Gingrich made big bucks pushing corporate welfare (BIG PHARMA)

Washington Examiner ^ | 11/16/11 | Tom Carney

[Fred]

Newt Gingrich spent the last decade being paid by big business to convince conservatives to support big-government policies that would profit his clients.

Gingrich's consulting firm racked up $1.6 million in fees from the government-sponsored enterprise Freddie Mac, we learned this week from Bloomberg News. Gingrich's job was to help Freddie Mac win over conservatives to this market-distorting, bubble-fueling, housing-subsidy entity, which is now officially owned by the federal government.

We also know that Growth Energy, an ethanol lobby, paid $312,500 to the Gingrich Group in 2009, according to the group's tax filing. Growth Energy lobbies to preserve many ethanol subsidies and create new ones. Gingrich has consistently supported ethanol subsidies, despite his professed allegiance to the free market.

But there may be much more to Gingrich's advocacy work than has been reported so far. For instance, a former employee of the nation's biggest drug lobby told me Gingrich was being paid by the drug industry during the 2003 debate over the Medicare prescription drug benefit.

[ontap]

It would sure as hell sit well with me if I could do it!!!

[xzins]

So, Gingrich was running a PRIVATE business that hired out to increase other private companies’ chances with the government. Therefore, that means he believed in the goals of the companies he contracted with.

That’s like saying that the Jeffrey Dahmer’s lawyer had to believe like Dahmer did.

Lawyers defend people because that’s their business.
Advocacy companies advocate for other companies because that’s their business.

It’s called: FREE ENTERPRISE.

[Will88]

Like so many who left high government positions, Newt hung around to cash in on his connections and influence. It just that most don’t cash in and then turn around and run for president.

Probably more to come before this chapter is written.

[wmfights]

That Newt can make as much money in one insider lobbying deal as most people will make in a lifetime doesn’t sit well with a lot of folks out here.

Is it the amount he was paid? Or was it that as a former Speaker of the House he would have access to legislators?

Once Newt was out of office was he supposed to just go back to GA and retire?

Newt is not my first choice. I don't see anything illegal in him being paid well to represent clients in talking with people who can directly affect their livelihoods. For example, if I'm being prosecuted for a crime and I have the choice of a fresh out of school public defender, or a top notch former prosecutor to represent me I want the former prosecutor.

If we don't want lobbying then push for a flat tax, or national sales tax instead of the tax code we have today.

[GeronL]

I can not support this guy. I did like him as Speaker back in the day, but I turned out disappointed. Let him work at a think tank or something.

[TitansAFC]

The “Cain Train” continues.........trying to smear every candidate who is not him.

Cain backers mistakenly think his support wanes because of the media. Let me tell ya, folks:

Nobody likes the little brother who roots against all of his older brothers in order to pump himself up. That’s why his numbers have dropped.

I have no use for the “everyone is scum but Herman Cain” crowd and their daily attempts to push liberal smears against accomplished Republicans in the race. Every day for months it has been the same crap. You’re fast running out of people to alienate.

P.S. I’m not supporting your third party push for Herman Cain when the tantrum hits DefCon 5.

[wmfights]

Advocacy companies advocate for other companies because that’s their business.

It's a great point! As long as he was not doing anything illegal (giving bribes) why shouldn't he make a living.

[xzins]

Apparently, Gingrich made about one and a half million bucks over 8 years as a contract consultant with Freddie Mac. Nobody forced Freddie to contract with him.

It was a private business. He was no longer in government. It is roughly 200 grand a year. He makes fairly big bucks.

Some freepers are starting to sound like they believe in Obama’s class envy. They hate, not just the rich, but the upper middle class, too. They hate people who make more money than they do.

[wmfights]

Nobody likes the little brother who roots against all of his older brothers in order to pump himself up. That’s why his numbers have dropped.

Great point. I think his decline is caused by that as well as his ignorance of the issues. Newt to his credit has been the opposite. Newt has been supportive of all candidates and does have a good command of the issues.

[chilepup]

The problem is that there is more to Newts record than just these things. He is a sitting duck. and, no matter how much you or any of us want to say “Oh, this was a private business” I guarantee the Left will go gangbusters about these things.

[wmfights]

Some freepers are starting to sound like they believe in Obama’s class envy. They hate, not just the rich, but the upper middle class, too. They hate people who make more money than they do.

My refrain is always the same, "as long as it was made honestly I don't care".

We should look at this from the perspective of our own lives. What ever it is we do for a living there are things that accrue to our benefit over time and people do business with us because of them. For example, I sold real estate for a long time and I often picked up listings because I worked with a large number of European immigrants and sellers knew this was the market most likely to buy their property. If sellers gravitated to me because of this advantage and I made a lot of money because of it was this somehow evil? NO!

If Newt made a bunch money because he had been in govt for 20 years and was a former Speaker of the House what do I care as long as he did it honestly.

I think where Newt does run into trouble is the times he lined up with the foes of conservatives rather than fighting with conservatives.

[patriot preacher]

And this surprises — WHO!?

[Mase]

The drug industry hires well connected people to lobby Washington DC to support their interests? Say it ain't so!! Next thing you'll be telling us is there's politics going on in DC. It's a damned travesty, I tell ya.

It costs hundreds of millions of dollars and more tan 10 years to bring a new drug to market. More than 90% of all compounds never make it out of clinical trials. Looks like "BIG PHARMA" (it is such a joke for anyone to use that term then pretend to support capitalism) needs to find some better connected lobbyist because they sure aren't getting much bang for their buck from the current crop.

Thanks for your time. Now back to your circular firing squad that will ensure we get four more years of hope and change.

[County Agent Hank Kimball]

What’s even more notable is that there’s no allegation - so far as I can tell - of him doing anythin illegal or unethical. This stuff came from his filings, right?

So what’s the issue?

Hank

[katiedidit1]

Bravo TitansAFC!!! well said

[Tribune7]

First Michele

Then Perry

Then Cain

Then Newt

All according to plan BWAHHAHAHAHAHAH

[over3Owithabrain]

Cain is writing these Newt “vetting” articles? Or are you just having a hissy now that’s it time for your guy in the meat grinder lol

[Farmer Dean]

I am most definitely NOT in favor of class envy.I DO not like influence peddling.

[xzins]

“Influence peddling” is indistinguishable from “Expert Consultant”.

So, if I hire a defense attorney who used to work in the District Attorney’s office, then that is unethical...right?

That man has no business being a defense attorney.