At Everett rally, Newt Gingrich says his energy policies would push gas down to $2.50 a gallon

EVERETT — Standing on the stage of Historic Everett Theatre, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich on Friday said President Barack Obama’s energy policies are fueling the escalation of gas prices and insisted his approach will drive the cost down to $2.50 a gallon.

Addressing a nearly packed house, Gingrich said he wants to increase production of oil to make the U.S. energy independent so “never again” does an American president have to “bow down” to a Saudi Arabian king.

Gingrich spent most of his 41-minute speech contrasting the energy policies he’d pursue with Obama’s policies. He disputed the president’s assertion earlier this week that the federal government can do little to bring a rapid drop in gas prices.

Gingrich said that, if elected, he would approve a proposed oil pipeline to carry Canadian oil produced from tar sands to refineries in Texas. He also would reopen offshore leases in the Gulf of Mexico for development and allow oil exploration in Alaska.

Added up, those opportunities could increase the U.S. supply by more than 2 million gallons a day.

“If we set our minds to it, by the end of this decade we’d be the largest oil producer in the world,” he said.

Gingrich, a former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, is locked in a battle for the Republican Party nomination with Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney and Ron Paul. While Gingrich once enjoyed front-runner status, he’s lagged far behind Santorum and Romney in recent weeks.

The Everett rally capped a two-day swing through Washington in advance of the state’s caucuses a week from today. Gingrich appealed to the audience to turn out to the caucuses and help him make a good showing in what will be the final political event before contests in 10 states on March 6, “Super Tuesday.”

“If you help us, we can do it,” he said.

Economic policy garnered only a few moments of the speech. Gingrich rattled off major tenets of his approach, including eliminating the capital gains tax, lowering the corporate tax rate and offering a 15 percent flat income tax as an alternative to the existing graduated system.

Gingrich also took aim at Obama for pushing policies that make the federal government more powerful and intrusive. He vowed to reverse that course.

“I’m here as the candidate of freedom, and Obama is the candidate of government coercion,” he said.

Gingrich, a historian, made note of his surroundings as the “oldest operating theater west of the Rockies” and claimed the last president to speak on its stage was Theodore Roosevelt.

He displayed his sense of humor by cracking a few jokes and praising the crowd for its enthusiastic laughter.

“This is our Friday night date, so we might as well have fun,” he said.

Toward the end, a man seated in the balcony heckled Gingrich. “You represent the 1 percent,” he shouted a couple times before leaving on his own.

After the brief interruption, Gingrich noted there didn’t seem to be any scientific evidence connecting “noise and intelligence.”

Following the address, Gingrich and his wife, Callista, signed autographs and posed for photos with dozens of people, including Ava Gardner of Everett.

“I want this man. I want to hire this man,” she said. “I have so much faith in him.

“He said it’s going to take a while to fix things because they’ve made a mess of it out there,” she said. “I know it won’t be done today. It won’t be done tomorrow. But, with him, it will be done.”

Gingrich, who spent Thursday in Eastern Washington, began Friday in Olympia, where he met with Republican state lawmakers. He then held a rally in Federal Way before traveling to Everett.

While in the state capital, the former Georgia lawmaker spoke with reporters briefly about the campaign that’s become a “much more complicated marathon than anybody would have guessed. You’re going to see it go on for a while.”

And he said he’s looking for a good showing in Washington’s caucuses, which are the final political event before Super Tuesday.

“We want to get enough votes to have delegates here,” he said. “We want to do well enough that people see that I’m genuinely competitive. Super Tuesday is going to be an important day.”

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.