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The Spectacle Blog
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, trying to explain why he cheated on his first two wives, had this to say in an interview with CBN’s David Brody:
“There’s no question at times of my life, partially driven by how passionately I felt about this country, that I worked far too hard and things happened in my life that were not appropriate. And what I can tell you is that when I did things that were wrong, I wasn’t trapped in situation ethics, I was doing things that were wrong, and yet, I was doing them. I found that I felt compelled to seek God’s forgiveness. Not God’s understanding, but God’s forgiveness.”
While he is admitting that he did something wrong, he’s also trying to justify his behavior by aggrandizing himself. My own view is, when you’re owning up to something, you own up to it fully. You don’t try to explain or justify it yourself. The problem Gingrich faces when it comes to his personal problems is that the best possible argument a politician can make in these cases is that people should separate personal indiscretions from performance in office. Yet as leader of the effort to impeach President Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, Gingrich is in the worst possible position to make that argument. So we’ll have to keep a close watch on how this goes over with the base.
In the meantime, I wouldn’t recommend any cheating guys tell their wives/girlfriends, “Sorry honey, I was just acting on my passion for my country.”
View all comments (30) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Philip Klein
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/03/09/newt-too-patriotic-to-be-faith
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PattyMor| 3.9.11 @ 2:16PM
This is so pathetic. Just own up to fooling around.
Patriotism has nothing to do with it; only human weakness.
Andrew Keirns| 3.9.11 @ 2:47PM
Newt -- Just what the Left needs to make their candidate look good.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 3.9.11 @ 2:55PM
Newt is Obama with slightly less spending.
chitownmom| 3.9.11 @ 3:28PM
and this is he should not even be a serious candidate. Talk about lack of responsibility!
Eric Cartman| 3.9.11 @ 3:30PM
Like hearing Newt speak. He's great when he is husking Democrat ideas and their idiotic ideas. But his baggage is too big to lug around for months. If he makes it, I'll vote for him. What am I gunna do, vote for the Boy Leader.
Eric Cartman| 3.9.11 @ 3:30PM
Whoops! I meant idiotic programs.
skedaddle| 3.9.11 @ 3:41PM
If Newt was as passionate about this country as he has been about women he's not married to, he might be a better politician.
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.9.11 @ 4:20PM
That's like asking Tiger Woods to be as good of a husband as he is a golfer. You're setting the bar too high my friend.
I don't question Newt's love and passion for country, I question his justification of his lust for women. lol
Quartermaster| 3.9.11 @ 3:55PM
If I patriotically cheated on my wife because of passion for my country, she would have made sure I was dead. Patriotically of course.
The only way I vote for Newt is if he is running against PBO in the general. Otherwise, the Newtster can forget it. How on earth can you trust a man that won't remain faithful to the most basic promise a man makes in this life?
simon templar| 3.9.11 @ 3:56PM
Yeah, that was pretty lame. If he had said something like I was too wrapped up in my job and neglected my family and my wife then maybe...but that was not really said..he wanted his indiscretions to sound noble. Too much time spent in DC bubble?!
simon templar| 3.9.11 @ 3:59PM
Once upon a time, this was considered to be a sure sign that the man could not be trusted. After all, if he can not honor his wife, then why in the hell would you trust him with the companies assets?
Recovering Democrat| 3.9.11 @ 4:06PM
These comments are ridiculous! I'm not a huge fan of Newt, but you people would find fault with the Apostle Paul himself, who admitted, "For I fail to practice the good deeds I desire to do, but the evil deeds I do not desire to do are what I am doing." Romans 7:19
Read the comment again, only with a comma added where it should be, "There’s no question at times of my life, partially driven by how passionately I felt about this country, that I worked far too hard, and things happened in my life that were not appropriate."
He's not saying he had affairs because he was patriotic; he's saying that at times in his life, partially driven by how passionately he felt about this country, THAT HE WORKED FAR TO HARD, AND things happened that were not appropriate.
He's admitting that what he did was wrong, and he's not justifying anything because as he goes on to say he felt compelled to seek God's FORGIVENESS; which is something you do when you realize you have SINNED, as opposed to understanding WHY you did something.
The effort/drive to impeach Clinton was NOT only about him having sex with Monica Lewinsky, it was about the abuse of office and lying while under oath; therefore, Newt was not being a hypocrite.
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.9.11 @ 4:50PM
I still don't get it. Was Newt trying to say, "Hey, when you work as hard as I do, and you're as patriotic as I am, sometimes you just need a little variety in the sack!" ?
Eric Damon| 3.9.11 @ 11:07PM
I have a question about Newt's asking God to forgive him: was he truly repenting or just asking because the cat was out of the bag on him? I mean, the words of Paul notwithstanding, if a man has to keep repenting of the same sin over and over, has he truly repented? True repenting means that you recognize your sin, confess it to God, ask His forgiveness, make amends to anyone wronged as best you can, and turning away from that sin. If you are doing the same thing over and over, then that is probably a sign that you don't regret your actions as much as the consequences attached to them.
BMF| 3.9.11 @ 4:10PM
As Roger Rabbit would say: Plllllllllllllleeeeezzzz!
Give me a break. Newt cheated because his moral compass is broken. End of story.
I think trying to frame his cheating as a result of his patriotic duty--working too hard for the country--is sheer BS.
I served 21 years in the Marine Corps infantry; 3 years of which were in combat. I guarantee you that I've worked ten times harder and under far more stress than Newt could ever imagine.
Not once did I ever feel compelled to cheat my wife, my friends, my Marines, my neighbors, my dog, or anyone one else on the planet.
