Gop Stifles Criticism Of Gingrich Raucous Session Harks Back To Days Of Ousted Speaker Wright

House members raged with angry partisanship Wednesday as Republicans used a parliamentary tactic to prevent Democrats from criticizing Speaker Newt Gingrich’s potentially lucrative book deal during floor debate.

A raucous session ensued, harking back to the days of ousted Speaker Jim Wright, D-Texas, as protesting Democrats accused the GOP leadership of trying to stifle speech and sweep the sensitive issue under the rug. Ironically, they were employing the same tactic that Gingrich, R-Ga., used to bring about Wright’s downfall in 1989.

“We have sat here for 10 years while the speaker has accused this Democratic leadership of being corrupt, and now we find ourselves in a situation in which we cannot even address the issues in which the speaker is engaged,” complained Rep. David Bonior, D-Mich., the Democratic whip.

Republicans retorted that Democrats were trying to divert attention from the GOP policy agenda. “The other side of the aisle (Democrats) is trying every tactic they can to stop the ‘Contract with America,”’ countered Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas, the Republican whip.

The chaos began when Republicans used House rules to stop Rep. Carrie Meek, D-Fla., from finishing a speech criticizing Gingrich’s book contract with HarperCollins Publishing.

The publishing company, which initially offered Gingrich a $4.5 million advance to write two books, is owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Murdoch is involved in a dispute with NBC over his company’s ownership of Fox Television Network that is now before federal regulators.

“Now more than ever before, the perception of impropriety, not to mention the potential conflict of interest, still exists and cannot be ignored,” Meek said before she was interrupted by Rep. Bob Walker, R-Pa.

Walker asked that Meek’s statement be stricken from the congressional record, prompting objections and shouting. Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., presiding over what was supposed to be a pro forma session, ruled that “simply put, in debate, references personally to the speaker is (sic) not in order.”

The ruling, in effect, prevents Democrats from mentioning Gingrich’s book contract or ties to Murdoch in the future. They were raising the issue almost daily during the one-minute speech period that usually comes at the start of House sessions.

Gingrich initially accepted the $4.5 million offer from HarperCollins in December. But, under public pressure, he decided instead to accept a $1 advance plus royalties, an arrangement that could still net him millions of dollars.

It was disclosed last week that Gingrich in November met privately with Murdoch and the magnate’s lobbyist, who mentioned the pending NBC complaint. Gingrich told reporters he didn’t care about Murdoch’s problems.

Gingrich, who campaigned in 1989 to bring about Wright’s resignation, used the House’s one-minute speech time and its after-session, special-orders speech time to establish his reputation nationally.Wright resigned when it was disclosed he had a sweetheart contract in which an associate published his book “Reflections of a Public Man,” and many copies were purchased by lobbyists.

“The truth has been ruled out of order,” Rep. Robert Torricelli, D-N.J., complained Wednesday.

“Clearly there are members of the institution who recall that Mr. Gingrich as a member of this institution came to the floor raising questions about former Speaker Wright’s publishing activities,” Torricelli said. He noted that Democrats, who then controlled the House, continued to allow Gingrich to make his comments.