Newt Gingrich and Chuck Todd have made some incredible statements today.
On Meet The Press on Sunday, Gingrich voiced strong opposition to Paul Ryan's Medicare proposals:
"I don't think right-wing social engineering is any more desirable than left-wing social engineering. I don't think imposing radical change from the right or the left is a very good way for a free society to operate."
And man, did he take some conservative heat for that! So, with his presidential aspirations in jeopardy, he said the following to Greta Van Susteren during an interview on Fox News:
"I want to make sure every House Republican is protected from some kind of dishonest Democratic ad. So let me say on the record, any ad which quotes what I said on Sunday is a falsehood. Because I have said publicly those words were inaccurate and unfortunate, and I’m prepared to stand up and -- when I make a mistake -- and I’m going to, on occasion -- I want to stand up and share with the American people: 'That was a mistake.' Because that way we can have an honest conversation. "
Breathtaking: Any ad which accurately quotes what I said on national television three days ago is a falsehood, because I've recanted since.
So that's Newt's idea of "an honest conversation"? This gives pandering a bad name. Stewart? Colbert? Or is that just too easy?
And here's Chuck Todd on MSNBC:
"The Obamas are millionaires, according to new financial disclosure forms released yesterday. The forms show the President and First Lady Michelle Obama hold assets between $2.8 million and $11.8 million, and -- are you ready for this? Almost all of their investments are in T-bills. So nobody would be hurt more by the debt ceiling not being raised than the President."
Right, Chuck. If the U.S. defaulted on its debt, if the world was plunged into economic turmoil, if interest rates soared, the dollar plunged, and the euro or the renminbi replaced the dollar as the world reserve currency, the Obamas' investments would suffer -- in fact, NOBODY would be hurt more! Therefore, Obama wants to raise the debt ceiling.
This kind of stuff is commonplace on Drudge, Breitbart, or The Blaze. But the political director at NBC News? A firing offense, I'd say.