How Conservative is Newt's Actual Voting Record?

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[libertarian neocon]

The folks at Club for Growth has white papers on all the GOP candidates summarizing their public records and does a pretty objective job. Looking at Newt's I really was struck by how conservative Newt's actual voting record was (which of course was mischaracterized by Jennifer Rubin, who I think must have been offered a post in a Romney administration. How else do you explain her going full spittle in support of Romney and anti-Newt?)., with most of the worrisome aspects of his record coming from speeches AFTER he left public office. This is pretty much the exact opposite of Romney, who has a very questionable record from his limited time in elected office, with most of his conservatism coming from campaign speeches. Anyway, let's look at Newt's actual record:

• Voted YES on the Reagan tax cut of 1981
• Voted YES on the Reagan tax reform bill of 1986
• Voted NO on the George H.W. Bush "Read My Lips" tax hike in 1990.
• Voted NO on the Clinton tax hike in 1993.
• Voted YES on the capital gains tax cut in 1997.
• Voted NO on the Chrysler bailout in 1979
• Voted YES on the Gramm-Rudman balanced budget bill in 1985
• Voted YES on a balanced budget amendment (as part of the "Contract for America" effort that he led) in 1995
• Led the effort and voted YES to cut $16.4 billion from the budget in 1995.
• Voted YES on welfare reform in 1996

I also decided to look myself at how much federal spending increased while Gingrich was Speaker of the House (1995-1999). By my calculations, Federal spending rose an average of 3.1% a year while he was speaker. When you compare it to the Presidential terms from Reagan on, this is the lowest rate of spending growth over the last 30 years. Under Reagan, spending grew an average of 7.6% a year. Under George H.W. Bush, 6.7%. Under Clinton, 3.3% (it would have been much more if he got his single payor health care plan through, also he was restrained by Newt later). Under W., it as 6.6% and under Obama, a whopping 8.6% a year. Also, under Newt, Federal spending as a % of GDP fell from 21% to 18.5%, a whopping decline in 4 short years.

Is his record perfect? Nope. Not even close. But the point is that on the big issues, he voted Conservative and helped champion balanced budgets and tax reform. Focusing on that actual voting record really makes me more comfortable with him. Especially when his main opponent is someone whose main accomplishment is a massive government healthcare program.

[RasterMaster]

"Newt is a sold conservative"

I ain't buying the BS either of them are selling!

[Livfreeordi]

“I’m betting Cain endorses him this week, are you going to say something dumb about that when he does?”

Breaking news.

Cain intends to endorse Newt.

[sickoflibs]

RE:"I'm betting Cain endorses him this week, are you going to say something dumb about that when he does?"

Try this, I didnt support Cain for three months because I was looking for someone to tell me who to vote for, especially someone like Newt. When Cain said he is out of the race that means he is out.

Of course Newt says it was dumb for him to join with Pelosi on Global warming. And Romney claims he is prolife too, That doesnt make it real.

[Windflier]

Here’s to your zot, n00b!

Geeez, Ron. Get a grip already. The poster put up a fact laden post, with little in the way of opinion. Damn good job for a n00b, if you ask me.

[Cronos]

I agree n00bs :) — we all were n00bs once, and this is a pretty fact-laden article, with conservative opinions. Most of us disagree over candidates, but that’s fair (except for a Romney-bot!)

[lquist1]

“Bachmann should have resigned her office to make her run. Perry is another one being paid a full time salary by tax payers, while he runs for a promotion.”

Cmon, that’s ridiculous. Are you saying that everybody who holds elective office should resign from their current post if they run for a new one? There is quite a long tradition (about 225 years or so) of candidates running for POTUS that held other elective offices while doing so. If you single out Bachmann & Perry (and I presume you would also say Ron Paul should resign), then you are saying that all the candidates in previous election cycles-McCain, GW Bush, George HW Bush, Clinton (both Bill & Hillary), Obama, Kerry, the list is far too long to name them all-should have first resigned so they could run full time POTUS campaigns? Oh, and how about incumbent presidents, should they temporarily resign their office and hand it over to the VP while they run for re-election? That is absurd. Part of how we judge their skills to be POTUS is how well they can balance their current position and run their campaign.

[PMAS]

*

[mkjessup]

Notice all these Conservative milestones are 15 to 25 years ago and we are supposed to ignore his last 15 years of progressive positions.
This is a recipe for disaster.

I think we should consider who Sarah Palin endorses at this point (presuming that she chooses not to enter the race even at such a late date, however if anyone could make a late/write-in effort work, she could).

What say you all?

