Gingrich had affair during Clinton probe

AP on Yahoo ^ | 3/8/07 | Ben Evans - ap

[GretchenM]

Surely there comes a time in an adult man's life, when he invests himself in a career of leadership and supposed integrity, when he should be held accountable to practice what he preaches.

Gingrich has had years to clean his own house, and hasn't come up to muster even while holding the reigns of power as an aging adult.

I don't want this man being my president.

There are other candidates who can keep their pants on and their hands on the wheel. Let them bear the burden of the office of Chief Executive. Newt still needs to get his life in order.

If he can't rule his own self, how can he govern a nation? (Answer: he can't; he would be open to bribes, and God knows what treacheries a man will commit to keep power when he has a track record like Newt's.)

[Luis Gonzalez]

"He didn't lie under oath."

I keep reading this as some kind of a bizarre excuse for Newt's behavior.

My marriage vows included an oath to forsake all others.

Newt is guilty of lying under oath as well.

[Cementjungle]

Did he lie about it?

He lied before he didn't lie.

[Rembrandt_fan]

You wrote, "...there had to be any number of hot tv journalist's who would have jumped out of their clothes for him, and he went for Monica."

This never came up during the whole Lewinsky affair, but I suspect Clinton may have genuinely cared for her--as much as he could care for anyone other than himself. Why do I think that? Clinton gave Monica a limited edition copy of Whitman's book of poetry, 'Leaves of Grass'. The choice of titles is telling, I think. While rarely overtly sexual, Whitman's poetry is passionate, heartfelt, and emotionally charged. Also, for me--and I suspect for a lot of guys--giving a woman a book of poetry is fairly high up on the romance scale. Poetry is personal in a way most casual gifts are not.

I suppose it is even possible Bill Clinton loved Monica Lewinsky. Monica Lewinsky was, in every respect, the un-Hillary: soft edges, non-calculating, warm. And I remember that televised public embrace, too--the only footage of Clinton and Monica Lewinsky together just before the scandal broke. The two of them lit up in each other's presence. I've been in love, I know that feeling, I know that look.

Not that any of it matters now, of course, but I think it might help explain the ridiculously foolish risks Clinton took at the time.

[RunningWolf]

You know I forgot about those parts of the story.

I think there could well be some substance to that, and then when the heat of scrutiny turned up, Bill reverted to Bill. I added a couple of more un-Hillary aspects.

Lewinsky was, in every respect, the un-Hillary: soft edges, non-calculating, warm, desired Bill, PASSIONATE

[Anita1]

I agree! I am for Dr. Coburn - he is so articulate! He was great at the hearings for the Supreme Court Justices! However - his record would come up also and the "choice" witches would make a bee-line to sabotage him!

See below:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2004/2004-11-03-coburn-profile_x.htm

[loboinok]

I wouldn't worry much about the "choice witches". Coburn has enough character, integrity and determination to overcome.

He has been upsetting the apple cart and beating the odds for quite a few years now.

[NC28203]

>>>Was the woman that he had an affair with someone who worked for him and was he sexually harassing her or giving preference to her as a subordinate employee and excluding other employees from the same special treatment and favors?

Callista Bisek was a House of Representatives employee at the time of the affair.

[tcostell]

What about if we don't like Rudy because of his view of the second amendment... can we still like Newt then? Or what about the abortion issue? Or gay marriage? Or immigration? Or judges?

[CharlesWayneCT]

I disagree with your assessment. He violated his oath, he didn't lie. I say that because I believe at the time he took his oath, he meant it. I can't prove that, obviously, but just because you don't keep a promise doesn't mean you lied about it, although we use that term a lot regarding promises.

If you think he never intended to keep his marriage vow, then I you could say he lied, which is why I simply say I disagree with your assessment.

But I'm not making excuses for him. Pointing out that a person didn't commit a crime doesn't excuse him for something else he DID do.

Lying under oath in a criminal or civil case is a crime. Maybe unfortunately, breaking your marriage vow is not considered a crime anymore.

[CharlesWayneCT]

BTW, this is one of my strong points for Mitt -- he hasn't, so far as anybody can see, broken his marriage vow, nor does he seem likely to.

I'm not saying other candidates can't say the same, but I know several who cannot.

[Hatteras]

"I'm not sure where I heard it (years ago) but it has stayed with me."

One would think, given the propensity for the MSM to, shall we say, "color" the news, that you would want to confirm this story before making such judgement. We know for a fact, based on Rathergate alone, that the MSM will lie to further a liberal agenda. Do you think this practice is something they just started in the last few years?

I don't know, call me old fashioned...

[sayfer bullets]

It's not a matter of wishing, but the sell is definitely on by the MSM to define the race early.

And he may win, but it will then be proof the Republican party has abandoned its base.

[cowtowney]

Someone please ask Hillary if she has had an affair.

[Suzy Quzy]

Newt should run as a DEMOCRAT.

[HIDEK6]

While I would prefer for politicians to be faithful, bear in mind, the worst President in our lifetime, Jimmy Carter, is a paragon of virtue in that area.

More to the point, he's such a dildo that he couldn't get lucky in Southside Johnny's.

[swatbuznik]

I don't care about Clinton's extramarital affairs (I due care about his perjury). I don't care about Rudy's, and I don't care about Newt's indiscretions. What I do care about is their stances on basic Constitutional rights. Newt shines brighter than the other two.

Folks...there's still Duncan Hunter! Come on! We DON'T have to hold our noses at the polls.

[Dante3]

No, Johnson is the worst president. And he most definitely was not a paragon of virtue.

If a person betrays their spouse, why not others also. Research has indicated that betrayal in one are of life is associated with betrayal in other areas.

Although Clinton's actions were far worse (sexual harassment, sex in the Oval Office involving an intern, etc.) this pretty much kills Gingrich's chances.

[TAdams8591]

Did you mean the "infidelity?"

[MHGinTN]

Uh, can't to tell the truth about your president, eh ... he suborned Monica's false affidavit then lied to claim it was accurate; clinton is a rapist; clinton abused women; clinton sent henchghouls to intimidate women he feared might expose him. Sheesh, some people will do anything to lie for the bent one. That you cannot see the huge difference between Newt's affair and the degenerate clinton says alot about you, korn.