Speaking on CNN, Newt Gingrich addressed the issue of how he came to leave the House Speakership position, and used it as an opportunity to advance his claim that he is the “anti-establishment” candidate despite having enjoyed a long career in Washington.
He told CNN’s John King that after the Republicans lost five seats in an election where they were expected to pick up fifteen, he “took full responsibility” at a press conference the next day. King said that he was around at the time and knew that Newt had started calling around to canvass for support. Here’s how Newt responded:
I called around and said, look, this is where we are. Friends of mine said, you’re not going to have the authority and the prestige that you need. And frankly, att that point J.C. Watts really said to me, you’ll know in your heart what you ought to do. And I thought about it and he was right. I was effective as a leader as long as we had an ability to get real things done. I think this is why some people in the Washington establishment are so afraid of me and are so hyperactive right now trying to stop me. Because my record was real change. My record was taking on the establishment. And my record was actually trying to get big things done. There are a lot of folks in Washington who are very comfortable. And they would rather manage the decay than shake things up. And they know that in fact if i win I will shake things up.
