Gingrich Admits To Ethics Violations - December 21, 1996
Gingrich Issues His Own Statement - December 21, 1996
House GOP Speaks: It's Gingrich By Acclamation - November 20, 1996
Republicans, Democrats Wrangle Over Gingrich Admission
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Dec. 22) -- The political fallout over House Speaker Newt Gingrich's admission to ethics violations widened Sunday, with Republicans coming to the speaker's side and Democrats calling for his resignation.
Appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press," House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas) praised the speaker for accepting responsibility "with an enormous amount of grace" and for understanding "the importance of ethics to the American people."
"The speaker has said, 'I am in fact responsible for the mistakes that were made,'" Armey said.
Gingrich on Saturday, after more than two years of denials of wrongdoing, admitted that he broke House rules and gave inaccurate information to a subcommittee investigating alleged ethics violations. He is up for re-election as speaker on January 7.
"He will definitely be re-elected," Armey said.
Former New York governor Mario Cuomo, who also appeared on "Meet the Press," applauded Gingrich for his admission, but said it's now time to pay the piper. (272K/25 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)
"Put your actions where your words are -- step down," said Cuomo, a Democrat.
After the show, Cuomo told reporters that Gingrich's admission sent a divisive message to the American people. He used an analogy to illustrate his point: How can the speaker cut welfare programs from people he deems irresponsible when he lies to an ethics panel? (247K/23 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)
Other talk shows, same message
The tone between Republicans and Democrats was similar on other Sunday talk shows. Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) rallied behind Gingrich on CBS "Face the Nation," saying the alleged ethics violations should not "deny him re-election."
But House Minority Whip David Bonior, (D-Mich.) lashed out at the speaker on CNN's "Late Edition."
"On 13 occasions, the speaker Deceived and mislead," Bonior said. "If someone in ... our public would have done what Newt Gingrich did to a member of a congressional committee, they'd go to jail."
Meanwhile, in a Sunday news conference, Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) called the violations a "serious matter" that could drive both parties further apart and lead to congressional gridlock. (230K/21 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)
Gingrich's admission followed several days of negotiations. The agreement that was reached essentially amounts to a plea bargain. A committee of five Republicans and five Democrats will soon meet to recommend punishment, if any, for the speaker.