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Subscribe to RSSFormer Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich is enjoying a new round of perennial presidential candidacy buzz – he came in a surprisingly strong third in a recent 2012 preference poll among Iowa Republicans - but his personal life continues to dog him.
Conservative Republican Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma bluntly stated his concern about the twice-divorced, thrice-married Gingrich during a Friday town hall.
"He's the last person I'd vote for for president of the United States,” Coburn said, per the Tulsa World. “His life indicates he does not have a commitment to the character traits necessary to be a great president."
Coburn said that Gingrich’s personal history indicates that he “doesn't know anything about commitment to marriage.”
A recent profile in Esquire magazine explored that history, including details of the affairs that ended his first two marriages. The writer interviewed Gingrich’s second wife, Marianne, who painted a frank picture of her ex-husband's moral inconsistencies.
"He believes that what he says in public and how he lives don't have to be connected," she said in the interview. "If you believe that, then yeah, you can run for president."
*** UPDATE *** Msnbc.com's Tom Curry points out that Coburn has long been critical of the former House Speaker.
In his 2003 book, Breach of Trust, Coburn portrayed Gingrich as lacking in courage and in good judgment.
Coburn said Gingrich was outwitted by President Bill Clinton in the 1995 battle over the budget which led to temporary shutdown of the government. “Our leaders folded instead of standing their ground,” Coburn wrote. “History shows that the shutdown fight was a fight we could have won.”
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Let's not forget that Gingrich was having an adulterous affair of his own of long standing at the very time he was conspiring to impeach Bill Clinton.
Gee, I don't know,I'd have to talk with his two ex wives to see what they think...
Why don't we talk about Kennedy (remember Mary Jo) And what's his face (john Edwards) who fathered a child while married to a woman with cancer. Are and weren't they democrats? Should I name a few more besides these and Clinton of course.
Hey Tom, I fully agree, I won't vote for that jerk either.
Tom
Why does he have to be a jerk. You guys kill me. Everytime someone does something that people think go against their belief system we want to start degrading them. Be careful what you say about others, it may come back to haunt YA. I have no problem with people voicing opinions however we need to respect them as individuals. have you ever ran for office, or anything for that matter?
Putney
There's only one reality people should focus on: Under Clinton and the Democrats there was a surplus; under the 8 years of George W. Bush, that surplus changed into a 2 trillion dollar deficit. The Republicans can yak all they want but that fact will never quit haunting them!
Note; Further, the primary reason that deficit occurred is that under Bush revolutionary tax breaks were given to the top 5% of taxpayers, forcing the US into an orgy of borrowing from foreign countries...most prominent being China. All you Tea Partiers had better wake up if you're planning on bringing back Republican rule. They were and are the party of fiscal irresponsibility and destruction! The Nation has still not recovered;and to put them back now is an act of national suicide, something for which your children will, and should, never forgive you!
RBTATT- You hit the nail on the head about George Bush Jr. He really did screw up this country.
Putney
Women should not serve in the military on active duty because they get infections in the trenches according to Newt. Men like to go hunting for giraffe and are fit for such things. Gingrich is a horse's hind and I would never vote for such a person. He is really not cut from the right cloth to do much more than sell used cars/
I just clicked on this story to find out who Coburn is.
Tom Coburn is who I'd like to see run for President. He's a conservative with INTEGRITY!!!
annirich--If this is true; you've made a monumental discovery. Congratulations!
No one is perfect...but I am getting sick of leaders who flaunt their
illicit ways and expect us to respect them and vote for them of all things.
Personally, I'm just too sick of government insuating themselves with
rules to govern us, yet do what ever they want because they have the power
to do so. Gingrich is a smiling putz.
i hate him.
Ed.
Hate is a pretty harsh word to use. What about real jerk.
Putney
Do the Dems read these blogs sites? I'm trying to get to a web site for Howard Dean. I just heard his words and I'll tell ya' what; he has now convinced me that I will vote for NO DEMS in Nov. I was toying with a few but now, because of his "lost souls" comments, ALL DEMS OUT!!!
I hope he gets the Rep nomination for pres, in 2012, that should insure, that Obama will win relection, recycled has beens, is just what the repubs need, tired old has beens, ya, that should do the trick.
