Matt Lewis is on to something in exploring the damage Newt Gingrich has done to his brand, but I’d approach the issue slightly differently. To me, beyond the immediate political effects, Gingrich’s comments on Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget tarnish his image as a conservative who is advancing bold solutions to our nation’s problems.

For decades, Gingrich has built his name on being the idea man for Republicans. He has repeatedly emphasized over the years that the challenges facing the nation are so great that we need to move beyond the stale old political debates and talk about fundamental chaanges that need to be made.