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Newt Gingrich Apologizes to Paul Ryan

Former House speaker goes into damage control quickly

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted May 17, 2011 6:14 PM CDT

(Newser) – Newt Gingrich says he's sorry and sounds like he'd take a do-over if he could. After running into a buzzsaw of GOP criticism for bashing Paul Ryan's budget plan over the weekend, Gingrich personally called the congressman today, reports Politico. “Newt apologized,” says his press secretary. "The call went very well.” The trouble began for Gingrich on Sunday when he described Ryan's Medicare proposal as "right-wing social engineering" and "radical change."

He immediately began taking heat from fellow Republicans. "With allies like that, who needs the left?” asked Ryan himself yesterday. Rush Limbaugh and others piled on, prompting Gingrich to make his conciliatory calls today not only to Ryan but to Tea Party groups and conservative bloggers. “We’ve tried to correct the record and admit it could have been done better,” says his press chief. He adds that Gingrich still intends to weigh in on Medicare reform and help Republicans "design a winning plan that the country will support." Click to see an Iowa man's angry reaction to Gingrich in person.

Newt Gingrich says he's sorry for slamming Paul Ryan's budget plan.
Newt Gingrich says he's sorry for slamming Paul Ryan's budget plan.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 21 comments
Rammrodd
May 19, 2011 4:39 AM CDT
Newt is a moribund old fossil. He is history. The Republican candidate will be fresh, fashionable, fearless Gov. Sarah Palin, who will kick the crease out of Obama's baggy pants in 2012. 
woodyTX
May 18, 2011 4:35 PM CDT
This was Newt's unabashed move to re-establish his lip lock on Rush Limbaugh's ass, plain and simple. It had nothing to do with Mr. Ryan. Limbaugh excoriated him for his remarks and you can't survive in today's GOP without a nod from the "all knowing" one. It's humorous and sad at the same time. 
cantsufferfools
May 18, 2011 8:25 AM CDT
That's right Newt.  Retract your statement and bow down, so the Republican party can get back down to the business of fucking over the middle-class, poor, and the elderly.   

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