Newt Gingrich Thriving on Scandal

Lately, his second of three wives, Marianne Gingrich, told ABC news some dirty little secrets about her ex-husband that most candidates would be scrambling to hide or at least explain away. However, Gingrich seems perfectly unperturbed by them, especially with his win in South Carolina last night.

Seeing how sexual harassment accusations brought down Cain, and Newt Gingrich himself said that it isn't fit for a President to be a sex scandal (referring to Clinton,) it's amazing how the ex-speaker has managed to stay at the top of the polls as more and more of his social life comes to the forefront.

Marianne has some right to be upset. Sure, getting cheated on may be what goes around comes around, but now she sees the man she knows all too well prancing around with a much younger woman, spouting conservative family values like it’s his guidebook. The most shocking accusation was Gingrich asking for an open marriage, after his six year affair with his current wife went unnoticed. Or maybe it was the Gingrich did to her what he did with his first wife, asking for a divorce when she was sick with a serious disease.

For a man who once thought even the accusation of a relationship with a subordinate was reason for a President to be impeached, it’s amazing how he now thinks a politician’s personal life doesn’t apply in a presidential race. Once again, it’s just Newt thinking the rules don’t apply to him, and he is convincing enough to get voters to agree.


ABC Nightline
Exclusive: Gingrich Lacks Moral Character to be President, Ex-Wife Says
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/exclusive-gingrich-lacks-moral-character-president-wife/story?id=15392899

Meet the Mormon

Forget health care and his time at Bain, if Romney is too win South Carolina by a good margin, some Evangelicals are going to have to suck it up and vote for a Mormon.
About 60% of South Carolina voters identify with the Evangelical faith. About 8% identify as Catholic, while only 7% are non-Christian. Considering mainstream Christianity's long term prejudice against Mormons, Romney might not sit well with all of them. Not to mention, he is being constantly attacked for his previous liberal views on abortion and gay marriage.
Some Evangelicals are in support for Romney, mostly because of financial experience. Still, this state barely registered him in 2008, and many people still don't like the idea of him as their nominee. The more conservative a voter is, the more likely it seems they will give their vote to Santorum, or possibly Gingrich or Romney.
The Church of Latter-day Saints does have a pretty controversial history. It's is rooted in America, where a man named Joseph Smith claimed to be a modern messiah, and that he had been led by an angel to find additional holy writings from God. These new books provided many amendments to the traditional Bible, most infamously allowing polygamous marriage. These practice along got Smith killed in Illinois, and drove the rest of Mormon church west, where they are principally located.
The old ways of Mormonism are gone, the current church as long rejected polygamy and no longer is openly racist. In fact, their one of the most conservative denominations in the U.S., especially when it comes to social issues. Still, the old ideas remain. Mormonism is seen as false Christianity and a secretive cult. Many South Carolina voters see faith as a critical criteria for leading the country, and wouldn't strongly consider voting for someone that did not share their particularly ideology. There is even a belief that Gingrich's infidelity is still of less worry than a Mormon leading the country. Some even say they consider a candidate's religious beliefs and values as higher importance than their economic policies or experience.
That is just sad. The president helps a country as a whole, and should have no involvement in religion as a function of the government. Considering morality in a candidate is one thing, but considering their religion is just un-American.
On a side note, here's some irony. In 1960, Kennedy was attacked for being Catholic, which many people considered to be the 'wrong type of Christianity for the country.' They were scared him being president would give the Catholic church control over America. Now, similar concerns are coming out the Mormon church and Romney. However, current Evangelicals poll at considering Catholics to be true Christians, and generally don't favor Protestants over the faith that there ultra-conservative ancestors fought against. It just took 50 years for the page to turn. In 2060, get ready for Evangelicals to be supporting the good Mormon for president over, let's say, a Jehovah's Witness.

