Newt Gingrich made a surprise appearance Feb. 12 at a Washington dinner honoring Ward Connerly, the chairman of the California Civil Rights Initiative. It came just a week after Gingrich alienated many conservatives by inviting Jesse Jackson to sit in the speaker’s box at the State of the Union, and then appeared to side with Jackson in an ensuing spat, rather than with fellow Republican J. C. Watts. Connerly had kind words for Gingrich, but also chided him — as Gingrich sat 20 feet away — for “reaching out” to Jackson in preference to standing by his allies.
The real news, though, was in Gingrich’s speech. After listening to five individuals movingly recount their experiences with reverse discrimination, Gingrich praised them all and even embraced one of their phrases, declaring ” there is no moral defense of affirmative racism once you describe it accurately.” Indeed, he went a step further, pledging “to pursue an all-out effort to end affirmative racism.” Sounded good to the audience of movement conservatives, which gave Gingrich a standing ovation.
But actions speak louder than words. A few minutes after the event ended, Gingrich was asked by a middle-aged gentleman if he would try to pass legislation sponsored by Rep. Charles Canady of Florida banning federally sponsored racial preference programs. Gingrich said it wasn’t a top priority, prompting the questioner to turn to a reporter and exclaim in frustration ” Goddamn hypocrite!” Canady, who also attended the dinner, was only slightly more polite to Gingrich, calling the discrepancy between Gingrich’s words and deeds “bizarre.”
