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AP Photo/Paul Sancya
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich speaks during the Republican Presidential Debate in Auburn Hills, Mich., Wednesday.
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Newt Gingrich found his past work with Freddie Mac under scrutiny during last night's presidential debate, where the former House Speaker denied ever having lobbied for the mortgage giant.
CNBC debate moderator John Harwood pressed Gingrich as to why his firm received $300,000 from Freddie Mac in 2006 -- two years before the mortgage finance company was forced into government conservatorship under the weight of subprime loans. The question was maybe the toughest Gingrich has received this campaign cycle.
But Gingrich said he was only offering advice in his capacity as a historian, and he denied lobbying against pressure from the Bush administration and Republicans in Congress for Freddie Mac to scale back its backstopping of mortgages.
"I offered them advice on precisely what they didn't do," Gingrich responded. "I have never done any lobbying, every contract that was written during the period when I was out of the office specifically said I would do no lobbying, and I offered advice. And my advice as a historian...I said to them at the time: This is a bubble. This is insane. This is impossible.'
Today, the Gingrich campaign went a step further by issuing a written statement about the former Speaker's work for Freddie Mac.
"The Gingrich Group was hired to offer strategic advice to Freddie Mac on a number of issues," the statement says.
During numerous meetings between the Speaker and Freddie Mac, the statement also notes, "Gingrich advised that a business model that involved lending money to people with bad credit and no money down was unsustainable and a bubble, and that it was dangerous to buy securities made up of these mortgages."
But in 2008, the Associated Press reported Freddie Mac paid $11.7M to 52 outside lobbyists and consultants in 2006, including "power brokers" like Gingrich.
"Gingrich talked and wrote about what he saw as the benefits of the Freddie Mac business model," the AP reported as Freddie Mac was pushing back against the Bush Administration's worry the business was going to go under.
But the campaign doubled down today in its statement: "Speaker Gingrich did no lobbying of any kind, nor did his firm. This was expressly written into the Gingrich Group contracts."
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I'd say Newt Gingrich will go down as the highest-paid "historian" in Washington history. Perhaps the thousands of other lobbyists working for special interests on Capitol Hill can call themselves "historians" to improve their image. Newt is the epitome of conservative hypocrisy, papering over his past the utterly contradicts his present day rhetoric and overheated bluster. http://www.sunstateactivist.org
The word on the grapevine is that Freddie Mac hired Newt to give them the history of all the hypocritical scumbag Speakers of the House who left their wife while they were dying.
It's the one field of study Newt really is a scholar of.
Pretty interesting character assassination, nisl. . .
Particularly since the woman was not dying- nor is she dead.
Moreover, that hacked version of the story that appeared in Wikipedia? Gone. Oh, and the page is now locked, so it can't get back in there.
His daughter, who was a teenager at the time, spoke about this issue. Her parents had been separated and in the process of divorcing for some time when her mother went into the hospital for a minor surgical procedure- having nothing to do with cancer.
Does it never bother you compassionate, genteel liberals to make up salacious stories about others?
That whole thing was too muddled, so much so that I didn't really understand it last night. I don't claim to understand it all perfectly now, but one thing came out of it besides Newt's role as a lobbyist, which he said he would never be.
The fatal failure to regulate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac came during the Bush administration, while Congress was still controlled by Republicans, and evidently while the situation could still have been saved.
And the best way for conservatives to cover for their failures since the crash has been to demonize Freddie, Fanny, and Barney Frank.
That explains a lot, frankly. And frankly, it probably ends Newt's campaign.
Because conservatives can't afford to touch him now that he's spilled the beans.
Newt Gingrich met his first wife, Jackie Battley, while he was still in high school. Battley was his geometry teacher, and seven years his senior. (According to Gingrich's second wife Marianne Ginther, the age difference was actually nine years--Gingrich was 16 when the student-teacher courtship began). Their secret relationship included nighttime dalliances in the back of a car. The pair married in 1962, and had two children before splitting in February 1980. According to Esquire, Gingrich served Battley with divorce papers while she was in the hospital recovering from uterine cancer.
