Newt Gingrich's Glass House

In a full page ad in the January 27, 2010 edition of POLITICO, Newt Gingrich's American Solutions for Winning the Future claimed Americans have rejected President Obama's agenda.

In a blog post showcasing the ad, American Solutions wrote, "Americans want the President to focus on jobs, not a health care bill put together through corrupt backroom deal making."

First of all, American Solutions is falsely implying it is impossible to focus on health care reform and creating jobs at the same time.  Even though health care reform will create jobs.  The Center for American Progress, explains that the bill's "provisions can lower the costs of business and increase both the number of jobs by 250,000 to 400,000 annually over the next decade and increase wage growth."

Secondly, a substantial majority of Americans either support the current health care bill or want it even stronger (more progressive).  CBS News released a telling poll on January 11, 2010.  Regarding extending coverage to the uninsured, the poll showed that 57% of Americans support the current plan or want it stronger - only 32% believe it goes too far.  On controlling health care costs, 60% support the plan or want it to go even further - only 24% think it goes too far.  And concerning new regulations on health insurance companies, 61% support the plan or want it stronger - only 27% believe it goes too far.

Throwing Stones

In the abovementioned ad, American Solutions criticizes "backroom deals":

Gingrich's group would be wise not the throw stones, seeing as how they live in an awfully big glass house.  Part of Gingrich's official strategy in the 1996 elections was to craft bills in Congress based on "the political good they might do for GOP lawmakers seeking re-election."

In 1996, the Associated Press reported (accessed via Nexis):

House Republicans will be scrutinizing spending bills this year for the political good they might do for GOP lawmakers seeking re-election, as well as for their impact on California, the biggest prize in the presidential campaign.  Those are two of the seven criteria House Speaker Newt Gingrich is using in a series of meetings with the chairmen of the subcommittees drafting routine spending bills. 'Are there any Republican members who could be severely hurt by the bill or who need a specific district item in the bill?' is one of the 'proposed principles' drawn up by Gingrich's office.