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Influence Peddler for President
Gingrich, his lawyers, and his staff adamantly insist that it's rude and crude to call him a lobbyist.
Mea culpa, I misspoke, my bad. I stand corrected. I have called Newt Gingrich a lobbyist.
Apparently, he hates that tag, even though he has indeed gotten very wealthy by taking big bucks from such special interest outfits as IBM, Astra Zeneca, Microsoft, and Siemens in exchange for helping them get favors from federal and state governments.![](/sites/commondreams.org/files/imce-images/influencepeddler_0.jpg ""GOP Closets," by OtherWords' Khalil Bendib")
"GOP Closets," by OtherWords' Khalil Bendib
But Gingrich, his lawyers, and his staff adamantly insist that it's rude and crude to call him a lobbyist. No, no, they bark, the Newt is "a visionary."
Major corporations, they explain, pay up to $200,000 a year to the corrupt former House speaker's policy center for the sheer privilege of bathing in the soothing enlightenment of Newt's transformative vision. Also, as the man himself constantly reminds everyone, he has a Ph-By-God-D. So he's "Dr. Newt," the certified visionary.
Yet, the center's own sales pitch to lure potential corporate clients makes crystal clear that the visionary services he offers entail doing what (excuse the term) lobbyists do.
For example, the center brags that Newt has "contacts at the highest levels" of government, and that being a paying customer "increases your channels of input to decision-makers."
One corporate chieftain who hired the well-connected Washington insider for $7,500 a month plus stock options says that Gingrich "made it very clear to us that he does not lobby, but that he could direct us to the right places in Washington."
So, Mr. Do-Not-Call-Me-a-Lobbyist is, in fact, selling his government contacts and peddling his political influence. But he doesn't lobby. Instead, he directs, makes calls, arranges meetings, opens doors, and (of course) has visions.
I'm glad we got that cleared up. From now on, I'll call Newt what he is: a Washington influence peddler. Yes, that's much better.
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32 Comments so far
Show AllWhy nothing on the Rocky Anderson/Justice Party candidacy announcement here on this site?
Jim Hightower for VP !!! Check out justicepartyusa.org for the path we have ALL been waiting for. A new party w/ no baggage and a firm message for ALL!
Amen. I recommend all read Amy Goodman's interview with Rocky Anderson on today's DemocracyNow edition.
Well, I _was_ enthusiastic, until I read their "Prsopectus". This is a very preliminary document, of course, with only outline-level party objectives - but the Clinton-style triangulation, full of the ol's flag-waving, glorious-founding-father rhetoric is quite a turn-off for me.
And the de-facto party leader Dr. Paul Zeitz - a mainstream NGO and mainstream liberal political wonk, is no a promising development.
Cant get everything, I guess...
newt gingrich is the perfect president
liar, cheat, philanderer, narcissistic, psychotic, neurotic, for sale, and bat shit crazy
its like he's got the best of clinton bush and obummer all rolled into one package
i hope he gets it
he is no more, no less than what we deserve
he is so amerikan....
"Deserves" him, indeed.
I just came over from reading Reich's latest on the Newt, and last night I read Arthur Silber's latest on the Obama, courtesy of a link provided by a comment here -- I could swear I'm reading about the same people -- all a bunch of brothers from different mothers (thanks to Cain for providing at least one memorable sound byte). Here's the most memorable paragraph from that article:
"He speaks of murder, yet the words are breezy and casual: this is a murderer so used to killing that he talks of his past and future victims interchangeably, and in terms of approximation. Just "whoever's left out there." He wants to be sure you know he'll order all of them killed in time. His face is expressionless, the eyes dead. This is a man without a soul in any healthy, positive sense. He murders -- and he's proud of it."
I particularly like the "dead eyes" phrase. Perfect for Newt, perfect for Obama.
http://powerofnarrative.blogspot.com/2011/12/face-of-killer-who-is-your-president.html
So how exactly is Gingrich different from the democrats?
I'm not seeing any difference besides different colors and names on the uniform.
Being to the left of the dems Is Not Allowed - especially within the hallowed halls of the progressive power structure.
I think I'll vote for John Trudell for president if Rocky's not on the ballot.
What do you mean "if Rocky's not on the ballot"? Organize a Justice party chapter in your state, learn your state's rules for getting a candidate on the ballot, and GET him on the ballot.
Sorry but I'm not wasting my time on electoral politics.
John Trudell for President!
The difference is Kongress SAID he was corrupt. Other then that, there is no difference. Interesting that the Party of Family Values, never have a problem voting for adulters, criminals who commit Medicare fraud, get caught cheating on their wives, ect.or criminals like Mitt who get rich by firing people. Or Perry, who wanted to secede Texas but now wants to be Pres.
