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Golden Oldies: Newt and the “cancer bed divorce” myth
Hot Air ^ | 11/19/2011 | Jazz Shaw

Posted on 11/19/2011 8:24:03 AM PST by TBBT

With Newt Gingrich continuing to surge in the polls, plenty of stories are bubbling to the surface, including things from the distant past. And let’s face it… Newt has been knocking around US politics for an awfully long time, with tales of many of his exploits being told and retold until they pass into legend. Of course, you know what they say about legends.

[countable] an old story about famous people and events in the past. Legends are not usually true

One of the more nasty ones is the persistent tale of how Newt went to see his wife as she lay dying of cancer in her hospital bed and presented her with divorce papers. Ouch. That’s a pretty unpleasant story to float about anyone, and apparently it’s so temptingly salacious that it keeps getting hinted at in the media and I’ve seen it cropping up again on Twitter as recently as last night. Unfortunately for the gossip minded, nearly every aspect of the story is false and has been roundly debunked by what should be considered a pretty reliable source – his own daughter who was in the hospital room at the time. (Hat tip to OTB.)

(Excerpt) Read more at hotair.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: divorce; gingrich; newt
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Re. Washington Post Headline: Aspects of Gingrich divorce story distorted

Ya think?

See Jazz's link to the WP story at the end...

I found that WP article to be irritating. Here you have a story whose purported purpose is to put to bed attempts to resurrect a nasty old tale - but seems to grudgingly be unwilling to let it go in the end.

I just love the liberal media...

Jazz's analysis/commentary was pretty good though...

1 posted on 11/19/2011 8:24:07 AM PST by TBBT
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To: TBBT
What is the problem, newt was banging his high school teacher, he got out of the draft and she gave him a free education, just living the American dream. And then he found younger wife number 1, Newt is one smart man, works all the angles. And the rounds to for that matter.
2 posted on 11/19/2011 8:30:49 AM PST by org.whodat (Just another heartless American, hated by "AMNESTY" Perry and his fellow demorats.)
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To: TBBT

Rick Perry is an illegal loving racist!!! /s


3 posted on 11/19/2011 8:31:30 AM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: TBBT
Regardless of whether or not he went to the hospital for the divorce, this is a guy who clearly thinks marriage is a job. The timing on his daughter coming forward with this right before he announced his intentions for running for President are suspect at best. One thing he is, is a serial adulterer.

