Posted on 03/26/2012 11:01:08 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
HOCKESSIN, Delaware - In a sign that his campaign is in need of fresh funds, Newt Gingrich on Monday began charging $50 to have a photograph taken with him following a campaign speech to Republican County groups here in the northernmost part of the state.
It was the first time the former House speaker has charged those attending one of his public speaking events to pose for a photograph with him. Lately, a member of his campaign staff has been snapping photographs of any interested attendee and later posting them online at the campaign's website, newt.org.
On Monday night, those paying for a photograph were also told they could find their photos on Gingrich's website, after they had filled out a form providing their credit card information.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
Wow, shocking! But you know what's funny... I had the EXACT same experience the "new Newt" in 2007. Guy met me for a quick handshake and wouldn't spend 30 seconds talking to me -- but "his people" made sure to call and email me later trying to get me to pay a big wad of cash (it was $35 in 2007, I see he's now upped it $50) for the privilege of receiving a personal 4x6 photo of the brief handshake we had. Got a thumbnail of it with a link to his website and a request to enter my credit card information.
Yet every time I tell this story, his fans here insist it's all lies and Newt is really the kindest, gentlest, sweetest, most humble, considerate, gracious soul in person and would NEVER act pompous and arrogant face-to-face or try to exploit fans looking to meet him in person to make a cheap buck. So obviously, this article must be a lying hit piece too. Yep.
Just wait til the phone calls start in a few months from Newt's "team" at "American Solutions" asking you to donate lots more money to him so gas will be $2.50. Word of warning: They don't take no for an answer (and telling them not to call you anymore won't work either, they just keep reading the script). Good luck trying to have yourself removed from Newt's call list. It took me months.
And Newt fans, call me if you meet any other Presidential candidates who try to make you pay $$$ for shaking their hand. I've only met one so far and his name isn't Mitt, Rick, or Ron.
and I know you keep saying you have had experiences with Newt that are not borne out by others in this forum, so I am wondering, if maybe it has something to do with you, and not Newt, maybe something in your behavior or something. I have heard a lot of different complaints about newt, from policy to programs to personal baggage, etc., but never heard of anyone saying he was impolite or ungracious. Just trying to figure out why you had a problem with Newt, and so many others haven't.
Well let me add myself to the ones who have met Presidential candidates in the past and were NOT charged for pictures, especially in this fashion. I have attended fundraisers where you payed up front an certain amount with the promise of a picture with the candidate. That is far different than this weird move involving credit card info after the fact. After speeches like this, the candidates are usually happy just to make you happy with a fast pic as they rush to the next event.
Charging money to snap photos with celebs is common in the former (and usually is a black tie occasion where they're a select group of VIPs pay handsomely to sit at the same table and have dinner with the candidate), but considered tacky in the latter example. It's rare for politicians to try and squeeze cash out of people when they're posing for informal photos at public events, although Rod Blagojevich made a fool out of himself doing it during the 2011 Chicago Comic Con (but even HE didn't mind talking to people during the event). Some politicians, like Illinois State Sen. Chris Lauzen, don't even charge for photo-ops at their formal fundraiser dinners. He's nice enough to pose for free with you after you paid $25 to get in for dinner.
It's kinda like how you'd expect to see a gratuity fee automatically added to the bill if you're dining at some fancy sit-down Italian restaurant downtown, but what if McDonald's started charging gratuity fees? They'd probably get the same reaction Newt is getting.
Still waiting for my apology, till then, ignore list, YOU.
Oy vey.
This is what I was trying to warn you all about. Newt can only be about newt. He is too personally needy to put the country or even a wife before his own desires. He needed to drop out and fight Romney. Instead, he is helping Romney, just to get attention and now to pimp his pretty little self for photo money.
newt math: kids, how many $2.50 gallons of gas would it take to pay for one photo of you with Newt Gingrich?
Apology for what.
You are totally right about that.
It’s tacky indeed.
Newt is just not Good with money. His ex wives said it, he ran up that tab at tiffany’s, he can’t manage his own campaign coffers.
This is what I was trying to warn you all about. Newt can only be about newt. He is too personally needy to put the country or even a wife before his own desires. He needed to drop out and fight Romney. Instead, he is helping Romney, just to get attention and now to pimp his pretty little self for photo money.
newt math: kids, how many $2.50 gallons of gas would it take to pay for one photo of you with Newt Gingrich?
thank you for warning us about Newt's cash-strapped campaign charging for photos, which is common practice. I won't respond to your nasty personal attacks. However, I will point out to you that when you have a candidate who pronounces a man guilty, malicious and sick in mind, in order to pander to the libs and the media, before the man has been charged, or there has even been a rendering of what actually happened, you have far bigger "candidate" problems than asking someone to pay for a photo... you have a candidate who chillingly operates much like barack obama, for starters...
Newt was different and if you can't see that, that's your problem. Yes, politicians do charge for formal photo-ops at fundraisers where people pay handsome to get inside, and are promised a photo-op in advance, as well as a private meeting with the candidate. Newt's the only one who wants to turn informal handshakes into his own little spur-of-the-moment fundraiser (and we were not told it would cost $35 for the "privilege" of getting the photo until AFTER it was taken, of course)
But hey, you think Newt's such a swell guy, feel free to pluck down $50 for a brief handshake. And make you sure you do what I did and sign up for his "american solutions" newsletter giving them your home phone number. Have a great time and knock yourself out.
I was there - great speech on energy and independence. Line of the night was about him debating 0bambi without a teleprompter.
TBF, I can only agree that Santorum was dead wrong, deadly wrong, on what he said about the FL shooting. How dare he as a public figure take a side on something he knows nothing about? This Zimmerman is being hunted and could find himself hanging in a tree before long. That was very, very unwise.
Even though he made that very poor decision, he is still my choice over the other other candidates. I wish Mr. Or Ms. perfect were running. But at least Santorum will pick conservative judges. And that is important.
I don’t really mean to “bash” Gingrich like you say. I don’t feel he has the ability to postpone his own personal desires , and that is important for a President. Our neediest Presidents have been disasters: Clinton, obama. But Gingrich is brilliant and comes up with great ideas. He’s just not suited for a leadership position. Professor, historian, commentator, author. Not President.
Oh, I don’t really care about the pictures.
So what have we learned about Team Santorum over the last few days? An absolute unwillingness to admit the slightest degree of fallibility exhibited daily by their chosen candidate. It’s not fun anymore. It’s #ed up.
(Although I did note a post of mine #1 to be exact, was just removed; something like that doesn't happen to often here on FR, I think maybe the last time was three years ago when I called Kim Jong il a naughty name of sorts). ;-) Oh well.
Senator Santorum (my candidate, after first Bolton, then Palin, then Cain) better not start in on this kind of disconsolate thing, otherwise I am going to have to eat holy crow right here on FR in front of EVERYONE, and ask that HE throw in the towel and accept Bishop Romney as the ultimate nominee.
Ah, Newt.. don`t lower your standing further.
Pathetic...truly sad, final downfall of what was once a hopeful campaign.
Yes, it is a common used practice for fundraising
Ollie sent me a handwritten Christmas card with all his family at their home in Virginia..I treasure it..George Allen sent me a handwritten letter thanking me for my work on his campaign and neither are mass productions but are rare...but I would have gladly paid for a photo shoot with Newt.
Calista must be wanting some new pearls.
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