The Political Chase

Gingrich abandons ‘08 White House bid for loftier goals

A spokesman for former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich made it official today — Newt will not run for president in 2008.

While I recognize it is just spin, there is something quite ironic about the reason given for not running. Gingrich does not want to give up his role as chairman of American Solutions (for Winning the Future) because he decided “to continue on raising the challenges America faces and finding solutions to those challenges rather than pursuing the presidency.”

Isn’t that what the President of the United States is supposed to do?

Few would doubt the notion that Gingrich’s decision probably had far more do to with the likelihood of not winning than his desire to continue as chairman of American Solutions. But, the notion that Gingrich or anyone else serving as chairman of a think tank could solve America’s problems more effectively than the President of the United States is profound.

Newt’s posit on his personal capabilities is arguably more narcissistic than real, but not necessarily so for others. The success  Bill Clinton has had with the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) is phenomenal. CGI, with a total membership of approximately 400 people, just completed its third annual meeting — these are a few examples of the group’s commitments for the next year.

• 8.5 million out-of-school children will be enabled to enroll in school for the first time.
• 50 million people will have access to treatment of neglected tropical diseases.
• 170,031,331 acres of forest will be protected or restored.
• 11.2 million people will be empowered with increased access to sustainable incomes.

Based on the success of prior years’ commitments, CGI will likely surpass those goals.

If approximately 400 people can have that much impact, it’s hard to imagine what the U.S. government could do if lead by the right people with the proper perspectives and motivations.