Shepard Smith And Ed Rollins Pan Gingrich's Speech Ending His Presidential Campaign

Newt Gingrich delivered quite a speech earlier today in which he suspended his presidential campaign. How bad was it? It was so bad that afterward, on Studio B, host Shepard Smith and Fox News contributor Ed Rollins couldn't say enough bad things about it. And it was a measure of how far Gingrich has fallen in the Republican Party that Smith said, “I don't know anybody on his side of the political aisle who can stand him any more.” It's not just that Smith would say such a thing on the air that was astounding - but that he'd say it on Fox.

“The man who was gonna get the country out of debt has 4 ½ million dollars of debt himself,” Smith said to Rollins. Later, when reporter Carl Cameron came on, Smith said, “Carl Cameron, I don't know anybody on his side of the political aisle who can stand him any more.”

Rollins called Gingrich's speech “one of the worst farewells that I've ever seen... He epitomized a sore loser.”

Near the end of the clip, Smith reminisced about seeing Gingrich in the green room shortly before he announced he'd run. According to Smith, Gingrich said, “'Shep, I'm going to have the biggest online, the biggest online event ever. I'm going to announce this thing in multiple cities all across the country.'” Smith added, “I'm like, I thought then he was delusional and now I'm sure.”

But wait, there's more.

In the second clip below, Smith read Mitt Romney's statement reacting to Gingrich's announcement: "Ann and I are proud to call Newt and Callista friends. We look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead."

After Smith finished reading the statement, he looked straight into the camera and said, “Politics is weird. And creepy. And now I know lacks even the loosest attachment to anything like reality.”

Wow, just wow.

You can also watch Gingrich's complete 23-minute, self-aggrandizing, sore-loser speech (if you can stomach it) in the third clip below.

3/9/18 update: The first video, of Smith, Rollins and Cameron is no longer available.

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Showing 13 reactions

commented 2012-05-04 12:59:08 -0400 · Flag

I think Smith is looking healthier than he did this winter—his face is a little fuller and his eyes look less sunken. Let’s hope he continues to be a small voice of reason to enlighten a few.

commented 2012-05-04 04:10:22 -0400 · Flag

Of all the anchors on Fox News, Shepard Smith is the one who really has tried to actually be fair in many of the situations I have seen. Yes, there’s the usual GOP spin from the network, but he has repeatedly stood up when he thought something was wrong.

I don’t agree with him on much, but I do respect that he really does stick up for the principles he believes in – the bit where he dropped the f-bomb to make the point that Americans do not torture is but one great example. And yes, the Katrina example is another.

I think you’re right, Ellen. He’s disgusted that this is the crop the GOP threw up for consideration as presidential candidates this year, and that he has to cheerlead for them on the news. I think many of the candidates have simply outraged him as he sees them as making the GOP look completely out of touch. Santorum and Gingrich’s regular moments of foot-in-mouth syndrome have been enough to set most Fox News people’s teeth on edge. (I had honestly thought both men would be welcomed as commentators on Fox News after the convention but it really feels that they may just be shunted off to the side. Putting them on Fox this year would only be a reminder of their shenanigans in the race.)

With no sarcasm intended at all, I really am concerned that Smith may be ill. That kind of weight loss is totally unhealthy. I can understand changing his diet but this feels like something more serious. It’s one thing to lose 10 or even 20 pounds. It’s another to lose what looks like 40 pounds when you weren’t heavy to start with.

commented 2012-05-04 01:21:41 -0400 · Flag

Of course, he could just be disgusted with the GOP. Who can forget him snapping at Hannity, “This is all the context you need,” when Mr. Rice and Beans tried to spin what was happening in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

commented 2012-05-04 01:18:06 -0400 · Flag

I, too, wonder if Shepard Smith is OK. When we were working on Outfoxed (in 2004), one of my jobs was to monitor Fox Report, hosted by Smith. I knew little about Fox then and I was shocked at the bias. Smith wasn’t too bad but he certainly never made comments like this. Granted this was “opinion show” Studio B, but still. You don’t even hear liberals talk like that about a Republican on Fox. And I agree, he looks awfully thin.

commented 2012-05-03 12:57:41 -0400 · Flag

Not to be a distraction, but I have to admit wondering if Shepard Smith is doing alright. He’s lost a significant amount of weight – I know he’s saying that he’s very healthy, but this is really alarming to see.

commented 2012-05-03 11:29:25 -0400 · Flag

I love Shep Smith and watch him nightly. Heâs the master of the arched eyebrow, the slight upturn of one side of the mouth, and understated irony. Heâs a nugget of gold lost in a cesspoolâ¦a cesspool which will probably feature Newtie as a contributor again.

As for Gingrich â nice to see that a floating turd can, after all, be flushed.

commented 2012-05-03 11:27:50 -0400 · Flag

Embarrassing for the nation.

commented 2012-05-03 11:02:45 -0400 · Flag

Don’t cry for Newt… he’ll always have Tiffany’s!

commented 2012-05-03 10:48:20 -0400 · Flag

There might be some hope left for Shep.
Leave that Foxhole Shep and restore your honor by going to an “Fair and Balanced”News organization.

commented 2012-05-03 10:01:34 -0400 · Flag

Pig Newton can now go back to what he historically does best: 1) whoring up lobbying cash from gullible clients, and 2) scouting high schools for the future for Mrs. Newton #4.

commented 2012-05-03 08:02:27 -0400 · Flag

Newtie is a disgusting pile of goo with absolutely no up-side.
Funny thing, though….he didn’t get nominated because he wasn’t crazy or evil enough, nor had enough money to spend to excite what used to be known as the Republican party.
Now, that’s funny!!!!!!!

commented 2012-05-03 08:02:26 -0400 · Flag

NewsHounds posted about Shepard Smith And Ed Rollins Pan Gingrich's Speech Ending His Presidential Campaign on NewsHounds' Facebook page 2012-05-02 23:51:36 -0400

It was astounding not just that Smith would say such a thing but just as astounding that he'd say it on Fox News.