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Subscribe to RSSCOLUMBIA, S.C. -- During a three-day swing through South Carolina, Newt Gingrich spent a lot of time addressing liabilities for his revitalized campaign, some of which his opponents have tried to peg him over: his career as a Washington insider; his support of a “humane” approach to immigration; and even his personal skeletons, long out of the closet.
But conversations with South Carolinians who came to hear Gingrich speak suggest some voters here would overlook those hurdles, meaning his opponents might have to consider other lines of attack if Gingrich sustains his recent surge.
One such issue -- Gingrich’s 20-year Congressional career -- has become fodder for Mitt Romney, who on Monday called Gingrich a “life-long politician.”
Gingrich pushed back on that claim Wednesday at Tommy’s Ham House in Greenville, saying that he’s been a “lifetime citizen” since he was 15 years old and that he’s “worked every day since August 1958 to understand what America has to do to be successful” as a teacher, small business owner and, yes, politician.
But some voters here indicated that Gingrich’s longtime ties to Washington were actually part of his appeal.
“Because he’s spent so much time in Washington, he knows what it takes to get done,” said Bob Smith, 66, a marriage counselor from the coastal town of Hilton Head, who attended a town hall on Tuesday in nearby Bluffton. “He proved that in ’94 when he helped get rid of the Democratic majority and got America back on track even with a Democratic president.”
Virginia Coker, an 81-year-old former interior decorator from Hartsville, also said she liked Gingrich’s ability to navigate the halls of Congress and the White House.
“He has been there,” said Coker, as she waited for a Gingrich town hall to start Tuesday night in Newberry. “He’s been in government. He knows the ropes. He knows the good and the bad.”
Gingrich has also been attacked over his views on immigration, most notably by Michele Bachmann who said his proposal to allow some illegal immigrants to stay in the U.S. amounted to amnesty.
On Wednesday morning, Gingrich called Bachmann “factually challenged” for making that claim but stood by his position throughout his trip here.
“I don't believe you'll ever pass a bill that requires us to hunt down every single person who has been here for a quarter century,” he said during a town hall in Charleston on Monday night. “And I think there's a humane, orderly way to do this.”
And some voters here seemed to agree with him, even as South Carolina recently passed a stringent anti-immigration law, parts of which are being blocked by the U.S. Justice Department.
“He’s obviously aware that people aren’t going to go into a church and raid churches and pull people out,” said Bob Deal, 48, who went to Gingrich’s Bluffton town hall on Tuesday.
David Oswalt, who attended the Newberry town hall, said he supported Gingrich’s stance, because illegal immigrants are crucial to many industries in the state.
“I have a lot of friends in the farming business, and if it weren’t for the immigrants, the crop wouldn’t get picked,” said Oswalt, who owns a moving company in Batesburg.
Gingrich’s personal baggage also came up during Tuesday’s town hall in Bluffton, when he was asked, “What is it about Newt Gingrich that’s going to come to the surface that’s going to keep us from voting from you?”
Gingrich -- whose two divorces and an affair with a Congressional staffer, now his wife, have been well documented -- answered first by laughing and throwing up his hands, as the crowd cheered him on.
“It’s all there!” a man shouted from the crowd. “It’s all out there!”
In a state where in 2008, 60 percent of GOP primary voters said they were evangelical or born-again Christians, some seemed willing to forgive.
Harvard Riddle, 76, happened upon Gingrich’s town hall at Tommy’s on Wednesday morning, as he was meeting his Bible study group there.
“The Bible says, ‘Judge not lest you be judged.’ So I really can’t say,” Riddle said. “That was he and his wife’s business.”
Riddle, though, added that he thought Romney, who has his own uphill climb in South Carolina because of his Mormon faith, would probably be the best challenge to President Obama.
While Gingrich may have a trickier time explaining his infidelity to female voters, something Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention noted in an open letter to Gingrich Tuesday -- at least one of them, Coker, said she wasn’t deterred.
“Life is made up of problems. And just because he had those problems does not mean that he’s not a wonderful candidate to be president.”
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Geesh --- what's with all this baggage stuff?
It's not like we're talking about Bill Clinton. Hell, if Clinton ran every democrat in the country would probably vote for him again.
