Page 46 - Grant Access News Today

Introducing clients to a conversation, but that -- >> but you can buy direct contact with newt. >> in other words. >> one-on-one. >> he sold access, he sold access. and he made $100 million doing it. but anyway, but newt defended himself last night saying i was never a lobbyist. >> right. >> what was his justification? >> well, the "new york times" digs into his dealings. theres a front page article there. the "times" reports that through his health care consultant fee, the former house speaker ...

>> i cant believe -- >> we shouldnt be surprised. i dont think anyone around the table is surprised to know anyone has made money speaking. >> it happens all the time. but -- >> out on the campaign trail when youre in south carolina, its probably not best to brag about something like that. >> why did he do that? $65,000 -- >> but the evidence is out there for the public to see that he was, in fact, a lobbyist. theres no getting around it. its there. >> hes gaining access. you know, he is going i...

Years work. so newts defense to the good people of south carolina is i was so rich selling access, making a 30-minute speech and getting $65,000 that i made twice as much money as you made, truck driver, in an entire year. why would i need to be a lobbyist? all i really did was grant access and make $100 million. is that -- im not listed -- heres the deal, i just fell into this job, im not new in politics, i am new in politics, i dont get it. is a smart thing to tell people in south carolina tha...

>> that is very good. >> thats up 25 points since october. romneys in second place in the state with 22% dropping three points since last month. so as newt gingrich rises in the polls, theres growing scrutiny into his work after he left congress. now, gingrich maintains he was not a lobbyist even as new reports like this one in the "new york times" dig into his dealings. the times reports that through his health care consultaing, he made millions of dollars helping companies gain access to gover...

Telling us what the meaning of is is and what it is not. people do not pay in washington, d.c. smart people do not pay you $100 million to not gain favors, to not gain access, and newt gingrich knows that, and so do americans. >> well, and you said maybe if he doesnt shoot himself in the foot, hell still do well. and i wonder if this is him shooting himself in the foot speaking at a campaign event in south carolina yesterday, gingrich said he simply didnt need the money. >> the $100 million? >> ...