EXCLUSIVE: 1980 Memo Shows Gingrich Urged Reagan to Reach Out to Black Voters
by Wynton HallWith members of the mainstream media now hurling charges of using racially coded language against GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, Big Government has uncovered a private memorandum written over three decades ago that offers a unique glimpse into Mr. Gingrich’s longstanding attitudes about race.
The private memo, dated July 1, 1980, was written by Mr. Gingrich on his official House of Representatives stationery and was sent to then-candidate Ronald Reagan’s campaign manager, Bill Casey, who would later become President Reagan’s CIA Director.
In the memo, Mr. Gingrich urges Governor Reagan’s campaign to reconsider its decision not to speak to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Convention.
“This is a great opportunity to prove that a conservative Republican can speak to the hearts and pocketbooks of Black Americans,” Gingrich urged in the memo.
The memorandum goes on to explain that a decision not to speak at the NAACP convention would insult African American voters and be a “tragedy” for the nation:
Many middle class Black Americans who would vote for Reagan will be insulted by his non-attendance. I urge you to schedule the speech and talk about Kemp’s Inner City Jobs Bill, which Kilpatrick and George Will have both endorsed as acceptably conservative.
Failure to attend the NAACP convention will be a tragedy for Gov. Reagan and the country. Symbolic events are vital. Thank you for considering this.
The 1980 Gingrich memorandum aligns with comments the former Speaker has made more recently.
At a January 5, 2012 event in Plymouth, New Hampshire, Mr. Gingrich said that if he were invited to speak to the NAACP he would accept:
And so, I’m prepared, if the NAACP invites me, I’ll go to their convention to talk about why the African American community should demand pay checks and not be satisfied with food stamps. And I’ll go to them and I’ll explain a brand new social security opportunity for young people, which would be particularly good for African American males, because they’re the group that gets the smallest return on social security because they have the shortest life span. And under social security today, you don’t build up an estate, but if you’re allowed to build up an estate, if your tax money went into your savings and it was your money, if something happened to you, your family got you restate, the difference in transfer of wealth to the black community would be amazing.
Those and subsequent comments have sparked controversy among liberal critics who have taken issue with Mr. Gingrich’s contention that President Barack Obama has been America’s greatest “Food Stamp President,” a reference to Mr. Obama’s unprecedented expansion of the food stamp program (officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).
Mr. Gingrich’s 1980 plea that the Reagan campaign should reach out to the NAACP and make inroads with black voters was just the first of many he has made to GOP candidates over many years.
As ABC News has reported, in his book Real Change, Mr. Gingrich criticized President George W. Bush’s “failure to address the NAACP,” which according to Gingrich, sent a “clear signal to the African American community that Republicans did not see them as worthy of engagement in dialogue.”
Also, in 2008, Mr. Gingrich criticized those 2008 Republican presidential candidates who declined to participate in a black voter forum hosted by Tavis Smiley.
Still, while it’s unlikely that Mr. Gingrich’s 1980 private memorandum urging the Reagan campaign to speak at the NAACP convention will change the minds of those determined to play the race card against him, the document reveals that Mr. Gingrich’s desire to restore the historic relationship between the Republican Party and black voters extends over three decades.
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77 Comments
Isn't that…………………quaint.
In all seriousness, the Liberal Left is trying to hang the racist mantra around newts fat neck.
I do not think it will work.
Faults aside, I respect Newt for always calling a spade a spade, regardless of who he torques off.
Well I guess that should shut them up.But it won't.
and NOW we know
WHO they REALLY FEAR !
and it ain't Mitt….
That is the difference between Newt and Romney….you look back during his time in office and discover he had the same thoughts as he does now. I realize he has been all over the place on some issues, but the ones that count(for me anyway), life, tax-cutting, marriage between a man and woman..those haven't changed. As for the Nancy Pelosi thing, I too was swept away into the global warming thing..but I changed my mind. Remember, I think 75% of all Americans believed it was tru as well in the early days.
But he's a republican! He must be a racist! They both start with the letter 'R'. That's enough proof for me!
/sarc off, for the mentally challenged.
Take THAT Hujuan Williams!
But then, he called global warming a spade when it is anything but.
Does he call a spade a spade when it is a spade? Yes, he does.
Does he also call a club a spade from time to time? Indeed.
I agree.
Do you reckon one could call Newt a Professional Politician Par Excellence?
