We don’t have to go far back for today’s quotes from Newt Gingrich:
I would ask her to consider taking a major role in the next administration if I’m president….
He is referring to Sarah Palin who announced that if she lived in South Carolina, she would be voting for Gingrich. We know the smartest man in Western civilization has an affinity for those who are not as intellectually curious (e.g., Herman Cain), but it will be interesting to hear what he thinks would be a “major role.” (The quote is from Politico.com’s Maggie Habersham who, in turn, is quoting a Gingrich interview with Wolf Blitzer.)
… tawdry ….
That is Gingrich’s response to reports that his second of three wives is saying in an interview that Newt wanted an “open marriage” so he could remain married to her and have an affair with the woman who is now his current wife. For some reason, wife #2 was (and, apparently remains) offended that Newt broached this subject just two days before giving a speech on the importance of “family values” in America. In a recent Republican debate, Gingrich decried marriage between two people of the same gender as being opposed to the “sacrament” of marriage — not the institution of marriage, but the “sacrament” of marriage. I was struck by this since marriage must be sanctioned by the government. While religions can perform, recognize and celebrate a marriage, you need a civil marriage certificate to be legally married. It would be interesting to hear Newt discuss his concept of marriage with Rick Santorum who raises the ludicrous example of polygamy as his reason for opposing same sex marriages. Most interesting of all, of course is whether the second wife’s comments derail permanently the candidacy of one who has once again risen to the top of the polls. That would be the ultimate payback.
Tom Noonan 