Editorial: What happened to the ‘new’ Newt?

Friday, May 1, 1998 | 10:49 a.m.

The past week has seen a swift reversal from the face Gingrich was putting forth on his book tour, in which he tried to portray himself as a kinder, gentler leader. Even national columnist David Broder noted that Gingrich's book seeks a tone of self-criticism for the first two years of his speakership, acknowledging that he "didn't know when to keep my mouth shut."

Unfortunately, it appears Gingrich has suffered a relapse. It started in earnest over the weekend as he praised Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., chairman of the House committee investigating campaign fund-raising. At a GOPAC dinner last week, Gingrich stood up for Burton, who had referred to the president as a "scumbag." That didn't seem to bother Gingrich. "I would rather stand next to an honest man who uses a clumsy word than an illegal man with five sharp spinners any day of my life," Gingrich replied.

And now comes word that Gingrich is linking the fate of additional support to the International Monetary Fund with White House cooperation on the House's fund-raising investigation. Minority Leader Richard Gephardt was right on target when he said it was time to end the attack politics. "If we keep up with this we're going to end up looking like the Jerry Springer show in Congress and that's not what people want us to do," Gephardt told the New York Times.

Gingrich is obviously more concerned with petty attacks than he is helping solve some of the important policy issues facing this nation, such as preserving Social Security's future. If and when Gingrich's book has a second printing, perhaps they'll rename it to accurately reflect his latest blunders: "Lessons Unlearned."