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Subscribe to RSSCOLUMBIA, S.C. – Not fifteen minutes into her second campaign event of the day, Newt Gingrich’s daughter Jackie Gingrich Cushman got the question she seems to have come to expect.
“There’s been such a big fuss on the three marriages,” a supporter, who had come to meet Cushman at the Scarlet Chord coffee shop in Laurens, said. “How does he deal with the innuendo in that?”
Cushman, the daughter of Gingrich and his first wife, Jackie Battley, didn’t miss a beat.
“Most families have gone through terrible things, whether it’s divorce or tragedy. That’s life,” she said. “We’ve healed, we’ve reconciled.”
While Cushman may have healed from her parents’ divorce (she was thirteen at the time), many Republican voters still balk at her father’s infidelity and three marriages.
So Cushman seems to have taken it upon herself to tell the story of her family, and specifically her father, from her perspective – leaving no topic off-limits.
“I try to frame it in a way that makes sense and resonates with people,” Cushman told NBC News. “Like many families, we had a hard time and we’ve all moved on. And we’re all focused on helping each other.”
In fact, several times during her five-stop jaunt through South Carolina’s Upstate, Cushman chose to address the divorce issue head on, using a half/serious, half/humorous anecdote about when her father and then-boyfriend Jimmy Cushman met for the first time, at a bar.
Standing next to two other men at the bar, Cushman said she heard one say, “There’s Newt Gingrich. I heard he abandoned his wife and children.”
“I felt compelled to turn around and explain to this guy that that was not true,” Cushman told a group of supporters at a cocktail party in Greenville. “And I almost felt bad for him because obviously he was shocked and terribly embarrassed.”
He was, Cushman suggested, a consumer of misinformation, which Gingrich has been combating since his days on Capitol Hill.
“I let you know that story -- it is kind of funny -- to let you know that there are a lot of things out there that aren’t true,” Cushman said, imploring the 20 supporters gathered to visit the “answers page” at Newt.org for more information about the divorce issue.
Cushman also mentioned several times a different story dealing with a much-publicized scenario in which Gingrich visited his soon-to-be-ex wife Battley in the hospital.
Reports at the time said Gingrich demanded a divorce while Battley was on her deathbed; Cushman recently wrote an op-ed saying the divorce was already in progress and her mother was getting a tumor, which was benign, removed.
In Cushman’s anecdote, a woman who heard the hospital story said she thought Cushman’s mother was dead. “Because she had heard these terrible rumors on the Internet which are not true, she assumed that my mother must be dead,” Cushman said.
In addition to, as she puts it, “setting the record straight” about her father, Cushman also intends to show voters how Gingrich has changed since leaving the public eye. For one, his faith is deeper, she said, as a result of trying to move beyond his infidelity.
“He’s talked about how he’s made mistakes in his past. He’s talked about how he’s had to ask for God’s forgiveness. He’ stalked about reconciling with God and with others,” she said.
His professional demeanor has also changed, she said.
“Because he hasn’t been in the public eye for over a decade, when you first mention his name, many people think about the news reports that were reported when he was speaker. And he had thousands and thousands of negative articles at that time,” Cushman said.
“But in addition to being disciplined, he's now very cheerful and very optimistic and I think it’s a very good example of a happy warrior out on the campaign trail,” she added.
She also dismissed as sour grapes complaints from his former Congressional colleagues, like Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) who called Gingrich too erratic and self-centered to be president.
“He balanced the budget with President Clinton. He reformed welfare, cut spending and cut taxes. That is a level of real change in Washington and to go through that type of change, not everyone is going to feel comfortable,” she said.
Gingrich also occasionally defend her father’s recent proclamations on the campaign trail. One voter at the Spartanburg Republican Party’s Christmas party, the last event of the day, brought up Gingrich’s assertion that he would potentially subpoena “activist judges” to justify any controversial rulings.
“It’s fairly steeped in controversy right now,” said Hugh McMillan, 63, of Spartanburg.
