Human Events reviews the first Twitter Debate

My apologies for not seeing this before today, but Tony Lee of Human Events had a very interesting take on the Twitter debate that took place almost two weeks ago:

While only Michele Bachmann​, Newt Gingrich, Gary Johnson, Herman Cain​, Thad McCotter​, and Rick Santorum​ participated, Gingrich showed his savvy in answering questions in 140 characters while also utilizing the medium to his advantage, something which has been a trademark of the former Speaker of the House.

For instance, at one point in the Twitter debate, @secupp asked the debate participants, "As Pres, if you could enact any policy to fix the economy w/o congressional approval what would it be? Be specific"

While the other candidates responded by tweeting they would repeal ObamaCare or eliminate agencies, @NewtGingrich was savvy enough to reply first by tweeting that "I wouldn’t even if I could b/c congressional passage offers legitimacy of the consent of the governed to the law."

Gingrich then tweeted "Big impact can be made with executive orders though. I would stop EPA from regulating carbon & abolish all White House Czars"

By acknowledging the importance and legitimacy of Congress, Gingrich, in a savvy way, put him on the side of limited government conservatives who worry about any branch overreaching their constitutional authority. It

Then after the debate had wrapped up, Gingrich tweeted his followers to join him on the new social media site, Google +, which is a hybrid between Facebook and Twitter, for another discussion.

And at the very beginning of the debate, Gingrich used the one external link that each participant was allowed to link to an introduction video he specifically made for the event.

The best of Newt's GOP Twitter Debate

His opening statement via video:



Now onto the best tweets:

When you balance the budget there is no need to raise the debt ceiling. I am the only candidate who has balanced the budget. @140townhall

Balance budget again by growing economy, cutting spending and reforming govt. That’s how we did it before. We CAN do it again. @140townhall

We spend less on defense today as % of GDP than at any time since Pearl Harbor @140townhall

Controlling the border and defending America are job 1 under the Constitution. @140townhall

A three-parter:

My Jobs and Prosperity Plan: No tax increase, 100% expensing, reduce business tax to 12.5%, eliminate cap gains & death tax @140townhall

(cont.) Audit & reform Fed Reserve; repeal Dodd-Frank, Sarbanes Oxley, Comm Reinvestment Act; break up Freddie and Fannie @140townhall

(cont.) Repeal & replace Obamacare and fully develop American energy. These would all create jobs by REDUCING govt. @140townhall

Thanks again @140townhall. Earlier I asked you to be “with me,” not “for me” b/c the presidency alone cannot solve America’s challenges.

Returning America back to job creation, balanced budgets & limited govt will be a team effort. Join that team at Newt.org. @140townhall

You can view his Twitter feed here.

And Newt.org.

Newt later did another Google+ hangout -- his first can be seen here -- for those whose questions were not answered on Twitter.

When that video becomes available, I will post it.

P.S. I ask everyone who reads this to take a moment to sign up for the daily e-mail from this blog. It contains all the posts from the previous day, and is a more convenient way of keeping up with the news around Newt 2012.

Also, and I already linked to it, but please visit Newt.org. Every day. Three times.

Thanks for reading.

Twitter Debate and radio interview

Newt will be in the Twitter GOP debate starting at 3 PM ET. You can follow it at 140townhall.com.

Immediately after, Newt will be on Rusty Humphries' radio show. Humphries, who will help moderate the event, has a website you can listen to the interview on.

Back in April, Newt was a part of a Tax Day Tea Party Townhall with several major Tea Party groups participated in it. Humphries moderated the event.