GOP Who's Who: Newt Gingrich

Last, and certainly not least (or lightest), Newt Gingrich.

Gingrich has been out of political office since his resignation in 1999 as 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Since then, he has remained a relevant figure in Republican politics as a consultant, speaker, author and policy position strategist. He also has founded and chaired several policy ‘think tanks,‘ including “American Solutions for Winning the Future and the “Center for Health Transformation.”

Gingrich was the Speaker of the House under Bill Clinton, a Democrat, and has disagreements with the President over the budget, leading to the government shutdown in 1995. He was also an intricate part of Clinton’s impeachment for lying about his sexual encounters, but created a sense of hypocrisy when he became open about his extramarital affair with Callista Bisek. Bisek at the time was a staff member of the House and is now Gingrich’s third wife.

The New York Times believes that Gingrich, one of the Republican party’s most polarizing figures, faces a challenge in overcoming his personal issues including two divorces and a lack of a well-established association with religious conservatives.

I believe that Gingrich, considered the favorite of the Team Party movement, is losing momentum in the race for the GOP nomination. He is certainly going to have trouble overcoming his personal issues and I also believe that the radical nature of the Tea Party is losing steam nationwide.

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