Gingrich's Tolerance for Republican 'Idiots' in '90s Faceoffs

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich commented on the challenges faced by the current GOP majority in the House, highlighting the slim margin for error in passing party priorities. In the 1990s, Gingrich stated that he could "afford to have five or six people be idiots" during faceoffs with President Bill Clinton. The recent passing of a 45-day stopgap spending measure to avert a government shutdown revealed the delicate position of House Republicans, with only 126 Republicans backing the bill and 90 voting against. The thin majority and the threat of future shutdowns have drawn comparisons to the friction between Clinton and Gingrich in the 1990s.