Didn't we decide back then as a nation that personal ethics aren't important
It would seem to me that your party continues to wave the "family values" banner. Have they furled the flag? The Republican party is really the "Father knows best" party, and a lot of Republicans are willing to call Newt "Daddy," and some of them no doubt actually are unknown to them his kids.
Seems the good ol'boy network has found their man!
Newt "the bed isn't even empty yet" Gingrich.
How two faced can you get?
How about all his ethics baggage, too?! Yeah, he really knows his way around the hall of Congress! I can't believe these people will over look all this stuff, somebody has to have a brain to see he's just more of the same corrupt politics.
This Gingrich stuff is beyond belief. He's the guy who went after Clinton, yet he was doing the exact same thing. And now he is rising in the polls in the Republican Party, the party of family values, so they say.
It truly is beyond belief. And people are buying this garbage. Gingrich is a dishonest hack. He made hundreds of thousands of dollars from Fannie Mae, as a historian, he says. You know, the same Fannie Mae who supposedly caused the economic meltdown.
But let's blame the poor people, who as it turned out, were targeted for subprime loans. Yes that's right. TARGETED. The same people who just wanted to own a home. Who went into their home purchase with good intentions. They were exploited. And Gingrich made big money off of this tragedy.
Gingrich is as dishonest as they come.
The Republican Party is one big scam.
Teacher: Again class, to conclude today's lesson on GOP/TP Christian values and judgment as it pertains to ourselves, can we spell: H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E?
Yes class, Excellent!! We are well on our way to damning this country to hell in a handbasket....<cheering and hands clapping>
He only has high numbers because they are poling Fla his peeps ..in the real world he wont get jack ...his own party kicked him out of Washington ...because he is a "BUM" ... ask any GOP member what happened !
What a big bag of @!$%#. This ahole was attacking Clinton left and right and during his attacks he was having his own affairs and ripping off the country.
Republicans are SOOOO desparate to have someone run that they THINK can beat Obama they wouldn't care if he committed murder - what has become of the GRAND Old Party???
PLEASE push every democrat/liberal/moderate/independent to VOTE and VOTE Democrat.
Rob -- Your "two wrongs make a right" fallacious argumentation fails to make the case for Gingrich.
It's not that Bill Clinton didn't have baggage (though compared to Gingrich, Clinton had a couple of bags and Gingrich has a freight truck full), it's whether the good points like competency and likability so out-weighs the bj with a staffer that Clinton was able to be reelected.
From talking to conservatives, they don't know enough about Gingrich because FOX Noise sure as heck isn't going to report it. I'd like to see a survey that asks specific questions about Gingrich's horrible record and then we'd see less support for him.
Gingrich isn't competent or likable. The man is a Legend In His Own Mind talking about his $60k speaking fees. His head is getting so big, when he drops like a rock "he'll be cryin'himself to sleep on his huge pilla."
Pat Boston MA. -- Exactly. Newt went into office with a teacher's pay and came out of office a multi-millionaire (like Perry and others). Also, as stated in another thread, it is mind-bending that Gingrich is going up in the polls because of Cain's sex scandals. So far we know of only one Cain affair compared to multiple affairs for Gingrich. Friggin' amazing!
Yes and every Republican in the state would be talking about what a bad immoral person he is. Republicans are always the first to talk about someone else's shortcomings but when people start looking at them it's "why are you being so unfair" HYPOCRITES!!!
Hypocrites! They are either extremely shallow and/or ignorant. No wonder they're one of the worst run states. I bet they all run out and buy all of (m)ann Coulter's latest books. What a bunch of gubers...
Gingrich is the epitome of everything that is wrong in politics and life. Character doesn't matter anymore to you a-holes? Politicians pandering votes for money don't matter, huh?? Spend, spend, spend don't matter?? Flip Flopping in the worst way?? Wasting tax-payers money?? blah...
Gingrich is so slick with his "excuses" as to be brash, but the truth is Teapublicans are willing to support someone who has a chance in a debate against President Obama, no matter how despicable Newt is or how horrible a POTUS he would be. Right-wingers are the most unpatriotic @#$%&! I've ever seen.
"Right-wingers are the most unpatriotic @#$%&! I've ever seen."
Exactly right. Defeat of Obama at the expense of the well-being of the country. Support of a complete slime-ball because he has good debating skillz. Geez, TP is the enemy right behind Al-Qaeda and Taliban.......
