Newt Gingrich Says He Didn't Need To Be A Lobbyist Because He Charged $60,000 Per Speech

BLUFFTON, S.C. -- Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich says he didn't need to be a lobbyist after his congressional career because he was paid so handsomely merely to give speeches.

The former House speaker has raked in millions of dollars at his network of for-profit consulting firms, think tanks and speaking engagements. During a meeting with South Carolina voters at a shopping center Tuesday, he confronted a suggestion that he sought to turn his tenure as the House's top Republican into a role of for-hire powerbroker.

"I did no lobbying of any kind – period," Gingrich said. "I'm going to be really direct, OK? I was charging $60,000 a speech. And the number of speeches was going up, not down. Normally, celebrities leave and they gradually sell fewer speeches every year. We were selling more."

The legal definition of lobbying is fairly narrow, encompassing only those who directly contact members of Congress or executive branch officials in an attempt to influence them. Many ex-lawmakers decline to do that kind of work, but instead offer their advice to groups that do lobby, as Gingrich did in the case of Freddie Mac.

Moreover, Gingrich's business network has for years given the Georgia Republican a far-reaching platform to support his causes, such as digital medical records. He contended he never voiced opinions that weren't his own.

"If I didn't like the issue, I didn't deal with it," Gingrich said "If I didn't agree with you, I didn't say it."

However, Gingrich was paid huge sums over the past decade by the mortgage giant Freddie Mac, an institution roundly criticized by Republicans. Gingrich himself criticized Barack Obama in 2008 for accepting contributions from executives of Freddie Mac and its larger sister institution, Fannie Mae, and said the Democrat should give the money back.

Pressed on the matter in Iowa earlier this month, Gingrich said he provided "strategic advice for a long period of time." A person familiar with the Freddie Mac consulting contracts said they paid at least $1.6 million from 1999 to early 2008. The person spoke on condition of anonymity in order address a personnel matter.

Gingrich cracked to supporters Tuesday that he's giving more speeches for free as a candidate now than he ever gave for money.

Comments

[skwan91607]

12:12 PM on 11/30/2011

NEWT GINGRICH: $60,000 FOR A SPEECH. TOO EXPENSIVE.
If not exaggeration, It is TOO EXPENSIVE for a STORY TELLER to perform. It is surprised who is so stupid to pay such price for listening a story. The story teller is always and often there is no choice to express the content of a story to the degree out of proportion. Then, using the story as a back drop to promote his idea sometimes useful another time a fancy thought. Any thing far away from REALITY is like a day dreamer in Disneyland. It is why $60,000 is too expensive for a speech. Americans can NOT afford to have a president wandering in Disneyland. But, he is good for adult entertainment as Newt is partner with that now.

[vobox3343]

11:19 AM on 11/30/2011

Wow, $60,000 for a half hour speech? I guess these corporations or whatever they are, depend on tax breaks in order to pay ridiculous fees to the greedy while laying off the needy? How does anyone justify this kind of madness? Another question, why would anyone vote for these guys who believe it really is your fault if you're poor or unemployed?

[flymanohio]

10:39 AM on 11/30/2011

I can't imagine anything anyone could say in one speech that would be worth 60 grand. So what do you think the buyers of his service where getting besides a speech could it be influence. Now that might well be worth 60 grand. This guy doesn't have the slightest idea about what is going on in this country. I could not vote for this guy as dog catcher because it would be a disservice to the dogs.

[sarahfigueroa207]

06:50 AM on 11/30/2011

What a bombastic blowhard!!! Did anyone notice that he refered to himself as a "celebrity" when he bragged about making $60,000 per speech? So his defense on "selling access" is that he was sooooo rich he didn't need the money?? Good strategy Newt. Go before the voters of a state like South Carolina, where teachers make less than $50,000 per year and truck drivers make less than $30,000 per year, and brag about making more in 30 minutes than they make in 12 months. This man will implode!!!

[ATLJunBug]

01:36 AM on 11/30/2011

No wonder he does not want to tax the rich. How in the world Republicans think they can believe a word Mr. GingRich says. Darn, why don't he just donate a few thousands to help balance the federal budget. In fact, maybe we should ask both the rich Democrats and the rich Republicans to make a donation to balance the budget. Especially since they refuse to raise the taxes of rich. It is not like they don't have it.

STANDING BY PRESIDENT OBAMA I 2012

[willjo1]

12:25 AM on 11/30/2011

What I really want to know, why are white men so damn Greedy?

[dakotanprudle]

11:01 PM on 11/29/2011

Hmmm, wonder what type of audience listens to him for that amount! I wouldn't give you six cents to hear ya!

[leftnotruth]

08:54 PM on 11/29/2011

When you speak intelligently and actually say something worth while people want to hear it.

[Howit Tiz]

10:32 AM on 11/30/2011

That sure doesn't explain Sarah Palin.

[Linda Edmondson]

08:11 PM on 11/29/2011

They had a name for Richard Nixion, I belive it was Tricky Dicky, Or Slicky Dicky. Newt is going to find himself with a nickname close to " Newt the Brute" or "Greasy Gingrich".

[leftnotruth]

08:56 PM on 11/29/2011

Don't forget "Slick Willy", you know Bill Clinton. Heck they even gave a name for all the lies that came out of his office. I believed they called it spinning. I'm just saying.

[Williwah55]

06:35 AM on 11/30/2011

gops gave Clinton that name. Could be because all gop legislation got turned around to benefit the real people of the our country and not the traitors. It was because people made money and the gops could not abide by that so they crashed the country. All the lies? Let's talk about who gingrits was screwing during Clinton's impeachment trial. Hint: It wasn't his wife.

[Howit Tiz]

10:37 AM on 11/30/2011

I prefer the "Gingrich that stole Christmas."

[election2012]

06:29 PM on 11/29/2011

Oh my goodness. That's two years of college tuition. Now I'm thinking of going into politics.

[snookes]

09:51 AM on 11/30/2011

if you go into politics you will have to learn to be a very gooood lair.That is what they do best.

[Walter from Canada]

05:47 PM on 11/29/2011

Good for him. If people didn't want to hear him he couldn't charge those fees.

[jws2346]

06:33 PM on 11/29/2011

Yup, it does validate the old expression 'of a fool and his money are soon parted' (or something like that?)

[diversityreport]

10:12 PM on 11/29/2011

"A fool and his money are soon elected." - Will Rogers