Topic: Newsmax
Since there's a little lull right now between presidential primaries, Newsmax has been a little light on Gingrich-fluffing. Doug Wead has apparently decided to try and rectify that with his Feb. 15 column, which is devoted to serving up a ridiculous amount of praise to the billionaire who's funding Gingrich's super PAC, Sheldon Adelson:
Adelson's support of Gingrich is as American as a hot dog and as Italian as his luxurious Venetian hotel and resort. It is American to support the candidate you believe in and it is Italian to put your money where your heart is.
The billionaire's large donations to Newt Gingrich bring to mind the strategies of Nicolo Machiavelli, the 15th century Italian political genius.
At first glance Adelson's moves seem risky, after all, Mitt Romney is the official front-runner. But the casino mogul obviously knows the odds are in his favor.
Machiavelli taught that in a transition, when there are multiple rivals to the throne, one should quickly commit to one of the claimants. Actually, any one of them will do. And commit fully. If your candidate becomes king he will bring you to his bosom.
Wead's enthusiasm for Adelson is a bit surprising given his devotion to Ron Paul, which he even admits here:
As a committed supporter of Ron Paul, I admit that we have had some big donors to our Super PACs as well. I have read about them in the press.
But Ron Paul is running to diminish power not to take it, which attracts a different type of donor altogether.
My guess is that this whole Super PAC business will be shut down next time and there will be no more Sheldon Adelsons. He is seizing the moment as it appears and whatever happens he is a winner.
How else could someone become an overnight player in this trillion-dollar world power game?
And how else could someone do so with such a small investment? Can you really be at the right hand of the president of the United States for a few million? Others will spend a lifetime and commit tens of millions and not even be granted the title Mr. Ambassador, let alone "First Friend."
This sort of Kessler-esque fawning will have to do at Newsmax for now.