I think Newt makes some valid points and his consistancy over 30 years shows he isn't a poll pandering slug. He is the best qualified candidate even if he is as prickly as a cactus. I do not think he will be nominated. Sure gets a few people thinking though.
I think many people changed their opinions on Anthropocentric Global Warming when the first round of Climate-gate emails was leaked. The second group is even more damning for the AGW argument.
There is no doubt that the Earth is warming. It has been since the so-called Mini Ice Age, but that began long before the Industrial Revolution. Because there was a purported scientific consensus, many folks bought in to the argument, only to back off quickly when reality was revealed.
That sounds Chinese.
Racist.
The charge leveled by one's opponent's in an issue, who are ill equipped and unqualified for intellectual discourse or debate.
Newt has the skills and the smarts to get the job done right. We all agree that he has flaws but Obama and his Congressional comrades are a cancer that everyone knows must be cut out of the body politic.
… which is why they are pushing him, just as they did McCain before him. Newt is shaping up to be the guy.
Still, while it’s unlikely that Mr. Gingrich’s 1980 private memorandum urging the Reagan campaign to speak at the NAACP convention will change the minds of those determined to play the race card against him"
Him and every single Conservative American willing to speak out against tyranny and Fascism. We ALL know racism is their number one "cry wolf" claim. Liberals always fall back on that tired old BS………always.
This is only the beginning. Things will get ugly and dirty. Short of killing off the Republican opposition, the cockroaches will lie through their teeth about everything and make life hell for any candidate. Although I think they won't go after Mitt as much because they know he is the easiest to beat in a debate as opposed to Newt. Just my humble opinion.
Newt for all his sins and past trangressions is the only one that can snarl and bite back. God only knows we need someone who won't be afraid of the obama mafia.
H*ll. They all are. This one is at least in the realm of reason and the Constitution. I'm too old to break out my guns for another revolution. Status quo liberal government (read Romney) will devolve into that. Newt and his Congress gave Clinton his re-election because of the great job that was done. Budget surpluses and a great economy. I believe he is up to this latest challenge.
The next big hurdle will be the inflation bomb set by the Dems and the complicit Fed with the bloated money supply. When that money returns to the economy it will make inflation go nuts. To be exploited by the Dems who caused it. Remember Reagan's first term after the '70s?
Good one.
It is the "left" that ALWAYS brings up race because it is they who are the racists.
This is a non-story written by the left in their feeble attempt to make anyone on the right a racist. It's so old it's now boring…….
I agree.
Ugly and dirty.
But let it never be said that WE did not vet OUR candidate.
Despots, like President Downgrade and his pal Bill Ayers, play the race card in the name of political power.
Patriots, like Newt Gingrich, call out the race baiters and call them what they really are, traitors to America and the constituion.
The libs are not interested in the truth – just in what they think they can call him.
No amount of documentation is going to convince the rabidly Left that Newt is not a rascist after that last debate, when he commited the unforgivable faux pax of…….oh horrors….I can hardly bring myself to say it…..he addressed a moderator by name! The nattering nitwits on the left are still twisting themselves into pretzels trying to show how that was proof positive of rampant rascism in the Republican party in general and Newt in particular.
Why should any non-Democrat speak to a corrupt wing of the Democrat party?
They already have their strategy against Romney in the can. He is toast. It's starting to look like they see newt as a little more of a formidable opponent. The left is afraid of a bloddy nose.
Good. I'm sick of seeing that dirtbag's face and turkey neck.
Along with hater and homophobe.
See, he was never really a conservative – he embraces identity politics.
When will the GOP reach out to White voters, btw? If they just got the White voters who vote Democrat they wouldn't have to bother going after hopeless cases like Blacks voting for Republicans. With much less effort they could get the vote of 1) Whites who vote Democrat and 2) Whites who don't vote at all and have a much bigger result than pandering to the "Kill Whitey" groups like the NAACP.
Or a knock-out
So you are saying that Reagan was a racist.
Speaking of exclusive documents, how the heck does a GITMO prisoner gain access to an Al Qaeda propaganda magazine called Inspire?
Is there really no end to Barry's idiocy? Are there no lengths he will not stoop to trying to do literally everything backward?
Sorry for the off topic, but for cripes sake, why have a House of Representatives and a Speaker of the House to check the Executive if the House and its Speaker set silent about everything?!
Running guns to Mexican drug cartels, handing over stealth technology to the Iranians, chopping oil supply and driving the price sky high, usurping the making of law by executive "rule making", skirting congressional confirmation regarding appointments, and even blatant ineligibility alongside straight up "negotiation" with known and self-declared enemies fully engaged in killing our people is not enough for the Speaker to file Articles of Impeachment?
