Gingrich Regrets His Nasty Jabs at Clinton
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WASHINGTON — Incoming House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) has backpedaled on some recent nasty jabs directed at the White House, saying it was “foolish” to call President Clinton and his wife “counterculture McGovernicks.”
Gingrich told NBC’s “Dateline” late Tuesday that his comment was a mistake. “There was no point to my saying it. It was a frankly foolish thing to do,” he said.
He acknowledged that he needed to change his style in his new position. “I probably need to be 30% less pugnacious and 50% less negative,” he said.
Gingrich also expressed regret for having called Clinton and his Administration the “enemies of normal people” during the campaign.
“I think ‘enemies of normal people’ was wrong and I wish I hadn’t said it,” Gingrich said. “Truth is, occasionally, I’m not very smart.”
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