Gingrich has been married three times. In 1962, he married Jackie Battley, his former high school geometry teacher, when he was 19 years old and she was 26.[117][118] Gingrich and Battley have two daughters from this marriage: Kathy Gingrich Lubbers is president of Gingrich Communications,[119] and Jackie Gingrich Cushman is an author, conservative columnist, and political commentator[120] whose books include 5 Principles for a Successful Life, co-authored with Newt Gingrich.[121] In the spring of 1980, Gingrich left Battley after having an affair with Marianne Ginther.[122][123] In 1984, Battley told the Washington Post that the divorce was a “complete surprise” to her. According to Battley, in September 1980, Gingrich and their children visited her while she was in the hospital, recovering from surgery, and Gingrich wanted to discuss the terms of their divorce.[124] Gingrich has disputed that account.[94] In 2011, their daughter, Jackie Gingrich Cushman, said that it was her mother who requested the divorce, that it happened prior to the hospital stay, and that Gingrich's visit was for the purpose of bringing the couple's children to see their mother, not to discuss the divorce.[125]
Six months after the divorce from Battley was final, Gingrich wed Marianne Ginther in 1981.[126][127][128][129] In the mid-1990s, Gingrich began an affair with House of Representatives staffer Callista Bisek, who is 23 years his junior. They continued their affair during the Lewinsky scandal, when Gingrich became a leader of the investigation of President Clinton for perjury and obstruction of justice in connection with his alleged affairs.[130] In 2000, Gingrich married Bisek shortly after his divorce from second wife Ginther. He and Callista currently live in McLean, Virginia.[131] In a 2011 interview with David Brody of the Christian Broadcasting Network Gingrich addressed his past infidelities by saying, “There's no question at times in my life, partially driven by how passionately I felt about this country, that I worked too hard and things happened in my life that were not appropriate.”[128][129]
A Southern Baptist since graduate school, Gingrich converted to Catholicism, Bisek’s faith, on March 29, 2009.[132] He said “over the course of several years, I gradually became Catholic and then decided one day to accept the faith I had already come to embrace.” The moment when he decided to officially become a Catholic was when he saw Pope Benedict XVI on his visit to the United States in 2008: “Catching a glimpse of Pope Benedict that day, I was struck by the happiness and peacefulness he exuded. The joyful and radiating presence of the Holy Father was a moment of confirmation about the many things I had been thinking and experiencing for several years.”[133] Gingrich has stated that he has developed a greater appreciation for the role of faith in public life following his conversion, and believes that the United States has become too secular. At a 2011 appearance in Columbus, Ohio, he said, “In America, religious belief is being challenged by a cultural elite trying to create a secularized America, in which God is driven out of public life.”[94]
Gingrich has been a prolific amateur reviewer of books, especially of military histories and spy novels, for Amazon.com. As of 2004, Gingrich held the #488 spot among Amazon's top reviewers. Although an author himself, Gingrich does not review his own works. According to Katherine Mangu-Ward at The Weekly Standard, it is “clear that Newt is fascinated by tipping points—moments where new technology or new ideas cause revolutionary change in the way the world works”.[134]
Gingrich is known for, and has written on several occasions about, his great interest in animals.[135][136] According to USA Today, Gingrich's first engagement in civic affairs was speaking to the city council in his hometown, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, about why the city should establish its own zoological park. Gingrich wrote the introduction for the 2008 book America's Best Zoos.[137] Gingrich is also known as a dinosaur enthusiast. A New Yorker comment on his 1995 book To Renew America noted: “Charmingly, he has retained his enthusiasm for the extinct giants into middle age. In addition to including breakthroughs in dinosaur research on his list of futuristic wonders, he specified ‘people interested in dinosaurs’ as a prime example of who might benefit from his education proposals.”[138] Another subject of interest to Gingrich is space exploration, originating in a fascination with the United States/Soviet Union space race during his teenage years.[139] Gingrich has stated that he would like to see the U.S. aggressively pursue new achievements in space, such as sustaining civilizations beyond Earth,[140] and he advocates relying more on the private sector and less on NASA to drive progress.[141] As of 2010, Gingrich serves on the National Space Society Board of Governors.[142]

4 posted on 11/19/2011 8:32:12 AM PST by napscoordinator
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To: TBBT

I hope we defeat the media in this election and the apathetic middle wakes up to how they are so often deceived by people posing as journalists.


5 posted on 11/19/2011 8:34:08 AM PST by Baynative (The penalty for not participating in politics is you will be governed by your inferiors.)
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Did You Know?

The Current FReepathon Pays For The Current Quarters Expenses?

Now That You Do, Donate And Keep FR Running


6 posted on 11/19/2011 8:34:14 AM PST by DJ MacWoW (America! The wolves are here! What will you do?)
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To: TBBT
lol good luck shilling for Gingrich on his marriage history. Problem is the dude switches political beliefs like he switches wives and lovers.

Newt is not a man to be trusted in any area. His divorce records will be opened up like a peanut and he'd be lucky to get 43 percent of the national vote.

Loser candidate
7 posted on 11/19/2011 8:35:43 AM PST by over3Owithabrain
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To: napscoordinator

Oh my, does Jesus know you’re running for His position?


8 posted on 11/19/2011 8:37:35 AM PST by MHGinTN (Some, believing they cannot be deceived, it's impossible to convince them when they're deceived.)
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To: over3Owithabrain

Your heaven is going to be so empty ...


9 posted on 11/19/2011 8:39:33 AM PST by MHGinTN (Some, believing they cannot be deceived, it's impossible to convince them when they're deceived.)
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To: over3Owithabrain
The fact that Newt is even being reconsidered at this point is a testament to the overall weakness of the field.

For his many flaws, Newt has shown he understands the battle has to be taken to Obama and has also shown he has the ability to take a debate to Obama (and like it or not, that will be important in the general). The question is, can Newt take it to Obama while withstanding the slime machine MSM/DNC attacks?

It's a fair question - look at what was done to Cain with unprovable allegations of sexual harassment. Newt's marital history is an open book - this just deals with one aspect of that.

10 posted on 11/19/2011 8:40:43 AM PST by dirtboy
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To: napscoordinator

I’m glad I don’t look to politicians as the determiners of my moral code...I’d be sorely disappointed every time.