[sickoflibs]

LOL

[dools0007world]

All of what you say is true. Problem: There is a Usurping Marxist occupying the WH today. The road to this disaster was traversed in large part on Newty’s dime.

This included Marxist co option of the media, judiciary, education, unions, the GOP, religious leadership and Wall Street leadership. Never heard a peep from Gingrich. Still haven’t heard a peep. Oh, and you left out the part about his being a serial philanderer.

Isn’t it time for some real conservative fresh faces and ideas. Newty had more than his fair share of time on the national stage and America is the worse for it. Moreover, all that history you noted cannot erase the very ugly image of him and Pelosi sitting on love seat, knee to knee, shilling for global warming. What was Newty’s explanation? “Inexplicable.” That’s what he said.

Why in heck would I vote for a guy who can’t keep it in his pants and can’t explain why he does the things he does?

[Lakeshark]

Try this

Your laborious and boring sourpuss attitude towards life is such an embarrassment, I don't think I will...........

[tnlibertarian]

By that reckoning, Romney was the most courageous governor ever.

[sickoflibs]

RE :"Your laborious and boring sourpuss attitude towards life is such an embarrassment, I don't think I will..........."

Let's see the Newt recent past positions :
Global warming with Pelosi, amnesty, fairness doctrine, Obama-care mandates, and Fannie and Freddy. I can see why you would want to jump in to defend him. That is one hell of a resume.

[sodpoodle]

GAWD Gretchen is interviewing Bob Erlich, former Gov. of Maryland (Lt.Gov. Michael Steele).

He was on the show to ENDORSE MITT ROMNEY. Sad thing is he got side-tracked with expounding on Newt’s positives.

90% on Newt. 9% pushing is own book and 1% on Romney!

LOL!!

[PjhCPA]

You haven’t been here that long. :)

[Lakeshark]

I'm not particularly defending him, just saying you're a boring sourpuss, that's all.

Now that Cain is out and about to endorse Newt, who are you supporting?

Gotta be the boring, sourpuss, crazy uncle in the attic Ron Paul, yes?

[libertarian neocon]

“BRING IT ON... YOU LIBERAL BASTARDS!”

I completely agree. I went through a similar journey, though what turned me off more about Cain was his lack of ability to answer just about ANY question about anything. Even 999 (”youre comparing apples and oranges, “check my analysis on my website”, etc..

I certainly discounted Newt for most of this race. I remember all the crazy stuff he has done in the past but his record is his record. Its very conservative and after listening to Bachmann, Perry & Cain on the issues I really like the fact that Newt can have a logical argument about many issues.

[1010RD]

A politicians voting record simply reflects his constituency, unless he wants only one term.

[libertarian neocon]

“Breaking News???”

Apparently someone has been playing around with my keywords etc. So if this was in breaking news, it’s news to me.

[1010RD]

1. Eliminate the thirty-nine White House “Czar” positions created during the current administration. The president does not have the authority to appoint bureaucrats to power who are not accountable to the Congress.

2. “Mexico City Policy” of Respect for Life. Reauthorize President Ronald Reagan’s policy – also known as the “Mexico City Policy”— to stop tax payer dollars from being used to fund or promote abortions in foreign countries.

3. Restore conscience clause protections for Healthcare Workers.No American working in a medical environment should be forced to perform any procedure that he or she finds morally or ethically objectionable based on religious teaching. This protection should include, but not be limited to abortion. Existing conscience clause protections need to be strengthened.

4. Respect Each Sovereign Nation’s Choice of its Capital. Each sovereign nation, under international law and custom, may designate its own Capital. Accordingly, the U.S. State Department should be instructed to respect the choice of each sovereign nation and place the American embassy in their Capital. (Israel is the only country the United States discriminates against in this regard. The people of Israel have designated Jerusalem as their capital. Yet the United States retains its embassy in Tel Aviv.)

5. End the Attorney General’s Assault on the States. Instruct the Attorney General to withdraw all immigration-related lawsuits against states immediately, including those pending in Arizona and South Carolina. The Obama Administration refuses to enforce federal immigration laws, and instead sues states who are merely trying to enforce the laws that the federal government neglects. The Gingrich Administration will secure the border by Jan. 1, 2014 by any means necessary.

6. The Keystone Pipeline

(Released: Nov. 17th, 2011)
Unleash American Energy by Approving the Keystone XL Pipeline. Instruct the State Department to approve a Presidential Permit immediately for the Keystone XL pipeline, a project that will send 700,000 barrels of oil a day from Great Plains and Southwestern states to Gulf Coast refineries lower staggering energy prices, and create up to 120,000 American jobs.