What happened to Newt Gingrich's promise to take the high road?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
"Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican."
That was President Reagan's 11th commandment and a mantra for the Republican Party. These days, not so much.
For a while there, Newt Gingrich was all about running a positive campaign. Back in Iowa, he called on his supporters to stay positive and avoid attacking fellow Republican candidates.
The former House speaker said he would refrain from such attacks so the eventual nominee could emerge from the primary to face President Obama "unbloodied." The plan was to devote his energies to "real issues," like the economy and unemployment.
That lofty rhetoric matched his onetime lofty standings in the polls. When his numbers started to drop, so did his civility. Eventually, Gingrich imploded in Iowa and finished a distant fourth in the caucuses.
Flash ahead to New Hampshire, and guess what? The old Newt is back, snarky and snarly as ever, spewing personal attacks on a near-daily basis.
Gingrich has called Romney a "liar" and full of "pious baloney."
He's also described Romney as unconservative and "a relatively timid Massachusetts moderate."
It's the same old story with these guys. They all say going negative is not their "first preference." Newt says he needs to defend himself.
But at what cost to the party? Pat Buchanan writes that the "bad blood" between several of the Republican candidates could wind up damaging the eventual nominee. He likens the Republican primary process to a circular firing squad.
Buchanan suggests that the candidates' attacking each others' character could play right into the Democrats' hands, saying, "such wounds take time to heal. Some never do, and some will not be closed before the Republican convention."
Here’s my question to you: What happened to Newt Gingrich’s promise to take the high road?
Tune in to the Situation Room at 4pm to see if Jack reads your answer on air.
And, we love to know where you’re writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.
What issues will ultimately decide the Republican nomination?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
What issues will decide GOP nomination? Economy, foreign policy, health care?
As the Republican candidates for president scramble to try to win their party's nomination, they're appealing to voters on a wide range of issues - everything from the economy to foreign policy.
But the candidate that Republicans wind up choosing may say a lot about what issue matters most.
Recent polls show that Americans on the whole are overwhelmingly concerned about the economy, citing issues like high unemployment and the deficit.
Other top concerns include health care, entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare and the threat from terrorism.
Further down the list are taxes, the size of government, illegal immigration, foreign policy and moral issues like abortion and gay marriage. The so-called wedge issues that always play a large role in the primaries.
If Mitt Romney turns out to be the Republican nominee - as many people expect - to some extent, his support could come from voters who see his business background as a strength in turning around the economy.
Of course all the Republicans have been vocal in slamming President Obama's economic policies.
When it comes to foreign policy, Ron Paul has strong views against the wars and a more isolationist perspective than the other candidates. Jon Huntsman also comes to the table with his experience as ambassador to China.
On health care, Romney could have a difficult time opposing President Obama's health care law due to a similar law he supported as governor of Massachusetts.
As for social issues, Rick Santorum is appealing to social conservatives in large part based on issues like gay marriage and abortion.
Here’s my question to you: What issues will ultimately decide the Republican nomination?
Tune in to the Situation Room at 5pm to see if Jack reads your answer on air.
And, we love to know where you’re writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
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