The Political Interest: Newt's Believe It or Not

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The White House, all atwitter, hasn't yet determined how to neutralize Newt. Chief of staff Leon Panetta likened Gingrich to an "out-of-control talk-show host," an unsubtle reference to Rush Limbaugh. But Limbaugh is also the most popular of the breed -- and like Rush, it doesn't seem to matter that a lot of what Newt says is mostly not true. Audiences love it -- as they loved Reagan -- even when they know that what they're hearing is often baseless. For many | who applaud Gingrich and Limbaugh, the catchy rantings are acceptable caricatures of a caricature they already despise -- government. Falsity is forgiven because the target of Gingrich's critiques (like Limbaugh's and Reagan's) is deemed worthy of vituperative attack. As an aspiring congressional candidate in 1978, Gingrich admonished a gathering of college Republicans. "Don't try to educate ((the public))," he said. "That's not your job." Gingrich clearly sees his job as acquiring and holding power for as long as possible by any means necessary. Ronald Reagan is surely smiling.