If republicans are willing to brush aside all Newt Gingrich's baggage which is a gigantic pile, then they deserve what they get for a nominee--an ethic's challenged, serial adulterer, lobbyist, con and scam artist extraordinaire.
What about OBOMBO's past? you can't get a straight answer on his
college grades and what he was actually doing except being an activist
and hanging out with Bill Ayers who's a terrorist and Rev. Wrong who
is a racists and hates America but the liberal media just thought none
of that was important! Newt will expose what an idiot OBOMBO is
if he can ever get him to debate without his teleprompter!
Ervin, you are a troll extraordinaire! How did you stop watching Fox long enough to spew such a list of lies?
I believ most people are starting to lookpast Gingrich's personal baggage in favor of his experience.
When given the choice of the current failure, a Rino Romney, or Gingrich, he looks pretty darn good.
And given the state we are in, we need his leadership and skills.
ABO 2012
"When given the choice of the current failure, a Rino Romney, or Gingrich, he looks pretty darn good.
And given the state we are in, we need his leadership and skills."
Is that why Newt immediately shot to the top of the popularity polls, and stayed there since jumping into the race??? Oh, wait....
What's you point there Drive BY?
Anyone who does not lead the field from the start is dis-qualified?
Obama was behind Hillary at this point. So what.
Candidate of the Month? Perhaps, but it's a good month to be that.
Luck and timing, right Drive By?
He is saying that if Newts skills are so great, why did your party have to go through all the other candidates before deciding how great Newt is?
Newt is slime and I feel he represents the republican party quite well. I mean really, how ethical is the republican party when Newt starts looking good to them?
Ok AF - so then we know Obama is the smartest, best-est politician EVAH, yet yet trailed in the '08 primary for a long time.
Was Obama not totally awesome from the get go?
Why then did you all have to go through the entire '08 primary to decide on President Awesome?
And was not one of you choices Edwards?
As for your feeling about Newt - I am guessing he is not counting on your support. And if the polls are correct on Obama, he is really. really going to need you.
See, you can stick to yours and us to ours. Isn't this the best country ever?
IT is a great country for the first time in my life spank because your side is now a minority that can't stick its boot on the necks of the working class no more....Please vote for POOT
Aw look, another Michelle Obama clone.
Yep, this is the first time in your life. So, given the implied presumption you are a tried and true Libbie philly, you must be 11years old.
Cause see if you were any older then you'd have been alive during Clintons time in office.
You do remember Clinton? He and Newt have a lot in common, both in their professional and personal lives.
Of course Clinton, like Obama was a big fan of Free Trade Agreements, which do wonders for the working class.
Besides, if you listen to the big thinkers around here, like Amy, the GOP controls the house AND the Senate. And pretty much the WH too as Obama can only do their bidding. Like on those fantastic tax cuts he signed for the wealthy.
So what else you got there philly. Your fun, I like your spunk. Now get back to class - your 7th grade teacher needs the hall pass back.
Edwards was never a choice for me. As neither was Hillary.
What brought me on board was a beautiful speech made by Michelle Obama. I was for the president from the very beginning and sent money to his campaign.
In those days Hillary was the Romney the expected candidate.
As usual wrong again Spanky. If I ever need a lawyer I will make sure it is not you because over and over you show you don't know what you are talking about.
I am crushed AF. But tell me how I am wrong?
Drive By's assertion, parroted by you was Newt's rise late in the game.
Just like Obama's.
See - you said I was wrong, but fail to point how how or what I said was incorrect.
What's the matter AF, can't you do that?
Come on show me how I am wrong. Stop with the silly conclusions. They serve no purpose.
But I suspect you know that. Or maybe we have reached the limits of your capability?
Boy, American's...GREAT reason for voting for Barack Hussein Obama...because of a speech his WIFE made. She, who had never been proud of America before.......
Don't get me wrong, by the way...I'm no Republican. I'm not an Obama fan, either. He's nothing but a Republican in Democrat clothing.
Experience in ripping the country off..............
So - Michael 1138359...you proud of America as it is right now?
Gingrich is a pos. The man is the epitome of a self-aggrandizing, favors-trading, corrupt, anti-women, career politician....
And that's just for starters.