I am looking for a sponsor of a bill or amendment at the state and national level to provide voters with a REAL choice on every ballot. I want a choice for every office on every official ballot that says:
I AM VOTING FOR NONE OF THE LISTED CANDIDATES FOR THIS OFFICE. I REALIZE THAT BY DOING THIS I AM OPTING OUT OF VOTING FOR ANY CANDIDATE LISTED FOR THIS OFFICE. MY VOTE WILL BE COUNTED PROPORTIONALLY AGAINST EACH CANDIDATE LISTED FOR THIS OFFICE.
Now THERE is a way to VOTE THE RASCALS OUT.
Mitteemo,
I hear ya. Remember that movie Richard Pryor , Brewster's Million vote for 'None of the Above"
Putney
Let’s not forget Reagan/Bush trashing anti-Trust, union busting and DEREGULATION. The ROOT of all future Corporate scandal. We must go to the 90’s with Newt Gingrich/Tom Delay/Phil Gramm Republican’s to find out how Republicans sold out the American middle/working class.
I wanted to ask the Grich about all the hidden legislation such as the “Expatriate Clause” in Clinton’s Family Leave bill. It allowed the super rich (multinational Corporations, Saudi royals, drug trafficers, etc) take their billions out of the country PENALTY FREE! Gingrich Republicans INSURED the venture capital of corporations that moved to Asia…
Newt Gingrich oversaw legislation/policy that paved the way for loss of American jobs, off-shore tax evasion, media consolidation, predatory lending and a “Corporate Crime Wave” of EPIC proportions
While Republicans were waving the American flag and professing love of the USA, behind the scenes they were busy selling out our children’s future. Explain to me please Newt, what good can come from the US Congress insuring the venture capital of Corporations that move American jobs to Communist China? Why should Americans TRUST Gingrich or ANY Republican ever again?
cyberbitchslap2.blogspot.com
Hey Morning Joe, what you doin wit dat “gun” in your hand? Mark Foley, Larry Craig, Ted Haggard and the rest are throwing a party and want to know if they can hire those Male Stripers you guys were talking about earlier. I busy getting ready for work but I think you called them “The Young Guns”
According to anti-gay activists George Rekers and James Dobson from the so-called Family Research Council… The Male Model/Escort industry has a great future in Republican Party politics… lol
GOP - Gay Old Party
consciousmc.blogspot.com link to Cyber Bitch Slap
After 20 months of watching the CIC (Clown in Charge) trying to systematically and deliberately destroy the United States, I'd be willing to vote for Captain Kangaroo if he ran for the office.
Fast Eddie--Please. After 20 months of watching sore loser McCain flip-flop all over himself and the Wasila Mama's "intelligence" on display you are convinced that they would have been better choices for America? Only a dumba$$ tea bagger could make such a statement with a straight face. Do yourself (and the rest of us a favor): conduct some research, revisit history, learn facts and get out of the Tea-Toting Matrix or whatever Republican, homogeneous isolated hole you call home. Start by pulling your head out of Beck's ass!
Who falls for this stuff? Conservative wackos, THAT’S WHO! How does this 2nd rate shock jock Beck, become the mouthpiece of GOD? I’m Roman Catholic, I believe in GOD AND I REFUSE to allow this great nation to be destroyed by a bunch of Glenn Beck/Sarah Palin groupies…
Normally I’d be telling Democrats, Progressives, Liberals, Independents and disgruntled Republicans, there’s only ONE issue that matters. That would be to get rid of Republican Party in the next few elections. Kick the GOP to the curb, right? But I’ve been side tracked by this maniac Glenn Beck. The thought of this mad man speaking on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial trying to associate himself with Martin Luther King Jr. is more than I can take…
“Restoring HONOR”? Are you KIDDING ME? Is that what passes for HONOR on the monkey right-wing? When are you Conservative wackos going to evolve? OK Progressives, here’s a challenge… Glenn Beck demonizes our ideological belief system on a daily basis on TV and the radio. He uses hate speech, racism, warped interpretations of the Bible… Beck revises history and passes along his severe superiority complexes, odd paranoia and religious delusions on to his cult-like following. He has made Progressive activists into targets… SO WHEN DO WE FIGHT BACK? In the next 2 elections that’s where Progressive get our JUSTICE!
