Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich credited conservative radio icon Rush Limbaugh with helping Republicans take control of the House of Representatives for the first time in 40 years in 1994 in a Fox News tribute he wrote on Wednesday.
Gingrich, who led the GOP to victory in that election, recalled the power of Limbaugh’s radio audience, writing that “Rush’s help was absolutely vital to winning that election, communicating the issues to the country, rallying people, and helping key candidates win.”
Gingrich said that despite his iconic status, “Rush never had any sense of presenting himself as an important national figure or heroic pioneer. There was nothing pompous or stuffy about him. He was just practical, and down to earth.”
The former House speaker stressed that “Rush never really left Missouri in his heart. He had that middle American, down-to-earth sensibility,” adding that “he never lost that touch – that life is about common, every day, practical things. And he never lost the courage to stand up to the Left and the elites – no matter how outraged they became. The result was he had an amazingly faithful, solid group of listeners."
Gingrich also praised Limbaugh for working “really hard learning how to be successful.”
Gingrich recalled how It used to infuriate Limbaugh “when friends of his would say, ‘Oh, I could do that. All you have to do is get on and talk.’"
Indeed, Gingrich pointed out, “Rush prepared every day, and he brought to bear a lifetime of experience” to become “a great American original.”
Brian Freeman ✉
Brian Freeman, a Newsmax writer based in Israel, has more than three decades writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online and television.
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