Romney presses Gingrich on Freddie Mac fees
Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign is turning the tables on Newt Gingrich, putting the squeeze on the former House Speaker to disclose details of his financial relationship with Freddie Mac.
The Romney camp scheduled a conference call Monday morning to talk to reporters about Gingrich’s work as a “historian” (quote marks supplied by the campaign) for the government-owned mortgage finance giant.
Romney campaign surrogates former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and Will Weatherford, Speaker Designate of the Florida House of Representatives, will be on the conference call — with the call code name “Definitely Not a Lobbyist.”
Gingrich has said he never worked as a lobbyist since stepping down as House Speaker in 1999. The question of whether Gingrich was a lobbyist came up during a Republican presidential debate in November. The former House Speaker initially said he was retained by Freddie Mac as a historian but later acknowledged he’d received consulting fees from the financially troubled mortgage giant for providing “strategic advice.”
(Read Sam Youngman’s story for more on what Gingrich has said about payments from Freddie Mac.)
While the Romney press office gave no details on what’s to come in the Monday morning call, Romney gave a preview Sunday in Florida — the next prize in the Republican presidential primary sweepstakes.
Fresh from his stinging loss to Gingrich in Saturday’s South Carolina contest, Romney said the former House Speaker “has not had a record of successful leadership” and called on his rival to release details of his contract with Freddie Mac.
Stephen Colbert, Herman Cain team up at South Carolina rally
Stephen Colbert, who last week announced that he would explore a “possible candidacy for the president of the United States of South Carolina,” is joining forces with former GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain at a rally — dubbed the “Rock Me Like a Herman Cain: South Cain-olina Primary Rally” – in Charleston today.
Colbert is not on the ballot in South Carolina because he missed the filing deadline by several months, but Cain, who suspended his bid for the White House on December 3, still is, and Colbert is asking supporters to vote for Cain in his stead. South Carolina permits Democrats and Independents to vote in the state’s Republican primary.
“Herman Cain is my main man,” Colbert said in an appearance on Morning Joe this morning. “He’s my main man with a tax plan so fine, they called it 9-9-9. The Mad Max of the flat tax. Herman Cain has qualities that I admire — he’s a family man, he’s pro business, and he has something I don’t think I’ll ever have: a place on the South Carolina ballot.”
Watch highlights from the rally, via ReutersTV:
The 666 Plan is the better plan. Just maybe the 999 is too steep for the poor.
No its not the anti christ but 6% Sales tax, corporate tax, capital gains tax, and death estate tax is a ” Slam Dunk”!
666 works for Independents!
Gingrich rejects “open marriage” question, blames media
Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich got the Republican candidates debate in Charleston off to a lively start Thursday night with an angry denial of charges a former wife made in an interview that came two days before the South Carolina primary.
Here’s an excerpt from the debate on CNN:
Ex-wife Marianne Gingrich accused the former House Speaker of week of asking her for an “open marriage” when he was having an affair.
Here’s an excerpt from her interview with ABC’s “Nightline.”
video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player
Front Photo Credit: REUTERS/Jason Reed (Gingrich with wife Callista after the debate in Charleston)
As I recall, in one of the earlier debates, ALL the candidates agreed (even Newt) that adulterous affairs and the way you treat your spouse IS ‘fair game’ and an indicator of your moral character.
The question regarding his behavior during his marriage was FAIR, and certainly would be of interest and importance to people — at least those who believe being able to keep promises, honor your commitments, and not DECEIVE a loved one says something about the person’s general honesty, morality and character.
The MAIN thing this issue says about Newt, though, is that he is a great big hypocrite. He was having his 6-year, covert affair with Callista; and, at the same time, giving speeches about family values and the sanctity of marriage; as well as pushing for articles of Impeachment against Clinton for actions he took to cover up HIS adulterous affair.
Marianne had the chance, during the interview, to hang Newt on the questions the interviewer asked about ETHICS charges. BUT SHE DID NOT. She DEFENDED HIM on those.
Biased people will evidently shut their eyes and ears — giving credence ONLY to news networks/organizations that confirm their own views. Biased people will always find a way to disbelieve anything negative about their own ‘chosen one’.
How are conservatives who do that any different than the ones referred to as “Obama Kool Aid Drinkers”?
Washington Extra – Home alone
When it comes to fixing the housing market in this election year, it’s a battle between the “ineffective” and the “do-nothing.”
President Obama’s relief measures for homeowners facing foreclosure have fallen far short of objectives. Republican candidates, meanwhile, prefer to let the marketplace work its magic. Prices will then hit bottom and begin to recover.
The hands-off approach might not cause too much damage to Republicans in South Carolina. But when the race moves to foreclosure-heavy states such as Florida and Nevada, Republican candidates could find themselves having to explain why they don’t want to help any homeowners.
