Clever title, eh? I did not come up with it myself. Rather, I stole it from this scathing press release sent out by the Club for Growth attacking Newt Gingrich:
Fresh Off NY-23 Humiliation, Gingrich Gives Bennett “Kiss of Dede”
In Utah, Former Speaker Endorses Another Big-Government Republican
WASHINGTON – The Club for Growth PAC today responded to comments by former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, who yesterday attacked the non-partisan Club for not blindly supporting all Washington Republican incumbents. At an event in Utah yesterday, Gingrich endorsed Senator Bob Bennett and criticized the Club PAC for opposing the three-term incumbent, sponsor of the Wyden-Bennett government health care takeover bill, and advocate of the Bridge to Nowhere and the Wall Street bailout.
“Last fall, as conservatives around the country rallied to help Doug Hoffman in New York's 23rd district special election, Newt Gingrich supported the ultra-liberal Dede Scozzafava, right up to the day she dropped out of the race and endorsed the liberal Democrat,” said Club President Chris Chocola. “Newt has proven time and again that he will support any Republican, regardless of policies and principles. That's his right, but the Club for Growth PAC puts principles over party.”
“Newt was wrong about New York-23, and he's wrong about Utah,” Chocola said. “And pretty soon, Bennett will wish Newt never gave him the kiss of Dede.”
For the record, Gingrich campaigned for Bennett yesterday in Utah and said the following:
In a news conference, Gingrich took a shot at the Club for Growth, a national conservative group that has targeted Bennett. "I wish the Club for Growth would spend as much time and energy to defeat liberal Democrats as they do dividing Republicans. … I try to defeat liberal Democrats. I don't spend much time trying to defeat Republicans."
--------------------------------------------
Follow the RCP Blog on Twitter.
Become a fan of RCP on Facebook.
--------------------------------------------