Just as she had with the more personal issues of the day, Cushman explained her dad’s side of the story, saying that he supported abolishing entire courts, like the Ninth Circuit of Appeals, if they were found to have gone “beyond how originally they were set up in terms of our Founding Fathers."
She then, as she had for questions over the divorces, referred McMillan to Newt.org, which addresses both the personal and the political, and those instances in which the two are hard to distinguish.
But Cushman did most of the defending of her father face-to-face with voters.
This close to the holidays, Cushman said that Gingrich was nothing like the grouchy Christmas antagonist with a similar name as his: the Grinch.
“He’s my dad and he’s never stolen my Christmas,” Cushman said. “He wasn’t that person then and he’s not that person now.”
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Gingrich is still Gingrich no matter if he "found" the lord or not. Just as you cannot change the spots on a leopard you cannot change Gingrich. Underneath all of this hype of a born again Newt is still the old Newt who has a short fuse and extreme political beliefs that are even too strong for his extreme brethren of the GOP. I do hope he gets the nod from the GOP to represent his party as it will insure that the incumbent party will remain and we will not have to see the direction of this country take a 180 turn in its direction and another war to contend with on top of trying to get back to making butter and not guns. I wonder if he will find wife #4 while on the campaign trail?
She has her talking points down pretty good, Is she interested in politics? Does she hold an office already? Think she would run as a Democrat??? hahahahahahaha
Attack the leading top contenders for the Republican nomination except for Romney who's looks the most Presidential but questionable as being a conservative and more likely just the opposite. Romney Care the model of Obamacare is an example.
Too establishment oriented and wishy washy to be proclaimed the most quailfied for the job somewhat like POTUS. In any case, anyone but Obama for President will do in 2012.
You are right. Attack, attack, attack these repuke dunces.Gingernut exposed.
Another lying., but typical right wing radical cracked teanut.
The next forked tongue repuke to go.
Here is why Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac cost us a fortune. It goes directly back to Nut Gingerbread for the blame. He is nothing but a typical two faced right wing cracked teanut. He should be prosecuted for lying about giving Freddie Mac a history lesson and getting paid for it-about 1.5 million.
Former House speaker Newt Gingrich highlighted the benefits of Freddie Mac's business model in 2007 -- a position that appears to contradict his assertion that he warned the mortgage company of its "insane" business practices.
In an interview posted in an archived version of Freddie Mac's website, Gingrich discusses the so-called government-supported enterprise model, dubbed GSEs. "While we need to improve the regulations of the GSEs, I would be very cautious about fundamentally changing their role or the model itself," he said.
He went on to praise Freddie Mac's and Fannie Mae's "important contribution" to homeownership.
Asked about his consulting work for the quasi-governmental housing agency at a Nov. 9 presidential debate, Gingrich said he had offered advice as a historian and sharply criticized its approach.
"When they walked in and said to me, we are now making loans to people who have no credit history and have no record of paying back anything, but that's what the government wants us to do, is I said — I said to them at the time: "This is a bubble. This insane. This is impossible,' " Gingrich said during the debate in Michigan.
That's not the tone Gingrich takes in the Freddie Mac interview in which he touts the GSE model.
"There is not much support for the idea of removing the GSE charters from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae," he said. "And it's clear why. The housing GSEs have made an important contribution to homeownerhip and the housing finance system. We have a much more liquid and stable housing finance system that we would have had without the GSEs."
The only contribution made by Freddie Mac was to line Gingerbreads pockets with cash for his lobbying efforts to get their loans purchase regulations eased.
Oh no! Don't tell me the newt is a liar. LOL
Now that 9Kampf Cain is gone, the appeal of the radical right wing cracked teapots has dimininished.
