Gingrich draws Tea Party crowd in North Dallas

Newt Gingrich told a standing room only crowd at the Embassy Suites Hotel in North Dallas Thursday that he thinks Gov. Rick Perry is doing a good job of running the state. "Help me make sure we don't deprive Texas of a very good governor," the former House Speaker joked, as his audience applauded.

At the event, hosted by The Dallas Tea Party, Gingrich covered topics ranging from the economy, to immigration, to Iran and China, to American values. After a short speech, the GOP presidential candidate fielded questions from the audience. The former history professor's depth of knowledge in his field was on display during the town hall like event, as he frequently referenced events in American history and demonstrated his expertise on a variety of topics.

Days after what many called a strong debate performance, Gingrich spoke about his plans for the government if he wins the GOP nomination and is eventually elected president.

On Inauguration Day 2013, Gingrich said he will have as many as 200 executive orders ready to sign. He said he doesn't know what all the orders will be yet, but by the time the Obama family arrives at their destination, "we will have dismantled most of his government."

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Among his goals if elected would be to shrink the Education Department and eliminate most federal regulations regarding education. While he said he can't sign an executive order protecting unborn children, he said he would "certainly recommend to Congress that they look at that, and look at the consequences of that."

Gingrich said he worries about the war on terrorism and believes that "we are much closer to the collapse of our civilization than we think." While he said he admires former President George W. Bush's "courage" in leading the country after the 2001 terrorist attacks, "I think he didn't ever have ... control of the State Department."

"We need to confront how serious this is and how real this is," he said.

Gingrich spoke at length about his “21st Century Contract with America,” a 10-point plan which calls for repeal of Obamacare, cutting the corporate-tax rate by more than 50 percent, offering individual taxpayers a flat-tax option, reducing federal regulations and pursuing an “all of the above” energy strategy that he claims could make the nation “the largest oil producer in the world by 2017.” The former Speaker said his plan is larger than legislative ideas alone and is based on the premise that if you have specific, positive ideas, you can “rally Americans on a scale” that rises above “bickering, partisan politics.”

- JP