Rachel Maddow Hammers Newt Gingrich Over Ethics Violations (VIDEO)

Rachel Maddow observed what she called the anniversary "of the start of Newt Gingrich's collapse in political life" on her show Tuesday night. Maddow was referring to the fact that December 6, 1995 marked the initiation of a preliminary inquiry into the allegations against Gingrich for ethics violations.

At the time, Gingrich was under fire for his alleged misuse of political contributions. Maddow played clips from NBC news' 1995 archives to tell remind viewers of what she called Gingrich's "ethically dubious past," and the "Republican disgust for Newt Gingrich as Speaker [of the House]."

She also highlighted that when the House voted on whether or not Gingrich was guilty of ethics violations, 395 members of the House voted against him. "This was not a partisan vote," Maddow said, adding that 196 Republicans voted against Gingrich at the time.

"So when Gingrich talks now about those ethics violations back then being part of some partisan witch hunt, what you need to say back to him is, 'Hey. 395 to 28. Wasn't that the vote?'" Maddow said.

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Comments

[wtown66]

08:18 AM on 12/11/2011

Too bad Maddow left out the fact that 74 out of the 75 charges against Gingrich were found to be baseless, and that on the one remaining charge, the IRS later found nothing wrong-- after Gingrich paid $300,000 in fines and lost his job.
Then again, I wouldn't expect Maddow to be concerned with facts when it clearly gets in the way of her partisan hackery.

[fworfe]

07:51 PM on 12/10/2011

What scares me most about conservatives?
Probably pretty much the same thing that bothers millions of voters, especially Independents who could vote for either side of the aisle.
Whether it's a fact or not isn't always totally clear, but the impression is vivid and unsettling.
The conservatives would nominate and vote for Diablo himself if they thought he could win.
In other words, to the Tea Party/Republicans, winning is absolutely everything.
In football maybe this attitude can be forgiven because, after all, it's only a game/business owned by money and played by millionaires competing with other millionaires for money.
But when we're electing a President of the United States, shouldn't there be at least a bit more concern for our country's well-being than the well-being of a political party?
Is it even remotely logical and ethical to have one priority—that of defeating a duly elected incumbent president that becomes an obsession at the cost of a divisiveness never before equaled in our history and at the risk of locking-up and bringing down a nation's economy not to mention that of an entire planet?
Can this really be called a conservative 'principle', a high-ground sort of thing?
Isn't conservatism supposed to have something to do with concern for good sense and right and wrong?

[DocSAR]

12:50 AM on 12/11/2011

The UNfortunate thing is that u can change conservative to liberal and repub to dem and ditto.

[Dan Crabtree]

10:40 PM on 12/08/2011

Hey rachel..all counts were dismissed except one after extensive investigation from the democrat senate and the irs...let me repeat that . all counts were dismissed against this man including the irs investigation into his past finacial dealings .."clueless". lets finish the story libs and for once in your life tell the truth..unbeleivable and you drone libs follow every little tib-bit your liberal plantation masters.feed you...sad indeed..

[DocSAR]

01:00 AM on 12/11/2011

She knows that. Unfortunately like all of the political media performers she has selective reporting syndrome.

[chamy lyonna]

10:09 PM on 12/08/2011

sorry ... i'm laughing too hard to read the article. the idea of maddow somehow pretending to the role of arbiter in the matter of ethics is, in and of itself, hysterically absurd.

[lengua99]

06:02 PM on 01/22/2012

What's funny is this will backfire on the liberals. Because in the end he's what we really need in this country, someone who sticks with their ideals no matter what. Who else can you say that about? At least who has the right ones, anyway.


MARC

[pegalamb]

02:06 PM on 01/30/2012

Why?

[BroadwayJoe]

09:46 PM on 12/08/2011

Leroy?!

This guy is a clown and the Repubs are actually throwing their lot in with Bozo.

[sandhillsrider]

07:17 PM on 12/08/2011

I have always wondered why Maddow's parents gave him a girls name?

[research b4 you post]

08:18 PM on 12/08/2011

what's that got to do with Newt's history

[lengua99]

05:39 PM on 01/22/2012

What's the truth got to do with Ma d co w's reporting?