The repukes need someone exciting and different, someone like Mark Sanford, the former Governor of South Carolina, who cheated on his wife by going to Argentina to see his soul mate. He told his wife that she should not mind because Jesus said it was okay to do it. Or maybe the head of the Westboro Baptist Church who protests at dead soldiers funerals that they deserved to die, or maybe Senator John Ensign of Nevada, who screwed one of his best friends wives. Then apologized and paid them both off not to say anything about the affair. The he seduced her again. Or maybe they need "Toe Tappper" in the toilet stall, Senator Larry Craig, who wanted to have sex with someone in a public restroom toilet. This Craig duped his evangelical nutcase followers by telling them that he was a god fearing man. So he tapped the foot of the guy in the next stall several times. Unfortunately for Craig, the guy was an undercover officer and he got arrested. Now we have another evangelical rapist. Dale Richardson, who is a pastor or priest in SC who was supposedly cured by Jesus, has been arrested for raping 3 women in his car and behind his church. I guess Jesus gave him the wong message.
Or should we look forward to the current Governor of Alabama who said he would not help anyone who is not Christian.
However, I think the best repuke candidate with excellent morals is Arnie Schwarzenegger. He jumps anyone he can.
Since these repuke idiots like rapists, child abusers and liars and cheaters (their rapist cathlolic preists and the Pope which back them because they are against abortion), I am surprised they don't draft Jerry Sandusky to run. He fits these braindead evangelicals bill. As long as he is against abortion, they will vote for him.
Interesting thing is that Sandusky, Paterno, and the two leaders of Penn State who never intervened after hearing the allegations are all Democrats. Hmmmmmmm
Still waiting to hear her mother's side of the story.Oh,maybe she died after being dumped atthe hospital.
If I were he I would not align myself with Clinton and the so-called balanced budget. All they did was change the accounting to include the social security budget which had always been seperate. Gingrich is a Democrat running on Republican ticket.
Shealia,
You are using muddled and incorrect info about SS to support your view. You used the phrase, "change accounting". It might interest you to know that SS revenue has always gone into the general fund since FDR to this day. But...it was "accounted for" separately until it became a part of what is called the unified budget under LBJ in 1964. Clinton upped the amount of SS that could be taxed to 85% his first year in office with a Democrat congress.
The "accounting trick" by Clinton was refinancing long term, stable 30 year treasury bonds to 5 year treasury bonds. Reason was that interest rates C/O Ronald Reagan were lower at the time. However, when the interest rates go up (and they will), we'll have a bigger bill to pay as these shorter term bonds come due.
Enner, If you keep using facts, logic, and taking your information from really happened you will certainly alienate those on the other side. What you have to do is agree with everything they say and then, when they DO elect grinch, stand next to them as the country crumbles, asking them for a "handout" that they can no longer give you.
I want to know why the following fact is not front page news on every paper in the nation and being shouted from every media outlet in the world:
The total wealth of the Forbes 400 is $1.54 trillion dollars, which is equal to the wealth of 50%, or 150 million, Americans. You read it right: 400 people in this country have the same $$ as 150 million Americans. But, of course, we can't possibly tax them any more since, well, since they BOUGHT all the politicians who would think about doing that. Maybe when that 400 is reduced to say, 4, someone will wake up. In jail, of course, but we will then wake up.
OK, conservatives, explain why this situation is FAIR, please. Is it that 150 million Americans are too dumb to buy politicians? Or, these 400 people are so darn smart they DESERVE to steal everyone's money. Yep, I guess that's it all right. So, how YOU doin'?
face it newt is as slippery and slimy as they come, why he will be our next president as he land slides the worst president in our entire history
Obama hasn't cleaned up Bush's mess, but Bush easily won the worst president in history award even though I agree with you that Newt may surpass Bush as being our worst. The Dems had Carter, the Republicans had Bush. Obama isn't great to say the least, but saying that he is worse than Carter and Bush just shows the soapsuds coming out your ears from the brainwashing you get by watching Faux News. At least Newt will bring back the Kennedy era of poontang in the White House. I just hope he bangs better looking ladies on the side than Clinton did.
