J. Scott Applewhite / AP
Newt Gingrich and his wife Callista look over the podium during a sound check at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012.
Newt Gingrich isn't exactly known for restrained rhetoric. But still, fellow Republican Karl Rove's joke about murdering Todd Akin was too much for the brash Georgian.
Rove came under fire this week for joking at a private fundraiser that the GOP should "sink" Missouri Senate candidate Akin as retribution for Akin's preposterous claim that rape victims rarely get pregnant.
"If he's found mysteriously murdered, don't look for my whereabouts," said the Republican strategist, once known as "Bush's brain" for his work on the 2000 George W. Bush campaign and as a top political adviser in the Bush White House.
Gingrich acknowledged Rove eventually apologized, but called the remarks "terrible" on Sunday's Meet The Press.
"In the age of Gabby Giffords, it is not a joke to say that a congressman ought to get murdered," the failed Republican presidential candidate said, referring to the former Arizona congresswoman who was shot in the head by gunman Jared Loughner in January 2011.
Gingrich defended Akin earlier in the week, although several members of the GOP establishment had called on the Missouri politician to withdraw from the race. "Todd Akin made a mistake. He's an honorable guy, he's a sincere guy. He said something stupid," Gingrich told Politico.
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Wow. The evil Karl Rove & hater Hannity is willing to do anything to save face for the republicans & place blame on democrats. You don't see democrats calling the party out for resent shooting from right wing extremists or a horrific attack at their congress members. But this makes you wonder how despicably low the Republicans are willing to go.
Gingrich is an interesting study. I contend that he is horrible and, truely, at is worst when he is into his own ego, stretching everything, including facts, beyond any sense of reality - just to stack up his talking points. Get Newt away from himself and faced with a serious conversation, within the scope of reality, and he can be ingenius.
Problem is, from moment to moment, one never knows which Newt is going to show up, and, for how long.
I wouldn't at all be surprised if Karl Rove making that comment was a work & pre-planned with Newt Gingrich to make Akin's comment look more like just a mispoken Gaffe. You notice how Newt went easy on Rove's comment but was overly harsh on VP Biden's comment that was while ago about unchained Wallstreet. Even went as far as comparing it to AKIN's comment and saying why doesn't the VP resign just like it was uttered on FOXnews by Hannity & his minions. This would be politics with no risk of finding out for them. ROVE comments makes AKINS comment not seem so crazy and Gingrich looks golden. I wouldn't put it past the Republicans to hatch that plan.