In an appearance on the Rachel Maddow show last night, former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele seemed to offer a quasi-endorsement of former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) for the Republican nomination in 2012 –Â if only because Steele, who seems to have transitioned into pundit mode, thought it would be really interesting.
Maddow was discussing with Steele how so many of the prospective candidates for president are former officeholders and current personalities, with Maddow wondering whether this was an easier thing to do than to face scrutiny over their policies and actions in government. (Health care reform for Mitt Romney, raising taxes for Mike Huckabee, ethical issues for Sarah Palin.)
Steele responded. “You know, I think the reality of it is, the gauntlet that they’ll have to go through is obviously one that’s gonna have a high degree of scrutiny — you know, their past service. And there will be a lot of crazy noise that’s brought up about, you know, a decision made here, or an action taken there,” he said. “But at the end of the day, they’re going to have to communicate, whether it’s a Newt Gingrich — and I’ll tell you quite honestly, I would love to see a Newt Gingrich-Barack Obama debate. That intellectual stimulation there would be fascinating to watch.”
[TPM SLIDESHOW: Meet The 2012 GOPers: Ex-Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA)]
They key exchange occurs at the 6:30 mark below:
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Maddow, however, questioned Gingrich’s seriousness — and his merchandising: “See, I think in a debate between Newt Gingrich and Barack Obama, it would be a liability for Newt Gingrich that you can go to his Web site, today, and for $99 plus shipping and handling, you can purchase a gavel signed by Newt Gingrich. Because he’s not only monetized, he has merchandised his time as a political official.”
I personally had a hard time believing the gavel part — but it’s really there, with a note that it’s a “simulation” of a Speaker’s gavel. Merchandising, merchandising! What’s next? Maybe Gingrich the doll: “May the Schwartz be with you!”