11 posted on 11/19/2011 8:40:52 AM PST by truthkeeper (Vote Against Barack Obama in 2012!)
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To: MHGinTN

Not talking about my heaven or any heaven smart aleck. Talking about Newt being a sleazy person and politician.


12 posted on 11/19/2011 8:41:17 AM PST by over3Owithabrain
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To: MHGinTN
Attacking those who raise this issue will not make it go away. Newt has so much baggage even Southwest Airlines would hit him with bag fees. The question is, can he run against Obama while still carrying that load of baggage? His supporters have to make the case, and the first step towards that is acknowledging the issue is valid.

Right now I am willing to consider any of the candidates other than Romney, Huntsman and Paul. The news cycle has now latched onto Newt like a ravenous man attacking a plate of corn on the cob, and Newt is the latest cob to be picked up and chewed upon. We'll see how he withstands his turn.

13 posted on 11/19/2011 8:45:06 AM PST by dirtboy
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To: MHGinTN

He failed to keep his oath with his first two wives, but with us, I’m sure he’ll stay true. Unless a younger, prettier country comes along...

“There’s no question at times in my life, partially driven by how passionately I felt about this country, that I worked too hard and things happened in my life that were not appropriate.”

That’s just awesome. I love this country _so much_ I had to break my vows. Again.


14 posted on 11/19/2011 8:51:39 AM PST by Gunslingr3
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To: TBBT

My BP is so high right now.
We have no good candidate enough people can embrace.

)bama will win again. America will lose.


15 posted on 11/19/2011 8:54:09 AM PST by TribalPrincess2U (WE ARE AMERICA! DONATE TO FR MORE!)
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To: over3Owithabrain
I raised the issue of 'your heaven' because you are just too righteous to permit foregiveness, so your heaven will be very lonely.

But take heart, you can do what Satan did, try to depose the God for deigning to foregive sinners.

Newt is even more of a sinner than me since I have been divorced twice but there is no third wife. I must be such a horror to you.

BTW, here's clue: divorce is a fact of life for roughly 50% of your fellow Americans, and another 40% have close friends or close relatives who have endured the stress of divorce. Any who go through the end of a marriage will have a very different perspective than the faux priggish condemnation now spewing around FR on Newt Gingrich discussion threads.

16 posted on 11/19/2011 8:55:53 AM PST by MHGinTN (Some, believing they cannot be deceived, it's impossible to convince them when they're deceived.)
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To: dirtboy

Those who rasie this issue with a self-righteous echo will actually help Newt overcome the stigma, because so many Americans are very well acquainted with the darker side of divorce and not a few well acquainted with foregiveness.


17 posted on 11/19/2011 8:57:48 AM PST by MHGinTN (Some, believing they cannot be deceived, it's impossible to convince them when they're deceived.)
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To: dirtboy
Newt has so much baggage even Southwest Airlines would hit him with bag fees.

That there is funny!

Truth be told, Newt has seen zero scrutiny from the press yet.

The only press about it is us talking about the ****storm that is coming his way.

Personally I couldn't give a hoot about his personal life, it is his political record he is going to have to explain

18 posted on 11/19/2011 8:57:53 AM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: dirtboy
Newt has so much baggage even Southwest Airlines would hit him with bag fees

Funniest thing I've read in a while, thanks!

19 posted on 11/19/2011 9:03:43 AM PST by aynrandfreak (Being a Democrat means never having to say you're sorry)
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To: MHGinTN
Well, from what I have seen with Newt, his marriage/affair pattern shows that of a man consumed with his appetites - it goes well beyond a matter of divorce and later remarriage.

To me, he shows a lack of self-restraint, which is toxic in a Washington culture that continually breaks the constraints of the Constitution - and Newt has also shown he could care less about such when it gets in the way of his pet agendas, such as when he stood with Hillary and pushed for a federal program for electronic medical records.

Yeah, Newt is knowledgeable and can debate better than the other candidates. So we have to ask - would he be able to overcome his baggage to win the general, and would he take actions as president to truly curtail the growth of the federal behemoth.

For all of his recent talk of federal restraint, his past actions since leaving the House call into question his sincerity of such.

With Perry, at least I get the sense that when he talks of the 10th Amendment, he means it. Doesn't mean Perry wouldn't go all native if he went to DC, but at least that aspect of his current belief system is consistent with his record as governor.

20 posted on 11/19/2011 9:06:37 AM PST by dirtboy
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