Always nice to chat with the former Speaker…
Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Tuesday on Fox News’ Hannity that Republicans must learn “the key arguments” and “repeat them” as they push back against Democrats over the government shutdown.
Republicans and Democrats continue to trade blame for the shutdown, which began after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer led most Democrats in voting against the GOP’s spending bill. Fox’s Sean Hannity reflected on Gingrich’s time in office before the former Speaker weighed in.
“The number one thing for Republicans to remember is that other than [former President Ronald] Reagan, who was a former Democrat, and [President Donald] Trump, who’s a former Democrat, Republicans generally don’t communicate very well. We have the arguments,” Gingrich said.
“I think Mike Johnson’s doing a good job. But every Republican should learn the key arguments, repeat them ad nauseum, stop reporters, as the vice president did brilliantly the other day, when they’re saying falsehoods. Just cut them off and say that’s false,” he added.
After the GOP spending bill passed the House, the Senate had just hours to prevent a government shutdown. The measure failed to reach the 60 votes required, falling 55–45, with three Democratic senators joining Republicans.
Since the shutdown began, Democrats have accused Republicans of refusing to negotiate on healthcare, while Republicans counter that Democrats are trying to provide healthcare to illegal immigrants and that Schumer is led by the progressive wing of his party, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
On Sunday, Vice President JD Vance sparred with ABC host George Stephanopoulos, accusing him of going down a “weird left-wing rabbit hole” and focusing on a “bogus story” instead of issues that affect Americans. Stephanopoulos denied the criticism and abruptly ended the interview.
Hannity asked Gingrich if he had seen the “cheap shot” Stephanopoulos took by cutting Vance’s mic. Gingrich replied that Democrats “are now crazy.”
“What they’re doing is nuts. I try to point out to people, you have two Democratic leaders in the House and Senate. They live one and a half miles apart. Their $15 Uber visit,” Gingrich said.
“And they live in a city which is about to elect a big government socialist with weird values. Now that’s the world they live in. So they’re doing things that in that world sound really cool,” he continued. “In the whole rest of the country, which is pretty big, they look like they’re nuts.”
Watch the clip above.
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