COMMENTARY | Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has released his first Iowa ad, a warm, inspirational one minute that features scenes of Americana and Gingrich himself, assuming a Reaganesque, grandfatherly mien.
Though it is called "Rebuilding the America We Love," the ad might as well have been "Morning in American Part 2." The theme of the ad, restoring America's glory and strength, can have no other title. Indeed, considering the times, it is apropos for Gingrich to mimic Reagan, with his own twist. He even smiled.
Gingrich has always had the air of a man whose ideas have so much weight that they would break the jaw of a lesser man should he try to express them, to coin a phrase from a famous beer commercial. This is both a strength and a weakness. People who really value intellect find this quality in Gingrich refreshing, almost exhilarating. But it also can be intimidating, especially when the ideas are delivered with an impatient, lecturing tone, which Gingrich is wont to do.
Reagan, when running in 1980, had a different problem. He was regarded by many as a mad bomber who would impoverish the country before plunging the world into a thermonuclear war. Jimmy Carter ran against him on that basis. But Reagan was able to disarm that line of attack by smiling and assuming a reassuring tone, which exuded both strength and kindness. Millions of people, witnesses this about Reagan, concluded that the nice man on TV could not possibly be as crazy evil as the Carter campaign made him out to be. Besides, Carter was a disaster and Reagan could not possibly be worse.
Gingrich, a student of history as well as a man who has made it, seems to understand this, if the ad in question represents a new campaign strategy. If Gingrich can keep up the inspirational, positive attitude in the great tradition of Reagan, the efforts of Obama and his allies to demonize him will be in vain.
Of course, 68 is a hard age to break a lifetime habit of going off on people one regards as fools. This can be alright if most people agree that the target is a fool. But it should be used sparingly, and preferably in a light manner. Reagan did it with devastating effect when he told Carter during a debate, "There you go again." Sarah Palin disemboweled Joe Biden in her 2008 debate with, "Say it ain't so, Joe!"
Gingrich could use such a moment if he gets to debate Obama. It would seal the deal like nothing else.
Source: Rebuilding the America We Love, Newt Gingrich for President, YouTube, Dec 5, 2011
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