Carolyn Click
The State 'Evangelical's Taking a Second Look at Romney'
http://www.thestate.com/2012/01/13/2111692/evangelicals-taking-second-look.html

Perry and Capitalism Sitting in a Tree

One of Rick Perry's main selling points in his dying bid for president, is his state's hugely successful economic record. Texas has somehow managed to stay above the fray in the past years, as it continues to show good employment records, and overall growth in profit. Why does it all work? Well according to Perry, it's all about how much he loves the capitalist system.

He, according to himself, as been a good governor, because of his strict loyalty to capitalism theories in his state's policies. The people who haven't been loyal to capitalism (Wall Street and Washington,) deserve the hard times that have befallen them.
The idea of sticking to ol' capitalism as been a huge hit with all candidates. They show themselves as keeping to the systems that have profited the U.S.A. in the days of yore. The opposite of their gleaning beacon of hope is the classic American foe, the socialist menace. Obama's health care plan and the general democratic penchant for social programs make him a concern for a lot of conservative voters.
However, given Perry's need to defeat Romney in the upcoming primary, such endorsements for capitalism are unnecessary. Every candidate in the race might not have Perry's record as a governor, but they do say similar things about their trust in free market strategies. Rick Perry's remarks on the subject are redundant, and he should be using every opportunity to make himself distinct from his opponents. Making vague comments aren't particularly helpful against the specific economic ideas of Gingrich and Romney. When Perry goes around make town hall speeches like this one, he really should be using his time more wisely. He's going to need to make every second count.

ABC News
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/rick-perry-says-i-love-capitalism-15349377

Panic, and the Claws Come Out

South Carolina might be the last chance for somebody, anybody, to beat Mitt Romney before he wins the nomination. It's no secret, so hopefully Romney went South with a thick skin, because some old politicians, with their pride on the line, are getting desperate.
Meet Gingrich and Perry. Both had there days of poll numbers that were higher than old Mitt's, both were bested by him. Perry failed to debate even half as coherently as Romney, and Gingrich was left scrambling in Iowa after a series of attack ads funded by one of his super-pacs. Needless to say, they're not happy, and they are now determined to go down fighting. They hope to bring Romney along with them.
There are two parts of Romney's past at issue: his lacking commitment to conservatism, and his lucrative job where he, in simplest terms, made money firing people. (On a side note, George Clooney did that in Up in the Air, and people love him still.)
The southern gentlemen have to hope their words are hold and it will be enough, but Romney's resources can send an equally devastating strike back, via expensive air time and about 10x more volunteers calling on his behalf. Plus, the governor of the state, a Tea Party supported Nikki Haley, has given her support to Romney, praising his financial experience especially. According to her, the work he did saved companies and was just an exercise of the free market.
Senator DeMint, who is more pro-Gingrich, is annoyed that the candidates aren't using their resources more effectively. He doesn't consider Romney's political pandering or religion the problem, but just that he is too moderate and won't do enough to help the country. He, and many other conservative leaders, agree that the only way to beat Romney is for every other conservative candidate to get behind more man. Heck, Evangelical leaders are meeting to discuss it this week. (Obviously, choosing a Presidential favorite is a matter of God.)
This will be Romney's most challenging victory, but if he can pull it off, there is nothing but Obama stopping him from redecorating the Oval Office.

Jim Rutenberg and Jeff Zeleny
The New York Times 'Republican Rivals Batter Romney in South Carolina'
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/12/us/politics/candidates-go-after-romney-in-south-carolina.html?_r=1&ref=politics

