GINGRICH WAGING LOW-KEY CRUSADE.Byline: Mike Feinsilber Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. Just two years ago, Newt Gingrich dominated Washington as few congressmen ever have. In a whirl, he was bestowing chairmanships, keeping the House at work all night, offering opinions on everything. He delivered a 35-minute speech upon taking charge that resembled an inauguration address. He was responding to ``a heartfelt request from the American people An American people may be:
What a difference an ethical shadow can make. That Newt Gingrich has gone underground. The speaker has fallen silent. One Republican, Rep. Mark Souder Mark Edward Souder (born July 18, 1950) is an American politician who is serving his sixth term in the United States House of Representatives for Indiana's At-large congressional district (map). of Indiana, said Friday that Gingrich had quietly agreed with the House ethics committee ethics committee A multidisciplinary hospital body composed of a broad spectrum of personnel–eg, physicians, nurses, social workers, priests, and others, which addresses the moral and ethical issues within the hospital. See DNR, Institutional review board. not to discuss his ethics investigation at the time he publicly acknowledged infractions of the rules. ``He's been under a gag order A court order to gag or bind an unruly defendant or remove her or him from the courtroom in order to prevent further interruptions in a trial. In a trial with a great deal of notoriety, a court order directed to attorneys and witnesses not to discuss the case with the media—such ,'' Souder said. That wouldn't keep Gingrich - hitherto one of the most public of politicians - from making appearances anyway. But America has seen little of him since before Christmas. No more speeches from the most prominent elected Republican in America, no hammering for Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity, nonprofit ecumenical Christian organization that enables low-income people to own affordable, livable housing. Headquartered in Americus, Ga., it was founded in 1976 by businessman Millard Fuller and his wife. , no town halls with constituents in Georgia, no talk shows, no pronouncements like his comment a couple of years ago: ``People like me are what stands between us and Auschwitz.'' To be sure, Gingrich has been working backstage, through his lieutenants, to assure his re-election as speaker this week. And he has been telephoning House Republicans, one by one. In a closed caucus, he'll stand before them Monday, trying to allay any misgivings about casting a re-election vote without certainty that worse revelations won't come out. The next day, the House is to vote, with the ethics issues unresolved. Later this month, it will vote on what sort of rebuke to impose for his admitted ethical miscues. At issue is evidence that led an ethics subcommittee to conclude that Gingrich violated House rules, in part by submitting inaccurate information over his use of tax-exempt foundations to advance his career and political agenda. Gingrich watchers say his disappearing act is a good idea. ``Laying low is a wise strategy,'' said William Connelly Jr. at Washington and Lee University Washington and Lee University, at Lexington, Va.; coeducational; founded and opened 1749 as Augusta Academy. It was called Liberty Hall in 1776; became Liberty Hall Academy (a college) in 1782, Washington Academy (following a gift from George Washington) in 1798, , a political scientist who's also a Republican - a rare combination. ``Assuming that he is chagrined, as he says he is, being quiet is the way for Newt Gingrich to show remorse,'' Connelly added. ``Give the man some credit here; he is remorseful re·morse·ful adj. Marked by or filled with remorse. re·morse  ful·ly adv. and therefore he is playing a more low-key role.''
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