WSJ publishes Gingrich op-ed without disclosing he works for opponent

The Wall Street Journal published an op-ed by Newt Gingrich attacking the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and promoting the U.S. Consumer Coalition without disclosing that the anti-CFPB group employs him as a paid adviser, reports Eric Hananoki of Media Matters for America.

Hananoki writes, “The coalition celebrated the placement of the op-ed on its website and stated that Gingrich is a ‘US Consumer Coalition Senior Advisor.’ It also promoted the piece on its Facebook page twice and posted an image of Gingrich with a quote from the WSJ piece and the identification ‘USCC Senior Advisor.’

“Gingrich’s op-ed was published shortly after the USCC released its Zogby-commissioned poll — referenced by Gingrich — on June 18. The op-ed and USCC press release use similar arguments against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

“Both the release and Gingrich’s op-ed tied CFPB to the National Security Agency’s electronic surveillance program. And both suggested the same solutions to the alleged problem. The press release stated that ‘an overwhelming majority of Americans want to see the CFPB subject to congressional oversight through the appropriations process.’ Gingrich wrote in his op-ed that ‘Congress must move urgently to end this mechanism and subject the agency to the annual congressional appropriations.'”

Read more here.