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Growing controversy over Gingrich's Reagan connection

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    Michael Reagan weighs in

  • Duration 7:04
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On the economy.

I work with Reagan.

In the 80s16.

Million jobs.

This economy stagnated I became speaker I work that Bill Clinton.

We created eleven million jobs by following the Reagan playbook.

And Newt Gingrich has had a lot about Michael Reagan Ronald Reagan on the campaign trail including saying that he helped him defeat the Soviet empire.

If you've been following Gingrich on the campaign -- -- lots of -- like that's the former speaker talks about President Reagan all the time.

But now -- growing chorus of conservatives.

Casting doubt on Gingrich's assertion that he is himself a Reagan conservative.

Some say in fact -- Gingrich was critical of Ronald Reagan's presidency.

While he was working under him and -- and -- opinions are Reagan's policies.

Today.

Mr.

Gingrich addressed the issue and even threw in a swipe at his rival Mitt Romney.

You're -- the -- entire period.

Mitt Romney was a money making independent has -- -- money making.

We have no interest in politics he wasn't involved -- helping save the country.

And using independent.

In 1992 -- gave money to Democrats for congress he vote in the democratic primary for Paul Tsongas the most liberal candidate.

This is the man who stood up there and I didn't question my credentials as a Reagan right.

Well last night on Hannity Gingrich said we should put this question to President Reagan son Michael.

Michael Reagan is the chairman of the Reagan group but a political consultant and a frequent best -- of the program so that worked out well we had you lot Michael and let's ask you want to draw.

Is Newt Gingrich.

Reagan conservative.

Yeah I would tell your kids to people running for president -- states -- the Reagan conservative.

A grassroots which is Newt Gingrich and then Thursday Rockefeller.

Republican and that's Mitt Romney have -- been going on for many many years.

Make -- where you've -- the Rockefeller Republicans and the conservative or Reagan Republicans as they were job.

Back of the 1970s and nineteen.

Eighties if you will and how the two.

Newt Gingrich would be that person you're always gonna find areas.

-- disagreement with everybody -- -- my goodness gracious.

My father had nobody on his side when he stood before the wall -- tear down this wall the whole National Security Council was against my father.

When he -- evil empire speech at Notre Dame university most of the people in his administration don't do it don't do it don't make anybody mad don't.

Make Mikhail Gorbachev for the Russians -- but yet my father gave that speech.

So sometimes you're fighting your own people -- get things done.

And you're watching sausage being made at its how the sausage tasted -- the end up how was made.

Right but then -- it becomes more controversial of one of the people who said this sausages disgusting and we're making it all the wrong way.

Comes out later and says I was an -- on how to make the sausage and an end of the history doesn't support it.

That's what will Gingrich's critics are doing and let me just let me just teed up for you -- and we should point out that you you've endorsed picking up.

This is that this guy named Elliot Abrams who -- an assistant secretary of state under your dad it was also in the hot and congress back under your father.

He's come out with a scathing piece and national review online and says Gingrich.

His claims about quote helping to defeat the Soviet empire with your dad.

Are totally baseless and I just want to show the viewers some of the quotes that appear.

And mr.

Abrams peace he says quote.

This is.

This is he's quoting Newt Gingrich okay he says Gingrich said measured against the scale and momentum of the Soviet -- challenged.

The Reagan administration has failed is failing and without a dramatic change in strategy will continue to fail President Reagan.

-- clearly failing goes on to say that he -- efforts against the Communists in the Third World were quote not medically incompetent.

Said his policy was marked by quote independence and incompetence and talked about his meeting with Gorbachev and arms control as quote.

The most dangerous summit for the west since Adolf Hitler met with Neville Chamberlain.

In 1938 in Munich his point is when your dad needed support on a critical issue that was controversial.

Gingrich was not only not supportive but he was harshly critical and made it tougher for your -- Well -- my father would say that -- -- when I was a child I speak as a child popular you look at numbers looking a lot is that as everybody did.

There are people note with my father on cases against my father -- when it came as Soviet Union there was more people in fact.

-- -- administration that were not supportive of worry was going with a that they didn't truly understand it until of course the end and you're gonna find those things are gonna -- Elliott Abrams.

Did -- agree with the Berlin Wall speech probably not.

But I'm glad we're on what I what we're raising underway for workable or missile each other because the -- Gingrich's point it's -- -- doesn't -- this isn't me with Reagan knew that the question whether he lives -- her -- disagree.

But -- -- -- but -- -- were were arguing apples and oranges.

Because it's -- -- and a lot of good.

Presidents have their policies disagree with even by that those in -- same party but Gingrich is coming out announcing that he's a Reagan guy and made this claim we help defeat the Soviet empire has linked himself.

To your dad say I helped lead the effort to defeat communism in the congress and so on.

And now you have guys who worked on your -- saying.

That's not true he was actually one of the guys who was on the other side Elliott Abrams in his piece comes out and says Michael.

He says first of all he wasn't -- visionary because he didn't see that the Soviet Union was beginning to collapse and then he says the policies he thought were so weak and pathetic.

Wound up working.

Can you speak to that.

But Dick but then you have other columns Craig -- had another call.

Well again it's like sitting in a room with -- Matthew Mark Luke and John Paul looking at the same guy.

Coming from a different angle about what's going on and you get -- right.

But Craig Shirley -- other columns about Newt Gingrich in fact been there and being -- you go tit for captive for that but the bottom line because he was there.

And where was Mitt Romney Mitt Romney with with Paul Tsongas -- -- Mitt Romney wants at least you'll Gingrich was in fact there.

He was involved and you make mistakes absolutely did he do things that we're very right yes but I like to look at the fact where was -- nineteen bodies.

Why -- the congress today got Republicans who leadership.

Because it all started in the nineteen -- -- -- -- Gingrich in fact.

Following the Reagan revolution.

And even if -- -- In 1995.

Pass the mantle.

Killed in fact -- Gingrich and the Republicans because of the 104 congress shall get you can find people on one side of people on the other side.

But this blew -- my father really talked about also is the fact his politics of self destruction.

There's going on the eleventh commandment.

And I think this is ultimately what really could ultimately hurt the Republican Party and the nominee.

In this next election.

Now Mike or is so fun talking to you I always have such managing interest in perspective in this -- the perfect guest for this segment given night your endorsement.

And you're you're -- its status as the former the late president's son thank you so much for being here -- Thank you.

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