Ow. Ow. Doubled over from laughing so hard. Need a tissue to wipe away the tears. Hoo-boy.

Via Michael O’Brien at The Hill:

Gingrich: ‘I’m not a Washington figure’

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) said he doesn’t view himself as a “Washington figure,” positioning himself as an anti-D.C. candidate in his campaign for president.

Gingrich railed against the Washington establishment in a breakfast Monday hosted by the Christian Science Monitor, claiming the mantle of the “change” candidate in the field of GOP presidential aspirants.

“I’m not a Washington figure, despite the years I’ve been here,” Gingrich said. “I’m essentially an American whose ties are across the country and is interested in how you change Washington, not how you make Washington happy.”

Here’s anti-establishment, not-a-Washington-figure Gingrich sidling up to Obama Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Al Sharpton, because nothing says “Change!” like teaming up with an unrepentant race hustler and an administration in the pocket of the nation’s obstructionist teachers’ unions:

Here he is cheesing it up with old friend Arianna Huffington earlier this year, because nothing says “Anti-establishment!” like relaxing with an ex-conservative-turned-crusading progressive mogul on the Amalfi coast:

And, of course, there’s the photo at the top of this page — because nothing says Washington outsider like a Couch Caress with Nancy “Heartland” Pelosi.

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From my RNC rejected solicitation of the day files, grass-roots conservatives haven’t forgotten Newt’s affair with Dede Scozzafava. This is the baggage he can’t shake:

From reader Barnaby, who sent back his crossed-out Republican solicitation forms with a “NO RINOS” sticky note for Newt Gingrich: