Monday, November 28, 2011

GINGRICH and the UNION LEADER

The following will be the first of a succession of commentaries on Newt Gingrich aimed at illuminating his career and highlighting concerns over the multiple positions he has enjoyed in his personal and political lives that would be appropriate considerations for support by individuals and groups.

On Sunday, November 27, the Union Leader, one of New Hampshire's leading purveyors of news, headlined its support for Newt Gingrich. In its endorsement, over the imprimatur of its publisher, Joseph W. McQuaid and its Editorial Page Editor, Andrew Cline, we find the rationale for the paper's endorsement:

Courage, Conviction, Core Beliefs, Innovation, Experience, Leadership and Vision. These descriptives are interwoven in an editorial matrix that was unique in its ability to say little when so much was readily available. The endorsement concludes with this quote
" A lot of candidates say they're going to improve Washington. Newt Gingrich has actually done that "

Mr Cline subsequently stated " Gingrich is a guy who wants to be respected. We would rather have the guy who wants to be respected ."
These quotes seem the real basis of the paper's endorsement.
We will shortly develop a theme that Newt Gingrich really improved Newt Gingrich.......and that Washington is in far worse shape than when Newt first arrived in the Capitol in 1978. We will also examine the rationale by which Gingrich has earned and deserves the respect of Messrs. McQuaid and Cline. First....

POLITICAL CAREER / LEADERSHIP
Gingrich was first elected to the Congress in 1977. He subsequently was reelected to 10 successive terms, culminating in his election as Speaker of the House in 1995. Gingrich resigned from the House in 1998, THREE DAYS after being reelected to an 11th term. One is encouraged to ask WHY did he leave so abruptly and how was Washington improved during his tenure to earn the fawning endorsement of McQuaid and Cline?

Rumors of improper ethics have floated around Gingrich since 1994. Many were often just partisan politics. But formal complaints against the Speaker caused the GOP controlled House to constitute a special investigative committee, chaired by Rep. Porter Goss ( Rep - Fla) to investigate charges. The committee hired a Special Counsel, James M. Cole, to coordinate and direct the investigation.
The Final Report of the Special Counsel to the Committee, in 1998, concluded that Gingrich had violated tax law and lied to the entire panel, conclusions that would support censure and expulsion. Gingrich had already admitted that he brought discredit to the House and broke its rules by failing to ensure that financing for two projects that he personally benefited from would not violate federal tax laws and for giving false information to the investigative committee. The House decided not to bring more serious charges against Gingrich in exchange for an unprecedented fine of $ 300,000 and a formal reprimand, approved by an overwhelming vote of 395-28.
It was the FIRST TIME in the 208 year history of the HOUSE that a Speaker had been disciplined for ethical wrongdoing.
Rep Mark Sanford ( Rep-SC ) said that had he known what was in the ethics committee report, he would NOT have voted for Gingrich as Speaker. " The gray got grayer when you read the report", Sanford said. " When I think of my three boys and what kind of an example I want to set for them for leadership in this country, gray is NOT the example."
Rep Bob Livingston ( Rep - LA ) said that Gingrich "....has been a lightning rod for controversy ever since he steered his party to a majority in 1994 and took control of the Speaker's gavel." Livingston , of course , referred to Gingrich's history of controversy as Speaker including two partial shutdowns of the government and a well publicized personal fit over seating on AF One.

Gingrich has had a long history of the misuse of tax exempt funds by his political action committee GOPAC. Later commentaries will address issues of public and private morality, lobbying, insider trading and payoffs, absent ethics, political flip flops, etc. Particular attention will be directed at examining the tenets of the Union Leader's support including " Core beliefs", "Convictions", " Vision " as manifested in Gingrich's formation of a think tank named " The Center for Health Transformation " that funneled $ 37 MM to Gingrich while advocating that " anyone who earns more than $ 50,000 per year MUST purchase health insurance or post a bond" This " core belief " and " vision " of Gingrich, subsequently known as a MANDATE, netted the former Speaker a King's Ransom of fees. Of course, his core beliefs caused him to later deny his support of mandates, but......he kept the money.
We''l also talk about conflicts of interest, such as payments by Rupert Murdoch's publishing company and a contract with Murdoch's Wall Street Journal of $ 120 ,000 per year as an " advisor.".
Yes, my friends, there is lots to discuss about that paragon of virtue, the guy who wants to be respected by more than Andrew Cline and the Union Leader, the leader whose vision is focused upon himself, the architect of a changed Washington....who left the Congress 13 years ago and has since acquired net worth of $ 6.5 million and a thriving media company run by his third wife
It will be interesting. Gingrich is a veritable cornucopia for this degree of analysis and vetting.
Tune In !!!

CraigS

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Craig, I'm very glad to see that you intend to keep writing about Newt, and I look forward to more info. someone needs to vett Newt, and the media doesn't seem interested.

I always learn a lot from your insight here and over at race. I'm sure I speak for many when I say we appreciate your efforts.

-Martha