As long as they spout shit about gays and abortion, they are in.
There should be an IQ test for voting.
The person worth voting for in 2012 is Jill Stein, Green Party candidate for president.
"Let’s take our democracy back from Wall Street. We need a new politics for the other 99% of America that doesn’t collect a CEO’s salary or write big checks for politicians. America deserves a Green New Deal that provides a secure future for we the people and the planet we depend on."
http://www.jillstein.org/bio
Jill Stein has my vote at this point. I have found nothing there not to like.
So remind me again what the difference is between Newt and Barak? Oops. Maybe I can answer my own question: Newt collects from his corporate paymasters to provide his wife with an open line of credit on expensive jewlery, while Obama collects from his corproate paymasters for his campaign run. While you did not mention the difference Jim, you are at least half right. Let me see if I can summarize: our choice is between an influence peddler who wants the oval office against an influence peddler already in the oval office!. Well done, Jim.
What do you expect from JH? :)
Not much.
After all, the guy has been peddling his BS on National Propaganda Radio forever.
Why folks like Hightower (or any of the other NPR elites who already have a captive and completely uncritical [unthinking?] national audience) deserve yet another platform (here on CD) to peddle their propaganda is beyond me.
BY the way:This is NOT an endorsement for Gingrich (who I think is a cruel joke) but rather a complaint that pundits like Hightower conveniently (and repeatedly) give the Democrats a pass (propaganda by omission) when the "Democratic" politicians like Obama do the VERY same thing: act as lobbyists and/or delivery boys for corporations profitting at public expense.
How ABOUT those trillions of public dollars that Obama delivered to the bankers in virtually interest free "loans" under the cloak of secrecy (payback for campaign contributions), Jimmy boy?
PS Jim. I suspect that the real reason you are slanting things toward the Democrats (by selectively criticising republicans for something both do) is that you know that if Republicans regain control of Congress and the White House your own days feeding at the public trough are over. They'll shut down NPR quicker'n you can say "Yeee haw".
So, I suppose that makes you a lobbyist o f sorts, doesn't it, now Jim?
This may be the ONLY thing i agree with the Republicans on: defunding NPR and forbidding its member stations from using federal dollars to purchase NPR programming and/or pay NPR membership dues
Just go away, Jim, will you, please?
And take your fake cowboy hat with you. :-)
Nicely stated but especially the metaphor of Jim acting as a lobbyist for his own job.
My member station, WSHU, would still do well without NPR, just based on their classical music programming, which is an absolute gem. While I love the show "Car Talk," it's not worth helping to fund NPR for, although I believe it's programs like these that keep a lot of folks roped into pledging for NPR. When I donate my small sum to NPR it's done during their music program with the caveat that this what I support, not NPR. I wish I didn't have to do that, but it's come to the point where they have to know what I do and do not support.
Indeed, when I read the title, I thought this was about our current influence-peddler-in-chief. Barack is now extorting up to $30K a plate for pay-to-play dinners. And make no mistake: those paying the bribes make a stellar, obscene return on their investment. Newt is an amateur.
You know, there was a time when Christian publishing fell under the genre of "Religion," but then they co-opted the use of the word "Spiritual." I was aghast at the way heretofore open spiritual conjecture became dominated by Christian views, generally fundamentalist Christian views. And how these sorts of titles (and their narrow subject areas) came to dominate the discourse.
I recall an article in the periodical published by Public Citizen that explained how the garbage/waste industry was seeking to co-opt the word "Organic," so they could dress up all the dangerous detritus they collected under the more wholesome heading of "Organic."
So hearing Newt, who's basically the reincarnation of a former Inquisitor, abduct the word "visionary," makes me want to by turns puke, or see him publicly roasted the way the Puerto Ricans do their edible pigs for holiday occasions.
Also, I'm surprised that Romney (not that I'm a fan, but anyway) gets the heat that he does for being an "elitist" who is "out of touch" with the masses (presumably because of his wealth), when we have Gingrich, the multimillionaire with the wife of the famous humongous Tiffany's account, running against Romney. How many Republican/Tea Bagger voters can even *dream* of having millions of dollars of net worth or a Tiffany's account? Ridiculous!
"So hearing Newt, who's basically the reincarnation of a former Inquisitor, abduct the word "visionary," makes me want to by turns puke, or see him publicly roasted the way the Puerto Ricans do their edible pigs for holiday occasions."
Dear sweet Siouxrose, thank you for that heart warming vision of Newt with an iron spit rod rammed through his bloated carcass with an apple in his mouth, roasting over the hellish coals for his Dark Master's consumption.