The Voter Contact Program

While other candidates are making bids from the heart, Mitt Romney's political strategies are purely cerebral. His funds go into research at a far larger margin than any other candidate's can. His researches study voting patterns, demographic shifts and voter compatibility (to what speech Romney would be making that week.) He pays particularly close attention to financial trends and records, since most of his campaign is based on his business experience, and not on social values. All this effort is worth the cost, since it definitely gets results. Romney has found a way to target specific groups for support months before a primary begins, and they don't disappoint him on voting day.
He targets older and higher income families with a strong interest in children and extra-curricular activities. The type of people that might be the head of their PTA, or a regular at the country club golf course. They are usually staunch Republicans, but not necessarily die hard church goers. Being a Mormon is still a huge drawback for Romney in states as conservative as South Carolina, so his volunteers don't waster their time focusing on Evangelical voters, even when they make up about 60% of the state (as they do in SC.) They know that they other candidates can split that vote, leaving a whole 40% left for Romney.
When making calls or going door to door, volunteers are trained to listen for interest from voters in economic issues, but also border control and welfare programs. Romney takes a pretty popular views on these issues, ones that are shared by his fellow candidates. The idea is that if a voter is still undecided, they can make Romney seem just like his fellow candidate but only an improved version. So, if they are considering someone else they might think 'I agree with this, but Romney has the same view PLUS the economic experience. I will choose Romney.' The concept is so simple, I'm amazed it's news.
And that is what Romney needs, simple support. The nomination is his if he just gets people to the polls.

Maeve Reston
Los Angeles Times 'Voter Data Critical to Romney's Victory'
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-romney-analysis-20120111,0,2836600.story

The Republicans Are Missing Some Logic

Here are two main arguments made in the Republican Primary:
          1 - No higher taxes on job creators. Do not punish the incredibly wealthy by making them pay more than their share. The 1% do NOT get unequal treatment by the government, or society.

          2 - Do not trust the elite. Down to Earth 'average Joes' are the core of American society and values.

And then there is Mitt Romney. A rich 'job creator' that deserves to be treated like everyone else, and use his money how he sees fit. This is the type of guy who usually wins (or pays for) some Republican's support. But since Romney is using his finances to fight his competitors and buy negative ads, part two of the conservative ideology is coming out. As an elite career politician, liberal New Englander, big bad boss man millionaire, Romney is the enemy. He is the bully beating up on the rest of the poor, humble (but actually very rich themselves,) truly American candidates.
So, the problem comes between two of the demographics that give Republicans some of their most staunch supporters. There are the upper class, and the lower class, and candidates have to pander to both. Between the two mentioned ideas, they can (somewhat irrationally,) reach both the richest and poorest citizens of America.

Since everybody loves the underdog, it might not be a bad strategy. Especially since their rich supporters know the ‘down with the businessman’ routine, is just all talk.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Wealthy'
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-january-9-2012/indecision-2012---extremely-loud---incredibly-wealthy

The Huckabee Strategy

In some ways, Santorum is a cliche. He is the fifth in a long line of Republicans who surged to the top of primary polls, challenged Mitt Romney, attacked Ron Paul, laughed at Jon Huntsman, then fell to the bottom before the primaries even began. Now, as he is the only 'suddenly popular' candidate to make it a few weeks into 2012, he has a different cliche to face. The early sort of favorite who disappears after a few states. This role was previously given to Mike Huckabee in 2008, and it seems Santorum just can't resist some of the same tactics.

Having won Iowa, (which surprised a few,) Huckabee decided to gamble for New Hampshire, instead of heavily campaigning in South Carolina, which has demographic more similar to Iowa than to New England. This idea failed him on two fronts, after he lost both states and continued a downwards path into Fox News correspondent oblivion.
Santorum is relying on the 'hey who is this guy that came from nowhere and now could win', press coverage that could carry him from a loss in New Hampshire. However, this whole plan rests with him still displaying hope and media attention into later primaries, ones that he will have to win to reasonably challenge Romney. If anything upstages him, his money and preparation might falter, leaving him stuck in a state where candidates like Gingrich and Perry have decided to bet all their savings. If history repeats itself, he will falter in the polls of the all important deciding state, and be forced to bow out a few months later.
Santorum's politics make him the new Huckabee, he can only hope the metaphor ends there.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/rick-santorum-and-the-huckabee-trap/2012/01/09/gIQAlwfplP_story.html