Newt Tells Freshman To Make Democrats Own Compromise

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA)
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Newt Gingrich met with Republican freshmen Thursday morning, imparting his advice to a group that Speaker Boehner has struggled at times to hold onto during negotiations over funding the government.

Gingrich told reporters afterwards that news reported in TPM and other outlets of a breakthrough in negotiations was premature based on his own discussions with Republican leaders. Nonetheless, much of his advice for freshmen appeared to be on how to spin such a deal after it’s announced.

“We talked about how really important it was to communicate to our activists and our base that the primary problem is the 23 Democratic Senators who are up for re-election and the Democratic President in the White House,” he told reporters after the meeting. “We need to make sure people understand that the House Republicans are really committed to very dramatic changes, but are limited by the reality and the Constitution.”

While not calling for a shutdown, Gingrich urged Republicans not to be intimidated by the idea.

“They can’t walk into a room and have President Obama think that they can be blackmailed by yelling the word ‘shutdown,'” he said. “I think they should seek to keep the government open, I think that they should try to find ways to pass continuing resolutions hat can be signed, but I don’t think they can allow President Obama to reject the outcome of the 2010 election and dictate the terms of what they should do.”

But asked whether they should back down from their $61 billion dollar demand, he again suggested that the optics of the final deal are crucial.

“It would be a profound mistake to go for a compromise without forcing the Senate Democrats to prove how liberal they are,” he said. “To whatever degree you get to a negotiated number later it ought to be done in a manner that’s very clear to the country that this is because Obama’s still President and because Harry Reid’s still majority leader, not because the House Republicans are in any way backing off.”

Gingrich denied reports that Democratic and Republican leaders were close to a breakthrough compromise.

“[Minority Whip Steny Hoyer] is running around desperately trying to get Republicans to sell out without a fight,” he said. “Well, nice try Steny, but it’s not going to happen. My prediction is Republicans in the House are going to say they want $61 billion and they’re going to fight to get $61 billion and if the Democrats in the Senate want to prove why we should replace the 23 seats that are up next year they can fight against it and if the President wants to prove he’s as inaccurate on deficits as he was on the Final Four, let him fight against it.”

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