Gingrich, Dean Engage in Friendly Debate

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who’s almost certain to run for the Republican presidential nomination next year, and 2004 Democratic candidate Howard Dean engaged in a friendly debate about a raft of issues Tuesday night at George Washington University, Poltico reports.

Gingrich said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid came up with the DREAM Act knowing it wouldn’t pass, but giving Democrats a chance to make political hay with Latino voters. Dean, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, excitedly noted that every American who doesn’t have Native American ancestry comes from an immigrant family.

“I think Newt’s very common sense about this,” Dean says. “Obviously we can’t open our borders and let all kinds of people through, and he’s thought this through. I agree with most of what he said, but I don’t believe we ought to demonize people who try and do the best they can.”