Posted on 11/17/2011 7:18:25 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Rep. Michele Bachmann hit former Speaker Newt Gingrich hard on Wednesday for receiving consulting fees from mortgage giant Freddie Mac, but it turns out Bachmann herself received campaign contributions from The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation’s (Freddie Mac) political action committee during the 2007-2008 cycle.
“While [Gingrich] was taking that money, I was fighting against Fannie and Freddie,” Bachmann said on Wednesday.
It turns out that while she was “fighting” them, she was also taking their money.
To be sure, there is a big difference between being paid millions to consult for the group — and receiving campaign contributions from Freddie PAC. Still, it appears Bachmann may be living in a bit of a glass house here — especially for someone who promised “no surprises.”
Update: Bachmann's camp tells me they may have returned the money after receiving the contributions. (I will update if that turns out to be the case.) If that does turn out to be what happened, it will also be interesting to note the timing of when the money was returned (the fact that they received at least two contributions — five months apart — makes me wonder).
Indeed.
“Which is worse? Being approached by FM asking for a historical analysis of housing issues for a fee or speaking against FM while taking campaign contributions from FM. IMHO, the latter is more onerous upon Bachmann. Good old capitalism versus slight of hand double dealing.”
I like Bachmann’s position better. If she voted against the vaious Fannie/Freddie boondoggles despite the campaign contribution(s), she did not stay “bought” too well. In fact, it appears to me she may have “Alinsky-ed” them.
Newt’s payments need to put in context:
(1) At the time, Newt had been out of government for a while.
(2) Nobody in their right mind thought Newt would ever hold an elective office again.
(3) Newt’s political influence within the GOP has always been a glass-half-empty vs glass-half-full proposition. For every current GOP insider that likes Newt, there’s another GOP insider that can’t stand the guy.
If you were going to pay some guy to buy influence inside the GOP, Newt would be way down the list.
If I were a Freddie Mac shareholder, I wouldn’t be asking “why did you give THAT MUCH MONEY to Newt?”, I’d be asking “Why did you give that much money to NEWT?”
Not funny. There is no perfect politician though.
Good point!
I’m a Black conservative and I voted for NONE of the above!!!
So, there’s no evidence Cain DIDN’T feel up Sharon Bialek, is there?
I like Cain...as you know...and I think he’s getting a raw deal...but why presume innocence of Cain and guilt (for something not actually illegal) for Gingrich?
Vote for Michele Bachmann 2012! She is the most conservative in the bunch. She is a hero!!!!! Loves America!!!!! Will get rid of Obamacare!!! I give her a pass on this as not every candidate knows who EXACTLY they get campaign money from. She probably got 5 grand at most. Give it back Michele and continue to spread the truth of the liberals candidates for Republican Party.
They got a high percentage, but not as high as Obama.
She spent it to buy that campaign wind tunnel she resides in. What a disappointment.
This woman needs to stand or fall on her own merits and stop attacking the other Republicans over and over. She is really a turn-off with all her attacks.
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