Gingrich IS the problem, definitely not the solution.
Why don't you Gubers vote for Ron Paul. At least that man seems to have sme character. (I know you won't vote for Romney or Huntsman)
You mean the leadership skills that caused his own party to throw him out of Congress? The only thing Newt Gingrich can lead this country to is a bigger disaster then the one Bush 43 gave us--that, and he can give directions to Tiffany's.
Careful where you tread, there, Noot- them there South Carolinians like their hog roasts, I'v heard. Mm Mmmm.... A washtub full of long-necks, a confederate flag fluttering in the breeze and some good old fasioned open-pit pork!
OH NO!
Not Tommy's Ham House again... lmao!
Is that the ONLY restaurant in Greenville or just the only one who caters to the stuck on stupid crowd?
Ok Drive By - tell us who is fatter: Newt, Ed "one of the least influential people in the world" Schultz, or Barney Frank?
If we pitted them in Sumo, who wins?
And damn, but who doesn't love some open pit pork? Best BBQ I ever had was when I got me a Whole Pig [from Iowa Meat Farms] and baked it over night in a pit in my back yard.
People in middle america need to watch the corporate farms harvest their former farms and pay attention to real issues and get past their hate of minorities
Wow, I was joking above, but it looks like you really are in the 7th grade philly.
'harvest their former farms...'
What you talkin' 'bout Willis?
Is this a Cain thing? racist.
.
sw philly, have no fear...Spankles is the resident First Read @!$%#. He never comes up for air. Never defends his arguments. Picks various talking points to focus on for the day. He'll pick on you for a while, then when he gets his ass handed to him in some meaningless debate he starts, he bolts like Newt after a one night stand...or he'll just put you on ignore.
There are 2 good things, DBO, about South Carolina - their bbq and their low country boil. After that it is all down hill.
Alright Mickey - back to more Spanky.
I did note that you actually posted a comment yesterday that did not reference me.
Slipping there Mickey, but it is so nice for you to defend philly. He needs all the help he can get. even if it is from you.
[I did note that you actually posted a comment yesterday that did not reference me.]
Are you stalking ME now? That's just...creepy, junior...just creepy.
Spanky, That lap dog Mouse just can't get enough of you. Now that is what I call dogged devotion... or obsession.
The only Republican running who is not dangerous to the nation is Huntman.
Shhh. Job1, he is the one Republican candidate who really can give the president a run for election. However, the far right will never consider him.
More than Newton's moment in the sun, the disdain expressed by the majority of republican voters for Governor Romney really bodes well for his chances in the general election ...He's like the Republican Hubert Humphrey circa 1968...
Hard to believe that the Republican party is doing it's best to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory....
Electric Cars Suck.
APNewsBreak: GM willing to buy back Volts
By TOM KRISHER
AP Auto WriterA
P Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
NEW YORK (AP) -- General Motors will buy Chevrolet Volts back from any owner who is afraid the electric cars will catch fire, the company's CEO said Thursday.
In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, CEO Dan Akerson insisted that the cars are safe, but said the company will purchase the Volts because it wants to keep customers happy. Three fires have broken out in Volts after side-impact crash tests done by the federal government
Yeah, just forget about the whole idea, I mean internal combustion engine vehicles have never had a single safety issue or product recall in....hold on, I'm being told that is not just wrong but also ridiculous and absurd...
Fibber Magee-"okay threw out that bathwater!'
Molly-"Where's the BABY????"
Fibber Magee-"Baby?...whoops!"
---------------------------------------------------------
No one with the sense god gave a rabbit could make a blanket statement based on a single anecdote and their own prejudices...
Right I keep asking the same type of question everytime one of the wing-nuts on the right posts this crap....I know for a fact percentage wise gas powered vehichles are much more likely to catch fire at anytime , just while driving,in a crash or while refueling....Hell even while parked on a pile of leaves..
Well let's see danger - you seeing a big push for GM to recall/buy back any of those internal combustion cars?
Too bad, I was so just about to go and plunk down $40 to get a car that gets a whooping 25 mpgs. Seems like a smart move, right?
'cept for the whole fire thing-y.
Spanks-
Got a cool vintage lime green pinto (Ford had a better idea!) I'll sell you for your 40 bucks, and it gets about 20-25 mpg even now, just be careful when you back up, something about a fire thing-y
(we shoulda just gived up making cars altogether, right?)