Newt is very bright and articulate. But a man who would cheat on his wife is not a man to be trusted. God may forgive him, but I don't.
A leader leads by example. I never once asked a Marine to put his life on the line if I had not already done the same or would unhesitatingly do so. And they knew it. In fact, they knew I would have given my life for them. That's how brothers are.
So what's Newt's leadership example? I lied through my teeth to those who I said I loved most so grab a gas can and follow me into Hell?
I'm trying to imagine me in a similar situation: Men, I've lied to you and I'll leave you twisting in the wind if I have to, so grab a gas can and charge into Hell--I'll be right behind you, trust me.
Newt needs to return to what he does best: pontificating and cheating.
Derek Leaberry| 3.9.11 @ 4:10PM
Philip Klein has it right. It has been a long time since a politician has spoken such vomit. It is readily apparent that Newt Gingrich is not morally fit to be president. And for Gingrich's hint that God might not understand his dishonorable past, he should not be too condescending about what He understands about the Speaker and his lack of character.
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.9.11 @ 4:18PM
LMAO!!
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.9.11 @ 4:21PM
Next time I go to a strip club I'm going to call it "Doing my patriotic duty as an american."
I Survived Arlen Specter| 3.9.11 @ 4:33PM
All have sinned & fallen short of the Glory of GOD. Newt Gingrich should be forgiven & I commend him for turning to GOD. That being said I don't trust him in the least as a politician & leader & don't believe he is fit to be POTUS. Being a policy wonk doesn't cover up continually poor judgement. He won't have my vote if he is nominated next year to represent The Stupid Party in the Presidential election. I will opt for a write-in vote for someone more deserving of the highest office in the land before pulling the lever for Newt Gingrich. The images of Gingrich on the the man-made glo-bull warming loveseat cuddled up with Nancy Pelosi & his on air defense of a terrible RINO named Dede Scozzafava are still all too fresh in my memory. Please kindly go away Newt. You are way past your sell by date.
Kari| 3.9.11 @ 4:44PM
When are politicians going to learn? I don't care how you rationalize it, you screwed up! Obviously he knows he screwed up, but to justify it and in that way? Uh, no! As far as I am concerned NOT cheating on your spouse is ONE of the EASIEST things to do. If you can't accomplish that task....how the H*LL can you be the leader of our country. He can't take care of his own house...how is he going to take care of our "house."
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.9.11 @ 4:52PM
This has to rank up there with Joe Biden's "paying taxes is patriotic." comment
Shelli | 3.9.11 @ 5:03PM
I really appreciate the article. For the past two years, I've been trying to figure out how on earth Newt Gingrich has made a political comeback.
WHY do the American people have such short attention spans?
Taking all into account about one Mr. Gingrich...WHAT is it that is attractive about this man?
Not only are his personal morals clearly deplorable but he failed even in implementing the agenda he put forward (some evidence indicates it was hijacked in any case).
Outside of intermittently - and I really do mean that - talking a good game...I just don't get it.
For me, it was Gingrich's own words that did him in. I listened to a number of interviews, speeches, etc. I assessed that he is very crafty, but apparently all-in with the wonderful idea of globalism. It's just the crony capitalist version.
Robbie| 3.9.11 @ 5:49PM
Why Newt receives attention as a real candidate amazes me. He is an ethical black hole who loves the sound of his own voice.
Every day, we get some goofy comment from one of the top Republicans. Today, it was Newt. Last week, it was Huck and Natalie Portman. We always have Palinmania.
Are there any adults in the likely Republican field? If Daniels and Barbour skip out, then what? Mitt? Hah!
DeDe Scuzzyfevah| 3.10.11 @ 10:39AM
I support Newt for President. As for the hypocrit Republicans who can't forgive him, get over it, h8ters!
Bubba from Little Rock| 3.10.11 @ 10:40AM
I believe Newt should schedule a photo op with Billy Graham. And carry a Bible.
Kevin| 3.11.11 @ 2:00PM
Phil,
Actually, "paying taxes is patriotic" is quite a rational argument. If you believe in and love your country, isn't the least you can do give up a bit of your salary to help run said country? I don't see anything wrong with that. I know you guys are tax-hating conservatives but without taxes nothing gets done. Sorry to burst your bubble.
westie| 4.2.11 @ 5:45AM
The first question to be answered by Newt...is a Patriotic D-bag different than the other types of D-Bags? Uh, uh, uh.....Newt is Not the next One!
signalfire| 11.27.11 @ 5:33PM
Newt was quoted by one of his staffers as saying that neither of his first 2 wives was 'pretty enough to be First Lady.' So there you have it: he's been wife-shopping all these years just so we could have lust and respect for the spouse he's going to bring to the White House, because we all know that it's our patriotic duty to vote for Newtie.
Gary Johnson for President. Because everyone else has had their chance and flamed out after becoming well known. There's still a year until the election, there's time.
ADale| 1.19.12 @ 4:20PM
So now he has the perfect arm charm - a Barbie Doll wife. All I have to add is watch out Barbie, (uh Calista) if you get sick too, it will be all over for you and the horn dog. One more thing, was the current wife in the Catholic Church the entire time she was with HD Newt? That makes both of them seriously lacking in good judgement, integrity, morals, loyalty, sensitivity, and trustworthiness just to mention a few of the qualities that are consistent with being a good leader.
Gbade| 1.24.12 @ 5:24PM
He is a cheat, a liar with no qualms about how he treated his former wives during their trying periods.