Gingrich Denies Whipping Against Bailout

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Gingrich Denies Whipping Against Bailout

September 30, 2008 4:00 PM

ABC 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.

September 30, 2008 in McCain, John, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans, Washington, White House | Permalink | User Comments (44)

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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 | Sep 30, 2008 4:06:32 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 | Sep 30, 2008 4:08:11 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 | Sep 30, 2008 4:09:08 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 | Sep 30, 2008 4:09:32 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 | Sep 30, 2008 4:12:03 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 | Sep 30, 2008 4:12:31 PM

Just another red faced lier to add to the mix!

Posted by: beck | Sep 30, 2008 4:21:55 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 | Sep 30, 2008 4:23:50 PM

Newt is so 20th century. Go haunt some other issue that doesn't matter.

Posted by: Rodger Lemonde | Sep 30, 2008 4:28:21 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

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 | Sep 30, 2008 4:30:37 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 | Sep 30, 2008 4:33:40 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 | Sep 30, 2008 4:33:45 PM

please explain DORCAS do you disagree with me? if you do dont be a moran and state why you disagree!

Posted by: angie | Sep 30, 2008 4:35:51 PM

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 | Sep 30, 2008 4:36:29 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 | Sep 30, 2008 4:36:52 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 | Sep 30, 2008 4:38:31 PM

Andrea Mitchell has lost all credibility. I wouldn't believe a word she said.

Posted by: marylou | Sep 30, 2008 4:40:11 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 | Sep 30, 2008 4:42:36 PM

How about you "angie" cite examples of Fox News lies....msnbc example??? Read above article...

Posted by: checks and balances | Sep 30, 2008 4:43:05 PM

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