Posted on 11/16/2011 2:15:55 PM PST by Daffynition
The former Speaker of the US House and current GOP presidential candidate defended himself Wednesday after news that he received money from the now-troubled government mortgage giant.
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
I say you're right. This is yet another example of government out of control. How can Newt possibly argue against government over-spending when he himself rode the gravy train?
Should this derail Newt's campaign? Not at all. He just did what most (all?) of us would have done. Grab the money.
Nevertheless, in this instance Newt is part of the problem, not part of the solution.
I agree. It is one of many a money pit in the Government.
Seems to be where political types (millions in undeserved bonuses) go to get a BIG paycheck.
Why I ask would the Freddie need advice from NEWT?
Isn’t anyone tired of the same ole same ole politicians lining their pockets with taxpayer money.
None of the above.
>>Isnt anyone tired of the same ole same ole politicians lining their pockets with taxpayer money.<<
I wish Judge Nap would run.
Tell me W didn’t pi$$ you off on his immigration stand.
W pi$$ed me off on a lot of things.
I have a hard time imagining the Tea Party contingent will easily overlook this. Regardless of how Gingrich might explain it away, just the sheer linkage to that whole corrupt, inside-the-beltway FannieMae/FreddieMac mess seems like a pretty toxic albatross to me. Anyway, I guess we’ll see how it plays out. The poor line-up of candidates makes a lot of this hard to predict.
Ditto! Former Speaker of the House and smart as a whip! Schooled in History and an expert on the Constitution and founding premises of the USA.
He’s not 100% perfect, but who is ?
None of the candidates can hold a candle to him in this aspect.
Me too!
One thing about him he is certainly not bashful about giving his opinion. Most of which I agree.
Do you know what newt told or advised them as a consultant?
The telling key might be that as soon as his contract expired he spoke out lour and frequently for stopping the practices that F & F were using.
Freddie-Mac was a Christmas Turkey that got stuffed by Dodd-Frank and was principaly protected by the Democrats. The Media don’t speak about this a whole lot. So NOW the Media get INTERESTED? Must mean that Newt is the “flavor of the month” in the Republican primaries.
Well, OK. But Newt is an expert on American history. He is not an expert on housing, mortgages, etc. He may be knowledgeable about those things, but he is not a million-dollar, nationally-recognized expert.
IMHO, he got his payday because there was plenty of taxpayer money to throw around.
As I said previously, nothing really wrong with that. Who wouldn't take the money?
But it should be noted: it is this sort of practice that is driving the country into bankrupcy.
“That would include almost everyone in D.C. and beyond.”
Exactly!
What irks me, is that Fannie is bleeding red ink...that they felt they could afford to pay a consultant, *that* kind of money, regardless if it was a pubbie or a dem makes me see red.
**Internal Freddie Mac budget records show $11.7 million was paid to 52 outside lobbyists and consultants in 2006, all of them former Republican lawmakers and ex-GOP staffers. Besides Gingrich, the hires included former Sen. Alfonse D'Amato of New York, former Rep. Vin Weber of Minnesota and Susan Hirschmann, the former chief of staff to ex-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas.**
From Fannie Mae’s perspective the consulting fee’s amount to political protection money. Newt may not view it that way. But the pattern repeats itself over & over. Corporation A splits it’s contributions 70/30. Fannie Mae is probably giving 70 percent of it’s political contributions to Democrats because right now they hold the reins. But you always need protection from the otherside of the aisle. Need to protect that flank.
That's a pretty honest description of the situation. And if Newt was a democrat, more people on FR would see it that way.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.