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What a lobbyist is in Washington depends on your definition of lobbyist.
Newt Gingrich has faced questions for his role with Freddie Mac, from which he made at least $1.6 million over eight years, as a "strategic adviser." But he wasn't a lobbyist, he said.
A review of the financial disclosure form for Rick Santorum, a former senator from Pennsylvania, shows he made $65,000 for “legislative policy consulting services" from American Continental Group, a government affairs and consulting firm -- a.k.a. a lobbying firm -- in Washington in 2010 up until Aug. 2 of this year when he filed his form.
Santorum lists that he began working for them as a consultant in July 2009 and lists them as a "present" employer.
Santorum has other consulting salaries in the six-figure range, including notably from Consol Energy in Pennsylvania. The company describes itself as “the leading diversified energy producer in the Appalachian basin.” The Penguins play at the Consol Energy Center.
And he has five rental properties at State College, PA, where Penn State is. He made between $75,000 and $250,000 from the properties, according to his disclosure in the year-and-a-half reporting period.
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Nice to see the sharks are circling the
chumchump!They do so enjoy feasting on their own! ;o)
How come I keep seeing Richard Nixon in my mind saying "I am not a crook"?
Huntsman and Romney is it I guess. The deep South better make peace with the Mormons.
Don't count out Ron Paul just yet.....
Guess what? The last Bloomberg Poll (2 days ago) on the Iowa Caucus says this....
"There’s good news in the poll for Paul, 76, a Texas congressman who has attracted ardent supporters. Among likely caucus-goers who say their minds are made up, Paul leads with 32 percent, followed by Romney at 25 percent and Gingrich, a former House speaker, at 17 percent.
Among Paul supporters who backed him in the 2008 caucuses, 69 percent are still with him now.
Makes one wonder if santorum's money is sticky and has a glaze on it.
goggle santorum.com
Yeah Feisty--so much for his sanctimonious blather! Can't wait to see him trip over his own feet while he tries to spin it! Looks like little Ricky may not get his chance as flavor of the week after all!
"We have met the enemy and he is us!" Pogo by Walt Kelly
Now here we have a guy Santorum who is a real solid right winger. He's the type of guy who is everything the TP would want. He would love nothing better than to spend his life looking through everyone's bedroom key hole to see what they're up to.
Why hasn't he caught on? The TP love busy bodies. You know, the people who want government out of everyone's lives, except when it comes to you know - people actually living their lives. That have a lot to say about that don't they?
That's Santorum. He can't stand the thought of people just quietly living their own lives in whatever way makes them happy.
Just like the TP crowd. You would think he had a market for his holier than thou outlook.
Pat, One reason Santorum has not caught on is he is to much of a social Conservative and pushes abortion, gay marriages to much. Another reason he is not a tea party favorite because the majority of TP members are more concerned with less government spending and reduction of government regulations than social issues.
Besides Santorum got beat badly in his run for reelection in Penns.
While the usual suspects on this site may be forgiven for not knowing what a "lobbyist" is- and does, if the so-called reporters on this site do not understand it, you are unqualified for your jobs as political reporters.
Of course, it's Domenico- who thinks Obama coined Jack Kennedy's phrase about "a rising tide lifts all boats", so why should I be shocked he thinks collecting rents on investment properties qualifies as lobbying?
Not that it is anything new- but, ya know, times are tough- and displaying that level of ignorance about essentials of your employment might not be the right move at this time.
Gingrich, Santorum have been paid, $65,000.;300,000. 1.6million.
They call it being a historian, consulting services, but not LOBBYISTS.
This is a distinction without a difference.
They are the consummate insiders!! And they want to change Washington? LOL
Um, no.
Contrary to what Montenaro says, there is a succinct definition of what makes a lobbyist
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/politicsglossary/general/lobbyist/
His Obama worship leads him to say anything at all to destroy any perceived opposition to his idol, but the fact remains that lobbying is pretty specific.
