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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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Term limits-yes, end corporate welfare-yes, downsize government NO!
The reason that the Repugnants and the wealthy want to downsize the government is so that they can privatize everything and eventually make us beholding to them for everything. This is why they are trying to bankrupt the government by not making big business pay taxes so that they can make profits off from everything from police and fire, schools, public transportation, etc...
It will also allow them to continue to legally raid the public tresury, legally make profits off from illegal wars, legally make profits off from destroying the environment, legally make profits while selling us unhealthy and unchecked foods and medicines, legally monopolize all media outlets (almost there), legally inflate and deflate the economy to the disadvantage of the poor, legally force the poor into working until they are 70-80 yrs old, etc...
I was in D.C. in June- overheard a conversation-
Seems this young fella was with Newts staff...
He claimed the former speaker was "preparing to run"...
Scared the #4?>+ out of me!!! And still does.
Newt: An ugly, slimy little creature who wallows in mud to cross-breed and to try and escape it's enemies..
Oh wait, that's a republican!
Anybody who uses Fox not so balanced & fair TV News show to to promote their one sided Republican views is a snake in the grass. They all plug their phony books they have written, Karl Rove, Newt,Palin,Beck,and the whole cast of a republican owned media. These are self serving people trying to persuade Americans that they know what is best of America. They are all media whores looking for their selves not you. The Shaun Hannity and the newest member from England Barney are all professional liars to viewers. It's sad to see how many lost sheep in this country can be corralledby these kind of people who have law degrees & journalistic education to spread lies on their radio shows & TV. There are enough stupid voters who will regret they voted for a Messiah from Fox News. They all make a few million dollars from TV & Radio. They don't tell the news & if they do it is slanted always. Bottom line they want to keep their tax cut, so you as a poor voter or making less the 250 G's vote for their pocket you get nothing in return. They know how to use the media & fuel controversy among voters. Don't be Naive and believe these ass hol&*. Don't let the Fox Media who pay the Gingrich and all who appear on Fox tv and Radio have you belive in what they are trying to do in this country. They want Republican power back for their own pocket, not yours. They will stab you in the back after you help them achieve their own agenda. The media is sometimes to powerful and I believe they go overboard using our freedoms to profess their self serving lies. They wish for Bush Jr could be president again. It is crap tv what you watch on cable. Be smarter then them turn them all off.
Bill "the role model" Clinton?