Newt Gingrich actually said...
I wish I would have protested when Brian Williams took them out of it. And I think he took him out of it because the immediate where is terrified that the audience is going to side with the candidate against the media which what they have done in every debate. And we're going to serve notice on future debates, we're not going to allow that to happen. That's wrong, the media doesn't control free speech. People ought to be able to applaud if they want to.
Context
Gingrich expresses his frustration over the removal of audience participation in debates, emphasizing the importance of free speech.
01/26/2012