Hoekstra: Gingrich Hurt Self With Ryan Criticism

Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich is taking flak from many in his party for criticizing House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s effort at Medicare reform as “social engineering.” Count former Michigan GOP Rep. Pete Hoekstra as one of the critics.

Former Rep. Pete Hoekstra

“Conservatives and tea movement folks in recent times have felt let down by some elected as conservatives but who governed differently,” he writes on Politico.

“Any hint of a candidate going down this path in the future is in trouble. Newt's comments fall into that category. Conservatives hate the federal mandate. It's a liberal policy. While there is debate around Ryan's plan, he gets tremendous credit for having a ‘bold and necessary’ plan.”

So what’s the upshot? “Newt really stepped into it, and I think hurt himself,” Hoekstra says.