I just have to ask, what would it actually take for that to happen?
John Boehner, I really do not understand how you can sleep at night. Shame on you man, an eternity of shame be upon you for your refusal to do what you took an oath to do. Shame shame shame!
Noblama would be trembling like a dog crapping razor blades if newt were the nominee……………
http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/youare
"Is there really no end to Barry's idiocy?"
Ahhhh, short answer, in a word?
NO.
I think actually, this says more about Newt's attitude with Hispanics. The GOP lost it's chance with African-Americans long ago. We are losing our chance with Hispanics every day and with every election. Btw, I'm Hispanic and PRO-NEWT!
I think this article here exposes Gingrich for the unprincipled phony that he is. The NAACP changed dramatically over the years. The people who earned respect for the organization are all gone now. It would be unprincipled to treat the group as though it should still represent that historical relationship. Yet, Newt saw it as a way of getting through to black voters, thinking only of himself. If he did understand the situation, then he's apparently presuming that black people don't. It's a glimpse into the mind of a totally self-centered and probably sociopathic compulsive liar.
Glad the "Bigs" (Journalism and Government) have chosen their candidate I can know avoid them till the primaries are over. Gingrich has many admirable qualities but he is an ego maniac and will not be able to stand up to the extreme criticism he will face. But you go ahead "Bigs" carry water for Newt and our only hope will be getting the Senate back so we at least have a divided govt. the next 4 years.
Democracy at work!!!
Looks like resident racist/anti-Semite troll farber/dontlooknow has yet another new account.
Weak even for you.
Yeah, once again I find myself explaining Newt on the "climate change" issue. Putting aside the visual of sitting next to pelosi, there is a very good reason Newt jumped into that fray.
Ironically, it's not far from the reasoning you see in this article on speaking to the NAACP. If you've never heard it, Newt's always had the philosophy that you can't win a fight unless you get into the ring.
In other words, if the left can take complete control of a narrative, with no conservative input, they WILL use it as a club to advance their agenda. By letting the left own the narrative on climate change is to concede defeat without a debate.
So Newt jumped into the fray with "climate change" in order to at least be able to challenge the left on the subject. Understanding that there IS a Conservative position on climate change, that is, climate change is a natural phenomena, it's most likely NOT anthropogenic, and if it can be forecast with any accuracy, we should find ways to take advantage of that knowledge, not the least way being to plan for longer growing seasons to increase food production, etc.
Watch that infamous spot with pelosi. There's no mention of "man made" GW. To NOT be in the debate is to concede the debate. THAT'S where Newt was coming from. That's where he's always coming from. Just like with engaging the black community on behalf of conservatism, you'll NEVER have success until you get into the game.
No, just busy.
It seems to me that racism lies mostly with one party.
It's a tool they use when obfuscation and lies have failed.
Funny, he mentioned Morehouse (Moor House?) College – the all Black college that Blacks are allowed to have. Whites are not allowed to have an all White college. Will Newt address this injustice?
Any other memos to uncover – maybe one where he suggests a perk of House members to get new wifes to maintain morale?
Thanks for demonstrating so succinctly how absurd the whole RACISM accusation really is.
Yes, they are losing the Hispanics, but they shouldn't be. There seems to be way more issues that Hispanics would agree with on the conservative side. WTH?
BTW, I am a fan of your website. You should put the link in your description. ; )
He also proposed a death penalty for marijuana possession. Gingrich and Santorum are both big government, strike-first conservatives who have too much baggage and too many questionable (I'll give Newt the benefit of the doubt on his) quotes to beat Barack Obama.
Republicans gotta make up their minds: Do they want a candidate that is different than Obama on nearly every issue – Ron Paul – or one that is different just on health care and abortion, Mitt Romney?
Thanks sisty! Very nice of you to say… While i think you're right that Hispanics do share a lot of values with the conservative movement, they are more susceptible to brainwashing by soft socialism in our k-12 schools, and hard Marxism in college/university. That's why I think Newt is right about this – "Symbolic events are vital." Conservatives shouldn't pander and sell out our values to get any minority group – but it's smart politics to make it clear that everyone is welcome with symbolic events.
Tends to get lost in the liberal republican narrative of Newt but thanks agin for posting this
For the countrys' sake I hope your second to last sentence is wrong ..
