Politics & Government

Callista Gingrich Rallies Newt's Supporters

Candidate's wife in Buckhead appearance emphasizes importance of tradtional American values

Callista Gingrich said in a Buckhead appearance Saturday that her husband, Newt, will restore American innovation and creativity if elected president.

Speaking before a gathering of Gingrich supporters at Peachtree Presbyterian Church, Mrs. Gingrich said a belief in "American exceptionalism" is a mark of true conservatism, and that the United States is the only country founded on the belief that each citizen has God-granted rights. Academic elites are seeking to undermine the concept of American exceptionalism, she said.

She said that students are not receiving education in American government and history. "Many eighth graders can't explain the Declaration of Independence," she said, calling the document fundamental to American liberty. Highlighting the need for youngsters to learn traditional American values, she spoke about her children's book "Sweet Land of Liberty," in which Ellis the Elephant looks at great moments in American history.

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Citing American inventors and innovators such as Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, she said that each of them created new products without receiving government assistance, a key theme of the Gingrich campaign.

After her talk, she posed for photographs with those gathered for the Young Republican Club event. Newt Gingrich was also campaigning Saturday in Georgia, which has its presidential primary March 6. Newt Gingrich made appearances in Forsyth County Saturday. Gingrich also made an appearance in Cobb County, which he used to represent.

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Gingrich supporter Josh Belinfante, a GOP candidate for the sixth district in the state senate, said he supports Gingrich because of "his ideas. He has big ideas and specific ideas, and he knows how to get things done in Washington."

The former Georgia congressman and speaker of the House's campaign has recently faltered as Rick Santorum has scored victories and Mitt Romney continued to build strong financial resources. Gingrich, whose Georgia headquarters are in Buckhead, is looking for a win in Georgia, and other Southern states in the March 6 Super Tuesday balloting to revive his campaign.

Belinfante said he thinks each Republican candidate is strong. "I'm confident that any of our candidates can win in the general election," he said. "But it will take hard work and dedication."

Callista Gingrich's speech to the Gingrich supporters followed the Republican State House District 54 caucus in the same room. In the caucus, delegates for the GOP candiates were selected to attend the Fulton County GOP convention.

At the county convention, a smaller field of delegates will be selected for the state congressional district caucus, followed by the state GOP convention. House District caucuses were held thoughout the state Saturday in counties with more than 80,000 residents.

Brad Carver of North Buckhead, a GOP activist, said the delegates will be bound by the results of the primary in Georgia. His wife, Michelle, is the House district GOP chairperson and introduced Callista Gingrich.


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