Obama can’t show much in the way of results, but he can reveal a bit of a heart. And he’ll get another chance to show that in next week’s State of the Union, where he is expected to offer another gesture of support for troubled homeowners.
Here are our top stories from Washington…
Gingrich camp heads off ex-wife interview
The Gingrich campaign launched a preemptive strike as news spread that ABC plans to broadcast a potentially damaging interview with Newt Gingrich’s second ex-wife on Thursday – just two days before Saturday’s crucial South Carolina primary.
Gingrich’s daughters (from his first marriage) Kathy Lubbers and Jackie Cushman came to their father’s defense in a letter released by his presidential campaign.
“The failure of a marriage is a terrible and emotional experience for everyone involved. Anyone who has had that experience understands it is a personal tragedy filled with regrets, and sometimes differing memories of events,” the daughters said in the letter addressed to ABC News Leadership.
“We will not say anything negative about our father’s ex-wife. He has said before, privately and publicly, that he regrets any pain he may have caused in the past to people he loves,” the letter said.
The daughters also said the former House Speaker intends to stay on message, suggesting one thing he will not be talking about in South Carolina is the ABC interview.
“ABC News or other campaigns may want to talk about the past, just days before an important primary election. But Newt is going to talk to the people of South Carolina about the future… We are confident this is the conversation the people of South Carolina are interested in having,” they said.
Gingrich, who’s married, has been divorced twice and admitted to cheating on his first two wives, including while he led the charge to impeach former President Bill Clinton for the Monica Lewinsky affair.
Gingrich addressed the issue earlier in the campaign. A renewed spotlight on his past domestic troubles could not have come at a worse time.
This is a man in love with himself. If he is sleeping around personally, why not politically? Toledofan, divorce is a lot more common these days, it’s true, but that hasn’t changed it into a character asset! What happens if you vote for him because he said,”X”; and he does Y? What if he does something that you absolutely hate and never dreamed he would do based on the promises he made to you during the election? You can’t divorce him for four years! Personally, I wish politicians’ sexual exploits were left out of the mix.
Newt Super PAC imagines Romney-Obama debate
A Pro-Newt Super PAC posted an animated version of how a general debate between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney as the Republican nominee would look.
The video titled “Obama’s Dream Debate” shows a cartoon Obama, voiced remarkably well, not only trouncing Romney in a debate but pointing out just how much the two have in common.
Winning Our Future is the same PAC that made a short campaign film attacking Romney as a “corporate raider” while head of Bain Capital, an ad Gingrich eventually asked to be pulled because of inaccuracies.
Speaking over a peppy jingle, the Obama character talks about their shared views on abortion, gun control and health care.
“Let me be clear, I agree with Governor Romney on many things. For instance, abortion, he was pro-choice most of his adult life. So was I,” Obama says happily. He points out that up until Romney became “presidential candidate Romney” they had always agreed. The animated Romney tries to interject but Obama talks over him.
The video ends with Obama getting the last word.
“As presidential candidate Romney, I don’t even know the guy. Then again he doesn’t seem to know himself,” Obama says.
Washington Extra – The Keystone cudgel
President Obama had until the end of February to make a decision on the Keystone oil sands pipeline, but he made his move today. And, predictably, he rejected the $7 billion project. That keeps him in good standing with his environmental base for November 2012 but creates new tensions with his Republican foes.
Republicans had forced Obama to make a decision in 60 days as part of the deal for the two-month payroll tax cut extension. House Speaker John Boehner quickly reacted to the rejection by saying “all options are on the table” to craft a bill to fight for the pipeline.
But Boehner may not have many options. If the Republicans push for a bill to get approval for Keystone, the president can veto it. If they choose to make it a bargaining chip in talks for a full-year extension of the payroll tax cuts, they will likely meet fierce resistance from Democrats. We are hearing Boehner just wants to seal the payroll tax cut extension and move on after his painful capitulation in the December deal.
Perhaps Republicans should just be content to wield the Keystone cudgel on the campaign trail rather than in Congress. Mitt Romney showed how to use it pretty effectively today, blasting Obama for “his lack of seriousness” by putting electoral considerations before national interests.
Here are our top stories from Washington…
Obama Administration rejects Keystone oil pipeline The Obama administration rejected the Keystone crude oil pipeline project, a decision welcomed by environmental groups but blasted by the domestic energy industry. Obama said TransCanada’s application was denied because the State Department did not have enough time to complete the review process. Lawmakers that support the project forced a decision by attaching a measure to a tax-cut law passed at the end of last year.
For more of this story by Jeff Mason and Roberta Rampton, read here.
By George, Romney would not be the richest U.S. president
A furor over his refusal to release his tax records has focused renewed attention on Mitt Romney’s vast personal fortune, which puts him in the top tier of wealthy Americans.
But Romney would not be the richest president in U.S. history if he becomes the Republican presidential nominee and defeats President Barack Obama (net worth: $5 million) in November. He’d be the second richest. And to find a wealthier one, in the long line of the mostly well-to-do men who have held the country’s highest office, you’d have to go way back. Way, way back, in fact — all the way to 1789, when George Washington became the first president.