MARC

[Robert048]

05:04 PM on 12/08/2011

Really, Rachel Maddow. To whom did she makes these remarks about Mr. Newt, to her vast audience of 300 viewers on PMSNBC?

[CynAnne]

04:20 PM on 12/08/2011

Dr. Rachel Maddow = Rhodes scholar and host of prime-time­, award-winn­ing show.

Newton Leroy Gingrich = Disgraced (and fined) former Speaker of the House and serial philanderer, best known for giving 'awards' and 'historical data' in exchange for lucre.

No contest...­Rachel Maddow wins, hands down.

[lengua99]

05:40 PM on 01/22/2012

Right, that's why her show is so "highly rated".



MARC

[Cody Wandel]

04:14 PM on 12/08/2011

Hey! John Boehner wasn't orange in 1995!

[tma6o]

09:26 PM on 12/10/2011

The TANMANNNN. He would have been a great character in the Wizard of Oz. He cries just like the lion!!!

[scipio2009]

03:51 PM on 12/08/2011

A bit "over the head", for most folks, but Rachel keeps delivering the zingers

[TheMediaWrangler]

01:21 PM on 12/08/2011

If Newt is nominated I never want to hear another Republican talk about Bill Clinton's sex scandal.

[ahetty2000]

12:30 AM on 12/09/2011

Yeah- and remember how MUCH TAXPAYER $$$$$ Newt spent going on his WITCH HUNT of CLinton - and for what?? A harmless "fling" with an intern. In the meantime the taxpayers got footed with the 20 MILLION + that Newt spent on his WITCH HUNT. This shows not only HOW LOW the GOP has sunk down to but also how STUPID they have become. And these are the same people who love to WHINE about America no longer being "number 1". Well GUESS WHY America is no longer #1. Just look at the GOP IDIOTS running for POTUS and you have your answer!!

[lengua99]

05:43 PM on 01/22/2012

Hmm, but then he did finally admit guilt after Monica had "proof" on her dress. It's a witch hunt when there's no real witch. In this case there was, a guilty criminal.



MARC

[BroadwayJoe]

12:39 PM on 12/08/2011

Wow. What a brilliant segment. I love Rachel. I hope the Obama campaign uses this footage. Classic.

[MosesDidItBest]

07:05 AM on 12/08/2011

When you can't argue the facts, argue the law. When you can't argue the law, argue the merits and if none of that works, slam the table, look mean and throw everything against the wall and if nothing sticks resort to name calling.

Newt is first and foremost a liar, a con man and the tool of the 1%. He proved that as did any of the GOP who made the duck walk of shame to NYC to Trump Towers.

Maddow is dead on about Newt. I am ashamed she did not warn Callista to never get ill given Newt's track record.

But my all time favorite line by Newt is his explanation as to why he cheated on his wives, because he loved his country that much. Imagine now if he wins the nomination and becomes president then becomes so enamoured of himself he screws the entire country.

You may think I'm joking about that last part, I'm not.

[lengua99]

05:45 PM on 01/22/2012

Hmm, funny I recall seeing Clinton doing exactly that when they asked him about his cheating. Slamming the table and name calling. That was before he admitted the whole thing.



MARC

[mrtaxattorney]

07:10 PM on 12/08/2011

I thought she was

[David Marble]

09:45 PM on 12/08/2011

And this has what to do with Newt being a corrupt philanderer?

[Mtball228]

05:23 AM on 12/08/2011

Maddow Who ??? I've had her blocked since day one !

[rennycat]

06:40 PM on 12/08/2011

That's because you're a stupid republican.

[lengua99]

05:47 PM on 01/22/2012

Yeah, you'd have to be a du mb liberal to understand.



MARC

[mannapat]

09:01 PM on 12/08/2011

You wouldn't understand her anyway. She appeals to more educated people.

[Mtball228]

07:16 AM on 12/09/2011

College grad, Mr. Cat in a hammock !

[DocSAR]

12:57 AM on 12/11/2011

Maybe in her personal life but not on the RM show....she's as hypocritical as those she criticizes. Her intellect/brains are wasted on the RM show