During Gingrich's unsuccessful congressional campaigns in 1974 and 1976, "it was common knowledge that Newt was involved with other women during his marriage to Jackie. Maybe not on the level of John Kennedy. But he had girlfriends -- some serious, some trivial," his former campaign scheduler told Vanity Fair in 1995. A woman named Anne Manning admitted to having a relationship with Gingrich during his 1976 campaign. "We had oral sex," she said. "He prefers that modus operandi because then he can say, 'I never slept with her.'"
Gingrich met Marianne Ginther (above), the 28-year-old daughter of an Ohio mayor, at a political fundraiser in 1980. They began a relationship while Gingrich was still married to his first wife; he told Ginther that they were in marital counseling and considering divorce. Things progressed quickly--Ginther met his family that summer, and they married in August 1981, six months after his divorce from Battley was finalized. "He asked me to marry him way too early," Ginther told Esquire. "And he wasn't divorced yet. I should have known there was a problem." Their marriage was over by 1999, after Ginther had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She was in Ohio visiting her mother for Mother's Day when Gingrich called, saying he needed to talk in person. She says she intuitively knew that he was having an affair (with his soon-to-be third wife, Callista Bisek), and called a minister for marital counseling--to no avail.
During Gingrich and Ginther's divorce proceedings, congressional aide Calista Bisek (above)--23 years Gingrich's junior--admitted to having a six-year affair with the former congressman. Bisek and Gingrich were regularly seen having breakfast together at the Supreme Court cafeteria throughout the 1990s, though their affair wasn't outed until 1999. At the time, Gingrich had publicly condemned former President Clinton's infidelities with Monica Lewinsky, while discreetly carrying on an affair of his own. According to Ginther, "He'd already asked [Bisek] to marry him before he asked me for a divorce." Gingrich and Bisek married in August 2000.
When questioned about his multiple marriages in March 2011, Gingrich admitted to Christian Broadcasting Network's David Brody that he had done "things that were wrong" during his married life. "There's no question at times of my life, partially driven by how passionately I felt about this country, that I worked far too hard and things happened in my life that were not appropriate," Gingrich said. "And what I can tell you is that when I did things that were wrong, I wasn't trapped in situation ethics, I was doing things that were wrong, and yet, I was doing them...I found that I felt compelled to seek God's forgiveness. Not God's understanding, but God's forgiveness." Gingrich converted to Catholicism in March 2009, in part due to his third wife's faith and Mass attendance. Along with his conversion, he formally requested that the Catholic Church nullify his marriage to Ginther.
no joe - see above.
Look, if you guys want to run Newt as your candidate I say go for it. The man is scum and everyone, including most honest Republicans, knows it.
Dear Lord, Please help Newsvine to reinstate the Ignore Author feature, STAT, so I no longer have to witness the preenings from the new jersey nutjob, m'kay, thanks.
oh, and mattnfl, you might reconsider your word choice, "...newt gingrich will go down..." given the photo and the recent press rattlings of the past week or so. lol
LoL no joe, it looks like you may have had the wrong one of Newt's marriages and divorces in mind.
I second that motion GF! lol
You got to admit though - it is entertaining as hell to have the old broad continually have her ass handed to her! ;o)
The saving grace is Skanky appears to have taken the day off so I don't have to 'speed scroll' past his crap!
There is gossip- and there is the truth.
Somehow, I trust those who have intimate knowledge by virtue of being family members more than the gossipy, innuendo filled b.s.posted here, and other gossip sites.
And, AM, Gingrich has signed contracts that preclude his doing any lobbying. Case closed.
You liberals make me laugh-bitterly, I might add. You have all the kindness of cobras, and stoop to, well, anything.
Then again, your idol thought nothing of lying about his own dying mother, so what can anyone expect?
Coming from the NJ nut job - it comes as NO surprise!
