Newt, on Jobs, Maybe New Job for Himself

Newt Gingrich believes dissatisfaction among Americans regarding decisions in Washington is growing so quickly that a GOP sweep in congressional elections this fall could be akin to that of 1994. Such an about-face, he says, depends on three factors: the state of the economy, the Democrats' response to the dissatisfaction, and whether Republicans can successfully cast themselves as the alternative party rather than the opposition.

If the economy remains sour, and the anger level rises, if the Democrats persist in punitive actions against business, and if the Republican Party offers a positive alternative in a way that Tea Party activists and independents join them, the tide could turn.

The former speaker of the House met Thursday with The Orange County Register's Editorial Board and members of the Content Center. The discussion focused on job creation, politics and the job summit Thursday night in Irvine sponsored by Mr. Gingrich's American Solutions organization.

Mr. Gingrich visited Orange County for the third in a series of "Real Job" summits, which was expecting upwards of 2,000 attendees, aimed at helping small businesses and entrepreneurs become the job-creating engine for the country. Mr. Gingrich's organization has outlined a "Jobs First" plan to help spur job growth, which includes reduced government spending and new approaches to balancing the federal budget; tax cuts; and plans for developing new energy. For more information, go to www.americansolutions.com.

His "Jobs First" plan calls not just for reducing the capital-gains and death taxes, but for abolishing them.

He also calls for cutting the corporate tax rate, now as high as 35 percent, to 12.5 percent (the rate in Ireland, he says). Mr. Gingrich's organization has also spent time listening to business owners, a large component of the summits. Through polling, American Solutions found that small-business owners overwhelmingly acknowledge that tax cuts are far preferable to more government spending when it comes to helping businesses grow and prosper. And his pollsters discovered that small-business owners believe high taxes are the toughest challenge facing their businesses, 22 percentage points higher than the next-toughest challenge, government regulations.

Mr. Gingrich also offered analysis of the political landscape for 2010. He said the Republicans cannot "gain a [congressional] majority on just a negative message"; the party will have to provide good alternatives for citizens. A new Contract, he said, has to focus on job creation, the economy and energy. This as the Obama administration is increasing its rhetoric, calling the GOP the "party of no."

American Solutions and the former speaker have their work cut out for them as they are attempting to create a national "tripartisan" movement of Democrats, Republicans and Independent voters to sweep in "real change" in Washington.

His call for "tripartisanship" relies on melding Reaganesque and Lincolnesque political philosophies into almost a populist message, echoing the calls from the Tea Party movement that the people should govern, and the government should work for the people.

Will Mr. Gingrich run for president in 2012? He didn't dismiss the idea, but said he will wait until February 2011 to decide. If he is successful in building a "tripartisan" movement of "real change," he might just have a shot.

REPRINTED FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER.

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