GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich probably won South Carolina with his brilliant — and no doubt well-rehearsed — rebuff of the CNN debate moderator in a pre-primary debate.
Gingrich’s response was so powerful that it seemed to overwhelm the underlying allegation that he had sought an “open marriage” from his second wife. That’s a remarkable accomplishment in a state that historically desires strong family values from its elected officials.
While we worry about Gingrich’s temperament and consistency, it may be a positive that voters are focusing less on the private lives of the candidates. Some of our best presidents — not up to the temptations that come with power — have had enormous lapses in personal morality.
Democrats and Gingrich’s Republican opponents are attempting to depict the issue as being about the former House speaker’s hypocrisy.
Gingrich did, after all, play a major role in the effort to impeach former President Bill Clinton after revelations of his infidelities.
The depiction, though, is not entirely accurate. Gingrich was clear at the time that Clinton’s impeachable offense was not promiscuity, but lying under oath.
Gingrich may have considered himself above personal morality in his dealings with his former wife, but as yet there have been no revelations that he considered himself to be above the law.
The Decatur (Ala.) Daily (Jan. 26)
There is one more difference between Gingrich and Clinton. Clinton was on the clock…Our clock… and in his place of employment (the oval office) when he committed his disgusting act with a woman for whom he obviously had no feelings (as he was reportedly on the phone at the time.) There is no information that Gingrich ever had his dalliances on company time, or that he ever used House of Representatives facilities for his exploits. He also eventually married the woman.
As a blue-collar worker for a good portion of my life, I never had a boss who would not fire me if I did what Clinton did on Company time and in the company’s office. He owed his employers (us) better. He should have been removed from the presidency and asked to repay his unearned salary..