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Subscribe to RSSWhile speaking to a group of mom's in Des Moines, Iowa, Newt Gingrich gets choked up while talking about his own mom.
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Newt Gingrich teared up during a campaign stop on Friday, speaking about his late mother in front of a group of mothers in Des Moines.
Gingrich displayed emotion in response to a question from GOP pollster Frank Luntz, who asked the former House speaker to recall special memories of his own mom.
"First of all, you'll get me all teary eyed," Gingrich warned at the outset of his response.
"My mother sang in the choir and loved singing in the choir. I don't know if I should admit this, when I was very young. She made me sing in the choir," he said, wiping away a tear. "But I identify my mother with being happy, loving life, having a sense of joy in her friends, but what she introduced me to is late in her life she ended up in a long term care facility, she had bipolar disease and depression, and she gradually acquired some physical elements."
The emotional display comes at a particularly fragile moment for Gingrich's campaign. In just about a month, he's slid from frontrunner status in Iowa's caucuses to flfth place, according to today's NBC News-Marist poll. Over that time, Gingrich has been besieged by negative ads by super PACs and rival campaigns; he's vowed to stay positive and has responded by challenging competitors to take down their ads. He hasn't had much pushback on air in part because of his campaign's low cashflow.
Those attacks may have worn on Gingrich, whose outburst Friday is almost reminiscent of 2008, when Hillary Clinton broke into tears at a campaign stop in New Hampshire when reflecting on the difficulties of the campaign trail. That moment was interpreted to have helped Clinton politically.
Pausing again, Gingrich said that if he could talk to his mom now he would say "I will do everything I can as a candidate to be worthy" of her, and her generation's sacrifice.
At another point during his answer, Gingrich quipped: "I do policy a lot better than I do personal."
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While I believe the former Speaker loved his mother, I do question the tearing up thing. (Unless it is a problem that Republican speakers have - being weepy) It could be he is trying to emulate Mrs. Clinton.
Maybe Tifffany's cut his credit line?
HAHAHA!
I thought the same thing!
This is his 'Hillary' moment!
I wonder if he thinks "showing his softer side" appeals to women? Excuse me while that image makes me barf and gag.
Me thinks Newtsie shows his softer side to the Ice Queen every night! ;o)
Crocodile tears. That's all I have to say about that.
Or, cry baby Boehner! I think its orchestrated to convince voters that despite all of the nastiness in their personal and professional lives, they are actually made of human flesh and blood.
I thought I would look at the posts on this article just to see HOW SICK you people really are , What I found was beyond sick an indescribable foulness that reeks with evil intent low life so low that low life has the status of a king The top turd on a mountain of turds with you people at the bottom DISGUSTING TO THE POINT OF VOMIT , and even vomit has some class compared to these posts ,
Thanks for sharing Darrel. Even You are entitled to an opinion. Bye bye now. :)
Newt is a brilliant person; however his political stance is way to far right of center; Obama went way to far left of center; the American people have always been middle of the road; Newt began his decline when the harsh reality's of his philosophy came out, extremism is not something the American people want or will accept.
Who is his Mom? John Boehner?
darrel segers
And your post is something better than sick?
I've noticed men as they age seem to get more emotional. My dad was the same way and he asked me what my thoughts were on the cause. Despite my three college degrees, I didn't have an answer for him although I suspect lower testosterone levels as the culprit. These days I sometimes get teary when I think of my deceased dad. Let Mr. Gingrich have his tears...he has a long road ahead of him. We all do.
DISGUSTING TO THE POINT OF VOMIT ,
That's an excellent description of Newt. Good job Derrel.
Gingrich = fraud
My wife of 41 years died very suddenly 2 years ago last week. I don't go out in public and shed crocodile tears over her death. And -- unlike Newt -- I didn't trade her in for a second and then a third wife.
The first thing I thought of when they said he got "teary-eyed" was the orange man, John Boner.
Not everyone gets teary-eyed. My husband had been ill for years before he passed away and my heart cried a lot. I was criticized for not weeping and wailing at his memorial service-- I didn't have any tears left. I don't weep and wail now-- all I think of is that he is at peace and not hurting. He's been gone 23 years.
Phine, Are you celebrating our Governors anniversary? Damn this next year is going to be priceless. LMAO......some guy asked the Gov. to take a drug test!
Darrell - comment 1.7 - You are one of the last people who should be calling others what you are calling them. Take a good, long, look in the mirror as you repeat your post.
Newt is not crying over his mother, hes crying over the polls. this guy has no heart and hes no man of family values. "Just another Bonehead-Crook.
Loving one's mom is a good thing, but it is always smart to be suspicious of those men who treat all other women like crap.
That's a lot of crying and pedophilia coming from the party that constantly makes itself out to be manly god-loving cowboys.
Self-loathing FTW!
I suspect that most people have warm and tender feelings about their mothers, deceased or not. However, I expect a presidential candidate to have a better grip on his emotions.
Crocodile tears. For his mother?
Make no mistake: Gingrich would cheerfully sell his mother for medical experiments if he thought he could get two nickels out of it.
This human abomination is morally bankrupt and has no capacity for remorse whatsoever.
If there is a heaven ... and Newt's mother is looking down on him ... she's done a bit of her own crying watching him in action ... presidential potential ... NOT!!!
What a relief it will be when he and his diamond wearing lizard exit the scene!
I am by no means a Newt supporter.
If you don't believe me I can lead you to some of my earlier posts.
I think his tears are real.
I wonder how many posting have lost their mother?
Mine died over 15 years ago yet I nearly teared up just writing this, and reading what he said.
That part of what he said was my mother. It doesn't take much to trigger the tears, even after all these years.
Just because thoughts of his mother brings tears to his eye it doesn't mean he would be a good President or that he should hold any other political position.
The tears? I think they are very real.
Saxon....you mentioned that, "the American people have always been middle of the road" so how come Jon Huntsman is on the bottom of the pile of candidates? You can't get anyone more middle of the road than Huntsman as far as a moderate goes. Unfortunately the extreme right-wing has taken over the GOP/TP and they aren't content with anyone who doesn't go after blood. And if you think Obama is too far left of center you better check your definition of center again.
I was devastated by my mother's death 22 years ago. That said, I don't think Newt Gingrinch is devastated by anything other than NOT being the center of attention. Sorry Newt, you've already shown us the man you are. I don't buy it for a minute.
Probably thinking of how mom would beat his ass for being a jerk.
This should be good fodder for SNL.
I can see the skit, with Newt, Boehner, Beck over too many glasses of wine and a having themselves a good cry(Nazis, liberals, failed caucuses --- waaaahhhhaaaa).
It's hard to be empathetic to someone who lacks moral fiber in the manner he does -- and then gets weepy because he is overtired. I wonder what his mom would say about his two religious conversions and two divorces, ethics violations and adultery?
wait? you mean he didnt abandon this one while she was sick either?
lol. what is the deal with republicans? they bill themselves are rugged tough guys, but they are always the ones bringing out the waterworks...
This article by Alex Moe and msnbc.com's Michael O'Brienis is low class, at best. This is what you guys think is news??? Not! Soap Opera, perhaps.
For awhile there I thought Darrel Segers was talking about Gingrich.
Whether the tears were sincere or not, Gingrich is otherwise so self-absorbed and bigoted he could never represent all Americans. The same goes for Romney and his religion, in that anyone who believes those extreme things could never represent all of America.
In comparison to any of the far-right crazy GOP/TP candidates (Ron Paul, Santorum, you name it), the nation is far better off with another term under our current president. Obama/Biden - 2012!
When I heard he cried while talking about his mother, I had to laugh as that was a well-orchestrated drama to try to pull on the heart-strings of women voters since most think he's a dog! I'll bet his mother turned over in her grave while he was having his little fling with the current wife while his then-current wife was sick.... all the while running his big fat trap putting down Bill Clinton for his affair and trying to impeach him for it! This guy really makes me want to barf! Scum-bag!
Just listening to Newt talk is like nails on a chalk board! If he were to get elected, I swear, I would not be able to watch the news until he was out of the White House! My TV already has a problem staying on the stand when he is flapping his gums! The screen goes all fuzzy and the electrical pulses shoot out all around it and these little white clouds appear on my ceiling with the words "Devil Speaks" in them! Tears my a$$!
He is a total snake and he is incapable of loving anyone ...He was crying because he is losing ...America got wise to this "BUM"!
Say it,
You know, I have lost my father, Mr. phinephancy has lost both of his parents. Yet, we don't cry when speaking of them. We speak of them with joy - not crying about it. Sorry if this offends anybody, but to Newt - Suck it up and grow a pair!!!! Sheesh.
Not everyone is as heartless as you phancy. Certain memories of my mother will choke me up at times.
UT OH!! Newt took a breath... then another... Some liberal along the way will say that he took breaths for show only... UT OH again... Newt just drank some water... some liberal along the way will say he took a drink for show only.
The pettiness from you liberals really tells the tale about who you are as people. Not everything is weighed in politics. To hear you libs constantly complaining about every aspect of a person is downright sickening. You don't ever hear me drone on and on about Obama's peccadillos because that's not important. Libs turn fleas into mountian lions over the stupidest stuff.
Do you really think only liberals do that, Brianb? Don't be naive.
Jimi - Both sides are guilty of it. Hell, even at times, I'm guilty of it, but not on a day in and day out basis. Since First Read can't find any other thing to write about other than the republican candidates, this bastion of liberal hate drones on, and on, and on, and on about every flaw, no matter how insignificant. This story being one of them. Any chance a liberal can use to throw his negative opinion out there, it happens here.
For the last time people! Snakes are reptiles. Newts are amphibians. Now don't forget it! :)
The pettiness from you liberals really tells the tale about who you are as people.
Pettiness -- you mean like whining for years about birth certificates? Or whining about a preaident going on vacation over Christmas? Conservatives wrote the book on pettiness as well as name calling and acting like victims. Get over yourself brianb. Your self-righteousness is disgusting.
I'll give Newt this one. I've lost both my parents and my reactions to talking about them vary from day to day. Sometimes I can totally smile when discussing them - sometimes I'm moved to tears. My guess is he is the same way. I still don't like or respect him - wouldn't vote for him in a million years - but I can believe the tears.
Brian B - it appears that any chance you get to blast "liberals" you take advantage of.
Nothing wrong with being sentimental, for a normal human being, but Newt is NOT NORMAL nor HUMAN!
He is a calculating, mean spirited snake, he saw a "Hillary moment" and took it!
Should we expect any less of him?
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
Luv it when these Repugs types begin to accuse liberals of every fault in the Republican playbook, and then some. It's a little psychological quirk known as "projection." When you have a fault you tend to see it in everyone else, even when it isn't in the other person, but is yours, all yours. Brian b is a classic example. Just like Mittens Willard Romney recently accusiing Obama of being like Marie Antoinette in the famous "let them eat cake" attitude of the elites. This coming from a silver spoon born fellow who got rich divesting people of their jobs to ramp up the corporate dividends, andn who is currently "unemployed" as he jokingly referred to hiimself as a rich fellow who doesn't have to work. You gotta hate it when these boneheads think we, the people are as dumb as they are andn will fall for that stupid crap as if it is somehow charming. Losers, every one. They wouldn't have a job as a Wal Mart greeter if it weren't for family money.
What a load of bulls#!T that is. Go into acting you may have a chance there.
"I'm a thief! I'm a liar! There's my church, I sing in the choir!"
- "Do The Evolution - Pearl Jam
Given how Newt has treated his wives, I don't think that he was that kind to his mother.
Isn't it wonderful to live in an era where showing emotion over departed loved one, over the holidays yet, is subject to the critiques and insults of those who see EVERYTHING through a prism of political bias?
I lost my mom 10 years ago around this time of year. People deal with grief and loss differently, there is no RIGHT way.
I do not agree with Newton's politics, but even in my old neighborhood in Brooklyn, "mothers" were off limits.
The cruelty that emanates from both sides here is borne of anonymity.
Sorry dangerfield, not buying that one. I have deep emotions when it comes to my loss of loved ones (and I have lost many). However, there is a time and place for it - not on your shirt sleeve for political reasons. I don't care which side of the aisle you are on. Maybe that makes me sound hard, but it is a hard world.
Doesnt make you sound hard, just makes you and the other partisan hacks in here sound like the amoral despicable attack dogs you are.
Booby, HAD you bothered to read my post I said I didn't care "WHAT SIDE OF THE AISLE" you are on. You truly are a waste of time. Anyone's time. Get over yourself and ODS.
Sorry dangerfield, the Right has the corner on cynicism. And it's represented right here with Newt's fake tears.
As Bob knows his stuff when it comes to partisan hacks and amoral despicable attack dogs, so does Phancy when it comes to judging what is appropriate grief-wise why and when a HUMAN BEING becomes emotional..
Bob, you're a partisan...(Right-shoulder Arms!)
Phinephancy, so are you...(Left-shoulder Arms!)
Both viewing the same scenario through that partisan prism. I rest my case.
I wish you both and all who contribute their opinions, a happy, healthy and enlightened New Year.
At Ease everyone...:-)
Welcome back Jack!
Make sure you don't wander off the reservation again...
How cute!
Little dangerfield still frantically trying to re-invent himself... lmao!
Thanks, Fiesty. It felt like a "Time Out", ya know?
Oh, I know!
Been there & DONE that! lol
We tied the yellow ribbons for ya! ;o)
Who cares what you said about the side of the aisles? The whole premise of your argument shows exactly how cruel you are phancy. It's not even a matter of priorities... it's how you assemble thought patterns into hatred for your opposition. Then you let that hatred out and if you don't think it shows, you really need to assess your words more carefully in order to hide your hatred better phancy.
BrianB,
Does the second "B" stand for bitterness? It's a serious question. I've never seen a cheery word from you.
Why are you picking on Phancy? I'm the one who believes that Newt is so cynical that he would fake the tears.
You want to know what I'm really thinking? I think the tears are for himself because he's sinking faster than the Titanic. Go ahead, call me cynical. I don't care. Point is, the guy is a liar. So why should anyone believe anything he says?
I agree, If Newt Bling Grinch had any respect for women in general, he would not have treated his wives like he did.... He can cry and 'REPENT' all he wants, but he can not be trusted. He is a serial hypocrite and a serial cheater and liar.
Also, his home wrecking, cheating wife would be the most embarrassing first lady the US has ever had!!
And then another fat juicy check from Freddie Mac came in, and ole newty was able to hold it together..
Go newty !!!
""Newt Gingrich teared up during a campaign stop on Friday, speaking about his late mother in front of a group of mothers in Des Moines.""
If Newt didn't have a 25 year history of lying, over the top statements, bomb throwing, hypocrisy and total phoniness, I may have a little sympathy for him. But sorry Newt -- you have earned the contempt people have for you -- in spades.
I cry watching parades, reading Obama Diaries, and after getting sunscreen in my eyes. I'm not going to pile on Gingrich on this one. (I do wish Republicans cried a little more over people without health insurance, though, and less over memories of their own mothers.)
Amy:: I'm unable to get through patriotic songs without a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. And just don't ask me about how TAPS affects me. I've heard it way too many times.
When men are able to watch a woman politician tear up without freaking out about her ability to lead, I'll accept a man doing it. But not until then. Suck it up, buttercup!
some one tell him hes history, and we dont need a historian to be president......if he makes it his tiffany credit will go up to 100 thousan. As an idndependent republicans wont get my vote unless they come up with some one who will represent the people and not big buck...Washington continues to take our money while they get rich and we get poorer...fed up and will be looking to do something before next election,,,hopefully unite the people to walk on Washington showing the support for change....And this time they will make it
We know he's human his multiple affairs prove that. It is clear we need female leaders. You wouldn't catch Hilary Clinton, Nancy Palosi, Jean Snowe breaking down. The GOP needs leaders not weepers.
Their speaker is a weeper.
I seem to remember Hillary crying on camera. So what? She will never amount to anything anyway.
joe e I'm glad you said that. What she has done in her life, makes your life look like a pile of s#!t.
[She (Hillary) will never amount to anything anyway]
Joe, you crack me up...you might want to pull your head out of your ass long enough to see what's been going on around the world regarding U.S. foreign policy.
