Gingrich Denies Whipping Against Bailout
EmailABC News’ Teddy Davis, Arnab Datta, and Rigel Anderson Report: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Tuesday that he did not personally urge members of Congress to vote against Monday’s failed Wall Street bailout bill, disputing a report made earlier in the day on MSNBC by correspondent Andrea Mitchell.
"MSNBC is just wrong," said Gingrich. "And it is probably wrong deliberately. It is a stunningly dishonest network."
"I believe that if they would simply look at what I released yesterday, if they look at what I said on ‘This Week’ on Sunday, they’ll see that what I said was, ‘I deeply opposed Paulson’s original proposal. I deeply opposed the liberal Democrats making it even worse on Thursday,’ I did everything I could," said Gingrich.
"And I think that John Boehner and Roy Blunt would confirm this — or Eric Cantor or Paul Ryan would confirm this — I did everything I could over the last five days to improve this bill. And I said with great reluctance I would vote for it," he continued, "and I gave a statement to that effect to Leader Boehner, who was going to both put it in the record and share it with all my friends and former colleagues, so I was actually reluctantly trying to help it get through."
Gingrich offered his scathing criticism during the question and answer period which followed a Tuesday speech on the financial crisis at the National Press Club.
Appearing earlier in the day on MSNBC’s "Morning Joe," NBC’s Andrea Mitchell reported that she had been "told reliably by leading Republicans who are close to" Gingrich that the former House Speaker "was whipping against" Monday’s failed Wall Street bailout bill "until the last minute" when he issued what Mitchell called a "face-saving statement."
"Newt Gingrich was telling people in the strongest possible language that this was a terrible deal," Mitchell continued, "not only that it was a terrible deal, that it was a disaster, that it was the end of democracy as we know it, it was socialism. And then at the last minute comes out with a statement when the vote is already in place."
Mitchell’s report was followed by MSNBC’s Mike Barnicle saying, "Andrea, I could hug you for saying that because I was told last night by two or three members of Congress that this was the opening salvo of
Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign four years hence."
When Barnicle raised the prospect of Gingrich seeking the White House by undermining the House Republican Leader, Mika Brzezinski interjected by borrowing the words Boehner had used to describe the Wall Street bailout.
"Talk about a crap sandwich," said Brzezinski.
Watch the MSNBC video on ThinkProgress.
Gingrich led the charge against Paulson’s original proposal last week, telling ABC News on Tues., Sept. 23 that John McCain could not vote in favor of it and still claim "with a straight face" to be "the reform candidate."
The next day – on Wed., Sept. 24 – Gingrich issued a statement to the press praising McCain for suspending his campaign and "putting everything on the line" to try to get a bipartisan "economic package" to replace what he called the "failed Paulson bailout package."
Appearing Sunday on ABC News’ "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," Gingrich said that he suspected that he would "probably" end up voting "reluctantly yes" on the revised bailout if he were still in office. He coupled this with a call for Henry Paulson’s resignation, claiming that the U.S. Treasury
Secretary had behaved in an "un-American way" by initially asking for $700 billion without legislative oversight or judicial review.
On Monday, with the vote underway on the House floor, Gingrich made his position on the bailout definitive, issuing a statement saying that if he were still in office he would "reluctantly and sadly" support it. Gingrich explained his change in position by saying that the House Republicans, "reinforced by John McCain," have improved the bill "significantly" so it is "less bad" than the original proposal offered by Paulson.
MSNBC did not have an immediate reaction to Gingrich’s criticism.
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I NEVER thought I’d agree with Newt Gingrch on anything but I do share his disdain for MSNBC.
MSNBC is less credible than FOX – and that’s just plain scary.
And Keith Olbermann is LESS credible than Bill O’Reilly – and that’s beyond scary!
Posted by: ch | September 30, 2008, 4:06 pm 4:06 pm
Mitchell ought to quit NBC and go to work for the NY Times. This isn’t the first time she’s blown it!!!
Posted by: Chuck | September 30, 2008, 4:08 pm 4:08 pm
I never thought I would agree with Newt Gingrich on anything but I share his disdain for MSNBC.
MSNBC is less credible than FOX and Keith Olbermann is less credible (and even less bearable) than Bill O’Reilly.
Scary …..
Posted by: ch | September 30, 2008, 4:09 pm 4:09 pm
“MSNBC is just wrong,” said Gingrich. “And it is probably wrong deliberately. It is a stunningly dishonest network” coming from Gingrich this is like the pot calling the kettle black. I thought this idiot was gone? Why is he still around?
