Romney Calls on Gingrich to Release Freddie Mac Report
EmailGREENVILLE, S.C. — Mitt Romney for the first time called on former Speaker Newt Gingrich today to release the reports he wrote for Freddie Mac.
“Speaker Gingrich worked for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. By the way, didn’t he say he was going to release information about his relationship there?” Romney asked this morning at a drop-by event at his campaign headquarters in Greenville. “Let’s see what report he wrote for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, what the conclusions were and what the contract looked like. I thought he said he was going to do that. And let’s have him describe his relationships in Washington.”
Romney said Gingrich, who has maintained that he was a “historian” for the mortgage lender during the 2000s despite receiving $1.6 million over nine years in “consulting fees,” should release the reports, which he dubbed a “big issue,” so that the public could see what he “actually” said.
“I’d like to see what the report was that he provided to Freddie Mac, I’d like to see what he advised,” Romney said. “He said he was an historian and just provided historical information, then he said he told them what they were doing was somehow not going to work. I’d like to see the report. ”
“He also said that he was one of the authors of the Reagan revolution economically and created these jobs. Now that we’ve looked at the Reagan diaries and seen he’s mentioned only once and in a way where Reagan said he was wrong, I’d like to see what he actually told Freddie Mac,” Romney said. “Don’t you think we ought to see it? This is a big issue. We’ve got Washington insider talking about Freddie Mac, let’s see what his report was to Freddie Mac, what he said to them, what advice he gave them.”
Romney’s request comes as he has spent the week explaining why he will not release his tax returns until April, an issue that surrogate and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley brought up during the event this morning.
“All this issue about the tax returns, he’s doing it, he’s going to do it in April, he’s going to show ‘em, and what we’re going to see is he was successful. We’re going to see that he paid on time,” Haley said. “We’re going to see that he paid at the rate that he was supposed to. What I will tell you is that we’ve got some other candidates who don’t want to show things. We’re going to continue to wait and see what happens, but I tell you tonight is going to be a great night. We’re going to celebrate.”
Romney also said he wished he’d been invited to join the conference call President Obama hosted last night with donors to solicit ideas for his State of the Union address.
“I wasn’t invited on the call, but it was unfortunate, because I would have had a lot to say,” Romney said. “First, I would have told him, isn’t it time to actually put together a plan to create jobs in America?”
“I think it would be wonderful if we could have a couple of people on the president’s conference call,” he said. “Maybe that’s going to require somebody giving $10 or $15 to his campaign, but it may be worth it to see if we can help him craft a different message for the State of the Union.”
When a woman nearby yelled something about Obama’s “cash for clunkers” program, Romney turned her remark into a new catch phrase.
“Yeah, that’s right, he had a plan to get the whole economy going, cash for clunkers,” Romney replied. “So we’re going to, that’s not a bad idea, Obama is the clunker. We don’t need cash to get rid of that clunker, we just need votes.”
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It appears Romney has forgotten about releasing his tax returns. Newt did.
Posted by: NoFlyZone2 | January 21, 2012, 2:23 pm 2:23 pm
Gingrich is a magician!! Too bad his chastising the media was enough to give him a big boost despite his overall bad record over the years, e.g. Fannie Mae, his censure and pitiful personal record. He just says sorry or makes a bombastic statement all is forgiven..Until next time and believe me, there will be a next time, a leopard does not change its spots. I have so say the guy is a magician at deflecting peoples attention. His minuses far our weigh his pluses when his total career is reviewed. Hypocrisy is not the sole purview of the extreme left or right. The problem is voters who overlook it. I am voting for Romney. I trust his integrity and economic ability. He is rich, but earned it himself and knows how to help encourage business growth and prosperity. I hear attacks on his integrity, with no fact to back it up..He has lived a pretty clean life and I have been watching for many years. . I will take Romney any day. He is no magician, he is the real deal.
Posted by: Connie Davis | January 21, 2012, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
Romney:”“First, I would have told him, isn’t it time to actually put together a plan to create jobs in America?””
We’ve added 3 million private sector jobs since Obama took office. We’re in the 22nd straight month of private sector job growth. It seems Romney’s plan is to just continue lying about Obama’s record on jobs.
Posted by: RAVEN | January 21, 2012, 2:43 pm 2:43 pm
This is an interesting development… Months ago, Newt said that the report he wrote warned them about many insolvency problems, which they ignored. If this report does get released – and it may not be his decision – but it appears “prescient” in any way… Romney’s done. On the other hand, if the report sounds like it was written by Barney Frank – Newt’s done.
The real question is, did Romney know what’s in the report before he asked?
Posted by: jrobinson | January 21, 2012, 2:57 pm 2:57 pm
I’m not voting for ANY Republican.
Posted by: Jeanne | January 21, 2012, 3:15 pm 3:15 pm
It’s only fair
Posted by: Shawna | January 21, 2012, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm
RINO romney(care) is getting more and more desperate.
Posted by: TeaPartyNation | January 21, 2012, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm
Ron Paul is the only straight shooter amongst the GOP candidates. He is the only one that stands a chance at defeating Obama. Obama does not want a debate with Ron Paul….
Posted by: Ash_From_S-mart | January 21, 2012, 3:42 pm 3:42 pm
This is interesting. The issue of Fannie Mae and Freddie Max will reveal a lot of stuff about who knows what he is talking about and who does not. YES YES YES Gingrich MUST release that report. My question is why is it not public knowledge now?? We will know for sure if Gingrich can REALLY deal with problems and see the corruption BUT MORE IMPORTANT can he give the right answer on how to resolve what was discovered!
Posted by: Tom | January 21, 2012, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm
I’d say with Newt releasing his tax returns, it’d be Romney’s turn to release his.