Say what you want about Hillary Clinton, but you can't deny she is the best Secretary of State this country has seen to date.
Facts are facts, Joe...and while you are entitled to your own opinion, you are most certainly not entitled to your own facts.
Joseph E Parent,
An accomplished attorney, a VERY involved First lady of the United States for 8 consecutive years, Secretary of state....
THAT's not amounting to anything??
You, sir, are more out of touch than Helen Keller!!
I bet you would vote for Charles Manson and Jerry Sandusky to get Obama out of office, too. LMAO
I voted for Mr Clinton and would consider Hillary as long as Ms Pelosi and Mr Reid are gone. She is qualified to be president.
Crying it appears has a direct link to GOP speakership.
Vicks VapoRub perhaps?
Feisty & Phinephancy - You both ought to be ashamed of yourselves making fun of this. I hope Karma doesn't come back to get you here. Pretty low even for some heartless libs like you 2...
Bite me. I have no time for anyone on either side of the aisle who uses tears to win votes. Read that again, turkey who does not love america, EITHER side of the AISLE. If you are capable, read my other posts on this thread and you will see I take no sides on this. RWNJ And FYI, jerk, I LOVED my father and miss him every single day! Along with many other members of my family that I have lost, but I don't go around boo hooing in public.
LOL "Bite me" LMFAO I now need the "bounty" And guess what? I'm crying!!!
I truly believe he was emotional because of what his mother has meant to him and that he does love his mother. However, my real concern is how he feels about everyone else that he would like to govern.
Speaking of Newt; does his wife remind you of the weird alien in Mars Attacks? The movie with Jack Nicholson as Prez and this strange "creature" disguised as some tall call girl or just a woman of the night that has this unmoving/painted on expression? Plus, what does his wife use for hairspray? Concrete?
Too funny!!
Careful Beev, the nice police will tell you it's wrong to pick on a republican's wife. However, the First Lady appears to be fair game in their eyes.
Wrong fuzzy, their is nothing fair about this first lady. She looks like a linebacker in drag.
My point has been championed! Thanks!!
Joseph E. Parent - do you always respond on cue??? And clearly you need glasses as we are blessed to have an elegant, classy First lady.
Joseph:: Have you been seeing the same First Lady that I see? Evidently not. You must be seeing Laura Bush, the gal who killed a friend while she was a teenager-- plowed him down with a car. That dame looks more like a Green Bay Packer linebacker in drag.
I smell a FOX.
This was just before he got rid of her, and acquired a new, better mother.
Good one. Thanks for the laugh.
His mother was too old and not pretty enough to be the mother of the President. And besides, she was dying....
If there was any crying, I would think it would be his mom.How difficult it would be to realize you raised such a horrible son who deserts a cancer stricken wife, etc. Basically, a man with no redeeming qualities.
This is SHOCKING news!!!!! Newt had a Mother?????
This is an insight, worth the humble laugh! thumbs up!
Newts are hatched from eggs. everybody Knows that.
fuzzy44 - good one! LOL
I guess she was pretty enough to be the mother of a President.
Who???? Not Newt's mom - he'll never be President!
I'm surprised no one's commented on the mother who didn't take her crying screaming child out of the room. The self-centeredness of people today is amazing and disturbing. Didn't that mother think that her child's screaming was both annoying and distracting?
I don't know if Gingrich's tears were real or not, and I really don't care. What he should be judged on are his policies, which are abhorrent, at least to me. We pile on politicians because they don't show emotion, and because they do.
I tend to get teary about my cat...don't mean I should be president. It ain't a qualification, so why print it... more garbage sold by a paid for media outlet. Issues MSNBC, ISSUES which fit the scope of the discussion! Not personality fluff pieces please.
I'm sure the CIA has put something in those tears that will help us catch terrorist and inter them in camps! There is a plan people!
As you grasp for the sympathy vote Newt, leave your poor dead mother out of it. She prob never liked you anyway Newt: she named you Newt.
Glenn Beck knows all about Fake Tears!
"Apply Vicks under your eyes and you will cry right on cue for a photo shoot, Newt!"
You are an a$$ hole :) And stupid. :) Happy New Year. Have fun down in that gutter you live in. LMAO!