Gingrich group reverses course on giving award to topless bar

By John Byrne
Thursday, October 1st, 2009 -- 7:51 am
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newt2 Gingrich group reverses course on giving award to topless barJust kidding.

So says former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's conservative campaign group -- which errantly named a Dallas "gentleman's club" "Entrepreneur of the Year" last month.

Dawn Rizos told the Dallas Morning News she was "thrilled" by the announcement that her popular topless bar The Lodge had received top billing from the conservative Washington group, which had invited her to speak about best practices for small businesses. She was to be given the award Oct. 7.

"This is a very private dinner and I look forward to presenting you with your award," Gingrich reportedly said in his invitation. "Your support and willingness to take a leadership role is greatly appreciated."

Gingrich's group, American Solutions for Winning the Future, thought The Lodge was a small business in Virginia. Instead of giving Rizos an award, he's refunded her $5,000 donation to his campaign fund.

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"It was disappointing," Rizos told the News. "We were looking forward to sharing our political views with Newt Gingrich." Among her views, she said, are less government regulation of small businesses -- and Texans' private lives.

Neither Gingrich nor his group returned requests for comment from the paper on Wednesday.

Asked about the group's excuse -- that they thought it was a family-friendly business in Virginia, Rizos verbally shrugged.

"I'm not going to argue with them, if that's their story," Rizo remarked. "I think they should be a lot more careful and maybe Google the person they're going to give an award to before they make all of their plans."

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Story comments are below...

  • dennycrane
    He's just jealous because her boobs are bigger that his man-boobs.
  • newpantaloons
    Seems as if ole' Newt is running a 'con' game, here. Just go to this site, and be sure to read the comments, too. Hilarious. Straight out of Tom Delay's playbook. I guess he was a con artist before he was a 'dancer'.

    http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/16/my-din...

    Aren't these Republicans hilarious?
  • Savantster
    .
    So, on "paper", she's a great small business owner.. deserving of a reward.. and she's of the same political ilk as Newt..

    but since there's boobies involved, must... run... away.... (and glance back at the boobies).

    These people are funny. Not in a "ha ha" way.
    .
  • So it only takes five grand to get a Newtie prize!! He's such a cheap whore.
  • VietVet67
    Calling David Vitter.......
  • Sara
    We get faxes from Newt all the time with the great news that he wants to honor us for entrepreneurial achievement at a cozy and exclusive dinner party. I throw them out directly.

    Ever get one of those letters from "Who's Who" telling you that you are so fabulous they want to include you in the next directory of fabulous Who's Who types? It's the same exact thing. It is a mass mailing to generate revenues - they use the ego stroke to hook the unsuspecting.

    So, in gushing excitement you fill out the form to accept your "honor" and then find out they want to sell you the Who's Who book for $$$ since obviously you would want to brag about this to everyone you know. In fact they suggest you should probably buy multiple copies to give to all your acquaintances. You eventually come to find out that it's not the real Who's Who - it is a giant scam. Similarly Newt sends this mass mailing, then when people get suckered into believing they won a great prize, he says it is mandatory to make a large "donation" to become a member and therefore be able to accept the award.

    Hilarious that Newt got caught on two racier businesses but very sad that people's egos drown out all common sense thinking. Be very suspicious anytime anyone offers you an entrepreneur award - ask yourself "what's in it for them" - the answer is usually $$$$$$.
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