Newt and Hannity discuss the Obama administration's plan to report on your fellow citizens

FOX News
August 6, 2009

HANNITY: We need real change. Change you can believe in . Well, let me start with -- you know, we have known each other for a long time, and I've watched you tactically, strategically. I don't think I can ever think of a time where modern-day conservatives and Republicans actually thought it was wise politically to attack the American people like we've seen in the last couple of days.

GINGRICH: It's absolutely mystifying to me. Because, you know, in the end the American people hire the politicians. The politicians don't hire the American people. And to go back home and basically insult people who have legitimate questions, who have concerns -- you know, August is a wonderful moment.

It's clear now that the liberals didn't get the bill in the House for the health care. They didn't get the bill in the Senate. This is a moment to take a deep breath, go home for five weeks and listen to the American people. Instead, because what they're hearing is so negative, they're almost panic-stricken.

And I don't know what your reaction was to Speaker Pelosi, but I thought there was an edge there that was strange.

HANNITY: Bu t if you look at the poll numbers -- I mean, for the Democrats in general and congressmen and senators in general, it is about as low as I've ever seen in my lifetime. It's almost like they're tone-deaf. I don't believe that they believe that the American people disagree with them.

GINGRICH: Well, you know, I think part of what's happened is we've gone from a world that was, in many ways, defined by "The New York Times" to a world that's now defined by FOX News and talk radio and by blogs and by Web sites and by, you know, Twitter.

And I think the Democrats are just totally disoriented because when they get together with their friends, they all agree. And then there are all these other people out there. I mean -- and I think that they're beginning to realize that if they can't run over us, they're just going to lose.

HANNITY: Do you think they realize that?

GINGRICH: Yes. I think what you're seeing now is almost like back before they outlawed the flying wedge in football. I think what you're seeing right now is they're trying to figure out how to form a wedge of every liberal in Washington to try to run over the country before the next election, because they're beginning to realize that the more the country looks at their program, whether it's a giant energy tax increase, huge increase in spending, or a health bill that would centralize power in Washington, the country's more and more opposed to them.

HANNITY: Yes.

GINGRICH: And they don't want to change. For instance -- and the opposite of what Obama campaigned on, because instead of saying OK, let me listen to the American people, let me adjust my program to fit the American people, it's almost like they're becoming more shrill as the American people react with greater anger.

HANNITY: It's very interesting, because the Blue Dogs want to be able to vote for the stimulus. They want to be able to vote for cap and tax, they want to be able to, you know, create all this debt and these deficits and now health care, but then they want to be able to say they're Blue Dog Democrats.

Now I don't think that's going to fly in the end. Do you think that -- here's their choice -- they're either going to go with Obama or risk losing their jobs. What do they do?

GINGRICH: Look, I think what's happening on all of these big issues now -- and I know of several cases where there are now candidates for next year in districts that have not had a major challenger in 20 y ears. Because when certain members voted for the energy tax, it was kind of like that was it.

And now there's some folks running who didn't even dream of running a month a go. Now, as we move down the road on the health bill, you're starting to see the same thing. I know the Medical Association of Georgia has helped organize 14,000 people. I mean, 14,000 doctors around the country to actively oppose the health plan.

Really sort of taking the American Medical Association head-on, because it's the only major group which has sold out on the health plan so far.

HANNITY: I've given my take both on radio and TV in terms of what they are proposing and I've analyzed it pretty deeply. I've looked at the CBO markup of this. What is your take on what they are actually proposing?

GINGRICH: Well in, the House they clearly want -- the Waxmans and the Starks and the Franks clearly want a big government, Washington-centered, control over your life model that would, over the next 10 or 12 years, eliminate the health system as we've known it and move us to a government plan.

In fact, as you know, because you've used it, there's a Varney Frank quote where he says that, when he's.

HANNITY: Yes.

GINGRICH: Because he gets under pressure -- the tricky thing for the Democrats now is if they try to appease the Blue Dogs, they get the liberals very up set. If they then tell the liberals the truth, they get the Blue Dogs very upset. And s Varney Frank was trying to appease a group of -- appease a group of very liberal, pro-big government people and he said well, you know, this is really the right way to do it. This is the step that will get us to government-run health care.

HANNITY: All right. Now I watched everything that happened in 1994. We've got Bob McDonald's, was ahead by a very significant margin in Virginia. We've got Chris Christy is way ahead of a Democratic governor in New Jersey. That's -- this seems like `94 all over again.

Do you see enough districts? Is there a potential here that the Republicans can win these governors' races, that Harry Reid and Chris Dodd, and in the House that the Democrats could lose the majorities? Could that happen?

GINGRICH: I think it's very hard for them to lose the majority in the Senate but easy for them to end up with a net loss of three or four. I think that they will lose badly in governorships and I think there is an outside, but growing possibility, that you could begin to see the Republicans take the House in 2010.

And the reason is these things compound. When you have people that are mad over one item and then they're mad over a second and then they get mad over a third item, they build momentum.

HANNITY: By the way, where you now should be snitched on and the place for everyone to go is flag@WhiteHouse.gov because you just said something negative against Barack Obama's healthcare plan so we have a snitch plan.

