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November 19, 2008

Gingrich Back to Divisive Tactics

Former speaker of the House Newt Gingrich characterized Prop. 8 protesters as part of a fascist movement in America during an appearance on The O'Reilly Factor on November 14. Gingrich, who is also a contributor to Fox News, was talking to host Bill O'Reilly about the demonstrations after the election, in which California voters decided to ban same-sex marriage.

"I think there is a gay and secular fascism in this country that wants to impose its will on the rest of us, is prepared to use violence, to use harassment," he said, according to video acquired by Media Matters, a watchdog group. "I think it is prepared to use the government if it can get control of it. I think that it is a very dangerous threat to anybody who believes in traditional religion."

Gingrich said that after Massachusetts opened up marriage to gay couples, the state "basically [drove] the Catholic Church out of running adoption services" because the church would not consider prospective gay parents. (Michelle Garcia, The Advocate)

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

  • Name: DDS
    Date posted: 2008-11-20 2:54 PM
    Hometown: Berlin

    Comment:

    Way to go, Newt - I recommend Gingrich & Palin for 2012, a sure winner.....NOT.


  • Name: Ken B
    Date posted: 2008-11-20 11:25 AM
    Hometown: Loksbergen, Belgium

    Comment:

    I must have woken up on another planet....isn't this what the Christian Right have been doing since 1980? At least he is honest that it is a Religious vs Secular issue and the last time I read the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence I thought our founding fathers wanted a secular state and did not want religion dictating politics.


  • Name: David
    Date posted: 2008-11-19 11:42 PM
    Hometown: L.A.

    Comment:

    Perfectly Orwellian Lie -- exactly the opposite of the facts. It's the Religious Right and NeoCons who would like to control the government to impose their "values" on everyone else.


  • Name: Christopher
    Date posted: 2008-11-19 9:49 PM
    Hometown: Phoenix

    Comment:

    Every definition of fascism I've ever seen says right wing and intolerant. Well, Newt knows fascism, He is employing the tactics favored by THE fascist of all time,,,“Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it” (Adolf Hitler)


  • Name: Beau
    Date posted: 2008-11-19 9:00 PM
    Hometown: Los Angeles

    Comment:

    The frightening truth is that Gingrich and his fellow travelers have an audience, that audience listens to their leaders, and those leaders will use their power to hurt and harm others. We can't discount these people as blowhards, crack-pots, or has-beens, and we can't ignore the power of their hatred. The population of California did that earlier this month and the GLBT population lost their civil rights. People saw the power of hate when it was too late to stop it. Left unchecked, Gingrich and his cohorts will continue until gays, lesbians, and all other people they target are stripped of their rights, named as unfit citizens, and dealt with in ways we can't even begin to imagine.


  • Name: Andre
    Date posted: 2008-11-19 7:50 PM
    Hometown: Los Angeles

    Comment:

    Oh now that's tje pot calling the kettle black. How can someone who leaves his ill wife for a younger woman (adultery I think it's called), practically disowns his lesbian sister (or was it she should have disowned him????), and comes just short of Karl Rove in the ethics department, have the nerve to even call any protesting group facists...... Listen, Eye of the Newt, judge not least; ye be judged....


  • Name: Jay
    Date posted: 2008-11-19 5:59 PM
    Hometown: Nashville, TN

    Comment:

    Good ole Newt. He hasn't learned a thing about civility during his long down time. Some Repubs are talking about him being their next presidential candidate in 2012. Keep talking Newt; maybe Palin can be your running mate, too! What a maroon!


  • Name: christian
    Date posted: 2008-11-19 4:42 PM
    Hometown: Atlanta

    Comment:

    Gringrich, Palin, Rush, and O’Reilly are the best things to happen to America and maybe the future of America. Each time they speak, they become even more and more irrelevant to our new diverse population and they bring us more and more center of the road as a nation. It’s important that we continue to hear what they have to say, even if we don’t like it. Because it reminds us all how life would have been had we elected these crazy old men. When conservative columnist floated Gringrich’s name around last week as a possible leader to help the GOP change, not one GOP Governor mentioned his name as a realistic option. Not even his own party thinks he is relevant anymore.


