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Is Byron York right? Does Gingrich have to address ethics charges that he eventually won? I think he does, and that's because of the underlined parts in the first paragraph. Note that he says it was "his colleagues" who tried to destroy him. He is not talking only about democrats. Many republicans, including John Boehner, were in that group of republicans.

I agree that Gingrich has to address the ethics charges. It is hard to call this a bipartisan witchhunt when the Rep controlled House vote was 395 to 28 with 85% of the Reps voting for the reprimand and the financial penalty. The Ethics committee vote was 7-1 for the reprimand.

The IRS ruling had to do with Newt's foundation, not Newt. The IRS, concluding a three-year investigation, ruled that the Progress and Freedom Foundation's donations to Gingrich were "consistent with its stated exempt purposes," and Gingrich's course and course book "were educational in content."

Moments after Cole spoke, Gingrich's lawyer, J. Randolph Evans, said Gingrich had agreed to the proposed punishment in the case. "The speaker himself has apologized to the subcommittee, to the House and to the American people," he said.

Pelosi was a sitting member on the Ethics Committee. Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin (Md.),(now Senator Cardin) the top Democrat on the investigative subcommittee, said: "It isn't a very pleasant matter to sit in judgment . . . but it must be done. . . . This is a sad day."

I wouldn't put it past either Pelosi or Cardin to disclose confidential information thru surrogates. If Newt gets the nomination, things could get very nasty in the General Election. Newt must take the gloves off and go after Obama personally.

I watched Newt on Hannity last night, and he clearly responded with substance. He has released all the contracts. They clearly say there is no lobbying for F&F. He has had involved people state there was no lobbying. And he has evidence of classes to teach his people not to get close to lobbying.

Now, what really is a clincher is that no person from the past is saying, “Newt lobbied me.” Like with tango, it takes 2 to lobby.