Posted by: Jenny Rome Ga | September 30, 2008, 4:09 pm 4:09 pm
This entire financial mess smells fishy?
Why did Bush wait until just before the election to announce the crisis when Bush new about the problem for a year?
I don’t believe anything anymore.
Posted by: cluppins | September 30, 2008, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
and what about FOX NEWS?? talk about dishonest they are the spin of the spin network! lie lie no real journalism there
Posted by: angie | September 30, 2008, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
Just another red faced lier to add to the mix!
Posted by: beck | September 30, 2008, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
I dont get it but when msnbc calls out the republicans and speaks the truth the gop WHINES AND CRIES but when fox news lies and twist and spins things about the democrats they ignore it gop=whiney cry babies first nancy pelosi hurt his feelings now msnbc GROW UP!
Posted by: angie | September 30, 2008, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm
Newt is so 20th century. Go haunt some other issue that doesn’t matter.
Posted by: Rodger Lemonde | September 30, 2008, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
Angie, I tune in to these posts every week or so just to see what’s happening. I see idiots on both sides –Obama supporters and McCain supporters. By far, your posts are the most moronic I’ve read.
Posted by: Dorcas Roescher | September 30, 2008, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
Here is a good example of the difference between Obama and McCain…Obama speaking today:
With an eye to casting the bailout deal as a time for patriotic action to save the American economy, Obama did not once mention John McCain. He said that now was not a time for politics or for taking credit or laying blame, and he compared the situation to putting out a fire in a neighbor’s house so that it would not spread to others. “We’ve got to make sure that we put the fire out and then go start making sure that these folks stop leaving the stove on,” he said. “But right now our job is to put out the fire and we can’t forget that.”
Obama said this was no longer just a Wall Street crisis, but an American crisis and that failure to pass a rescue plan could mean thousands of businesses could close around the country, millions of jobs could be lost and a long and painful recession could follow.
Posted by: beck | September 30, 2008, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm
gingrich: the same guy who asked his dying wife for a divorce so he could run off with his much younger mistress.
believe nothing he says.
Posted by: otis | September 30, 2008, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
I hope the press is as diligent harrassing Andrea as they would be a politician. Who gave her this information? Did she just throw this out there? What about Barnacle Bill? Was he just piling on?
Posted by: Steve | September 30, 2008, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
please explain DORCAS do you disagree with me? if you do dont be a moran and state why you disagree!
Posted by: angie | September 30, 2008, 4:35 pm 4:35 pm
Angie, I tune in to these posts every week or so just to see what’s happening. I see idiots on both sides –Obama supporters and McCain supporters. By far, your posts are the most moronic I’ve read.
Posted by: Dorcas Roescher | Sep 30, 2008 4:28:45 PM
Wow! Dorcas, nice contributions, huh? I guess this is the most intellectual post of them all? Precious!
Posted by: D | September 30, 2008, 4:36 pm 4:36 pm
they are all full of it. pubs – dems – fat city financiers – the press in all its forms. they don’t want democarcy they want power and will use any means to get it. damn the people!!
look to Marx and Lenin and Mao for the truth.
Posted by: comrade beria | September 30, 2008, 4:36 pm 4:36 pm
“gop=whiney cry babies first nancy pelosi hurt his feelings now msnbc GROW UP!” Angie, do you understand the concept of a noun and a verb? A complete sentence consists of one of each. Capitalization of proper names would also be appreciated. The incoherence of your rants amuses at first, but quickly becomes tiresome.
Posted by: Dorcas Roescher | September 30, 2008, 4:38 pm 4:38 pm
Andrea Mitchell has lost all credibility. I wouldn’t believe a word she said.
Posted by: marylou | September 30, 2008, 4:40 pm 4:40 pm
Who, on the Democractic side stoodup and explained why this was bad for the people and why did 93 of them sneak around to cast a vote against?
Posted by: linda | September 30, 2008, 4:42 pm 4:42 pm
How about you “angie” cite examples of Fox News lies….msnbc example??? Read above article…
Posted by: checks and balances | September 30, 2008, 4:43 pm 4:43 pm
Newt. Stand up man. You may not have personally called people to tell them not to vote for the bill, but you were damn vocal about your opposition.
Posted by: Danny | September 30, 2008, 4:43 pm 4:43 pm
Obama’s “neighbor’s house on fire analogy” might be relevant if not for the fact that this bailout is not a cure – it’s simply postponing the inevitable by freeing up more credit for additional loans to be made. When I put a neighbor’s house fire out, it doesn’t flare back up to engulf my house eventually – and it also doesn’t cost anywhere near $700 billion. And let’s not lose sight of the fact that it was liberals like Obama and his community organization ACORN that started the fires in the first place that lead to this mortgage mess.
