(Image Source: Politico)
BY JIM FLINK
ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO
Newt Gingrich is rising in the polls again.
Now considered neck and neck with Mitt Romney.
Newt came out firing over the weekend.
And this comment -- courtesy CNN -- has lots of people talking.
Barely had the words been uttered, when the political punditry -- poured over.
Like this -- from Mediaite’s Tommy Christopher.
“If you ever doubted who it is that’s using the mustard gas in the ‘class warfare’ that Republicans are always bleating about, this ought to seal the deal. Child labor laws ... are ‘stupid?’ Poor kids should throw poor adults out of work, and answer to a ‘master janitor?’ He’s not even hiding it, not even a little!”
Others asked -- this is a joke -- right?
The Atlantic’s Jordan Weissmann writes...
“This suggestion is, on its face, insane. It sounds like a bad Stephen Colbert joke. ... I just don't see the buckets-and-books plan getting much traction in Congress. But his comments are worth dwelling on for a moment, because it's a jarring illustration of Gingrich's casual disdain for American workers.”
Still others had fun with the idea.
Slate says, let’s all consider this for a moment.
“I don't think turning janitors into unemployed people would be worth the cost of drumming some respect into kids, but hey, it's an idea. It's also not the sort of thing presidential candidates let themselves talk about.”
And while many in the so-called Liberal Media were having a hey day, others note, Newt is resonating for a reason. Like him or not, he speaks his mind. And usually, with a civil tone.
“...the key reason for Gingrich's surge seems to be his focus on issues and his adult, decent style during debates, avoiding criticizing his fellow candidates and staying, almost always, on the high road and on the issues....” (The Hill)
Which may be why Gingrich is back atop the GOP polling.
Fox News analysts say, people in this political year aren’t interested in what’s politically correct.
“I think people misunderstand this election and misunderstand Newt if they think that giving a list of the ten dumb things -- and there are least ten of them -- that it will affect how they’re going to vote now.”
“He generally wants to advance a vision, and it’s that vision that people are really captivated by now.”