Therefore, they need to come up with SPECIFIC instances wherein Gingrich and/or Santorum spoke with legislators on behalf of the companies for which they were consulting.
He prefers to use innuendo and lies of omission to say something for which there is not only no proof, but for which, in one instance, there are signed contracts precluding such activity.
Professional journalists, indeed.
Says someone who eats paste for a living & knits sweaters out of her belly button lint! lmao
NOJO
"Gingrich's history at Freddie Mac began in 1999, when he was hired by the company's top lobbyist, Mitchell Delk. He was brought in for strategic consulting, primarily on legislative and regulatory issues, the company said at the time. That job, which paid about $25,000 to $30,000 a month, lasted until sometime in 2002.
In 2006, Gingrich was hired again on a two-year contract that paid him $300,000 annually, again to provide strategic advice while the company fended off attacks from the right wing of the Republican Party."
-RealClearPolitcs-topnews...inved Freddie Mac compensation.
The full story will come out. Gingrich hired by a lobbyist for his advise on legislative issues.
Whatever term you want to use :lobbyist, legislative consulting, Gingrich was more than a historian making that kind of money.
He was nothing but a peddler, selling his influence , along with his books and DVDs.
Did you read the link to the explanation- which is written in simple, plain English?
If you hire a lawyer to represent you when buying a house, does that make the lawyer a real estate agent?
He was hired to give advice on legislative issues- not to lobby lawmakers.
There is a difference.
I don't expect Montenaro to get it- well, he does, but he will do his best to spin it into something it is not- but a fifth grader could understand the explanation given by REAL journalists.
NOJO,
I did read the definition of a lobbyist you provided in your post.
I stand by my statement in my original post:It is a distinction without a difference.
Gingrich is an peddler of books, DVD and influence to the tune of 1.6 million dollars.
Just another ex elected official that needed to make a buck.
By the way NOJO, I do understand the English language and your snide tone...
You , have a nice evening. See you on the threads tomorrow.
"What a lobbyist is in Washington depends on your definition of lobbyist."
So, is MSNBC a "lobbyist" for Obama's reelection..or a "shill"?
It's nice when an embarrassing story breaks, like this one, to be at that 1 or 2% level at which it is difficult for pollsters to say that your momentum was halted. Santorum will merely remain near the bottom. He might even get him some support from the Wall Street types who previously figured him solely as a right wing social policy loon. This shores up his bona fides on the important greed quotient. But his loot was so small compared to Newt's.
So, someone who used to work in congress or the senate tries to cash in on a lucrative deal. They get hired by a lobbyist firm to 'consult' or 'advise'. Ask yourself a question here an be honest. Would you do it to make X amount of money?
Honestly I don't know if I would or not. I'd like to say no but when someone starts waving lots of money around your pocket book just keeps barking.
At any rate the problem is with the Lobbying firms in my opinion. Perhaps if legislation were put into place to keep the out of DC then this issue would not happen. Sadly most politicians are going to cash in when they can. It does not matter if you have a D/R/I.
I personally don't have have a problem with lobbies. how else are industries, organizations and entities to communicate with our government. What I do want is full disclosure, and regulate and enforce appropriate rules. Then let the candidate explain himself, and let me make my own determination into what was appropriate and what wasn't.
I dont understand how topics are created by this site. Somehow this is a story worthy of discussion when we could be discussing the DOE green energy scandals, the Occupy Wall Street crumbling support and now 46% disapproval rating with the violence and lack of any coherent political message, the Super Committee debates, the number of Obama vacations and golf games while the country continues its struggles with job creation, the economic failures in Obama guinea pig states like California, Illinois and NY and the success in fiscal conservative states like Indiana, Virginia, Utah etc, the national concealed weapon house bill, the political power of unions and the unholy alliance with the democratic party (so we can have equal coverage with the corporate power discussion with the GOP) and this is just to name a few. Come on guys, there are plenty of real political discussion issues that would make a much more lively debate and you guys wouldnt come across as such amateur hour suck ups to the Obama administration.