Although, I have to question the last time you were capable of laughing... ;o)
Bitter is your middle name honey!
Like I said - watching you get your ass repeatedly handed to you is PRICELESS! LMFAO!
Hey - why don't you tell us again how you support Perry will ya?
We all could use a good laugh!
Ron Paul looks almost like a lock at this point... Cain is a "sexual harasser"', Romney is as exciting as oatmeal, Perry can't seem to be able to process a thought, Santorum, just GOOGLE "Santorum" to see his future, Newt is now "under the gun" and the rest are afterthoughts... Today is a very good day.
If Ron Paul is the GoP's best shot at this point...then you might as well call it for Obama now...
LoLoL
And no one EVER breached a contract.
Coming from you, I take that as a supreme compliment.
But at least I don't stoop to defending the two-time two-timer Newt Gingrich.
I leave that act of compassion to someone truly kind -- someone just like you.
Somehow, I trust those who have intimate knowledge by virtue of being family members more ......
Really No Jo,....do you really expect them to be an unbiased source?
See below No Jo,...you contradict yourself in a mere two sentances
Fool.
NISL I believe the one you may be thinking of who left his wife while dying may have been a dem. Pres. Candidate. John Edwards ring a bell?
And that was wrong, too.
Pointing to another wrong doesn't make Newt right.
x
Since Newt is such a historian (and I have my doubts), maybe he should look at the US history of the 1920's and early '30's. Then compare what the Republicans were doing and suggesting then with what is happening now. Maybe he would learn something. (A look a little farther back to the mid 1800's might be helpful too in looking at the Know Nothing party.)
Why doesn't this lying old goon just retire to the country club !...He is a despicable human being !
Newton Gingrich, the former ten-term congressman from an Atlanta-area district was Speaker of the House and resigned in disgrace. He resigned in disgrace because he was "Womanizing"! Newton's conservative stance will not stand as his "Contract for America" didn't stand, and trickle down didn't trickle down! This man is a retread, re-hashed and regurgitation of failed concepts doomed to failure again! His third wife testifies to his conservative stance and womanizing! This guy is in it for himself! Gingrich is a greedy, power-hungry and self-centered Republican! Newton will be going up against a proven leader who is proving his capabilities. Under president Obama the job gains in the private sector shows the effects the previous Congress had put into effect with their legislation and the president's leadership in administering the accomplishments. And he can multi-task well even with the constant harping and lying from the GOP/TEA party who tries to undo the previous Congress's legislation. It's going to be a great Republican primary season! President Obama has done more to fix the US economy and international relations as well as taking out OBL this past week-end. His leadership is truly needed and warranted no matter what the Republican/TEA party say. We need to back him and get out the vote! It's going to be a great Republican primary season!
Damn, you really drank the whole pitcher of Kool-Aid, Rudy. The only thing Obama has done right is continue the Bush war on terror, which he criticized plenty as a candidate. You like how unemployment has gone up, the deficit has skyrocketed, we've lost the respect and trust of our allies, and there are more people on food stamps and other welfare programs than ever before? And you say we need him? LOL. We need four more years of Obummer like we need a hole in the head! But you're right about one thing: None of the GOP candidates are perfect. They're just not as far away from perfection as your idol.
Newt would give President Obama a "shellacking" in debate. He is without doubt the most knowledgeable,articulate statesman running ... including the President. Presidents Kennedy (Marylin Monroe)and Clinton (take your pick) were "womanizers" and seemed to be somewhat successful in their tenure. He is a successful author,professor, and yes ... speaker of the house. I think he would make an excellent President. Are all those who wish to be President egotists hungry for power. Do you think President Obama with a BILLION in his war chest and campaigning for more isn't in this for the power it affords? Different polls state 74% of the poopulation feels the President is leading us down the wrong road. We need leadership willing to make hard unpopular choices to right the ship of state. Newt has the experiance and understanding of how the office works to accomplish this.