Having a sex scandal just makes him a typical Republican. Don't vote against him because he likes women, vote against him because he's a right wing nut! First they wanted to give us Christine O'Donnel as a witch, now they are trying to push Eye of Newt for President. I'm not thrilled with OBama, but how about giving us someone who isn't a fruitcake as an option? I really thought that Palin the Hokey Mom was Obama's only chance of keeping his job, but Perry and Newt have provided renewed hope.
The problem Newt has with liberals is he divorced...
They are perfectly fine with cheating Presidents who stay with their wifes, no matter how butch she becomes...
Innuendo? Innuendo????
The definition of innuendo is "an indirect intimation about a person"
There is no suggestion or rumor of infidelity, it is a FACT. This man is a pig who has no respect for marriage vows, no respect for women. I may become fundamentalist Christian if he gets elected, because with this man in the White House, all that will be left for the American people to do will be to pray.
The only difference between what Newt did and what Clinton did is Newt had the balls to leave his wife.
Don't get me wrong, I like a man who is always trying to find a way to get ahead.
Yes, Newt has changed according to his daughter. Now he openly supports some forms of child labor and political purges of judges that don't agree with his views.
I'm happy the Gingrich family has managed to come to terms with their own problems. I really don't care that he has been married three times. I care that he decided it was okay to engage in (at least) two extra-marital affairs with (lets face it) women who were apparently okay with betraying other women. I believe his first two marriages lasted about 15 years each. He is coming up on that milestone with the current Mrs. which makes me start wondering who is waiting in the wings this time.
It really doesn't matter if he has changed his faith - I know a lot of church goers I wouldn't trust with anything. It doesn't matter if he is a wonderful grandfather to his grandchildren. He opens his mouth and I know he will be a terrible president for my grandchildren.
Of course she loves her father. Its just a shame he is sending her out to defend the indefensible.
Awww... poor Newt. He's so misunderstood! All he's done is lie and cheat. Heck, we should be just fine with that, right? Not.
Well that depends, if you thought Clinton did nothing wrong why wouldn't you feel the same about Gingrich?
Gingernut, singlehandedly, brought down the housing market with his support and lobbying for Freddie Mac. He also brought many banks to the verge of bankruptcy since they bought the worthless mortgages that Fannie and Freddie sold to banks all over the world.
I do not believe the rumor that Newt's daughter auditioned to become one of Mitt's wives.
Arrogant ass. He is surely one of the good ole boys taking and taking. Feeling entitled and shrugging his shoulders like so what. If he get nomimated, I will be forced to vote Democrat.
I'm sure they'll have to take you kicking and screaming at the polls. NOT
People can change...but not that much. I have usually voted Republican in the past but a vote for Dr. Gingrich is not in my future.
very true! Anyone with half a brain knows that when a man cheats and then finds God he is only looking to pull the wool over everyone's eyes about being a changed man. Newt would be more believable if he was preaching on the Hour of Power instead of running for President.
Democrats actually cheat on their wives more than Republicans do. John F. Kennedy, Johnson, Clinton, Edwards, Gore, Spitzer, ect....The list is endless. Republicans have more Gay sex scandals than Democrats. That's the difference.
It is very sad when you have to have your daughter campaign for you and try watering down the fact that you are a serial adulterer. It is true he is the only politician with broken zippers in all of his suits.
It's surprising how the truth hurts.