The former private equity executive Romney is worth an estimated $250 million to $270 million, but his pile pales besides that of the father of his country, whose holdings are estimated at $525 million in today’s dollars.
According to 247wallst.com, which analyzed the finances of all the presidents, Washington owned “Mount Vernon,” his Virginia plantation of five separate farms on 8,000 acres of prime farmland, and more than 300 slaves. He also made far more money than later presidents, with a salary set at 2 percent of the country’s budget.
Romney’s exact worth is not known because he has not released his tax returns, but if the $250 million to $270 million estimate were to hold true, he would come in second, behind Washington and just ahead of another Virginia slave owner, Thomas Jefferson, the third U.S. president. Jefferson ended his life deep in debt, but as president he owned Monticello, his 5,000-acre Virginia plantation, and dozens of slaves. He also made “significant money” in a variety of political positions before becoming president.
Forbes also puts Washington in first place, although it does not put Jefferson at number two. The magazine’s pick for the second spot is Herbert Hoover, who took office in 1929, just in time for the stock market crash and the Great Depression. Hoover, Forbes noted in 2011, was earning $2.5 million a year — adjusted for inflation — nearly 20 years before he became president.
last usa trip
horror…hip-hop gangster,drugs old cars,dirty streets and people.
USA GO WORK AND NO BLABLABLABLA
TODAY IS EU(HALF EUROPE) X 1,45 richer than north america
no hitler=no trouble in europe= no rich and strong USA
goodnight white cristian man in USA
Sarah Palin: I’d vote for Gingrich “to keep things going”
Sarah Palin gave a qualifying endorsement of presidential candidate Newt Gingrich on Tuesday, a week after her husband also endorsed him.
In an interview with Fox television host Sean Hannity on Tuesday, Palin said that if she were a South Carolina voter she would cast her ballot for the former Speaker of the House in Saturday’s primary.
“If I had to vote in South Carolina, in order to keep things going, I’d vote for Newt,” she said. Using a quote from the bible she said she wanted the race to continue because, “iron sharpens iron, steel sharpens steel.”
Rivals have been unable to dent Mitt Romney’s status as the frontrunner of the Republican race for the party nomination. Gingrich is one of several candidates who have risen up as a more conservative alternative, and challenger, to Romney.
While not a ringing endorsement, this is the closest Palin has gotten to formally siding with any candidate. Palin, a popular Tea Party conservative, started her own political action committee and toured the country giving speeches and raising money before announcing in October that she would not run for the nomination.
Her PAC website includes a list of “Palin Picks,” but no presidential candidates are listed.
Maybe a Christmas card from a “President Gingrich” could feature Newt with his 3 wives. How would that sit with Ms. Palin?
Santorum staffer questions whether God wants women presidents
A staffer in Rick Santorum’s presidential campaign is under fire for an email suggesting a female commander-in-chief could be at odds with the Bible’s teachings.
The Des Moines Register last week reported that Santorum’s Iowa coalitions director, Jamie Johnson, sent an email over the summer asking, ‘Is it God’s highest desire, that is, his biblically expressed will … to have a woman rule the institutions of the family, the church, and the state?”
Michele Bachmann, a social conservative who campaigned heavily in Iowa, competed with Santorum over the conservative evangelical vote in the Iowa caucuses. She dropped out of the race after a dismal finish in the Iowa race.
This weekend Peter Waldron, Bachmann’s faith outreach coordinator, said the email was proof that Santorum had engaged in a “sexist strategy” to sabotage Bachmann. He demanded an apology from Santorum and called for Johnson’s firing.
The recent spat brings the issue of sexism in conservative politics to the fore again. When Bachmann ended her campaign, political observers wondered whether conservative perceptions of women and Bachmann’s own alignment with the Christian right and disavowal of feminism had been her undoing.
The Des Moines Register said that in the final weeks of her campaign Bachmann’s aides began to complain that sexism was a problem in Iowa’s religious conservative community, even as her aides deflected questions from reporters on the topic.
I was an investigative journalist in Boston in the 70′s during the White administration. So I come with a journalist’s perspective to this post.
What a stupid news story! So what if one of Santorum’s staffers has a private opinion about women leading the nation? How exactly does that tell us ANYTHING about the candidate? (No, I am not a Santorum supporter).
I can’t believe there’s not more news out there worth of Reuters. Can you find any NEWS stories. Can you explore the major issues and contrasts and feed us some NEW facts? Can you uncover something the public needs to know? I haven’t seen ONE good story come from the media uncovering ANYTHING Barak Obama is doing or has done in the dark. Somebody there look into his ties with Islam. There real news there if you get behind his relationship to CAIR. Financially follow the path to Soros. Let’s see some real news. OK?
