Newt Gingrich Says We Could Learn a Lot from Jon Stewart

October 19, 2009

By Beth Kassab
Original Publication: OrlandoSentinel.com

Newt Gingrich, a leading conservative voice and potential challenger to President Barack Obama in 2012, stopped into town last week to speak to the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

Here are some highlights from our conversation after his speech:

Question: Capitalism has been under attack. How has that resonated with you?

Answer: Capitalism being under attack is like cooking being under attack. The fact is there were some dumb things done in the last few years in housing, in derivatives, in leveraging financial institutions. And, it's a little bit like having a meal that was burned and saying, "Boy, I'm against cooking."

Q: You have dinged the Republican Party a bit since you've been out of office.

A: I think I have an obligation to tell the truth about principle and when I think they're wrong I try to say it.

Q: What's the first word that comes to your mind when I say the name Jon Stewart?

A. I think he's funny ... I do Jon Stewart the same way I do Cohen [Sacha Baron Cohen as Ali G] — you relax, and you don't take yourself too seriously. ... This is a rough and tumble country; it helps to have a sense of humor about yourself.