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.
**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.**
You do realize that "$1.5m" is accumulated over an eight year period, right? That's less than $188,000 per year.