Here is a novel idea about "puke": since we cannot get a Single Payer system out of the duopoly; nor can we shut off the open valve of spending for endless war, murder, all leading to colonialism and resource extraction in the third world; nor can we get visionary leadership and action on the environment; and additionally, since every human right our parents took for granted has been voided by messers Bush and Obama (in our own life times) leading to fascism; and since social security, Medicare, and Medicaid or being undermined, chopped, downsized, and rendered impotent by the duopoly; I’ve been puking for the last eleven years. So whatever puke the delussional ignorant and disempowered voters select between the two evils, expect more of the same. Calculate how much has gone for corporate bailouts and military/war spending over the last 11 years and you might get an inkling why social programs are being eliminated. It looks to me like the terrorists won the war.
"No, no, they bark, the Newt is "a visionary."
Didn't Hitler have much the same kind of vision?
medmedude: You are so right! (genocidal warmonger, Brownshirt, also) One thing about President Newt: there's not even the mask of humanity--the brutal face of fascism is openly on view, could one bear to look at it. (BTW: Just how evolved is a NEWT? More evolved than congressional dinosaurs??)
That's it-- no disrespect for "our man" Newt intended.
As we prepare for the ascension of Dr. Newt Gingrich, a true "ass kicking white boy", mild mannered Clark Kent, AKA Mr. Obama better really be Superman or not even a billion dollar war chest will help him. He's been practicing his "Clint Eastwood" persona with the "ask Osama if I'm a tough guy" line. If you gotta say it, it ain't so.
Perhaps there was a time when an election revealed the character of a nation. The election of 2012, #OWS nothwithstanding, will reveal the character of Corporate America. I grow more inclined to believe and understand that a more enlightened citizenry (which will be a difficult and expansive task) is foundational to any course correction in this country toward the principles (ideal) upon which it was founded. The greatest act of "Citizenship" in this century to date has been branded the act of a "lawless mob". The actions of #OWS must achieve true legitimacy for the heroism and courage that is being displayed
roastin's too good fer 'im...whenever i see this bloated, bloviating waste of skin smirking from a news photo, i fantasize that we could somehow find a way to goldboard him (as the parthians did marcus licinius crassus). we might even hire some first-graders to mop up the mess and keep the change!
Dr. Do-Not-Call-Me-a-Lobbyist
To the tune of "Gingrich the Newt" by the Austin Lounge Lizards
Gingrich The Newt lyrics
We'd like to set the record straight by singing of the newt
For newts are open-minded; they are flexible and cute
A newt can breathe in water and a newt can breathe on land
And if you are a different critter newts will understand
Newts are not mean-spirited; they never are unfair
Newts are not underhanded and are not afraid to share
Newts do not have bad haircuts because newts are lacking hair
But the newt called Gingrich drives all true newts to despair
Gingrich the Newt's a disgrace to the name
When true newts see him they feel so ashamed
He's the black sheep of the newt family
The one rotten fruit on the newt family tree
Newts don't prey on other newts; in that they don't believe
And you will never catch a newt with something up his sleeve
[- From :http://www.elyrics.net/read/a/austin-lounge-lizards-lyrics/gingrich-the-newt-lyrics.html -]
They're tolerant to different environments and so
They don't sen little newties to the orphanage to grow
What kind of newt wears a suit and a tie
And frightens small children as he rushes by?
But we admit that his suit suits him good
Much more discreet than a sheet and a hood
A newt may be cold-blooded but he won't go to extremes
And you can trust a newt to be exactly what he seems
Newts are sorry if you're sad; they're happy if you're gay
But Gingrich is perverse, and worse
He's proud to be that way
Gingrich the Newt is puffed up like a toad
So full of himself that he's bound to explode
And then we'll raise up our tails in salute
A fitting tribute
To that horse's patoot
Gingrich the Newt
d-bear: can you post an encore......
Hurray Mr H. Excellent bite, chomp chomp.
Good old roast and toast them comments here but what newt is is a psychopath doing for himself what any psychopath would do, crush the people without a moments hesitation and with absolutely no remorse. The longer we allow psychopaths to infest corporations, the government the military and law enforcement, the worse it will be. I swear to anything that until people understand and come up with ways to deal with the true psychopaths in this country and corporations and government, nothing will happen that will be any good. And dog forbid if newt becomes president, the people will still not question just who or what kind of people seek elected office and why they want it so bad. As far as newt goes and it is pretty far, never ever forget that he is one of the authors of the 'project for the newt american century' which any concerned citizen must read and be aware of for the sake of their country.