Hillarysworld

The Orange County Register

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Gingrich talks of possible presidential bid

February 4th, 2010, 11:53 am · posted by Martin Wisckol, Politics reporter

 

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said this morning that he would need the unified support of a broad cross-section of Republicans and independents before he would consider a 2012 presidential bid.

Speaking to Orange County Register news and editorial board writers in the publisher’s conference room, Gingrich spoke of building a “tripartisan movement” of Republicans, Democrats and independents. Given his polarizing effect on core Democrats and his government-reform message, his specific target is likely Republicans, Tea Party followers, frustrated independents and Reagan Democrats.

“I spend time every day thinking about how to build that,” he said.

Click here to read his comments to Register small business writer Jan Norman:

Gingrich has given no indication that he is actively pursuing a presidential bid, but he has not ruled it out and he continues to have many followers who’d like to see him run.

I asked what the three biggest things that would have to happen before he’d run for president.

Beside building a tripartisan movement, Gingrich said he and his team would assess the the prospects of a presidential bid next February to gauge the viability of a 2012 run. The third item he mentioned is that he would have to feel a “citizen obligation.”

“Do I have a responsibility that I can’t walk away from?” he said.

Gingrich was in town for his American Solution organization and its “Jobs First” proposal to buoy business and employment in the country.

He described the country’s economic malaise as being perpetuated by a “secular socialist machine that is fundamentally trying to change this country.” The next several election cycles will be critical to determining the future of the country, he said.

“We’re either going to decide to be a secular socialist system or we’re going to throw the rascals out,” he said.

He blamed the movement on the influence that public unions, trial lawyers and liberal activists have over the government, and took several shots at President Barack Obama.

“The president has lots of words, almost none of which has meaning,” he said. “He says we can’t afford to spend more while he’s increasing spending…. He says he’s for jobs, except that he wants to tax everybody who raises money.”

Gingrich outlined five tax reforms to spur the economy and job creation:

• Give a two-year, 50 percent reduction of Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes paid by both employers and workers. He said the difference could be made up by unspent TARP and stimulus money.
• Allow small businesses to deduct 100 percent of new equipment purchases.
• Abolish taxes on capital gains.
• Reduce the business tax rate to 12.5 percent.
• Abolish the death tax. 
  

(Emphasis added)

More . . .  including a video clip.

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He will be on Hannity tonight at 6pm.


-- Edited by Sanders on Thursday 4th of February 2010 05:03:29 PM