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

[richmc]

Newt for Preznit? Bring It On! LMFAO!!!!!!!

[billybunter]

Newt shold be nicknamed "Bacon" cos he loves pork

[Vyvjala]

Gingrich used the phrase, "Democrat's passion for the taxpayer's money," isn't that rich. "The republican's relentless passion for anybodies money," is more truthful.................

[ajax2]

Did the Republicans who changed their vote have short positions in the stock market. Did Newt?

[BlueZoo]

WHAT is this man doing in Washington? It's unbelievable that the same men who rode Newt out of D.C. on a rail would listen to one word he has to say! He's yesterday's news! Gad! When in trouble, all the snakes come slithering out from under the rocks!

[torrrep]

I find this interesting. Because it has now been shown that 12 of the 37 Democrats who helped write the bill voted against it. It has also been confirmed that Democrats were purposely voting against this bill at the direction of Queen Nancy to try to force Republicans to vote for it. What kind of House Leader is this? She announced last Friday that a deal was reached. That was a lie. She announced that it was a bipartisan effort. That is a lie. Now the liberals are scrubbing YouTube of all the videos showing key Democratic leaders announcing three years ago that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the way Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were being run and that Republicans were playing chicken little and over reacting. Well Queen Nancy, you are a great friend to Republicans. You ignorance, lies, and blunders are now being seen by the American people. Videos can be downloaded and you will never get my copies. You can't hide the lies and your plan has back fired once again. You are like some bumbling idiot from an episode of the Three Stooges.

[EgbertSouse]

Sources? No?

Then STF up!

[torrrep]

Try reading today's news. And try shutting me up.

[oldfart1]

Simple as pie. Each party undertook to deliver at least 51%. The Demos kept their word (60%), the Reps didn't (33%).

Americans are too busy to follow the details, but at least they can still count.

[aki]

Why is this has been involved...is he a registered lobbyist or Is he having problems at home. Time for him to find a new mistress to make his next wife, based on past performance he probably has to wait for current wife to end up in the hospital first.

[franklin opt]

I LOVE it when Republicans eat their own.

[gp NH]

It’s interesting that Newt has decided to rear his head at a time like this. It should come as no surprise that many GOP House members are still willing to follow his lead, despite his exile from national office. The Former Speaker was the leader of the 1994 "Republican Revolution," and has been a vehemently rigid figure in Republican politics. What's perplexing however is that I don't see how he has anything to gain from jumping into the fray. Perhaps Gingrich still believes he has a shot at winning the White House if McCain/Palin goes down in flames. If so a more “populist” or traditional Republican message wouldn’t be a bad ploy. Whatever his ambitions, I don’t think the Speaker should say another word about this bailout package. Members of Congress are just going to have to come to a compromise, and Newt Gingrich should stay out of the legislative process since he can only make matter worse. The bailout is a crappy deal for everyone involved, but if America cannot swallow it, then the credit markets will remain frozen, and we could be forced into a depression.

[Msohio]

Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of criminals. Boehner is downright contentious. Goood that they are lying and back stabbing each other.

[Ourrias]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Newt unceremoniously shown the door out of Congress for lying under oath?

Wasn't that how he lost not only his position as Speaker of the House, but even as a member of the House?

And Republican sheep are STILL listening to nitwit Newt?!?!?

WTF?

[Bobleblah1]

The 5 subsequent posts have proven my point.
Grown people in this pivotal moment would rather make fun of the guys name
then use that same mental energy towards understanding what is happening to them.

This country is GONE!
and you FAKE liberals are completely delusional.
The situation is so dangerous and still people are in a total fantasy world.

Obama McCain/ McCain Obama.................................

You people are going to get exactly what you are begging for.
EXACTLY what you are begging for.

Wake up!
Examine the message more than the messenger.
Grow the F up and start securing your survival.

[marytny]

You're angry, but I'm not sure why.

People will accept the congressional bill
when they stop calling it a bailout, which it isn't.
It's an investment. And it can work.