That you missed the actual point intentionally is cool, but Luddites are like The Shakers...not long for this earth...happy motoring!
I know the lawyer who handled the pinto explosion case, that set the record for punitivedamages. Grimshaw v. Ford.
the fire wiped out his family.
Guess what kind of car he was scene driving about 5 years later.
A Ford Bronco.
But it's cool - I'll stick to the gas - you go with the electric. And they really need your support, so that is great.
Too bad it's all about tax subsidies, that will soon end, eh danger?
[I know the lawyer who handled the pinto explosion case...]
....sure you do, Lionel...sure you do.
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA — A very confident New Gingrich asserted to ABC News Thursday afternoon that he will be the Republican presidential nominee.
“I’m going to be the nominee,” the former Speaker told ABC News. “It’s very hard not to look at the recent polls and think that the odds are very high I’m going to be the nominee.”
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/12/gingrich-tells-abc-news-im-going-to-be-the-nominee/
____________________________________________________________________________
Hubris anyone?
Why not just announce your transition team and cabinet now?
Someone should remind Newton that they haven't cast a single vote yet, and maybe that the "polls" predicted a RedSox vs. Phillies World Series?
There's a long way to go for the 3rd in a series of "challengers" to the solid, but unexciting Mitt Romney, so I wouldn't be planning my acceptance speech or measuring those curtains just yet....
"Hey Newt...I'M GONNA WIN THE LOTTERY!"
I think it really helps to think positively, no matter how unreasonable it may prove to be.
Newt had a problem with arrogance and always will.
Newt is the bachleor party and Romney is the wedding. Don't really care - the Republicans have handed the election to Obama on a platter - this has just been one big clusto since the TP highjacked the Republican Party.
F**K that's a scary thought!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't want this turd anywhere near the presidency...
Except it is not just baggage... it is like 3 Mayflower truck fulls.....
Living in South Carolina by marriage...I can tell you why South Carolinians would overlook Gingrich's baggage...it's called "inbreeding".
Hey Newt read this.
usa1998.com
Well looks like the Republicans will have a long primary after all.
Does everyone in South Carolina listen to the lies spewed out of the FOX-hole and from the talking heads?
Newton Leroy Gingrich: Draft dodger, Dead-Beat Dad, Family Values? Pressing Wife for Divorce in the Hospital, House Banking Scandal: Newt Bounced 22 Checks, Book Deals: Murdoch's $4.5 Million wasn't the first, GOPAC sleaze: Taxpayer subsidies for his partisan campaign course and Corporate reward: $2,500/month to Newt's wife. Who Owns Him - Grover Norquist, Bob Vander Plaats, Edward H Crane and David Keene, and other puppeteers.
A morally bankrupt man - who himself is nothing more than a whore for money.
Hypocrites! They are either extremely shallow and/or ignorant. No wonder they're one of the worst run states. I bet they all run out and buy all of (m)ann Coulter's latest books. What a bunch of gubers...
Gingrich is the epitome of everything that is wrong in politics and life. Character doesn't matter anymore to you a-holes? Politicians pandering votes for money don't matter, huh?? Spend, spend, spend don't matter?? Flip-Flopping in the worst way??? Wasting tax-payers money?? blah...
Newts Accomplishments:
SIXTH Candidate to shoot to the top and become Front Runner this year.
Responsible for the Government Shutdown in 95 because he refused to compromise with Clinton - sound familiar?
Had to return 4.5 Million from a book deal he made while in Congress - BIG no no.
Used tax exempt donations to fund a college course. Had to pay $300,000 for the investigation and was reprimanded 395 to 28.
ATTACKED Clinton and tried to get him impeached for having an affair and all the while he was doing the SAME thing.
He is in Grover Norquist pocket...........
That's baggage that the country should NOT carry.
Oh did I mention he was a narcissist.
H8theHYPE,
Thank you and that didn't even include his using of women and his misogyny. Geez. Or his getting rich at the taxpayer's expense. Or his getting richer for his lobbying efforts by pandering votes. Or his voting to spend, spend, spend on big government. Or his flip-flopping that rival Romneys and may even surpass it..........
Newt did say that Bachmann is "factually challenged."
