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In accepting $300,000 from Bob Dole. Newt
Gingrich claims he took the high ground II
enough lolks examine the deal closely, he may
have to head lor the hills
House rules only allow loans on terms “gen
erally available to the public " That includes me.
•>o I called live banks and asked lor S300K unse-
ured at I OX with no payments lor eight years
Tl.’V thought I was nuts When I pmliled Newt s
ncoine and net worth, all five still said no
chance. 'The best I found lor him was only
S25K monthly payments, ten years. I3.9X )
On its face this deal s a bigger con than
sfieed 2,
Loans to Congressmen must also come from
a financial institution — which Bob Dole isn’t,
although he’s older than most — unless origi
nating from a friend with no interest in buying
influence.
Tliat explains why both Dole and Gingrich,
who notoriously don’t like each other, took such
pains to proclaim themselves "close personal
friends" in various statements That's their
Ethics Committee loophole
OK. so Dole and Gingrich are pals Just like
Tiger Woods and Fuzzy Zoeller But does Bob
Dole really have no interest in buying influence?
Dole's new day gig is “special counsel" for
Verner. Liipfert one of the biggest and most
active lobbying firms in Washington
In February, the five tobacco monsters —
Philip Morris RJR Brown & Williamson I ST
and Ltwws — retained Vemer. Liipfert to lobby
Congress.
The cancer kings are in major trouble: 15
class action suits. 23 states suing for billions in
Medicaid ex|>enses. and now teeny Liggett less
ing up that cigarettes are marketed to kids
However. Liggett has also shown the bad
guys a way out admitting guilt and paying a fine,
in exchange for immunity from future liability
Since potential lawsuits reach over a trillion
dollars the barons of broadleaf need immunity
so badly that they're willing to put their ads. their
trademarks. $300 billion in fines, and FDA status
as a drug on the bargaining table
On April 3. after weeks of organizing back-
nx»m negotiations began The first meeting includ
ed four attorneys general, two stogie moguls, a
bunch of trial lawyers — and Vemer. Liipfert
Info on the meetings is scarce However, any
agreement they reach will have to be voted on by
Congress
That puts Mr. Speaker at the head of the
tobacco lobby’s kiss-up list. And he badly needs
1300,000. Gee. what to do. what to do
Who thought up the loan 1 “Dole just came up
with it himself." said the Associated Press, quot
ing Charles Black, an “adviser to Dole." who did
most of the talking A curious spinmeister:
Charles Black is a lobbyist whose biggest
account last year was Philip Morris
(Dole and tobacco go way back Four of the
five tobacconists who hired Verner Liipfert
were among the top 10 Republican donors dur
mg Dole's run at the White House Philip Morris
led all scorers with $2 5 million In exchange
Dole opposed FDA actions to curb tobacco
sales and marketing, grandstanded an anti-drug
pose while not mentioning that cigarettes kill 25
times more Americans than all illegal narcotics
combined, and even questioned tobacco's
addictive qualities on national TV)
When did the loan idea originate 1 Dole's
spokeswoman termed it “last minute" and "com
pletely unexpected " But most G< )P sources say
Dole first broached the loan with Scott Reed, an
actual friend of Newt, sometime near the first of
April - just as tobacco liability talks began Reed
spoke to another go-between, and then
Gingrich (This is how "close, personal friends"
usually talk )
When did Newt accept the loan 1 His people
pinpoint the evening of the 16th — apparently tro
phy wife Marianne give the pants-wearing
thumbs-up — but Newt's signature is on an agree
ment dated the 15th Reed contacted Gingrich at
least a week earlier No one is being very specific
about dates It's not clear when Newt verbally
agreed, but Dole wouldn't fiave called on the 15th
if Newt hadn t expressed interest
We do know that on April 9th. Vemer. Lnplert
hired Bob Dole
Ttie non-partisan [National Journals.
"CongressDaily" rejxirts that Dole received a sign
mg bonus <4 — coincidentally erwwigh — $300000
(Their source is a partner at Vemer. Ijipfrrl )
That's just how much Dole fronted Gingrich
six days later
Curious 1 The major papers aren't, only
Mather Jones noted the "CongressDaily” rejxjrt in
an article on their website The Ethics Committee
won't care the chairman is Utah s James Hansen
a conservative Republican Mam dunk
Dole denies that Verner Lnjifert had know!
edge of the Gingrich loan, rejxirmdlv. most folks
at the firm were embarrassed by the appear
ance of impropriety.
You can see why
Vemer. Liipfert works for tobacco So does
Dole, who now also works for Verner Uipfert
Verner Liipfert wants liability limits passed
During negotiations, they gave Dole $300K. just
as Dole was offering the bailout to Newt Dole
put I300K in Newt's hand six days later
Now let's see just how hart! Newt works to
pass the impending liability deal
The high ground smells a lot like a tobacco
field
©1997 Bob Harris
Bob Hams is a political humorist u ho has
spoken at over 275 < oIlexes nationwide The
Sump is an hived at http '/wuu qoodthmk mm
/hams html To hear The Si oop in spiff\
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