Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich announced his support for Delaware’s Republican Senate primary victor Christine O’Donnell – adding that Congressman Mike Castle, who lost his bid to O’Donnell, should drop his ego and get behind her too.
Gingrich also lashed out at Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski for trying to get re-elected through as a write-in candidate. He said Murkowski should cede to Joe Miller, and, that the time for running as an independent has long since passed.
“I would say Senator Murkowski is fundamentally cheating,” Gingrich said in a speech to the Values Voter Summit on Saturday.
“The establishment is in such a state of shock,” Gingrich said. “I am a great passionate believer in the wisdom of the American people over time. They do make mistakes – 2008 was an example, but they gradually correct, they talk to themselves, they have a conversation.”
Gingrich praised former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint for their efforts in organizing the Tea Party movement. The former Speaker focused on how the Washington establishment on both sides of the aisle has lost touch with reality and how the Tea Party movement is forcing the politicians in charge to become accountable for their actions.
“There have been seven senatorial contests between grassroots and establishment this year and the grassroots are 7-0,” Gingrich said.
Gingrich ripped O’Donnell’s Democrat opponent, Chris Coons, as well – and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for calling Coons his “pet.”
“[If Delaware elects Coons] I think you just go around Delaware and say Senator Reid thanks you for sending him a pet,” Gingrich said. “If you want a Senator and you’re from Delaware, you have to vote for Christine O’Donnell because the only alternative is a pet.”
Gingrich also jokingly clarified his anti-pet comment.
“I don’t want anybody from The New York Times or MSNBC to be confused – I love pets,” Gingrich said. “I think pets are wonderful. But, I do not think they should serve in the United States Senate.”
Gingrich then called on the next Congress to force Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to resign for her tactics in getting health insurance companies to withhold certain information about healthcare reform, which he compared to communistic fear practices.
Gingrich said it’s unbelievable what President Barack Obama has done to get nominations through – and he’s completely circumventing the system meant to check the President’s power now – referring more specifically to Obama’s recent appointment of Elizabeth Warren to be a director of reform for financial institutions.
“They gave her [Elizabeth Warren] a phony appointment because they can’t get her through a Democratic Senate,” Gingrich said. “There’s something fundamentally wrong when the President of the United States appoints people so radical they can’t even be approved by the Senate of his own party.”