You may be right, John. I've long felt that the same Republican establishment that has rejected the Tea Party, and attempted to suppress it in recent history, also wrote off the black community as being either unwinnable or insignificant back when it was most important to appeal to the strong conservative element in that same community. We have long needed a candidate who is as good at uniting conservative Americans of every ethnicity as the Democraps are at dividing Americans.
In the sixties and seventies these same alarmist were trying to convince us we were going into an Ice Age, I bet these same clowns will be warning us about another Ice Age within twenty years.
Be still my heart!
Gingrich will annihilate Obama in a debate. Newt's already told him he can bring his teleprompter. I'm not saying Newt's going to be the candidate, but Obama has been so divisive that there are a good number of voters, including Democrats, who'd elect a maggot first. Used to as a last resort the far-left would play the race card, but now it is the first resort because they have nothing else to run on. Anything can happen between now and the election but this Emperor has no clothes and everyone see it. In other words… FAIL!!!!!
That was VERY well put. Thanks.
"Tends to get lost in the liberal republican narrative"
If that aint the truth. This is what happens when you live in a "soundbite society."
Thank YOU for acknowledging the (should be) obvious.
& anti-semite.
He was right then and he is right today…in sending a message to the inner city plantation slaves that they don't have to remain the slaves of the Democratzi 'loons' any longer.
It is time to be free…and do as they please…not as they are told!
GOD bless all Americans of black heritage that have already broken those chains of bondage to the black slave owners…and stood up to be counted as they choose to be counted and with whom they wish to be counted…that is why the Civil War took place…to set all people free to be free to do as they please in American the land of the free and the home of the brave!
GOD BLESS AMERICA THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE…AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF JUDEO/CHRISTIANS OF ALL FAITHS AND ALL COLORS…AND ALL ORIGINS PRAYING TO KEEP HER THAT WAY!
Anybody who actually votes for Newt, or Obama, or any other democrat or republican, besides Ron Paul, is basically saying, hi i dont have a clue whats going on and I dont care, I love this economy and I hope it continues on the path its been on. YAY
Hey Winston, I thought commentators like you referred to blacks as ' colored!'
Don't let the door hit your #ss on the way out.
The only problem I see with this explanation is that he "Jumped into the Fray" while he was speaker and supported legislation then similar to cap and trade…
They've already set it up for that by only referring to it as climate change now that way they can use both boogeyman without appearing to be full of it, which anyone who's actually into science already knew.
…and a sound bite society with the Leftists choosing the soundbites.
We should ALL go. It is a travesty to have information on every candidate out in the open here. Oh the HORROR!
Red 47, Info on every candidate is GREAT, but it's become abundantly clear that PJ Salvatore and Dana Loesch have picked their dog in the fight. They are no longer going to give us straight info so we can make the choice. They're doing what the MSM does, giving us spin. That's my objection.
WOW! What a witty cogent response Taxpayer1234! You should see if The Big's won't give you your own column with biting insight like that Tiger! Well written! Nice!
It was run by communists until the blacks took over in the 1960s. Not sure there was a time when it was an honorable, non-hate, organization.
***BREAKING NEWS***
This just in…
MSNBGLT is now reporting that not being racist is now racist.
That is all…
So basically, Newt is saying: Political correctness is good for votes. Pandering is profitable.
This memo does nothing to prove that Newt is not a racist. In fact, this memo is more of a "wink wink".
Does it suck to sit in a classroom and have absolutely no idea what is being talking about?
It's too bad that Andrew Breitbart didn't jump to Ron Paul's defense when the racism accusations were being thrown at him. You know, what with Reagan's "11th Commandment" and all. Of course, since this site was one of the biggest accusers towards him, it's perfectly understandable.
How is saying "We should communicate the conservative message to blacks" pandering? Especially when compared to everything the Democrats have done since their instantaneous turn from segregationists and eugenicists to civil rights advocates.
The NAACP is a divisive racist criminal racket dedicated to extorting "reparations" from businesses, I'm glad Reagan didn't show.
Hey, all you neocons for Newt:
Dig it with that reverse racist pandering and "symbolism" as written by the Newtser.
"I promise to shine YOUR shoes if you'll just invite me."
The Grand Old Party of Lincoln, alive and well with Newt and Mitt in the lead — God save us.
of COURSE they fear Newt. look at his performance in the debates so far and ask yourself; "how would Obama perform against Newt in an unscripted debate?"
I think we all know the answer to that.
Me too, but Oregon has NO say in the matter.
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