if we measure negativity by degree rather than quantity, he, meaning gingrich, is responsible for the most egregious republican on republican attack on this cycle. i did not get a sense of that last night. what were you trying to say when you wrote that. >> well it's interesting he clearly came into the debate last night as the candidate who was going to be nice. he went out of his way several times, he opened the debate wishing everyone merry christmas. he went out of his way several times to say i'm not in the business of correcting mitt romney or governor romney. so i think he came with a strategy of playing nice and not allowing self to be baited into big conflicts or with other candidates. before the race, newt gingrich a few days before --. bill: before the debate. >> right, mitt romney's medicare proposal, before the debate he brought up mitt romney's medicare proposal did what i think really out of bound and over the line in terms of an attack. he raised the possibility that mitt romney's medicare