Newt Gingrich Claims that Obama Not the GOP Governs for the Elite

Last updated on August 10th, 2014 at 05:00 pm

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Newt Gingrich was on FNC’s Hannity where he kept up his pre 2012 presidential campaign rhetoric by saying that Barack Obama and the Democrats are, “Government by the elites, by the elites, and for the elites.” This is unlike the Republican Party which opposed unemployment benefits, didn’t want to lift the damage cap on BP, and is fighting to protect tax cuts for the rich.

Here is the video courtesy of Media Matters:

Gingrich and Hannity were engaging in the favorite conservative hobby of lamenting their own victimization, when Newt described the current state of our government as, “What you have right now is government of the elites by the elites for the elites. Whether it’s elitist judges overturning the vote of the people in California, or it’s elitist politicians in Washington, or in city hall, or in the attorney general’s office in New York state.” Gingrich then dredged up Scott Brown and the meaningless Missouri healthcare vote to claim that something big is happening in America.

Gingrich’s points play well to the reality challenged Fox News audience, but for the rest of us who reside on Earth, and are paying attention, there are some obvious differences between the facts and Newt’s opinions. Republicans have referred to unemployment benefits as welfare, and caused hardship for millions of Americans by obstructing an extension of benefits. Republicans obstructed aid for small business, which they claim to be in favor of, lifting the damages cap on BP, and when they are not obstructing legislation, they are fighting to keep the Bush tax cuts for the richest Americans.

Obama has not passed a single bill that would benefit strictly the elite the way that Bush did repeatedly throughout his two terms. Perhaps Gingrich has Obama confused with his Republican predecessor who once said, “Some call you the elite, I call you my base.”

Gingrich was trying to revive the tired Republican attack on Obama as an elitist. It didn’t work in 2008. It is not going to work in 2010, and it most definitely won’t work in 2012, but the party of no ideas is still going to keep spinning their broken records. It is interesting that the Republicans think that the American people are so stupid that they can get away with assigning their own traits to Obama. The legislative record since 2008 reveals that there is one party that is firmly on the side of the elite, and it is not the one being led by President Barack Obama.

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association