Plus we got all that earful from Newt’s ex. Maybe Romney’s wife will tell them about their antics in the bedroom now, that’d also be fair.
I want to know, did he ever ask her to wear a thong and high heels. Romney – you dirty Mormon you.
yeah, I went on a tangent…I thought we were all on a tangent. LOL – I mean, who really wants to read what report he wrote for Freddie Mac – is that somehow an issue now.
Romney, release the business meetings from when you ran the Olympics —What??? Where does it end?
Posted by: RoboBobo | January 21, 2012, 3:46 pm 3:46 pm
It’s fun watching these rich guys stalk around in their “I feel your conservative pain” camouflage clothes while trying to flush votes out of the rank and file so that they can win the big one and go party with the millionaires in DC. If they could just keep those pesky red flags from popping up wherever they have embarrassing documents hidden. How are you supposed to fool people if you can’t camouflage the truth?! Maybe Newt will let go of Mitt’s taxes if Mitt will forget about Fannie and Freddie. Is it a deal boys?
Posted by: sameagain | January 21, 2012, 4:06 pm 4:06 pm
It appears Romney has forgotten about releasing his tax returns. Newt did.
Posted by: NoFlyZone2
____________-
Gingrich released his tax return for only one year. Gingrich wants Romney to release tax returns for multiple years.
If Romney broke no laws, I’m not sure what Gingrich wants to see in them
Posted by: spike | January 21, 2012, 4:20 pm 4:20 pm
t’s fun watching these rich guys stalk around in their “I feel your conservative pain” camouflage clothes while trying to flush votes out of the rank and file so that they can win the big one and go party with the millionaires in DC.
Posted by: sameagain
______________
It will be even more fun watching YOUR hero make his concession speech as a result of all those billions of dollars in TAXPAYER money going to Solyndra resulting in massive layoffs
Posted by: ivan | January 21, 2012, 4:26 pm 4:26 pm
Gingrich is a magician!! Too bad his chastising the media was enough to give him a big boost despite his overall bad record over the years, e.g. Fannie Mae, his censure and pitiful personal record. He just says sorry or makes a bombastic statement all is forgiven..Until next time and believe me, there will be a next time, a leopard does not change its spots. I have so say the guy is a magician at deflecting peoples attention. His minuses far our weigh his pluses when his total career is reviewed. Hypocrisy is not the sole purview of the extreme left or right. The problem is voters who overlook it. I am voting for Romney. I trust his integrity and economic ability. He is rich, but earned it himself and knows how to help encourage business growth and prosperity. I hear attacks on his integrity, with no fact to back it up..He has lived a pretty clean life and I have been watching for many years. . I will take Romney any day. He is no magician, he is the real deal.
Posted by: Connie Davis
____________________
I wouldn’t worry Connie. No election results have been announced in SC yet and the polls actually show a neck and neck race. Not a landslide victory for Gingrich. Romney still has a good chance.
Even if Gingrich wins SC, he is hardly in a position to win the nomination. He still has to win the rest of the primary states and Romney is in the lead in all the rest.
Posted by: ivan | January 21, 2012, 4:40 pm 4:40 pm
IVAN | January 21, 2012, 4:26 PM, SAID:
“(whine, whine, etc.)…as a result of all those billions of dollars in TAXPAYER money going to Solyndra resulting in massive layoffs.”
===================================
LOL! @ “billions of dollars”…. please go educate yourself. It was $500 million. You’re confusing Solyndra with the Republican sponsored “WMD” war (Iraq), which will end up costing the American taxpayer $2.5 TRILLION, when all is said and done (including the cost to refurbish the nation’s military and veteran health care cost). One has to just laugh at the “shallowness” of some “little Rs”…. crying over Solyndra, after the trillion dollar Iraq War fiasco. Give me a break from laughing please.
And……even more hilarious……Ivan’s comment, “resulting in ‘massive’ layoffs”….. LOL! … Solyndra laid off 1,100 employees. Now, let’s compare that eleven-hundred to the last two months of G.W. Bush when the nation was experienced 800,000 lay-offs each month. …. any comments there Ivan?
Posted by: Shallow Rs Are Fun to Laugh At | January 21, 2012, 4:59 pm 4:59 pm
Obama Wins!!! The Republicans are a bunch of misfits. What a joke just like last time.
Obama will win and he doesn’t really have to do anything. Republicans have already defeated themselves AGAIN!!!!
Posted by: em | January 21, 2012, 5:33 pm 5:33 pm
Anyone who would vote for either one of these crooked morons needs their head examined.
Posted by: Ray | January 21, 2012, 6:01 pm 6:01 pm
I recently saw a bumper sticker that read: If you voted for Obama to prove you’re not racist, then vote against him to prove you’re not stupid.
Posted by: Danielle | January 21, 2012, 6:19 pm 6:19 pm
Since the economy is getting better, and the “job creators” are still fighting for tax relief, the republicans are no longer debating who actually has a plan, but which one is more corrupt. I would like to see a real debate, I would like to listen to real ideas, but we have to listen to a man who has proven he has no marriage morals can tell the country he supports defence of marriage, and another candidate says he knows how to create jobs, when his only history is moving stocks of companies for his own profit. The third idiot is telling us god is telling him how to govern us. Whe Obama wins, I hope you conservatives will keep your mouths shut, because it is the complete failure of your candidates to know how to run for president.
Posted by: vissionquest | January 21, 2012, 6:28 pm 6:28 pm
The Freddie Mac information will come out in Florida. I also think people will have time to process last week and will hold Newt accountable for his past behaviors, not just with his wives but his dealing as Speaker and his hypocrisy towards Clinton. On the other hand, Mitt Romney is far away from the average American and he is weak.
Posted by: Lilly | January 22, 2012, 8:15 am 8:15 am