Why would Freddi and Fannie "buy history"? as Newt put it? That's wasting taxpayer money right there. And what did we get for the moneyspent? Did Freddie andFannie account for it as lobbying expenses. If so theGringich is in trouble for notregistering as a lobbyist under federal law, as for that he could,and should be prosecuted.
Grincigich already has a sorry history of unethicalconduct dating back to his book dealwhile Speaker-and that caused himto resignrather thanbe cesored by the House. We need firm documents-and Gringich shuod provide a comphresive list of hisdealingwithFreddie and Fanny and all supporting documents,phonecalls andtweets.
Why is he still around ? He is one of the crooks that represent the !%. He is not going to address real issues like bringing our economy back from China, stop wars that profit the 1%, close borders-he is just more of the same ,guys like him have been doing everything to destroy our country.
Stop bitching, Joe. Get your ass up off the grass in the park and start looking for something. No one owes you a thing. If you want to bitch, start with Obama because he and his lib cronies are presiding over one of the worst unemployment rates in history, and they're asking for even more money to spend and jack up the deficit even more. Five trillion dollars in deficit increase in three years. It's not the banks, and it's not Wall Street. It's the hypocrites like Obama who take Wall Street's money all the way to the White House and then fool you into thinking that they are one of you.
Yup...Obama has a plan. It's been a work in progress for the past 3 years. REAL unemployment....double digit in the mid-high teens. Another FOUR trillion added to debt. ZERO, ZILCH, NADDA energy production. Solyndra, Fast&Furuious hijinx. More Czars than Russia has had since it's inception. Circumventing Congress to play Ceasar (Libya)....more crony capitalism, in cahoots with a Fed that addicted to printing funny money.
Yeah, Obama has a plan alright. How's it working for everyone?
gee i would love to offer them advise,,,,,,,no more money, and if your paying for advise i will only charge you 299 thousand...........newt do you think were all gullable
If it was a debate between The Newt and Mr Obama and I'm talking just a debate Newt would crush Obama. Obama is a slick speech reader but not a fast on the feet thinker. Obama has made many many off the cuff mistakes it just harder find when a few report them.
That being said I'm not sure a historian would is enough qualification for Pres. of the U.S.
Hillary 2012
Yet, ironically, he beat Hilary in every debate they had,...so, what does that say?
President Obama is quick on his feet,...and really, what is that saying about out running a bear? He only has to outrun one other on the field. He did it in 2008 and he'll easily do it again,...
After reading these posts I really would like to see some Newt Obama debates , You could sell tickets , pay per view , Vegas would probably have odds on who would win , this would be Historical some thing you will never see again AND actually my understanding is they would be on the current issues , that evens it up maybe even gives Obama the edge as he has insider information
P.S. there is a lot of difference between a lobbyist and a consultant ,adviser on business issues AND ANYONE who does not under these differences should consult an educational adviser , BUT I will try to explain it in terms you all can under stand , YOU ARE IN DEEP DEEP DOO DOO ,you consult an attorney , the attorney advises you you hire the attorney to LOBBY THE JUDGE FOR LENIENCY
Newt was hired as a consultant and adviser ,was never hired to lobby , they hired some body else for that , ALSO THEY DID NOT TAKE NEWTS ADVISE maybe they should have ,
If Newt really wants to prove a point.
Have him produce the actual documents from the time period; cause I have a hard time believing anything Newt / GOP says.
How could anyone want this lying cheating hypocrite for president!
"Nutty Newt" is not Presidential at all, and is so very wrong on every economic policy. He is so out of touch with the Middle Class, the Working Poor, the elderly, and the disabled. Then there is the on going problem with his menal illness issues, and his need for strong medications. "Nutty Newt" knows nothing about Foreign Policy issues at all, and his spewing on this is just a joke. He has the very loud Circus Music blasting in his echo chamber of brain. "Nutty Newt" should just check himself back into the nearest Mental Hospital, and continue his intense therapy sessions. That is fact!