Gingrich calls for pro-Bush PAC to stop attacking Kasich

by Bradford Richardson - 02/13/16 10:58 AM ET

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich is calling for a super-PAC supporting Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush to take down an ad slamming rival John Kasich on defense spending.

Gingrich, who served with Kasich during the Ohio governor’s nearly two-decade career in the House, said the ad is “simply false.”

{mosads}“Any suggestion that John Kasich is anti-defense is simply false,” he said in a statement on Friday to Politico. “I served with him for 16 years and he consistently fought for a better, more effective military.”

The ad, entitled “Dangerously Wrong,” features images of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighters and Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, followed by Kasich commending efforts to cut defense spending.

“Iran. North Korea. ISIS. Threats to America are growing,” the 30-second spot from Right to Rise says. “But under Obama, our military is shrinking. So why did John Kasich spend his career supporting massive defense cuts?

“Kasich wanted cuts so severe even Bill Clinton said they would harm defense,” it continues. “John Kasich: Dangerously wrong on national defense.”

The commercial concludes with a clip of Kasich from 1995 saying he was “going to make the Pentagon a triangle.”

“I’m thrilled,” he continues. “I spent a career trying to rein in defense spending.”

Right to Rise spokesman Paul Lindsay gave no indication to Politico that the ad, which is airing in South Carolina ahead of the Feb. 20 primary, would be removed from the airwaves.

“John Kasich’s long history of cutting critical national defense projects is well documented, from both his record and his own mouth,” Lindsay said.

Tags Bill Clinton Jeb Bush John Kasich Newt Gingrich