Mark Shields Mocks 'Chubby' Newt Gingrich's 'Bogus IQ'

November 5th, 2011 10:27 AM

PBS's Mark Shields on Friday took some childish swipes at Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich.

During an Inside Washington discussion about who might be next to challenge Mitt Romney for the GOP presidential nomination, Shields said, "Don't count out the chubby fellow from Georgia, Newt, the rehabilitated Newt Gingrich, carrying along a bogus IQ and some other baggage" (video follows with transcript and commentary):

MARK SHIELDS, PBS: Hey, don't count out the chubby fellow from Georgia, Newt, the rehabilitated Newt Gingrich, carrying along a bogus IQ and some other baggage. He will be, he’ll be a [unintelligible].

GORDON PETERSON, HOST: But his numbers are coming up.

PETERSON: They have. They’re creeping up.

NINA TOTENBERG, NPR: But never count out his ability to say something completely outrageous that will get him in terrible trouble. He is as likely as Herman Cain to do that.


For the record, Gingrich has a Ph.D. in modern European history from Tulane and has authored or co-authored 25 books. Shields graduated from Notre Dame, degree unknown, and has from what I can tell published one book throughout his entire career.

I don't know about you, but I think Gingrich would wipe the floor with Shields in a debate on any subject.

As for chubby, Shields should look in the mirror for he's anything but the picture of physical fitness.