Gingrich holds call with Iowans to address attacks
New York, New York (CNN) – Newt Gingrich vowed to hold regularly a “Newt conference call” with Iowans to directly address negative attacks on his record.
“We just decided that we would from now to the caucus on a regular basis, make available to anyone in Iowa who wants to ask a question so that we can tell the truth, and we can systematically allow you to understand the facts rather than the various political attacks and the political charges,” Gingrich said in his first tele-town hall on Saturday.
The current frontrunner addressed his ties to Freddie Mac, his anti-abortion voting record, and charges that he is not a true conservative.
“I am clearly a very solid conservative, and I am a conservative who can actually work in a bipartisan way to get conservative principles enacted into law, not just speak about them but get them into law,” he said.
Fighting back lobbyist claims, Gingrich defended the $1.6 million he received in consulting fees from the federally-backed mortgage giant Freddie Mac.
“We had a company. The company had three different offices. We were paid annually for six years so the numbers you see are six years of work. Most of that money went to pay for overhead, for staff, for other things that didn’t go directly to me. It went to the company, which provided consulting advice,” Gingrich said.
“I have never once advocated that people do something for Fannie or Freddie. I do not in any way work on influence per se,” the former House speaker said. “I actually suggested they needed more regulations, and that’s actually in writing on their website so you can go look at it yourself.”
Gingrich also explained his pro-life record after it was questioned by other White House hopefuls and anti-abortion groups.
He reiterated what he said at Thursday night’s debate in Sioux City: “I have a 98.6 percent career voting record with a national right to life organization. The only vote we disagreed on was the first welfare reform bill, which didn’t mention abortion. They had this indirect theory that if you made single mothers go to work that somehow it might lead to more abortions. Nobody else agreed with them.”
“Otherwise I have a hundred percent voting record with them over a 20 year period. Twice we passed partial birth abortion bans when I was speaker. Both times President Clinton vetoed it. So to suggest in any way that I was at all in favor of partial birth abortion is just frankly a falsehood.”
Gingrich said he is inclined to hold a conference call with Iowans “every couple of days” leading up to the Jan. 3 caucuses to address attacks on his record. Earlier this week the presidential candidate called on his supporters and staff to “avoid initiating attacks” on his opponents, but he “reserved the right to respond when my record has been distorted."
On Saturday’s conference call, he said, “I feel badly about having to have this kind of a phone call just to dispel negative things.”
Also see:
Gingrich 'editing' his words as campaign acknowledges concern
Bachmann camp: Gingrich morphs positions based on 'who's paying'
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The GOP tele-tubby has a tele-call? How cute!
Now everyone can hear why the Gingeritch should be the Grand Lizard of the Party of hate, fear, & greed.
"We must stomp out that hope thing"
Guess Gingrich will be awfuly busy – since his corruption record is very long and his personal ethics problems still go on to add to that list too. If Gingrich cannot get along with his own Party, how can he lead our country with very sensitive situations in foreign policy? We need a real leader and he is already in the WH doing an incredible job, especially on foreign policy.
Telling the truth is a hate crime according to each and every Democrat in America. Newt should remember this when he is campaigning to the blue parts of America.
Then again, why would he go there, there are very few people in the blue areas that have morals, values, and don't have a total disregard for human life, therefore their is no way that they would ever vote for the party of fairness and compassion, they will forever vote lib.
If Gingrich actually said "I have never once ABDICATED [sic] that people do something for Fannie or Freddie..." then that would lend some credence to Bachmann's attacks. But I strongly suspect he said ADVOCATED. CNN, edit your content better! We all depend on you for our reliable news source!
Want to see an increase in taxes on the wealthy? Vote for a republican.
When we go to war with Iran EVERYONE WILL BE TAXED TO THE HILT. And all of the republicans except Ron Paul will "Go it Alone" with no help from other countries.
It has to be hard for Newt to have $275,000 for Iowa, while the Kochs and Rove have made over $3 million available to help Mittens.
Newt , “I have never once advocated that people do something for Fannie or Freddie. I do not in any way work on influence per se,” the former House speaker said. “I actually suggested they needed more regulations, and that’s actually in writing on their website so you can go look at it yourself.”
Then why not release all emails and records ? Show the American tax payer the value of there dollar !
You think he's a good liar on TV? Wait 'til you hear him over the phone –as he sips his hot toddy and eyes Calista's diamonds.
►"...“I am clearly a very solid conservative, and I am a conservative who can actually work in a bipartisan way to get conservative principles enacted into law..."◄
Oops, there is where ginGRINCH FAILS!!! This country is NOT based on "conservative principles" ONLY; this is the problem with every candidate on the stage and the reason why they will be beaten in 2012!!!
Obama 2012 because he is the ONLY President at this time that WILL work in a "bipartisan" way!!!
Newt is trash.. If that's what a conservative is, I do not want to be one.
This man has so much negative baggage – why he continues to harp on keeping it positive. You need to be exposed. Voters need to know the truth and be reminded about you and your pompous self.
Is he ever going to address the 1,060,750 fake twitter followers he paid a company to create. Does his flexibility with the truth end domestically or does he really think he can continue to lie and deceive the American people? I would love to hear how he defends his actions. Why is it that only the Iowans get to hear these responses?
I hope the press will be listening.
The GOBP wingnut/teabagger trainwreck implosion continues full speed ahead.
Maybe, if Newt would start telling the truth. A "historian" for the dollars he was paid. Historians are generally one of the lower paid occupations. That is why the write books but Newt couldn't even do that honestly. I especially l;ike his claim that the entire SCOTUS was wrong on Brown vs Board of Education. They were so damn sure they each signed the decision. This man need to take his jewels and wife and go back into Rethuglican obscurity. He alone is responsible for the start of the disagreements in Congress and hatred that ended up making something like the KKK, the Tea Party, into something with power. Just go away before we all decide to show you publically that you aren't as smart as you think you are.
Gingrich's 15 minutes of fame (at least as front runner) are almost up.
Newt Gingrich, the leading candidate for President from the Republican Party - you know, the Party of Family Values. Ya gotta love the Republicans!
Do you get a corn and soy bean check..... Gingrich every year of 50 thousand or more like a lot of Iowa farmers? Huh?
I thought you teapublican clowns didn't want more regulations, I think grichrich just said he wanted more regulations of a gov agency, da!!!!
How dare he. How dare he pretend to graciously avoid the politics of attacks. This venomous, demonizing, spiteful, bomb-throwing, bully who gave us the modern era of angry, locker-room politics is the last person on earth to complain about attacks. As much as I'd like to see him face Obama, it will also be poetic justice if the kind of politics he created sinks his presidential ambitions. Drink in the venom deeply, you hypocrite. You lived by the sword, and forced us all to. Now politically die by it.
Watch him. if his mouth moves he's lying.
He is still a creep...the spinmaster
So now it wasn't him consulting,, it was his company consulting? So his consulting company looked at Fannie and Freddie and said... pay our "company" 1.6million and our "company will suggest to other republicans they support our consulting "company advice. This is exactly why he was fined for ethics violations.. he always has an outlet to deflect bad things he does away from him personally. The guy is a historian, and he knows if you tell a lie enough times, and with emotion, people will start to believe it. I won't !!!