Sour Grape Politics

Regarding why he did not congratulate Mitt Romney on his Florida win, Newt Gingrich said the following:

"They outspent me five to one to quote destroy Newt Gingrich?" Gingrich said in an interview on CNN’s "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer." "You know, I think that doesn’t deserve congratulations. I think that’s reprehensible, I think it’s dishonest, and I think it’s shameful."

I can understand why he feels that way.  However, this is the kind of thing one typically keeps to oneself.

Further, Gingrich is complaining about the established rules of the game.  If he truly believes what he is saying I look forward to his post-election crusade to radically restructure American campaign finance and the like.  It would, no doubt, be entertaining.

FILED UNDER: 2012 Election, US Politics, , , , ,
Steven L. Taylor
About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a Professor of Political Science and a College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog). Follow Steven on Twitter

Comments

  1. legion says:

    “If he truly believe what he is saying…”
    Haaaaahahahahahaha
    Really? Do you think a man like Newt Gingrich has ever said _anything_ he truly believes out loud?

  2. I don’t really get the need to congratulate on a state-by-state basis.

  3. OzarkHillbilly says:

    It would, no doubt, be entertaining.

    Everything Gingrich does is good for a laugh.

  4. Anonne says:

    Had their positions been reversed, I’m sure he would have said something equally distasteful. Maybe even more so.

  5. Neil Hudelson says:

    Does this notion that being outgunned is unfair apply to everything Newt does?

    “My fellow Americans. Today, due to a clear and present danger from radical sectors inside their system, I have sent troops into Nigeria to stop a potential devastating terrorist attack on the U.S. SInce our technology was so superior, I equipped our soldiers only with surplus WWII weapons, and literally had them tie one hand behind their back. I believe in fair odds.”

  6. Tsar Nicholas II says:

    Stay classy, Newt.

  7. Just nutha ig'rant cracker says:

    People in competition with each other normally take the higher road–at least publicly. That Newt seems unable to even find the higher road? Not surprising at all.

    @ Neil: Liked your post.

  8. grumpy realist says:

    @Neil Hudelson: Of course not–it’s only unfair when Newt is the one who’s being outgunned.

    If he has the upper hand, of course, well, politics ain’t bean-bag and all that.

    (Is anyone surprised why Newt is so detested? Whiny little blowhard.)

  9. Franklin says:

    If he truly believes what he is saying I look forward to his post-election crusade to radically restructure American campaign finance and the like.

    Steven, perfect – I definitely look forward to this!