I posted earlier about Newt Gingrich’s emotional discussion of his mother, in which he shed tears while discussing his memories.
What kind of person would make fun of this, and what type of supporters laugh in response?
Mitt tweaks Newt: ‘I won’t cry’:
POLITICO’s Emily Schultheis, on the trail with Mitt Romney in New Hampshire, reports that the frontrunner took a not-so-veiled shot at Newt Gingrich’s teary performance earlier in the day in Iowa:
Here in Merrimack, Romney started talking about his parents and what they meant to him, and how they taught him to love America — and said, “No, no, I won’t cry.”
The crowd, Emily says, met the remark with laughter.
I can’t say its surprising. Romney’s campaign the past several weeks has been to dehumanize Gingrich, portraying him as crazy and unstable. Whether Romney planned it or it came spontaneously, it’s troubling.
Update: Here’s the video per commenter MarySue, who feels Romney isn’t mocking Newt:
And, Romney campaign is denying it was a shot at Newt, as indicated in this update to the Politico story (which also changes the headline):
UPDATE: Here is the full transcript of what happened. Romney followed up that he cries himself, and that there is no harm in it.
Mitt Romney: “My mom and dad were extraordinary people. They left both left this life and moved on.”
Audience Member: “Don’t cry.”
Mitt Romney: “I won’t cry. No, No, I won’t. But I do. I do. Nothing to be ashamed of in that regard.”
Romney’s camp is arguing, strenuously, that Romney was not taking a shot at Gingrich and made that clear with his second comment. At the same time, reasonable observers could make the point that he didn’t need to repeat the audience member’s “don’t cry” line, either.
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Does everyone remember Newt’s mom being interviewed by Connie Chung who infamously said “just between you and me” on what Newt had said about Hillary. Newt’s mother seemed so down to earth and happily she inadvertently ended Chung’s career. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vecw539MjWM
Mitt is despicable. Ditto the establishment GOP. No votes have been cast yet. Keep the faith.
The media behaves like elementary school kids… It’s OK to make fun of others!
It might not be nice but it’s just the way it goes. It’s also one of the chief reasons that I hold this group of people in utter contempt. As far as I’m concerned, journalism is one of the lesser professions and picking on one’s sensibilities is one of their gravest practices.
Newt will rise above it and be OK. I don’t think that the same can be said regarding his campaign but that’s due to entirely other circumstances…
Those comments are as nothing compared to the low life scum at Gawker and, as would be expected, Daily Kos.
http://recovering-liberal.blogspot.com/2011/12/gingrich-cries-over-memory-of-cancer.html
at least Newt can say both his parents were US citizens at his birth.
yeah theres that elephant.
to the media it’s like a drop of blood in the water to sharks
herr prof. the enemy is baracky. please do not invest yourself too much in a particular republican candidate. we must work for a stronger tea party senate and house this cycle. give whatever candidate handcuffs.
To say Romney makes me sick is an understatement. My problem is that I grew up around Mitt Romneys — insecure preppy scions and cowards always desperately trying to prove their Alpha worth. It’s too much knowledge. The frustrating truth is that it would be so EASY to take him out (as it will be for Obama). Gingrich could have disemboweled him weeks ago. I always worried Newt would feel the need to compensate for his mean reputation by overworking the higher-angel angle. What a shame.
Allahpundit linked the video on Twitter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-ST9FH6Rmk&feature=youtu.be
I honestly don’t think he was intending to poke fun, dehumanize or otherwise mock Newt in that clip.
Added video to post.
Politico has updated its story which is linked here. It looks like Politico’s initial telling was misleading and they are catching flak for it.
[…] Legal Insurrection, here is what Mitt Romney said […]
Agree with Mary Sue’s opinion regarding Mitt’s reaction to Newt.
However, still, my preference would be Newt, and if not him, then Perry, and if not either, then Mitt. Because, IMHAO, the goal is first of all, any GOP candidate, especially one who is ABO!
This country cannot withstand another 4-years of Obama’s administration, nor that of a similar Progressive Socialist.
I can’t help it but Romney looks like the kind of person that would eat a pizza with a fork and knife and not understand what is so fundamentally wrong with that.
Sign holding for Palin (Iowa Caucuses)
DATE
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012
TIME
8:00 am to 8:00 pm
(You’re invited to come at any time
and stay as long as you wish. Just
look for people holding Palin signs)
• Caucus starts at 7:00pm SHARP
• Come early to avoid the crowds
• Will try to get press exposure
LOCATION
Abraham Lincoln High School
1205 Bonham Avenue
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
• Please wear your Palin shirts, hats and buttons.
• Dress warm and bring flash lights.
• Bring cameras.
• Come early to get a parking space.
Make signs saying:
• “Caucus for Palin”
• “Help Sarah Reconsider…Caucus for Palin!!!”
PARKING
Abraham Lincoln High School
1205 Bonham Avenue
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
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OR
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Contact person is Timothy Jacques
(O4P Omaha Coordinator)
[email protected]
Huskers – I have been following this & it makes my heart sing.
I loved that family the minute I saw them.
I just want to hook my arm onto Todd & walk around country fairs all day.
Ok back to earth- they are so brave in the face of hate.
Even 10 year old Piper got herself a hate article in the Guardian. Of course Trig has half the nation wishing he were dead or never born.
I have met Soviet family of Stalin’s victims & they never displayed such lack of control that Palingaters do.
Fascinating window on Americans.
If Romney the RINO gets the nomination, I’m the one that’s gonna be crying.
Just watched the video. Wow. I’ll assume that Newt himself is not so small and thin-skinned as to be offended by that line. It’s disappointing that this site has sunk so deep (and yet, at the same time, so shallow) into Romney hatred.
