UPDATE, 11:15am – Sadly, Newt Gingrich’s last minute efforts were not enough to sway Donald Trump to his favor. In what must be a crushing blow to Newt’s zoo-animal loving heart, Trump officially selected Indiana governor Mike Pence as his running mate.
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Newt Gingrich, in his final hours Thursday evening of hoping to be Donald Trump’s running mate, proposed a “test” for every Muslim in America to determine whether or not “they believe in shariah”. Gingrich made the remarks Thursday evening on Fox News.
Former Gingrich aide Robert George, among others, were not impressed.
Many pointed out that Gingrich’s proposal to administer religious “tests” and to potentially “deport” Muslims who are U.S. citizens was morally, logistically, and constitutionally dubious. Tp where, exactly, would an American citizen be “deported”?
Some speculated that, given the uncertainty at the time surrounding Donald Trump’s search for a running mate, that Gingrich was trying to curry favor with the Republican nominee, who himself has proposed a ban on Muslim immigration into the United States.
Gingrich’s remarks were widely circulated and quoted verbatim. But on Friday morning, he complained on Twitter that they were being taken out of context.
He then sought to clarify, explaining that he never meant to suggest that U.S. citizens should be deported.
Gingrich’s antagonists in the conservative movement were quick to note his canny ability to stay in the spotlight.
Stay tuned.