Gingrich says GOP needs to refocus
By Avi Rutschman

BEHIND THE MIKE-Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich addresses an audience at the Ronald Reagan Library recently. Former First Lady Nancy Reagan was a member of the audience.

Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and possible presidential candidate in 2008, delivered an address to a sold-out crowd at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library earlier this month.

Gingrich's speech focused on how present-day Republicans need to revert back to the policies and attitude of the library's namesake.

For Gingrich, Reagan's presidency was a prime example of how the current administration should conduct politics.

"Ronald Reagan was a stunningly deep student of the American people," Gingrich said. "He understood majority politics, and a lot of Republicans can't seem to get this idea down."

First a college history professor and author, Gingrich began his political career in 1978 when he was finally elected to the House of Representatives after two unsuccessful campaigns. His 20year political career reached a zenith when he served as Speaker of the House from 1995 to 1999. Gingrich was named Time magazine's Man of the Year in 1995 for leading the "Republican Revolution" and ending 40 years of Democratic domination in the House.

Since serving in politics, Gingrich has worked as a political consultant and has written several books on topics that include government and historical fiction.

According to Gingrich, one of the problems the Republicans are currently facing is their rigidity and unwillingness to compromise.

"Something the current administration doesn't understand is that there is a difference between being determined and being stubborn," Gingrich said. "President Reagan was determined but stunningly flexible. For half of his eight years, right-wingers were mad at him because they felt he was being too flexible by meeting with Gorbachev. He happened to be totally changing the Soviet Union in the process because the president was very determined to get somewhere but was willing to look at different ways of getting there."

Gingrich said he felt that the failure of the Democratic party in the 1970s allowed Reagan to form a domestic policy that focused on spreading hope and freedom, a policy that is central to the American way of life but had almost escaped the country during that decade.

"I think Jimmy Carter was the worst president of modern times, but he played an extraordinarily important historical role because by the end of the Carter presidency Reaganism made so much sense that it was plausible for us to win a decisive victory," Gingrich said. "It presented us with a contrast between (Reagan's belief of) dreaming heroic dreams because we're American and (Carter's attitude of) giving it all up because it's too hard."

Today's war on terror should also look at Reagan's conduct during the Cold War as a model of excellent leadership, according to Gingrich.

"We are at the early stages of an emerging third world war," Gingrich said. "We are opposed by two different forces: dictatorships and Islamic fascist wings."

For America to make it through this period without igniting an incident, Gingrich said, President Bush must understand the importance of setting the right goals and display a willingness to be flexible in his approach.

"All too many Republicans undervalue that, as Lady (Margaret) Thatcher put it, first you win the argument, then you can win the vote," Gingrich said. "(Reagan's way of attacking problems) is a model that every person who wishes to solve problems should study."

According to Gingrich, Americans are also too far removed from the dangers present in our world. Gingrich recommended that the Department of Homeland Security should run one biological and two nuclear attack scenerios a year in random metropolitan areas to show the devastating effects such an attack can have.

"If the threat is real, we need to be practicing it," Gingrich said. "Being prepared is an objective part of being a citizen."

Gingrich has expressed interest in seeking the Republican nomination for president in 2008.