Like Tip O’Neil used to say “ALL politics are LOCAL politics…” I got a challenge for Progressives… Find something to USE against Republican candidates in your voting district and destroy their political careers. It easy, most Republicans are either stupid or corrupt
SpoAct
First, your no Roman Catholic because you call yourself a progressive and you can't be both. Progressives/marxists are intolerant of religion. Check out Marx and Lenin on the subject. Sorry, I am sure you quite familiar with them.
So Beck is a maniac? Gee I wonder how someone who proves how progressives in the country have distorted our history, blame America for all the evil in the world, don't believe in freedom and helped create a decadent society is a maniac.
By the way Spo you are not a progressive you are a marxist who hates this country. So comrade, do you enjoy being manipulated by your Commissar's?
afloat
It's morons like you that keep these Becky a$$ holes going. You have nothing but hate and bigotry in your life. You are a useless member of society. Take your hate and leave this country. We want people with pride and respect for everyone. Thats not YOU.
rouge
Coming from a marxist like you I take your comments as compliment. The only hate that is being spewed is from you and your comrades. You marxists respect no one who differs with you. Look rouge marxists worst enemy is the middle class and you and your ilk are doing a great job in trying to destroy it.
afoatincrap
Typical Becky response. It must be a conspiracy by the marxists. Maybe if you take the same drugs, you can talk to god like Becky does.
"Isn't it interesting that infidelity by Clinton was no problem?"
Really? It seams to me he was impeached over it. I don't know about you, but that was a BIG problem for him in my book.
"Perhaps if the Republicans take over Congress in November, we'll get some fiscal sanity back, like what happened in 1994 under Gingrich with his "Contract with America"."
Yeah... And let's not forget G.W. Bush's financial legacy. Now, there is fiscal sanity for you! I must say I am giddy with excitement over the prospect of more of that!
It's just too bad we the public don't have the courage to vote for leaders that would actually role up their collective sleeves and fix the problems that are destroying this great country. Problem is, we are all too concerned with our own personal interests to see the forest for the trees. Fixing what ails this country is going to take a long time, and it's going to hurt. A lot. But until we all put our personal interests and petty bickering aside, it's only going to get worse. And ultimately hurt worse.
How about we turn that around? Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Tea Party'rs alike... Ultimately we are ALL on the same team. It' about time we started acting like it!
Ia there a Coburn in the Democrat Party? Dumb question.
Interesting that the right thinks gay marriage is a threat to 'traditional marriage', when Newt and Rush have so far destroyed four themselves. The evidence is that divorce is the greatest threat to 'traditional marriage'. Let's have a constitutional amendment prohibiting that. That would make it morally and ethically consistent with the argument.
One's personal life (aside from felonies or nefarious activities) should not be a factor in their political life unless a major part of their platform they are running on is family values. If Newt leaves family values out of his rhetoric and consistently answers "no opinion" on it, then it isn't relevant. If he does talk family values, then he opened the door and it's fair game towards his character and credibility.
So, it's really his choice. Run on financial and other issues, but not on social issues and family values and no one should use his past personal life as an issue. Run on social issues and family values and the mud starts getting slung.
Gingrich is a shameless lire, but that's how you get power in Republican party, more lies more bashing everything around him or her and people really thing that they are on the same page with them. What a bunch of losers we are if we allow politicians with out even meaning of family values to tell us how to live and how to think.
J Katze,
Even though Newt is off the chain, What about Bill in the oval office with Monica under the table?
I am no fan of Tome Coburns but he hit the nail on the head. Newt is the man who said people don't care how he lives jsut what he says. I think the problem is not that he is womanizer but rather that he is a hypocrite. As for why Republicans who stray getting more publicity than Democrats, I think it is because they hold themselves up as the party of family values, against gay marriage, and other such nonsense. It's always a lot better news when a holier than thou person is caught with their hand in the cooki jar so to speak.
"Newt is unelectable and undelectable", submitted by former wives.
"newt" is a duplicitous "nit wit" !!! but he fits right in there with the other right wing nuts like palin, rush and beck !!!