January 6, 1997

Gingrich Trades Rebuke for Contract With America

Vincent Foster, former White House counsel to the Clintons, called Washington politics "blood sport" and supposedly committed suicide over it.

Liberal Democrats hope similar melancholy will overtake House Speaker Newt Gingrich - and even a few Republicans are calling for euthanasia.

Mr. Newt is admittedly careless about details, but he didn't fall off a turnip wagon. He knows when to cut his losses -- unlike the Clintons -- by admitting jaywalking instead of forever fighting a false charge of manslaughter. Gingrich, an historian, understands Henry of Navarre. Henry was a Hugenot Protestant who embraced Catholicism in 1593 to become King of France: "Paris is well worth a mass." He brought peace, prosperity and religious freedom until he was assassinated 17 years later.

Cynics believe Gingrich made a deal with the House Ethics Committee - comprised evenly with Republicans and Democrats. Apologize and accept a mild reprimand in return for surcease of attacks by Rep. David Bonior, (D-Mich). Bonior has hounded Gingrich ever since the latter drove Speaker Jim Wright (D-Tex.) to resignation in 1989 on 69 ethics violations. Wright's most damaging lapse was gathering his old speeches into a little book which he sold in bulk to lobbyists. This was a crude shakedown which even moderate Democrats could not stomach.

Over the years, Bonior filed 74 ethics allegations against his nemesis. Sixty-five were laughed out of committee. Eight were investigated and dismissed as without foundation.

The final charge which has brought Gingrich to his knees involves the use of money from two foundations established under IRS rule 501(c)3 governing non-profit charity, health and education groups. The Wall Street Journal asked experts on non-profit foundations to explain the legalities. They are: Leslie Lenkowsky, president of the 501(c)3 Hudson Institute; Terrence Scanlon, president of the Capital Research Center, a 501(c) think tank that monitors non- profits; and William Lehrfeld, a Washington, D.C., lawyer specializing in non-profit tax matters.

Gingrich many years ago organized the Abraham Lincoln Foundation under 501(c)3. Its mission was to help poor African-Americans in accordance with Republican principles.

Later, Gingrich formed GOPAC. This is a 501(c)3 political action committee promoting conservative, GOP ideas through video tapes of a college course he taught titled "Renewing American Civilization."

There are more than a million 501(c)3 foundations, most of them performing valuable services meriting tax-free status. Many are dedicated to promoting political issues. The Sierra Club, for example, pushes environmental measures. The Congressional Black Caucus, and the Hispanic Caucus, are active 501(c) foundations comprised of representatives meeting regularly in the Capitol.

At one point, Gingrich used Lincoln funds to help pay for a GOPAC teleconference call. This threw Bonior into a tizzy, even though the IRS had ruled that the expenditure was legal. It focused on "ending the culture of poverty," and included both conservative and liberal participants.

GOPAC sale of "Civilization" video tapes met IRS rule inasmuch as it also included thoughts by prominent Democrats - President Woodrow Wilson, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and the new Georgia Senator Max Cleland.

Gingrich consulted two lawyers about this intermingling of foundation funds. One wrote that it was OK. The other wrote that he shouldn't do it. Newt made the mistake of sending the letters to the Ethics Committee. Bonior contends both foundations indulged in "political activity" and should have followed rules for a 501(c)4 which allow electioneering. The IRS defines political activity as that which participates, or intervenes, in a political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.

Gingrich maintained that neither the video nor teleconference touted the election of himself or any other candidate. Consequently, he should be allowed the same consideration as other foundations and tax-subsidized colleges which espouse liberal issues.

This is true, legal and logical - but is not politically correct. Gingrich knows better than to flout the canons of liberalism and pack journalism. He deserves a trip to the woodshed simply for being brash.

Congress will meet Tuesday and re-elect Gingrich speaker of the House after Bonier and old-guard liberals vent their spleen. Next day, the full Ethics Committee of 10 members officially will receive the report from the four-member sub-committee which includes our own Rep. Porter Goss. Then a punishment will be levied for the transgression of "misleading" the Congress.

Censure would automatically oust Gingrich from the post conferred the day before. A "reprimand" would say: "You naughty boy! Don't do that again." This was the outcome of Bonior's and Rep. Dick Gephardt's run-in with the ethics committee a few years ago. Boinor will cut his wrists, and Congress will adopt the rest of Gingrich's Contract With America" - this time with the cooperation of President Clinton who said his Republican mass in last year's election campaign.

PARTING SHOTS

What Gingrich might say to his critics:

Once upon a time, A handsome honey bee
Fell in love with a butterfly
He met in a tulip tree.
He said, "I love you madly and
"Want to share your life.
"Let's fly away together.
"Will you be my wife?"

She shook her head in sorrow,
"No, no, no," cried she.
"For I'm a monarch's daughter,
"You're a son of a bee."

- With thanks to F.B.

Three Dallas Cowboy football players are accused of raping a woman at gun point and videoing the assault. One would think the tape would be convincing evidence. However, instant replay has been discontinued.

By Lindsey Williams, columnist for Sun Coast Media Group newspapers