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.

[Notwithstanding]

Yes - when she has been present to vote she has voted conservatively for the past 4 years.

Not a very long record, though. Only 4 years, and absent for a lot of votes.

Nothing that screams “presidential timber”.

She is a hell of a foster-mom though. And she is great on Hannity.

[sickoflibs]

RE :"Now compare to Bachmann's lifetime ACU rating of 100%"

BUMP!

[Notwithstanding]

You mean her 4-year rating.

4 years is a very short time.

[rabscuttle385]

and we are supposed to ignore his last 15 years of progressive positions

"Baaaaaaa!!!"

This is a recipe for disaster.

So what else is new?

[sickoflibs]

RE :"You mean her (Bachmann's) 4-year rating. 4 years is a very short time."

Yes and I remember in 2008 when Pelosi and MSNBC targeted her for defeat and got Colin Powell to join in. As I posted earlier :
Notice all these (Newt) 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.

[nicmarlo]

bttt

[takenoprisoner]

Supports: GATT, NAFTA,and is a CFR member. Supports Nancy and Gore on Global Warming. Seeks amnesty for illegals.

He voted yes to establish the The Dept of Education. Voted yes to alot 166 million for the IRS. Voted yes to give communist China most favored nation status.

Paid over a million taxpayer dollars to consult for Freddie and Fannie.For what? Teaching them how to defraud taxpayers, and destroy the American economy? Good job Newt. They learned well.

Newt is plenty smart, alright. He's very knowledgeable when it comes to fooling some conservatives. Just not this one.

[DTogo]

Interesting. Without getting too far into the weeds, would you happen to have a single source for all those dates and positions, or is this your own research?

[GeronL]

How did he vote on creating the Dept of Education??

[GeronL]

Very selective and incomplete posting. Very biased.

[GeronL]

SO Newt only voted on 10 things in his whole career??

Talk about selective and biased.

[Lazlo in PA]

Santorum, but I will gladly take Perry or Bachmann as well. I do not see the excitement for someone who was forced out of congress as a disgrace, continues to develop big gov’t solutions to non issues and doesn’t hesitate to slam our own.

[sickoflibs]

Newt Gingrich and Nancy Pelosi - We Can Solve It(video where Newt and Pelosi together tell us Global warming is real)

Yes I have problems with this.

[onyx]

Jim shamed sickoflibs a year or so ago and he high tailed it out of here for a while. I suspect he’s in for another shaming if he keeps it up. He can’t stop himself from mocking Sarah Palin like a idiot juvenile or from gloating that she didn’t run.

Well now we have Gingrich leading the others and particularly Romney and dare I say that insult to our brave men and women in uniform, Ron Paul too, who’s not only a National Security disaster, but also an appeaser to Iran, but what does sickoflibs do? He calls Gingrich a disaster.

Never mind that the latest Rasmussen showed Gingrich beating the Marxist by 2 points.

[onyx]

I’m not interested in *your* problems.

[sickoflibs]

RE :”...but what does sickoflibs do? He calls Gingrich a disaster.”

Newt Gingrich and Nancy Pelosi - We Can Solve It(video where Newt and Pelosi together tell us Global warming is real)

Yes I have problems with this.

[RasterMaster]

Newt Gingrich: Hillary Clinton ‘Terrific’ Defense Secretary
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2010/11/newt-gingrich-hillary-clinton-terrific-defense-secretary/

Newt: Hillary Is the ‘Most Effective’ Candidate
http://archive.redstate.com/stories/elections/2008/newt_hillary_is_the_most_effective_candidate

Newt: Hillary shows courage, integrity
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0108/7851.html

Oddly, Hillary and, Yes, Newt Agree to Agree
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/13/nyregion/13hillary.html

Newt & Nancy....Gorebull Warming
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a0f_1322697042&comments=1

Newt Gingrich Al Sharpton Education Tour
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UPuhr8eqn0

Political Chameleon Newt Gingrich Has a History of Working with Democrats
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/12/02/political-chameleon-newt-gingrich-has-a-history-of-working-with-democrats.html

I can’t see supporting someone with such poor judgment.

[RasterMaster]

Right to Life -

Asked in an interview on the CBS News program “Face the Nation,” whether he agreed with Republicans who oppose Federal abortion payments in cases of rape or incest or to protect the life of a mother, Mr. Gingrich said: “No. First of all, I think you should have funding in the case of rape or incest or life of the mother, which is the first step.”

http://rightonlife.org/2011/11/24/pro-life-groups-should-say-no-to-newt-and-pooh-pooh-perry-2/

Self Defense -

“In 1996, Newt Gingrich turned his back on guns and voted for the anti-gun Brady Campaign’s Lautenberg Gun Ban, which strips the Second Amendment rights of citizens involved in misdemeanor domestic violence charges or temporary protection orders –- in some cases for actions as minor as spanking a child or grabbing a spouse’s wrist.(1)”

http://www.nationalgunrights.org/the-inconvenient-truth-about-newt/

Newt is nothing more than a flip-flopping RINO, just like Mitt Romney.

[Lakeshark]

I have a problem with that as well (Newt and Nancy).

Last week he said it was a stupid thing to do, he regretted it and apologized.

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

Most likely, it's your MO to say smarmy and dumb things. It's your passion in life.

[Livfreeordi]

How conservative is Newts’ record?

If a rating of 100% from the American Conservative Union isn’t good enough for you..then what is it going to take?

I liked Romney in 2008, considering the alternatives, and he certainly LOOKS presidential, but as info came out about Romneycare, his recent pandering to the climate change crowd and other issues..my enthusiasm dimmed considerably. He looks too much like the other “establishment’, northeast moderate republicans we have had in the White House recently.. like GHWB and GWB. I want a SOLID conservative with fire in his belly.

To be honest, I always thought the “baggage’ of Newt’s divorces made him a non-contender.

But then, the more I think about it..that was what the liberal MSM WANTED me to think!

I like Bachman.. but her lack of executive experience turned me off.

I was happy when Perry entered the field , but his performance in debates and inability to defend his positions nuked him quickly.

Then I supported Cain.. but the smear campaign conducted against him was too successful..and his explanations about his 13 year ‘relationship’ with this most recent woman was just too much to swallow.

Newt is a sold conservative, his baggage is already out there and could be easily dismissed as old news..and a lot of the myths about his divorce have been debunked.

He is brilliant, quick witted, articulate and would make mincemeat of Obama in any debate.

In short, ladies and gentleman.. it looks like we may have a candidate.... a fired up, solid conservative with ideas and the determination to implement them..to take the fight to Obama and his media drone allies.

BRING IT ON... YOU LIBERAL BASTARDS!