eye of newt

Newt Gingrich Participates in Most Uncomfortable Hand-shaking Ever

Newt Gingrich is feeling the heat from referring to Congressman Paul Ryan’s Medicare plan as “right-wing social engineering” and “radical change” on Sunday’s Meet the Press. It’s not just the elites, like Charles Krauthammer (“He’s done“) and Rush Limbaugh (“My God, it is inexplicable“) who think Gingrich has betrayed his own party. Now Gingrich, who is making seventeen stops throughout Iowa this week, is catching hell from regular voters — like this Iowan who berated a sheepish Gingrich for fifteen seconds while shaking his hand the whole time. Why did you keep shaking hands?

The transcript, via Think Progress:

Voter: Speaker Gingrich, what you just did to Paul Ryan is unforgivable.

Gingrich: I didn’t do anything to Paul Ryan!

Voter: Yes, you did. You undercut him and his allies in the house.

Gingrich: No, I 

Voter: You’re an embarrassment to our party.

Gingrich: I’m sorry you feel that way.

VIDEO: Iowa Voter to Newt Gingrich: ‘Why Don’t You Get Out Before You Make A Bigger Fool Of Yourself’ [Think Progress]

Newt Gingrich Participates in Most Uncomfortable Hand-shaking Ever