what Jack Abramoff says about Newt Gingrich

i thought this was pretty good, and what newts thinks about islanders and indians. but im sure its nothing new that politicians say stupid things all the time.

Jack Abramoff dishes on Newt Gingrich

Former Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff told The Nation this week that in his dealings with former Speaker Newt Gingrich, Gingrich demonstrated a bigoted, irrational and somewhat flippant attitude toward policy-making. The revelations came during a visit by Abramoff to The Nation’s offices on January 24. “Meeting with Newt was exceedingly frustrating,” said Abramoff. When Abramoff visited Gingrich to discuss sovereignty issues regarding his client, the Mariana Islands, Gingrich simply said they should become a part of Hawaii. “They’re all Islanders,” reasoned Gingrich. Problem solved.

Gingrich loves to proclaim his affection for big ideas. In this context, making the Mariana Islands part of a state nearly 4,000 miles away would qualify as a big idea. But not every big idea is a good one. Gingrich has a penchant for tossing off silly suggestions in public, but this shows that he brings that tendency to bear in actual policy-making conversations while serving in government.

More troubling is a story Abramoff related about Gingrich’s response to Abramoff’s lobbying on behalf of Indian tribes. When Abramoff went to Congress to protest a tax increase on tribal gambling proceeds, Gingrich insisted—supposed conservative principles about taxation notwithstanding—that such a tax increase was warranted. His reason? He had recently sat next to a Native American in first class on an airplane. “Where do you think he’s getting that kind of money?” Gingrich demanded.

“To his mind this was an offense that they have all this money: he’s an Indian, he must own a casino.” says Abramoff. “What are you doing in first class, Newt? You’re a public servant.”

To be fair, Abramoff noted that he has a personal bias on the subject. Having known Gingrich since 1982, he does not care for him and fears the result of a Gingrich presidential nomination. “I would hope [Republicans] would be less knuckle-headed, but they seem to be marching headlong to anoint Newt” said Abramoff. “To me that’s the height of silliness.”

Gingrich’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment by the time of this post’s publication.

You can listen to Abramoff’s recollections of Gingrich HERE.

Source: HERE

Well this changes my views on newt a little more. especially since newt worked with the crook, and crook helped this guy.




I think Abramoff has a great point about newt being a public servent and flying first class. At least it wasnt a private jet. I really love to know what Gingrich's campaign has to say about this, but looks like we'll never know. i wonder what he thought of bush, im sure it isnt much better. hell theres a ton of things i'd like to ask Abramoff about. especially who he thinks is the best Rep. nominee.oh and if he really does work out every day; if you saw Casino Jack you'd get it[.editby]edit on 23-2-2012 by sladewilson because: (no reason given)