A "Newt" Beginning?

Carol Platt Liebau | November 11, 2011 1:20 PM

With the news that some Republicans seem increasingly to be turning to Newt Gingrich as the "conservative alternative" to Mitt Romney, a word of caution may be in order.

He's a brilliant guy, and a great debater. But he comes with baggage . . . a lot of it.

His work on behalf of the discredited Freddie Mac (he denies lobbying).

His massive bill at Tiffany's.

His criticism of the Ryan plan.

And ladies and gentlemen, that's just in the 2012 campaign. From the 90's, we have a slew of "golden oldies": This, and this, and even this (though he denies this one, too).

And of course, there's the whole global warming thing.

There's a lot I admire about Newt Gingrich, not least his visionary leadership that resulted in Republican triumph in 1994. But there is a flakiness factor about him that makes him ill-suited for the spotlight of a presidential campaign. And every moment spent reviewing his controversial past is a moment not spent discussing President Obama's disastrous record.