Posted by: marylou | September 30, 2008, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm
Angie, I can’t agree or disagree with you, as I have no idea what you’re trying to say. By the way, moron is spelled “m-o-r-o-n.” “Moran” is someone’s last name.
Posted by: Dorcas Roescher | September 30, 2008, 4:47 pm 4:47 pm
It realy gets scary out there when someone starts to say stuff about our news media. This is a free society and we can listen or watch any program we want but why do so many people watch these SPINNERS of the americian condition. What is black to you is white to them and you are a moron derilect for even saying YOU QUESTION THIER SUPERIOR THINKING! It is rude and ugly and most of America seems to love it. We do need a change and I pray we can cool off some of this stuff. Newt needs to shutup and stay out of my countries govening process he is an evil person who says awful stuff and then acts like we are nuts for hearing what he said.Yes he did get in the middle of this mess and make trouble and he can say otherwise all he wants it does not chnage his doing what he did.
Posted by: Bonnie Kimberly | September 30, 2008, 4:47 pm 4:47 pm
Dorcas what a name I suggest you claim why you really dont like my post.Maybe because there truthful Dont like what you read dont read now shut it and move on.
Posted by: angie | September 30, 2008, 4:48 pm 4:48 pm
Steve: they where on Morning Joe and Andrea said she should not say anything but a very good reliable person called her and told her. Then Barnicle said two people called and told him the same thing. So no they just did not dream this up, and I am glad they spoke up, just another point against the Repugs.
I have a lot of respect for Andrea, she does a great job.
Posted by: beck | September 30, 2008, 4:54 pm 4:54 pm
MSNBC have loyal obamatron bots they all have thrills running up and down their pants when ever Lord Obama the most merciful messiah talks.
Posted by: Obamatron #12332 | September 30, 2008, 4:56 pm 4:56 pm
I NEVER thought I’d agree with Newt Gingrch on anything but I do share his disdain for MSNBC.
MSNBC is less credible than FOX – and that’s just plain scary.
And Keith Olbermann is LESS credible than Bill O’Reilly – and that’s beyond scary!
Posted by: ch | Sep 30, 2008 4:06:32 PM
—————————-
My god you got this all right! The world is upside down….The democrats have been reading the rebub book on total voter fraud to cult politics!
The media is dead, bury it!
Posted by: HP Boston | September 30, 2008, 4:58 pm 4:58 pm
I don’t see what Mitchell would have to gain from making up a story about Gingrich. Other than his bloviating on talk shows, he’s out of politics.
I just don’t see why she’d mention it if there wasn’t some fire beneath the smoke….
Posted by: BBpd | September 30, 2008, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm
Once again….
The “ASTRO TURFERS” are back. Obama Crazies sitting at their computers waiting to attack any Conservative/Republican. Do you all wear Brown Shirts issued by the Obama Campaign?? Do You have lives???
Posted by: Bob | September 30, 2008, 5:11 pm 5:11 pm
I totally believe both Andrea, as it was confirmed by Mike Barnacle!
Newt has much less credibility.
Posted by: MW in PA. | September 30, 2008, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm
I’m shocked, just shocked!, that anyone would suggest that the nutwork which gave us Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews would lie for partisan reasons.
LOL
Posted by: The Deciders | September 30, 2008, 5:48 pm 5:48 pm
mike barnicle? didn’t he get fired for plagarism? is it the same guy?
Posted by: zeb | September 30, 2008, 5:57 pm 5:57 pm
Why not believe it? Gingrich still has this sort of garbage left in him and really does want to become the GOP nominee in 2012 as some sort of conservative savior to come out of the disaster that he thinks McCain is.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | September 30, 2008, 6:08 pm 6:08 pm
I don’t believe Newt for one minute – why the hell would Andrea Mitchell report this story with several sources to back it up – besides, this sounds exactly like the Newt of old and very much in character with his style – opportunist power grab – go back under the rock you crawled out from.
Posted by: moe | September 30, 2008, 6:32 pm 6:32 pm
Angie I’m an Independent that also shares your sentiments regarding the whining about MSNBC by obvious Fox devotees. My question is what are all the republicans so angry and defensive about? McCain’s anger at debates and interviews are palpable. The Republicans came out fuming to cover the fact that they were to afraid to support an unpopular bill. They have been in office the last 8 yrs. It is the American public that should be angry The rest should just be ashamed. I want everyone railing about this bill to remember your anger when it comes to the McCain/Bush tax cuts. The only people that should get tax cuts are middle America, and businesses that create and keep jobs in America. The rest should get penalties. Then maybe people could find and keep good jobs and stay in their homes.
