Guardian UK: Newt Gingrich's historical inconsistency on Freddie Mac

[marmar]

from the Guardian UK:



Consistency is not Newt Gingrich's strong suit. To his credit, he at least seems to be aware of the problem. "Any ad which quotes what I said on Sunday is a falsehood," he once said.

Now the thrice-married champion of family values has a housing problem, as he can expect to be blasted over his ties to federally backed mortgage giant Freddie Mac at tonight's Republican debate.

Depending on whom you ask, Gingrich was either an adviser, historian, or lobbyist for Freddie Mac during his stint in the political wilderness after his 1999 resignation as speaker of the House. The Center for Health Transformation, a think tank Gingrich worked for, received $1.6m from Freddie. It's not really clear why although Gingrich has now promised to release details of the work he did to help earn his keep.

Rival Mitt Romney, still licking his wounds from a devastating defeat in South Carolina, clearly believes Gingrich's work for Freddie Mac represents a key weakness for him among Republican voters, who blame the federally backed mortgage provider, and its sister organsation Fannie Mae, for funding the housing bubble. Many of those same Republican voters were incensed by the $170bn bailout of the two that followed. ................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/23/newt-gingrich-freddie-mac-inconsistencies