Meet the Press Comment Not About Ryan Plan: Gingrich

When Newt Gingrich said the words “right-wing social engineering” on Meet the Press—then called Paul Ryan to apologize for uttering them—he actually wasn't referring to Ryan's Medicare proposal, or so Gingrich said yesterday. The Atlantic reports that in an interview with Rush Limbaugh, Gingrich explains that “it was not a reference to Paul Ryan. There was no reference to Paul Ryan in that answer.” So, asks Limbaugh, why did he call Ryan to apologize? “It was interpreted in a way which was causing trouble which he doesn't need or deserve.”

“My answer wasn't about the budget, and I promptly went back to say publicly that I would have voted for the Ryan budget,” Gingrich continued. In other Newt news, Daily Intel has learned which Swedish pop song currently doubles as his cell phone ring. (More Newt Gingrich stories.)