” The Washington Post, December 16, 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/opinion-does-newt-gingrich-have-a-woman-problem-with-michele-bachmann-yes/2011/12/16/gIQA4lYuyO_story.html?tid=pm_politics_pop
Romney, Mitt
Notes:
1. “Mitt Romney Bio,” Romney for President, Inc., accessed January 23, 2012, http://mittromney.com/learn/mitt
2. "Mitt Romney," Biography.com, accessed January 23, 2012, http://www.biography.com/people/mitt-romney-241055
3. “Romney Believe in America,” Romney for President, Inc. accessed January 23, 2012, http://mittromney.com/
4. Paul Begala, “Mitt Romney Would Fail the Presidential Beer Test,” Newsweek, January 23, 2012, http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/01/22/mitt-romney-would-fail-the-presidential-beer-test.html
5. "Romney to release 2010 tax returns this week,” FoxNews.com, published January 22, 2012, http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/01/22/romney-to-release-2010-tax-returns-this-week/
6. Stephen D. Foster, Jr., "25 of The Best Crazy, Stupid, and Scary Quotes Uttered By The Republican Presidential Candidates in 2011," AddictingInfo.org, accessed January 24, 2012, http://www.addictinginfo.org/2011/12/31/25-of-the-best-crazy-stupid-and-scary-quotes-uttered-by-the-republican-presidential-candidates-in-2011/
7. Brad Johnson, "Reducing Global Warming Pollution is 'Important'," Think Progress, accessed January 23, 2012, http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/06/03/236305/mitt-romney-reducing-global-warming-pollution-is-important/?mobile=nc
8. Brad Johnson, "Romney Flip to Denial: 'We Don't Know What's Causing Climate Change'," Think Progress, accessed January 23, 2012, http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/10/28/355736/romney-flips-to-denial-we-dont-know-whats-causing-climate-change/
Bachmann, Michele
Note 1: while this quote is quoted many places on the internet, here is ONLY two even semi-legitimate news sources I could find for it. Almost every site says this quote was from a radio news interview (“Prophetic Views Behind The News”, hosted by Jan Markell, KKMS 980-AM, March 6, 2004) but I cannot find an original news story from that time period. Also, the quote changes slightly from site to site…I can’t tell if this is from sloppy reporting or if the quote was made up in the first place. I have contacted Olive Tree Ministries (Jan Markell’s current home) and am awaiting a response.
-Pauley, Donna Cozart. (2011, Oct. 7). “Views From the Left: Loud Whispers.” Alvin Sun Editorials. http://www.alvinsun.net/articles/2011/10/07/opinion/editorials/doc4e8f4f25e92cc643301005.txt
-Bakay, Dennis. (2011, Aug. 14). “Michele Bachmann’s Anti-Gay Stance Makes Her an Irrational Presidential Candidate.” Philly2philly.com. http://www.philly2philly.com/politics_community/the_water_cooler/2011/8/14/47598/michele_bachmanns_anti_gay_stance_makes_her_irra
Note 2: I agree with CNN’s John Avlon who says that she plays a little fast and loose with the facts. However, to give her credit, I did actually find a Nobel Peace Prize winner who is on the record for intelligent design.
-Powell, Bonnie Azab. (2005, June 17). “’Explore as much as we can’: Nobel Prize winner Charles Townes on evolution, intelligent design, and the meaning of life.” NewsCenter, UC Berkeley News. http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2005/06/17_townes.shtml
