Nancy Pelosi

In Savaging Pelosi For "Attacking" CIA, GOP Ignores Its Own Record Of Similar Attacks

Zachary Roth | May 20, 2009, 1:08PM

We really shouldn't have to do this. As we've said before, the idea that it's some kind of outlandish and unconscionable slur to point out that the CIA -- the CIA, for chrissakes! -- can sometimes be economical with the truth is absurd on its face. But the Republican attacks on Nancy Pelosi for daring to make that claim just keep coming, so it looks like we're going to have to point this out:

Shocking as it sounds, the GOP hasn't always been so sensitive about harsh criticism of the CIA -- including leveling the charge that the CIA is being deliberately deceptive -- when it's served the party's political interest.

Read more »

Bailout

Gingrich's Ties To Fannie, Freddie Go Even Deeper

Zachary Roth | December 8, 2008, 2:26PM

Earlier today we reported that Newt Gingrich had recently been on Fox denouncing Democatic lawmakers for ties to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- despite himself having worked as a consultant for Freddie back in 2006, helping to fight off potential regulation.

But it turns out that the Newt-Freddie relationship goes even deeper.

A July 1999 story in the American Banker, a banking trade publication (via Nexis), reports that the former House Speaker had recently been hired by Freddie "to provide strategic counsel on a range of issues," according to a company spokesman.

The same story adds that Gingrich's former chief of staff, Arne Christenson, was hired that year by Fannie Mae as senior vice president for regulatory policy.

Just to remind you, Gingrich is the guy who was saying in September:

what you have today is that the rich in Wall Street and the powerful at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had so many politicians beholden to them that, in fact, nobody was going to check them. And so they got away with things that were absolute bologna, and it's a tragedy.

Bailout

Gingrich Slammed Pols "Beholden" to Fannie and Freddie -- But Shilled For Freddie Himself

Zachary Roth | December 8, 2008, 11:27AM

We already knew Newt Gingrich doesn't lack for chutzpah. But this looks like a whole new level...

Back when Congress was debating the bailout package this fall, Gingrich was bravely sounding the alarm about the nefarious influence wielded in Washington by mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Here he is talking to Bill O'Reilly on Fox News in late September:

One of the provisions that I wanted to put into any kind of financial package is that no company that gets money from the Treasury in this process be allowed to hire a lobbyist. I mean, what you have today is that the rich in Wall Street and the powerful at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had so many politicians beholden to them that, in fact, nobody was going to check them. And so they got away with things that were absolute bologna, and it's a tragedy.

Gingrich was particularly vocal about some Democratic politicians' ties to Fannie and Freddie:

In Dodd's case, he is the largest single recipient of money from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Barack Obama was No. 2. The fact is that to have Dodd preside over writing this bill, I think, is absolutely disgusting. I am appalled that Harry Reid appointed him to sit in there. But it is the nature of politics up there right now. And I think it's very, very bad for the country.

Now, one of the major reasons that Fannie and Freddie had "so many politicians beholden to them", of course, is that they hired people to work those politicians and to make public arguments that dovetailed with Fannie and Freddie's interests. And one of the people they hired, it turns out, was Gingrich.

The Associated Press reports today that in 2006, Freddie Mac paid the former House Speaker $300,000 to help fight off potential regulation. "Gingrich talked and wrote about what he saw as the benefits of the Freddie Mac business model," says the wire service.

So, in Gingrich world: Democratic politicians getting campaign contributions from Fannie and Freddie -- bad! Republican lobbyists getting paid by Fannie and Freddie to make the case against regulating the mortgage giants: good!

It's nice to be Newt...