With Orwell behind me, anything is possible!

A few others have noted Newt Gingrich's adoption of George Orwell as ideological precursor, and pioneering opponent of socialism, as well, strained.

But what I think is odd is that he felt the need to distort Orwell at all. Did Orwell lend heft to his argument? Is his word especially persuasive to the throngs at CPAC?