Posted by: Teri | September 30, 2008, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm
Wow! Angie, you seriously need to go back to grade school to learn how to construct a sentence. Learning how to spell wouldn’t hurt either. How do you expect your incoherent babble to be taken seriously?
If you can’t grasp basic grammar and sentence structure, how can you possibly grasp current affairs…
Posted by: NoNonsense | September 30, 2008, 7:14 pm 7:14 pm
Funny Gingrich just shot himelf in the nuts! Bush must of tore his butt up!
Posted by: hmn | September 30, 2008, 7:41 pm 7:41 pm
Gingrich was responsible for the first onslaught of the Republican Party against our democracy, the Contract on America. Not only is he a philanderer of the worst kind, his early retirement from the House was fraught with rumors of serious personal problems.
Posted by: Steve from Danville | September 30, 2008, 8:22 pm 8:22 pm
I noticed that Fox News has a twist on their reportage, the leg shot. Every time they are reporting favorably about Obama, (this morning it was about favorable polling numbers from battleground states,) the camera pulls away for a leg shot of the blonde. It’s enough to make a man forget what the anchor blonde lady is saying. That’s stooping pretty low, Fox News, but keep it up anyway.
Posted by: Steve from Danville | September 30, 2008, 8:30 pm 8:30 pm
Hey, I found steve from queerville.
Posted by: Harold D | September 30, 2008, 10:54 pm 10:54 pm
BOY I SURE DO BELEIVE GINGRICH, ANYBODY THAT IS HONEST KNOW MSNBC WITH THE LOWEST RATINGS IS OBAMA NETWORK, DONT YOU ALL REMEMBER WHAT THEY DID TO HILLARY?????? IT WAS DISGUSTING!!!! SHE WAS TRASHED SO MANY TIMES, NOW THEY ARE GOING AFTER MCCAIN AND PALIN AND ANYONE THAT IS REPUBLICAN, NOT DEFENDING THEM BUT I HATE MSNBC AND NBC, THEY HAVE BEEN ON A MISSION FROM THE START TO ELECT OBAMA, I DO NOT VOTE THE PARTY, I VOTE THE PERSON, AND I JUST CANNOT VOTE FOR OBAMA. AND IT IS A FACT THAT THE FIRST BILL THAT WAS PUT OUT THERE HAD THAT SCANDAL GROUP ACORN IN IT, THEY WERE GOING TO GET MILLIONS , THAT WAS TAKEN OUT, NO WALL ST. CEOS WILL GET MONEY FOR FAILED CORPORATIONS, THERE WAS ALOT TAKEN OUT, AND THANKS TO MCCAIN WHO DID DO SOMETHING. AND HE GETS NO CREDIT. ANDREA MITCHELL IS A LIER AND SHE NEEDS TO RECUSE HERSELF, THIS WHOLE BAILOUT HAS SOME TIES TO HER HUSBAND GREENSPAN, AND SHE KNOWS IT IF THERE IS EVER AN INVESTIGATION.
Posted by: Sandra | October 1, 2008, 12:02 am 12:02 am
I wish Angie and Dorcas would just invite us all to a cat fight rather than insulting each other here.
Posted by: Thomas | October 2, 2008, 1:58 am 1:58 am
If Rick Davis is MORE CORRUPT than Acorn, Why does Capital Socialists only focus on Acorn.
Say No to McCains Pork add on’s to the Bill.
Say No to Wooden Arrows.(If wood=Metal, then you can figure out Arrows) :)
Say No to WallStreet Rescue
Watch CNN and MSNBC
Checkout Turning Points, with Tom Brokow, for History Outlines and Debates. Including JFK’s Debate.
Call Your House Reps. and say NO to ADDED PORK.
Vote INDEPENDENT
SAY NO to PORK for RACETRACKS. Gambling on Wall Street Has already Gambled AWAY Americas FREEDOM.
VOTE NO TO CONGRESS PORK
VOTE NO TO CONGRESS PORK
VOTE NO TO CONGRESS PORK
VOTE NO TO CONGRESS PORK
VOTE NO TO CONGRESS PORK
VOTE NO TO CONGRESS PORK
VOTE NO TO CONGRESS PORK
VOTE NO TO CONGRESS PORK
See McCain sounding like Palin on CNN and MSNBC. AVOIDING the QUESTIONS, and Changing the Subject.
Posted by: historyremembered | October 2, 2008, 9:03 am 9:03 am