[collima]

Please tell me (Seriously) what is there to be concerned about?  I understand the DERIVATIVES /  CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS MARKET is about to fall apart to the tune of 1 quadrillion dollars...  and the government is scrambling like a chicken with its head cut off.  Other than that.....  Since not many seem to be thinking about that nightmare,  I guess things are just swell !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Nice job by the Federal reserve in injecting $600 billion dollars into the financial markets last night to help Wall Street after that mess yesterday....    Oh,  Nobody Noticed! Bernake doesn't need Congressional approval for the $ 2 trillion that he has poured into banks via the back door.

The bush administration is totally ridiculous!

TAKE THE RED PILL! Do a search on DERIVATIVES / CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS MARKET COLLAPSE

[LongreachAU]

nothing better than watching conservative party's implode.

[sandrarita]

I thought Gingrich was old news. Why is that snake slithering out of his hole now? Of course, an election coming up. Is he still in Congress?

[marijam]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't 95 Democrats also vote Nay? Yes, they did and I appreciate every single one of them. This bill needs to include bankruptcy reforms so that people get to stay in their homes. Period.

[MPeter]

Who names their child Newt? Did you know that a newt is a very ugly little reptile? It is sad that this littlke creature is back to destroy politicians...

[solbro]

Newton, like the fig.

[bogues]

It would be nice to have a lot of things in the bill but the more that gets put into it the harder it will be to get it passed and whoever appears to be trying to load down the bill will be called out and pay a price politically, then the bankruptcy law will never stand a chance of getting over hauled. This is not the time or the bill to be piling on.

[torrrep]

People should only be able to keep their homes if they are able to make the payments. If they lower the interest rates and people can afford the payments then I am fine with that. However, if the interest rates are lowered and the owners still can't make the payments then they should lose their homes.

[Bobleblah1]

Its so great to be awake
I have a hard time even believing that any of the posters on here are even real private citizens.
Most of you are spooks, or getting paid to post, or moderators trying to make the outside world believe this blog is a real reflection of the mindstate of the public. Truly sad.

If Newt Gingrich really did help platoon this bill then he will be Hailed by history.
I can finally see that over 90% of the people in our nation, have NO IDEA how money functions.
The people of this country have no clue what is even happening to them.
How did we get to this point where people are this oblivious to banking schemes that are as old as recorded history?

This includes people with very high levels of education.
How did we get this stupid? Its simply amazing!!!!!

This engineered crisis has taught me SO MUCH.

This Bailout is the worst corporate crime I have ever seen attempted in my lifetime.
Yet both parties are out telling the whole country to believe this will help?
Our government is truly gone and most of the so called educated people are in an absolute state of delusion.

But dont worry, you will too will be wide awake very soon.
Like it or not!

[Ourrias]

So, you'd rather see a Depression?

You'd rather see a run on all banks, where the middle class lose their homes, their savings accounts, their pensions?

Way to go, Einstein. Cut your nose off to spite your face.

Very mature, very intelligent!

Doing nothing, as you advocate, would be the worst crime any of us has seen in our lifetimes.

[BlueZoo]

Bravo for you, Ourrias! As they said on "Fast Money" today, there are those people out there who would rather see EVERYONE without a dime before they'd agree to some with money!

[Bobleblah1]

Ourrias
If you believe that this so-called bailout will stop the Depression then you are certifiable.
Get on some anti psychotics immediately.

The Depression is inevitable.
We should take our medicine now and make the depression a short one that we can recover from. But if you allow all this fake liquidity into the market we will have an inflationary depression that will last longer and deeper than the one we are headed for now.
To make it even worse you will have created a criminal cartel that has power over the bankrupt government. which will gobble up whats left of the real economy and leave us all feudal surfs.

But see, I dont even believe someone who wants to have this conversation is ignorant to all of this. What bank or government agency do you work for?

I used to allow the Matrix to fool me into thinking the right left paradigm was real.
Then I woke up.
You too will wake up regardless of whether you want to or not.
Go ahead, keep arguing with me, I dont need to prove I'm right, you will learn that on your own.

Either way, God Help you and anyone who listens to your fascist created fantasies.
when the inevitable happens. It wont be a matter of I told you so then.

[Bongborg]

Most of us are spooks? Most of you is paranoid in a tinfoil hat.