[…] I like to call the “nomination process”, Mitt Romney made fun of Newt Gingrich for crying….when asked about his dead mother. Hey Mitt. Newt really isn’t a threat to you anymore. […]
Seems that Republican speakers have a soft spot for certain things. Boehner and Gingrich should compare notes over a pint of Haagen-Dasz.
I watched the video, and this does not come across as an attack on Newt. Mr. Jacobson, I’m not trying to be mean or nasty, but as I’ve said before, I think you have lost all objectivity regarding your support for Newt.
Eh, I dont know Prof. I really like your sight, but youre becoming a bit unglued with your continuous Romney critiques. Jumping to conclusions based on a wholly untrustable media narrative that is doing any and everything to pit the GOP against itself. And then saying the full transcript changes the headline but you never changed it. Lets lighten up a bit. Mitt is deeply flawed but arguably the least deeply flawed of this utterly sad bunch. Hes who weve got. I still say a Rubio or Christie VP choice would make Romney much more palatable to conservative in the general. And by extension much stronger. This ship is fixin to sail. Better jump on while there are still seats.
ABO
Mitt’s parents are now gods on their own planet.
Sadly, I could see this coming. Anti-Mormon bigotry is exactly where the recent trajectory of LI has been headed. Does the good professor really want that?
This is a Mormon belief.
I happen to be a Mormon. Saying that is a Mormon belief is like saying “Jesus was a zombie” is a basic tenet of Christianity.
I expect (if Romney in fact becomes the nominee) that the left will wallow in that kind of slime. Conservatives should be better. It has no bearing on Romney’s qualifications, and putting it in the comments here only diminishes both you and the good professor’s website.
http://www.mormondna.org/mormon-beliefs
http://exmormon.org/d6/drupal/fourteen
markn | December 31, 2011 at 2:44 am
“I happen to be a Mormon. Saying that is a Mormon belief is like saying “Jesus was a zombie” is a basic tenet of Christianity.”
Mormons think Jesus was a zombie?!?!? Cool!!!!
There, ya see who things get started?
Lighten up, Francis….
markn, accurately pointing out what the Mormons believe is not a smear.
If what janitor said was incorrect, then explain why it is incorrect, but don’t act like a liberal and call it a “smear” just because it reflects poorly on Mitt.
And as I said (though reading comprehension doesn’t appear to be the strong suit of some here), that is not an accurate description of Mormon beliefs. It’s made to sound sensational, just as the “zombie” characterization of what resurrection means. This isn’t the place for me to try to explain Mormon beliefs — there isn’t space to do it, and it has nothing to do with what this website is supposed to be about. I’m very sorry to hear that some conservatives think a Bill Maher-level of dialogue is acceptable.
markn said, “And as I said (though reading comprehension doesn’t appear to be the strong suit of some here), that is not an accurate description of Mormon beliefs.”
Now see, THAT is a smear. Which makes you a hypocrite.
If you aren’t going to show HOW what was said was inaccurate, then don’t call it a smear. That would be like making an accusation without presenting any proof. You know, kinda like a smear.
So I guess that now makes two smears by you…
Jaydee77
Says you.
As a politico myself, I say this:
Not everything is about politics. In fact, most things are not.
Politics are a result of the human endeavor…
It is not a science, or a profession. It is a by-product of governing.
First, is the man (woman).
Second, it is a man(woman) sizing up another to do his bidding, the bidding for his family, his country–the things important to him-
Don’t think for a minute that a serious person takes his one vote–to chose a man that will hold power over him–lightly, or in narrow context.
Chiding the Professor on his analysis is out of bounds. State your case.
It will be weighed and measured.
As all things should…
My post speaks for itself. And clearly Im not the only whos having problems with the Profs recent all anti-Romney bent as of late. See Astroman above me.
We’re not listening to the MSM meme at all. Our family has already cast our ballots with the Palm Beach County Board of Elections. 12 votes for Newt.
Actually, all-in-all, I think the good professor has been pretty even handed. He posted the video for folks to see for themselves… he noted the response of the attendees at the event when Romney said what he said.
Offering people the opportunity to view it for themselves and draw their own conclusions is hardly ‘anti-Romney’.
I have noted a disturbing trend in Romney supporters to view any criticism of him as ‘Romney Hate’. Are we not allowed to question the candidate’s motives, actions, and record? Frankly sounds a bit like another candidate from the last presidential election.
Let’s be honest here… so far Romney has taken many less slings and arrows than any of the other candidates.
Why oh why, couldn’t Colonel Allen West be convinced to run. If this country makes it to 2016, he is the man.
Well, I do recall Gingrich floating Col. West’s name as a potential running mate back in November… so that’s something anyway. Ya gotta admit, that would be a dynamite ticket for 2012.
Eh, I dont know Prof. I really like your sight
So, what you’re saying is that you like the way Prof. Jacobson sees things?:)
OK, Newt cries while talking about his mother. New reports go out. Mitt talks about his parents, and says he wont cry. And Mitt is not making fun of Newt?
It is not a big thing, and without the 24 hour new cycle, we wouldn’t heard about it till the books can out after the election, but it is petty (and only funny if you heard the reports of Newt crying).
Have you watched the video, rather than relying upon Mr. Jacobson’s characterization of what happened?
Romney is misty-eyed while saying he will not cry – this wasn’t an attack on Newt, it was an effort to hold back his own tears at a time when he was getting visibly choked up.
Say whatever you will about Romney, the guy obviously has a deep love and respect for his parents.
I’m a Perry supporter, and have always viewed Romney as the primary obstacle for Perry winning the nomination, so I have no bias for Romney, but let’s be fair and not smear people.
Utterly appalling
Linked-
Ossified Republican Establishment KNOWS Gingrich Stands Ready to Cream Clark Kent