Report: Gingrich Stabbed Boehner In Back, Whipped GOP Opposition To Bailout

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was working aggressively behind the scenes to defeat the Wall Street rescue plan minutes before he himself released a public statement in support of the package, NBC's Andrea Mitchell reported on Tuesday.

Gingrich was whipping up votes for the opposition, Mitchell said, apparently without the knowledge of the current GOP leader, John Boehner, who was responsible for recruiting enough support from his caucus to help ensure the bill's passage. Ultimately, the GOP was only able to rally roughly a third of its members.

"Newt Gingrich," she said on MSNBC, "I am told reliably by leading Republicans who are close to him, he was whipping against this up until the last minute, when he issued that face-saving statement. Newt Gingrich was telling people in the strongest possible language that this was a terrible deal, not only that it was a terrible deal, it was a disaster, it was the end of democracy as we know, it was socialism -- and then at the last minute [he] comes out with a statement when the vote is already in place."

Indeed, as Mitchell noted, shortly before the bill's failure, Gingrich "reluctantly" came out in favor of its passage: "Therefore, while I am discouraged at the final collapse of the Bush Administration, and frustrated by the Democrats' passion for the taxpayer's money, I would reluctantly and sadly vote for the bailout were I still in office."

The rest of the set of Morning Joe had some interesting takes on the news nugget. Joe Scarborough called Gingrich's backstabbing of John Boehner "undercutting his own."

Mike Barnicle offered his own bit of reportorial insight: "Andrea, I could hug you for saying that, because I was told last night by two or they members of Congress that this was the opening salvo of Newt Gingrich's presidential campaign four years hence."

And Mika Brzezinski summed it up succinctly: "Talk about a crap sandwich," a reference to how Boehner described the bailout bill.

Comments

[annschneider1]

I ran into Newt once in Lenox Square in Atlanta. He was with his second"new" wife. This was during his "thinish" days and he looked at me as though he expected me to be pleased to recognize him. I hope he hated it when I gave him a disdainful look. Back then my daughter lived in Colorado with her Cobb County car tag and I cannot even tell you the comments she got because of Newt Gingrich.
Does anyone remember when he stated that women had a problem being equal to men because they were "sick" every month?
Not to be nasty about it but he should lose weight if he plans on running for president again. He barely fits in the chairs on the Sunday talk shows.

[MinerSam]

Gangrich is just one of the many Republican Psychological Abusers.

He recently told the NRA that the Democrats would like to eliminate the Defense Department.

[FogBelter]

The people who lost 1.2 trillion dollars in investments now know who to talk to about it.

Newt Gingrich.

[unite4change]

This is a movie about voter fraud everyone should see. Watch it and pass it along to everyone you know.

http://www.freeforall.tv/

[WA-violins]

Wow--I just watched that movie. OMG, what this movie says is just amazing and so scary. But it's also empowering. Everyone--watch this movie!!!

[otm16]

Why would anybody listen to Newt Gingrich in the first place?

[wdw101]

tons of people

[otm16]

clueless morons

[wdw101]

good for newt.........do it again on Thursday

[oldfart1]

Is Newt a villain, or just a fall guy?

Isn't the aim of this report to take the heat off Bush and McCain?

[tm68]

Seems to me it takes the heat off Pelosi doesn't it? She was the one to blame for the failure, but it appears the treachery was within the Republicans themselves.

[MinerSam]

Yes, and such things is what Pelosi said.

When people point out what a bunch of criminals the Republicans are...like any run of the mill rat that is corenered they jump in your face.

[cylindar]

Gingrich will never ever be elected president of the US. He is a real scab on America. I do not even think his fellow Repubs will support any such effort on his part. He is past history and will remain so.

[astockton]

Doesn't Newt have something better to do with his time --- maybe interview candidates for the job of Mrs. Gingrich No. 4?

[wdw101]

he did a good job

[rabrophy]

Anyone who lesions to anything Newt sez deserves what he gets, the man is a lowlife even by Republican standards!

[newpotusplease]

Michelle Bachmann of Minnesota is in pretty tight with Newt-- I don't think he had to whip her very much at all.

[jcranman]

This is time for independent thinking. Each congress person must vote on behalf of their constituents, their elective conscience.

This so called bailout is not at all a bailout, it is an injection of capital into the hands of the same people who stole it last time around. They will be back for more, or we can face up to the fact that there is a need for some fundamental systemic reform needed and giving $700B under a threat of collapse, does not mean that the collapse isn't going to happen anyway, just a little later. Problem is folks, $14T in debt is soon coming due; job opportunities abundant in collections.

[pie8ter]

Morning H0e host J0e was pissed off this morning that Pelosi was the deal breaker for the failed bailout bill. He was yelling at one of the guest.

By the way, Mika is Morning H0e version of Shara Palin. I have no idea what she brings to that show.

[bikerdude]

I don't understand why they have dumbed her down...She was one of the bright spots when she spoke her mind...As opposed to joe, who subtracts from the sum total of human knowledge each time he speaks.

[kmich718]

God help us if Newt runs for office!!! If you think McCain is dirty....Watch out!!!!

[anthonylee]

It’s laughable that Gingrinch [sic] would think that he still had a shot at the Republican Nomination or the Presidency after having left his wife (battling cancer) to remarry another woman (Rudolph “Red Nose” Giuliani learned this the hard way). No self respecting Conservative or woman would ever consider casting a vote his way.

There is also this thing called The Contract on America which led to the loss of the Republican majority in Congress – why would the Republicans ever trust Newt as leader of the party in any capacity?

Still snickering . . . . .