Now we have ONE republican to add to all the Democrats who already know that fact.
Baggage? What about his ethics? This guy is a crook. Why can't Americans see it! Richard Nixon re-incarnated.
A Republican Clinton but hey that never stopped the hypocritical Tea Baggers, they said they are for "family values" ya Newt a real christian gentleman! Thrown out of the House by Republicans!!
Romney 2012 !
If this headline is true, then I believe it is also true these individuals hate President Obama more than they love their country. Period.
Perry, Cain, Gingrich: all crooks. Vote for one of them if you want Washington run by corporate lobbyists and their money.
I can not ever understand the hypocritical thought process of the GOP. I hope the people of SC that are willing to over look Newts "baggage" are not of the Christian right, because that even makes it more pathetic...But in general I have to ask why they would over look this mans ego? his truly ugly heart & a person with no morality at all.
Lets see left not one but two wives while they were ill, more recently took money (2mil?) from Freddie Mac & then says he was a historian for the love of god! Oh & one of his little business is selling his name to anyone who can pay 5000.00 or more & they get a certificate or a gavel or some other piece of crap...for being nominated (for fill in the blank) by the Great Newt! Lets not get into the whole book deal & how he has been using campaign money to promote his books and go to book signings...more profit for good ol Newt...
Now he wants to loosen child labor laws & then fire janitors & replace them with children! Yep that would help our economy! Fire adults & replace them with children...He is a D BAG! He is a huge egomaniac, has no care at all for people... In his case I do not think he cares whether they are rich or poor..that is the only distinction between Newt & the rest of the GOP. He cares only for himself! T
Considering the fact that those in SC know little to nothing about Newters past, it's not too surprising that he has their support.
wow that is almost sadder then being hypocritical isn't it...well I hope they all take some time to research these people before they vote! I hope the american people get curious & want to expand their knowledge on issues & the people running our country...
Typical left wingers posting all the so called negatives about Newt, knowing that they would not support him no matter what, because they are all democrats and this is about a Republican primary. If Newt is as bad as they say and make out, you would think they would want him as the republican candidate, but in reality I believe the left wingers are scared to see Newt run against Obama. The election won't be about family values and who is the biggest con man, but it will be waged on the economic problems of this country. "It's the economy, stupid" will be the Republicans battle cry along with "Are you better off now than you were 4 years ago" if the answer is NO then you should vote to get rid of Obama.
No not afraid of Newt...But truly I was around when he was speaker , I paid attention to what he did while in that job, in fact this uncivil behavior in politics (the truly ugly & mean) started with Newt & his boys at the time...So it is not just typical liberal...It is actually not wanting to relive that time...The election can be about all things, Newt does not have a chance the more he opens his mouth lets everyone know what he is like...BTW if you are voting on one issue only you are very short sighted...
sfcret
Your ignorance is overwhelming. You have no idea who Newt is and being a lockstep republican, you will not find out for yourself. You are one of the problems in our country... an ignorant voter.
liberal will never admit OBOMBO is the worst president ever! or that
he's a socialist! your right ANYBODY on the right is better than a lefty!
dembarb, You are the one that is ignorant. You don't know the first thing about me, further you are a left wing idiot that don't know the first thing about Newt. If you are going to reply please tell me why you think Newt is not qualified to be President of the United States, and don't use all the left wing talking points.
I would expect nothing more from South Carolina where walking the way you talk means nothing.
What will they call the First Lady position if Newt's elected? The Second Other Woman? gotta love RepubliCon family values and their fight to "save marriage" - waaaahahahahahah...South Carolina likes to be the laughing stock of America.
Yep, they looked past his baggage, and found . . . more baggage.
Republican voters are suffering from short term memory loss. Do any of you remember why he resigned from the House?
From Wikipedia: On January 21, 1997, the House of Representatives voted to discipline him for ethical wrongdoing. He was accused of using tax-deductible charitable donations to fund a non-charitable college course that he taught, and of giving false information about this to the House Ethics Committee. In a 395-28 vote, the House ordered Gingrich to pay an unprecedented $300,000 penalty as part of a settlement to avoid a full hearing.[5]
I couldn't care less about his personal peccadilloes, it was his ethics problems as a Congressman that disqualify him, in my mind.
South Carolina will vote for anyone after all they elected DeMented.