I do NOT care about someone's personal life. Example: If a man cheats on his wife, or a wife cheats on her husband, whether I think it is right or wrong, or maybe why, it' a personal matter. If they get divorced, or work it out, or stay together for the children or some job position. it's up to them, let God judge, I am NOT God, UNTIL that person (man or woman) gets up on the pulpit and starts telling me how I should live, the evils of being a liberal, of being "with us or against us" no other choices, or how "good" Americans value "good American values" like God, country, and family. It is a big difference between some Joe Average at some Joe Average bar having a mistriess he visits before going home to his wife AND some hihg profile politician, religious leader, or influential person telling me about values AND then doing whatever they want to please or enrich themselves. So, dear daughter of Newt. HE put himself in the spotlight. No one asked him to. HE spouted all these right wing, good christain american beliefs to the public in search of political power and personal enrichment. NO one asked him to. It is good you want to defend your father, or have reconciled BUT HE is the one who wants to be president. I think his prior record coupled with his total inablity to take any personal responsiblity for his actions along with the fact he is such a self centered ego maniac witrh no common sense who picks and chooses facts and semi facts he likes to justify his opinions leaves him open the all the criticism he is getting and deserves. I am just glad people in this country are not sheep like those in the middle east who believe anything their supposed leaders tell them. If you want the negative public opinion about him to go away, TELL HIM to get ouf of politics, off the nonsense talking head TV shows, and sail away into the sunset with his ditzy girlfriend on his million dollar (not rich like Mitt Romney) yaucht. That would be doing all of us a favor.
Daughter of which wife or mistress?
Clinton played more holes in his office than on the golf course and Democrats were willing to give him a pass.
I'm not sure Jesus meant 2 divorces and 3 marriages when he talked about forgiveness.
Newt and the party of family values LOL LOL LOL
Newt and the family of party values
or
Newt and the value of party families
Who can be worse than Romney when it comes to decision making, well maybe Ron Paul. He follows in the footsteps of Michelle (never tells the truth) Bachmann and John McCain. These two idiots criticized Obama for taking too long to go into Libya. These macho axxholes would have sent our troops in immediately to help the Libyans without any thought to the consequences or the cost. Obama took his time and forged an agreement with NATO that they would take the leading role. Then he was criticized for not leading the NATO alliance.
Romney is the same. He is criticizing Obama for not taking out the drone that Iran captured without any thought to the consequences or enlisting the help of Israel or any other ally. I am sure that if Obama thought we needed to destroy the drone, he would be working with the Israeli Mossad who has agents in Iran to do it.
These shoot first and ask questions later idiot repukes and teanuts would have caused another war or cost us a fortune.
Interesting that you would endorse a President that funneled money to Gaddafi until he switched sides and the funneled more taxpayer's money to the rebels that overthrew the Libyan government. Once that was done your President wants to give the rebels fighter planes, tanks and bombs, all while those rebels are not actual Libyan civilian rebels but al Qaeda and muslim brotherhood rebels that were brought in to help topple the government from neighboring countries. Now that they have taken control everything will be under strict Sharia law not the democracy that Libyans had hoped for. Good going!
I wonder if it's true Clinton frequently used the BACK DOOR in the oval office.
If you think this criminal and his daughter are great....you have played into the hands of this garbage...I no longer vote for candidates that thumb their nose up at the Church and think that their whoredom should be excused, he's an adultere and his so-called wife is a slut...I refuse to put another whore or adulterer in the highest office of the land...and anyone that thinks it all right or its says nothing of a person character, when they have been married multiple times is a fool...it matters...it says alot...Newt is a thief and a liar, he should have gone to jail on those ethic charges, but made a deal,he has never had a real job in his life..he has alway sucked off of the American peoples tit, NO, he's no better than a welfare recipient that has lied...Newt is a crook and he associates with crooks ( Donald Trump filed bankruptcy 4 times has been married numerous times he too is a whore) and you think Newt is great ,not in my world. he's a whore
That was a bit off topic.
sherobes-1, so you prefer obama and his communist/socialist mentor's backer's and associates?
commie! marxist! socialist! america hater! born in kenya! blah! blah! blah!
do you get paid by the fox talking point word? :)
@ vermont maybe you could be the first to point out the errors, in my post BUT I doubt it!!11
gary K: lol, YOU have FAILED to prove ANYTHING in your post. EPIC Fail.
I'm just making fun of you obama haters and your "commie" nonsense.
you are irrelevant..well, you are a source of humor. :)
I post you decide????
you post I laugh.
Buckeyenut. Your statement proves your name to be correct.