Well, I guess we can say that Newt Gingrich is no longer a conservative since he endorsed Dede Scozzafava:
In a major coup for her campaign, Republican Dede Scozzafava today will pick up the endorsement of Newt Gingrich, one of the nation’s leading conservative figures and the architect of the “Republican Revolution” in the mid-1990s.
“The special election for the 23rd Congressional District is an important test leading up to the mid-term 2010 elections,” Gingrich said in a statement to supporters. “Our best chance to put responsible and principled leaders in Washington starts here, with Dede Scozzafava.”
And, like clockwork, Erik Erickson over at Red State claims Gingrich has ended his hopes for 2012:
Today Newt Gingrich endorses Dede Scozzafava in NY-23. This follows his 2008 endorsement of very liberal Wayne Gilchrest in MD-01, who went on to lose his Republican Primary and then endorsed the Democrat in the race.
Make no mistake about it: Gingrich no longer wants to nor can he be seen as a conservative. He is a political opportunist. But, as Bill Kristol notes this morning, “The GOP establishment complicates the Republican and conservative comeback strategy.” Newt Gingrich wants to be part of that complication.
Now, some might rightly say that perhaps Gingrich did not know. He sees the GOP leadership lining up behind Dede and he felt obligated. That could not be further from the truth.
In fact, for the past several weeks there has been an aggressive effort among conservatives to keep Newt on the sidelines. He, instead, decided to pee on the movement.
Newt endorsing Scozzafava aligns him with Markos Moulitsas who declared Dede the most liberal candidate in the race.
Oh, please. You know you are dealing with lunatics when people start claiming that Newt Gingrich is not a true conservative.
And no, it is not the GOP establishment that is hindering the Republican comeback, it is extremists like Erikson who back “purist” long shot candidates who have no chance in hell at winning at the expense of mainstream conservatives that are wrecking the comeback. But it’s hard to see that when you are blinded by conceit.
Crossposted at Republicans United
H/T: Real Republican Majority