Last year Republicans raffled off a seat on presidential candidate John McCain’s “Straight Talk Express.” Now, for a small donation, you can win a chance to have dinner with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.—-
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is holding a drawing that will allow one person and his or her guest to have dinner with Gingrich at a June 8 event in Washington, D.C. Anyone can enter the drawing for a donation of $50 or more to the committee.
Gingrich is the keynote speaker at the GOP’s 2009 Senate-House Dinner, a major party fundraiser. The winner will dine at Newt’s table during the event.
And loyal Republicans who don’t win shouldn’t fret. There’s still a way to hear Newt pontificate on the party’s future.
The NRCC states: “If you are not the lucky winner, don't worry, we have set up a live webcast so that you can enjoy the night’s event from the comfort of your home or office!”
Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin was the original keynote speaker for the event. Palin later backed out of the event, stating her duties as Alaska’s governor during its legislative session would prevent her from attending.
Gingrich, who presided over the House from 1995-99, is always full of interesting ideas. But the silver-haired Southerner also has a hot temper, which often gets him into trouble. One memorable instance occurred in 1995 when Gingrich allowed the federal government to be temporarily shutdown over a budget battle with President Clinton.
Although Gingrich said the shutdown happened due to substantive policy differences, some Congressional leaders — including Republican Tom DeLay — said the real reason was that Gingrich was angry with Clinton for being forced to sit at the back of a plane upon returning from the funeral of Yitzhak Rabin in Israel.
After Gingrich’s attempt to remove Clinton from office in impeachment proceedings about alleged perjury failed and caused the GOP to lose several Congressional seats, Gingrich resigned from Congress.
In the past few years, he’s moved back into the public spotlight, which many observers say is in preparation for a presidential run in 2012.