Newt Gingrich likes to believe he is some kind of Washington “outsider” despite holding one of the most powerful positions in the capital for most of the 1990s. I think he is the only one that believes he is a political outsider, but he has clung to that belief.

Gingrich gave a speech on Tuesday criticizing the new “super Congress” and “Washington elites,” but he chose to give his speech in Washington and not in the heartland of America he pretends to be a part of or even early primary states that will be crucial if Gingrich is really running for president like he claims.

“I’m going to say some things that are very bold. I’d like to somehow get across, particularly to the Washington elites, that boldness is sometimes exactly what we need,” the former House speaker said just one minute into his speech.

“I want to start with what I think the biggest mistake that both the president and the Congress are making; it’s something that Reagan really understood and taught me,” Gingrich added a few minutes later. “You lead Washington by leading America. You don’t lead America by leading Washington.”

The event, held by conservative group The Heritage Foundation, was apparently requested by Gingrich’s staff. The late organized event was pulled together on Monday for Gingrich’s Tuesday speech.  Gingrich has spoken at the Heritage Foundation on numerous occasions.

Many Republicans in office cite Gingrich as an influence and an “idea factory” within the party. However, his half-heartened bid at the GOP presidential nomination has been fraught with problems and other Republicans have been critical of the former Speaker of the House. He is apparently trying to change that.

He spent much of the GOP debate last week criticizing the new “super Congress,” the 12-bipartisan member committee that will cut projected deficits by $1.5 trillion over the next ten years. During his speech, Gingrich continued blasting the new committee. “This super committee will become an excuse to do nothing,” he said.

“The Washington press corps will focus all of its attention on the super committee, and the lobbyists will focus of all their attention on the super committee. It’s truly a bad idea.”

Gingrich’s solution to Washington’s spending, he said, is to implement Lean Six Sigma business-streamlining techniques. Texas businessman Mike George came up with the controversial waste-cutting strategies 20 years ago.

Many corporations have since adopted them, and they are now gaining steam with the 2012 presidential field.

Christopher Halloran / Shutterstock.com

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About the author

Erin Chavez
Erin Whitney-Chavez has been writing professionally since 2009. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts from St. Bonaventure University and received a Master of Arts in mental-health counseling from Argosy University. Erin Whitney-Chavez is a licensed mental health counselor and has worked in the mental-health field for more than 10 years.