GINGRICH: Maybe I'll submit something myself, so they won't have to have anybody else report me.

HANNITY: I've invited my entire audience to go snitch on me.

GINGRICH: That's right.

HANNITY: So it's great to see in the studio.

GINGRICH: Good to see you.

HANNITY: Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much.

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Comments

By Mark in Boston @ Sunday, August 16, 2009 11:54 AM

I think we shold report on people that are a threat to the American way of life. If I knew a friend or neighbor was planning on taking a weapon to a contentious public meeting, or to see any public official where I knew they disliked that person (regardless of gender or political affiliation) I would absolutely report them to the police, secret service, and any other enforcement organizarition that was appropriate. To do less than that is cowardly and uncivilized.

By Deepskirt @ Friday, August 14, 2009 3:47 PM

I forwarded a copy of the letter David Axelrod sent me from the White House bashing protesters to flag@whitehouse.gov....it was extremely fishy......

By itsallgood @ Friday, August 14, 2009 12:59 PM

Mr. Gingrich, THE TIME IS NOW!!!!! IT IS TIME!!!! quit sitting on the fence, WE NEED YOU NOW!!!!

By whparke @ Monday, August 10, 2009 5:09 AM

Bring down the media and you bring down Obama. Shouting at a town meeting and calling members of congress ain't going to get it done. We need a collective and prolonged boycott of media sponsors -broadcast and print.

By GloryBB @ Sunday, August 09, 2009 7:23 PM

Mr. Gingrich, what I want to know is, are you going to run for President in 2012? You and Sarah Palin could save this great country! I commend you for all you do and say and for not backing down and becoming a coward like so many others. If you run for President I will do all I can to help you. Thank you for being you and God Bless you and your family.

By Win2010 @ Sunday, August 09, 2009 12:48 AM

Here is what I sent to the snitchbox

To Whom it May Concern:

I am writing to inform you that I have found fishy disinformation and other suspicious activity that may or may not be of interest to you. I have found there is an ongoing concerted effort to silence people of differing political persuasions and circumvent the democratic legislative process which encourages discourse and debate as well as encourages a slowing of the process of legislation in order to allow full and complete review by legislators and citizens.

I find it to be nothing short of reckless for the White House to engage in the tactics being used. Not only are you encouraging, but you will be perceived as empowering and emboldening people to impede the free speech rights of those who oppose the current administration’s agenda. Are you sure you trust the people you are emboldening to keep in context such statements as “we will punch back twice as hard”? This is a wholly inappropriate statement coming from a White House official when there is such a politically charged atmosphere.

Above reckless, I also believe the use of the White House to give such marching orders and ask for citizens to inform on citizens is dangerously beyond the Constitutional duties and powers of the Executive branch. It sends a message that the Executive branch can circumvent process in order to engage its own “People’s Army” to bully through its own agenda. I think this is a shameful example and it is sullying the good office of the President of the United States.

I am strongly opposed to the health care reform legislation currently in Congress for several reasons. Not the least of them is the fact that the government is inserting itself into my business. The government is seeking to make me accept a law which affects my life while it assumes to know better what I need than do I. In the very process, it is proving by its actions that it has little or no respect for my opinion now and probably with show just as much disrespect for my opinion when it is in charge of my and my families well being.

I am strongly opposed to this legislation because the government has shown its own ineptitude to manage entitlements time and time again. If the government can’t fix Social Security, how can it fix health care? If the government continually shows fiscal irresponsibility, how can we assume that the government will be financially viable 10 years from now?

The bottom line is until the government can clean its own house and pro ve to the American people its worth and efficiency, it should not expect the American people to accept any overhaul of any system.

Please Never Forget: The Government Works For the People. The People Do Not Work For the Government.

My name is...I am a mechanic and I am smart enough to have and voice my own views

By Hot @ Saturday, August 08, 2009 6:19 PM

I just sent the Whitehouse an EMAIL too.

Look for my arrest in the paper. But there is good news then my cancer operation will be paid in full via the US GOVERNMENT. Or should I say OBAMA'S health plan.

Wake Up America.

You elected these people SO YOU MUST BE HAPY.

By Hot @ Saturday, August 08, 2009 6:04 PM

Don't forget to report this video to OBAMA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeYscnFpEyA

Wake Up America.

By nnahorski @ Saturday, August 08, 2009 1:56 PM

I, too, reported myself at flag@whitehouse.gov. I reminded the President that I will oppose his healthcare plan with the facts, because the facts alone are scary enough. I also reminded the President that I agreed with no part of his domestic agenda, and that he ought to add me to his list for that as well.

On another note, thank you, Mr. Speaker, for being a beacon of truth. Keep up the great work.

By rpexplorer @ Saturday, August 08, 2009 9:45 AM

I also reported myself and also included the reminder that there is a law against what they are asking for. Also reminded them that there is a law against deleting my submittal once submitted. The intent was to establish that they were in fact acting illegally and that I have the record of its being opened and also have the evidence of its existence in the event of future action associated with this bad behavior being pursued.

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