2008 Woodie Awards
Former House Speaker forecasts nation's fate
Anna Sohn
Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: News
In terms of education and the economy, Gingrich emphasized India and China, both producers of high numbers of scientists and engineers, as the country's key competitors.
He said that humankind's span of scientific ability was wider than any other time in the past. "But in our worst schools, nothing's changed," he said. "One big fact is that we need more students succeeding in math and science."
Gingrich spoke of how the United States needs to embrace globalization. He described the global market as a force that could reward the U.S. if it cooperated or punish it if it does not, but withdrawing from the market was not an option. "China and India are our first real competitors since Great Britain," he said. "These are billions of people who believe they've been endowed by their creator with the right to pursue happiness and they're willing to roll their sleeves up to get it."
"If we want to compete with them, we need to roll up our sleeves, too. We need to make fundamental changes." Gingrich said.
He also said that the U.S. had to enhance security against the actions of radical members of Islam. "There is a irreconcilable sect of Islam, a wing of Islam that is determined to destroy our civilization," Gingrich said. "I think that the U.S. is in more danger now than it ever was before."
Gingrich confessed that a year ago, he could not have imagined writing the events that led up to the current presidential race in America. "A year ago, I thought Clinton had locked the Democratic nomination and that Obama would have a nice run but lose," Gingrich said. "I thought McCain was gone."
He had advice for the Democratic candidates. "If Obama is disciplined enough, he has a better chance than Clinton," he said. "If voters decide he's elitist, attending the best private school in Hawaii and Columbia [University], Clinton has a higher chance."
Gingrich also foresaw a special challenge for Senator John McCain. "Some people are calling McCain the third-term Bush," he said. "McCain needs to become distinct from other Republicans. He needs to be a non-Bush but not anti-Bush."
He said that humankind's span of scientific ability was wider than any other time in the past. "But in our worst schools, nothing's changed," he said. "One big fact is that we need more students succeeding in math and science."
Gingrich spoke of how the United States needs to embrace globalization. He described the global market as a force that could reward the U.S. if it cooperated or punish it if it does not, but withdrawing from the market was not an option. "China and India are our first real competitors since Great Britain," he said. "These are billions of people who believe they've been endowed by their creator with the right to pursue happiness and they're willing to roll their sleeves up to get it."
"If we want to compete with them, we need to roll up our sleeves, too. We need to make fundamental changes." Gingrich said.
He also said that the U.S. had to enhance security against the actions of radical members of Islam. "There is a irreconcilable sect of Islam, a wing of Islam that is determined to destroy our civilization," Gingrich said. "I think that the U.S. is in more danger now than it ever was before."
Gingrich confessed that a year ago, he could not have imagined writing the events that led up to the current presidential race in America. "A year ago, I thought Clinton had locked the Democratic nomination and that Obama would have a nice run but lose," Gingrich said. "I thought McCain was gone."
He had advice for the Democratic candidates. "If Obama is disciplined enough, he has a better chance than Clinton," he said. "If voters decide he's elitist, attending the best private school in Hawaii and Columbia [University], Clinton has a higher chance."
Gingrich also foresaw a special challenge for Senator John McCain. "Some people are calling McCain the third-term Bush," he said. "McCain needs to become distinct from other Republicans. He needs to be a non-Bush but not anti-Bush."
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