  • Name: Rndmacts
    Date posted: 2008-11-19 4:21 PM
    Hometown: Ottawa, Canada

    Comment:

    Wow, I love when blow hards demonstrate their ignorance, the Newt uses the expression secular fascism to describe the gay movement. Then we move in very exhalted circles, because the men who framed the Declaration of Independence were also secular fascist's. Doesn't the Newt know that secular means of this earth, a non religous aspect, the Declaration of Independance also seperates the aspect of governance from religous interference. And as far as fascist go, the Newt is closer to Mussolini's belief's than any gay person I know. So if Americans wish to listen to someone with a sixth grade education, and follow his lead then your nation is in more trouble than just the economic turmoil that exists today. Oh Yeah, it was his policies which started the current financial problems being experienced.


  • Name: Ted Hayes
    Date posted: 2008-11-19 3:45 PM
    Hometown: Stone Ridge, NY

    Comment:

    He believes in traditional religion and traditional marriage? How many times has he been married? Didn't he allegedly leave a very ill wife for another? "Morality is doing what is right no matter what you have been told. Religion is doing what you have been told no matter what is right." (Author unknown). Wonder where nutsy Newt fits into that statement.


  • Name: Terre
    Date posted: 2008-11-19 3:42 PM
    Hometown: San Luis Obispo

    Comment:

    Larry, you hit the nail square on its head. Let's see if Gingrich's sister disowns the old blowhard for failing to return her support for him all the years she stayed in the closet. The strategy in CA and elsewhere needs to include legal prosecution of the churches that paid for the ads for prop 8. They committed copyright and nonprofit violations among other crimes in commission of their commercials. EXPOSE THE LIES. Many religious followers will be horrified to learn how their leaders lied and will challenge the leadership from within.


  • Name: Nat Michael
    Date posted: 2008-11-19 2:57 PM
    Hometown: Vermont

    Comment:

    Don't you feel SORRY for his sister, Candice? Years back-she didn't come out publicly until HE was in office so as not to HURT HIM! Lovely, compassionate, decent fellow that he is.........


  • Name: Colin Gallagher
    Date posted: 2008-11-19 1:50 PM
    Hometown: San Francisco

    Comment:

    Which traditional religion told Gingrich to serve his ex-wife with the divorce papers in the hospital where she had been treating for cancer? Which traditional religion told him it was OK to have an affair with one of his congressional staff while he was still married? Anything Gingrich has to say on this subject isn't ironic - it's comedy.


  • Name: Steve
    Date posted: 2008-11-19 11:58 AM
    Hometown: Albany

    Comment:

    There is such irony here...coming from chief architect of "Contract with America". I agree with Eric's post--there has LONG been attempts to impose someone elses religious values on others.


  • Name: parker
    Date posted: 2008-11-19 8:00 AM
    Hometown: wichita,ks

    Comment:

    They're most dangerous when in their death throws.


  • Name: Eric
    Date posted: 2008-11-19 7:34 AM
    Hometown: Ferndale

    Comment:

    Well, Newt, I'm exaggerating a bit here for dramatic effect, but I think there is a religious fascism in this country that wants to impose its will on the rest of us (Focus on the Family, American Family Association, Mormons, Catholics, Southern Baptists), is prepared to use violence (Matthew Shepard), to use harassment (picketing funerals of AIDS victims). I think it is prepared to use the government if it can get control of it (right-wing Republicans). I think that it is a very dangerous threat to anybody who believes in the Constitution.


  • Name: john in SF
    Date posted: 2008-11-19 6:57 AM
    Hometown: San Francisco

    Comment:

    The Catholic church should not be working with adoptions, I don't understand why the Catholic church is allowed to work with children at all. Judging by the organization's past behavior, I would propose a bill that would prohibit anyone under 18 in a catholic church without their parent or guardian with them at all times.


  • Name: Brian
    Date posted: 2008-11-19 1:03 AM
    Hometown: Anaheim

    Comment:

    Newt Gingrich should keep his hypocritical mouth shut when it comes to marriage. This loud mouth clown has absolutely no shame. Only Fox news would bring this blowhard in to talk about marriage after his past. What an ass.


  • Name: Larry
    Date posted: 2008-11-18 9:20 PM
    Hometown: NYC

    Comment:

    As long as Republicans exist, they will use us when they can as a means of raising money and creating fear. It's "us" vs. "them". Gingrich is no dummy and knows he is grossly distorting the facts. These statements of his are pure evil. I wonder what his "gay and secular fascist" lesbian sister is going to want to say in response!


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