[Lazlo in PA]

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.

[true believer forever]

Still waiting for my apology, till then, ignore list, YOU.

[BillyBoy]

Lazlo's right. I paid absolutely nothing to have informal pictures taken with Tommy Thompson, Duncan Hunter, Tom Tancredo, and Mike Huckabee in 2007. When I went to Rick Santorum's campaign rally here in Illinois, he was posing for quick photos with hundreds of well wishers on the way out, and it didn't look to me like they were paying a cent or being directed to his website to see the photo later on. That's because other politicians besides Newt let people take photos with their own cameras. I posed for an informal photo with the Governor and Lt. Governor candidate at our local campaign office in Nov. 2010 and it didn't cost me a cent, either.

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.