Tue Jan 24, 2012, 10:49 AM

Gingrich Says He Will Skip Debates if Audiences Can’t Participate

Last edited Tue Jan 24, 2012, 10:59 AM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

Mr. Gingrich, a former House speaker, on Tuesday morning threatened not participate in any future debates with audiences that have been instructed to be silent. That was the case on Monday, when Brian Williams of NBC News asked the audience of about 500 people who assembled for a debate in Tampa to hold their applause until the commercial breaks.

In an interview with the morning show “Fox and Friends,” Mr. Gingrich said NBC’s rules amounted to stifling free speech. In what has become a standard line of attack for his anti-establishment campaign, Mr. Gingrich blamed the media for trying to silence a dissenting point of view.

“I wish in retrospect I’d protested when Brian Williams took them out of it because I think it’s wrong,” Mr. Gingrich said. “And I think he took them out of it because the media is terrified that the audience is going to side with the candidates against the media, which is what they’ve done in every debate.”

Link: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/gingrich-says-he-will-skip-debates-if-audiences-cant-participate/

Newton didn't do well last night. Maybe he is unsure of himself without audience feedback? Fascinating and good to know!

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50 replies	Author	Time	Post
Gingrich Says He Will Skip Debates if Audiences Can’t Participate (Original post)	apples and oranges	Jan 2012	OP
Fine. Skip the rest of the debates.	democrat_patriot	Jan 2012	#1
Big mouth isn't going to sit it out. Oh no because he loves the attention. I hope the continue	southernyankeebelle	Jan 2012	#2
Fine - fill the audience with Democrats	leftynyc	Jan 2012	#3
+1	jberryhill	Jan 2012	#11
I would pay a lot (well, as much as I could)	tallahasseedem	Jan 2012	#30
Fucking baby...	one_voice	Jan 2012	#4
Don't let the door hit ya! n/t	Little Star	Jan 2012	#5
His lifeblood is the optics of the angry mob. nt	Cognitive_Resonance	Jan 2012	#6
This. Although, I'll admit, I missed seeing the angry mob	apples and oranges	Jan 2012	#19
Oh noes!	99Forever	Jan 2012	#7
Depressing, isn't it...	pipi_k	Jan 2012	#18
Newt Gingrich = the Jerry Springer candidate	Happyhippychick	Jan 2012	#8
if he becomes president, is he going to showboat like this constantly?	Enrique	Jan 2012	#9
And done't forget, rationalize the shit out of everything because everyone else is to blame.	dmr	Jan 2012	#35
Count on it. It's an ingrained part of his personality, not just an election-season ploy. n/t	gkhouston	Jan 2012	#44
Awwww, poor baby...	Spazito	Jan 2012	#10
He missed his opportunity to whinge on about the Media last night	Bok_Tukalo	Jan 2012	#12
typical bully. nothing without his crew. nt	mopinko	Jan 2012	#13
Oh wow...	pipi_k	Jan 2012	#14
Newt's idea of audience participation....	jberryhill	Jan 2012	#15
I think he has a point	itsrobert	Jan 2012	#16
But the audience doesn't end with the one in the studio	rocktivity	Jan 2012	#28
It is fair, but is it also fair to change rules from one debate to another	itsrobert	Jan 2012	#38
If we are talking about Rocky Horror Picture Show type, I'm for it!	Liberal Veteran	Jan 2012	#17
hahahhaha!!! Some items	pipi_k	Jan 2012	#21
OK, don't show up.	Renew Deal	Jan 2012	#20
NBC debate and Brian Williams was pretty boring.	WI_DEM	Jan 2012	#22
Please do.	sinkingfeeling	Jan 2012	#23
I guess he needs to have a mob or "hate pit"	Proud Liberal Dem	Jan 2012	#24
Yep...Gnewt Can't Have Debates Like Democrats Do...	KharmaTrain	Jan 2012	#25
"What Cadrich wants is a Nuremberg rally..."	snagglepuss	Jan 2012	#34
Gingrich, Man of the People.	marmar	Jan 2012	#26
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to remember that the audience	Arkansas Granny	Jan 2012	#27
But not the primary debates.	NYC Liberal	Jan 2012	#29
Totaly silent audience was the standard back in my day	Brother Buzz	Jan 2012	#32
so he's a self-admitted rabble-rouser	muriel_volestrangler	Jan 2012	#31
Without the false bravado he is nothing. Don't budge. Debate without him and watch him lose votes.	mfcorey1	Jan 2012	#33
a bully always needs an audiance to play off of	Douglas Carpenter	Jan 2012	#36
whiney, petulant baby	demtenjeep	Jan 2012	#37
Newtie governs and debates in one liners	Sheepshank	Jan 2012	#39
Who cares?	EC	Jan 2012	#40
The truth revealed	guitar man	Jan 2012	#41
That's because he is nothing more than a stand-up comedian.	tallahasseedem	Jan 2012	#42
Go ahead, Newt.	Hatchling	Jan 2012	#43
Do onto others ...	GeorgeGist	Jan 2012	#45
Here's an idea.	Ganja Ninja	Jan 2012	#46
is this a promise? nt	barbtries	Jan 2012	#47
Call his bluff. Debates are the best thing he has going for himself right now.	morningfog	Jan 2012	#48
No he won't. n/t	deacon	Jan 2012	#49
Noot has to be a gladiator in the Roman Circus	Raine	Jan 2012	#50