Posted on 03/08/2007 7:02:04 PM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich acknowledged he was having an extramarital affair even as he led the charge against President Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky affair, he acknowledged in an interview with a conservative Christian group.
"The honest answer is yes," Gingrich, a potential 2008 Republican presidential candidate, said in an interview with Focus on the Family founder James Dobson to be aired Friday, according to a transcript provided to The Associated Press. "There are times that I have fallen short of my own standards. There's certainly times when I've fallen short of God's standards."
Gingrich argued in the interview, however, that he should not be viewed as a hypocrite for pursuing Clinton's infidelity.
"The president of the United States got in trouble for committing a felony in front of a sitting federal judge," the former Georgia congressman said of Clinton's 1998 House impeachment on perjury and obstruction of justice charges. "I drew a line in my mind that said, 'Even though I run the risk of being deeply embarrassed, and even though at a purely personal level I am not rendering judgment on another human being, as a leader of the government trying to uphold the rule of law, I have no choice except to move forward and say that you cannot accept ... perjury in your highest officials."
Widely considered a mastermind of the Republican revolution that swept Congress in the 1994 elections, Gingrich remains wildly popular among many conservatives. He has repeatedly placed near the top of Republican presidential polls recently, even though he has not formed a campaign.
Gingrich has said he is waiting to see how the Republican field shapes up before deciding in the fall whether to run.
Reports of extramarital affairs have dogged him for years as a result of two messy divorces, but he has refused to discuss them publicly.
Gingrich, who frequently campaigned on family values issues, divorced his second wife, Marianne, in 2000 after his attorneys acknowledged Gingrich's relationship with his current wife, Callista Bisek, a former congressional aide more than 20 years younger than he is.
His first marriage, to his former high school geometry teacher, Jackie Battley, ended in divorce in 1981. Although Gingrich has said he doesn't remember it, Battley has said Gingrich discussed divorce terms with her while she was recuperating in the hospital from cancer surgery.
Gingrich married Marianne months after the divorce.
"There were times when I was praying and when I felt I was doing things that were wrong. But I was still doing them," he said in the interview. "I look back on those as periods of weakness and periods that I'm ... not proud of."
Gingrich's congressional career ended in 1998 when he abruptly resigned from Congress after poor showings from Republicans in elections and after being reprimanded by the House ethics panel over charges that he used tax-exempt funding to advance his political goals.
No sooner than Gingrich's name is mentioned as a possible candidate than the media suddenly remember that they have to remind us of this.
Yes. #1: Jackie. #2: Marianne. #3: Calista.
I think he's been married to women named Jackie, Marianne, and Callista...that seems to be three wives.
Were you being sarcastic? I'm sorry, I can't always tell in print.
"Were you being sarcastic?"
About Giuliani?
No just factual.
So it looks like both of them have problems in that area.
Anybody can make a mistake once. But twice makes you wonder what the problem is.
Hillary will fake (with lots of help from the MSM) to be the champion of family values and point out how in spite of all heartache she stood by her man - and leave her audiences weeping.
You have a point there.
But Hillery is not a sympathetic character. Unlike Bill who can be suave, unctious, charismatic, and adroit in speech, Hillery is brash, sharp, confrontational, and raucous. and the impact of the man from nowhere - Obama -
on her is an example of how poorly she resonates on a personal level with people.
But I don't like guys who don't treat their women, their cars, their horses, or their guns very well. It exemplifies a serious character flaw.
I heard the same thing. I enjoy listening to Newt, he has some good ideas, but I could never, ever vote for him. I would like to know if this rumor is true, but even without it, I think Newt has too much baggage to have a good shot at being president.
Sally Hemmings
Is Newt clearing the decks of his old baggage for presidential run??
--
That's what came to mind here as well. time to lance the boil, begin the healing process.
Good point.
I meant to say I can't get excited about any of the front runners. Duh - quit posted so fast.
Was she a subordinate. In other words, could it have been considered sexual harassment as defined by the law.
Remember that other employees, who are not in the favor of the boss, are also affected. They don't get the promotions, perks, etc. that come with having an affair with the boss. It is still sexual harassment even if the person wasn't involved sexually.
Well, he can forget my vote if he runs for the Republican Nomination.
>>>Was she a subordinate. In other words, could it have been considered sexual harassment as defined by the law.
Newt began dating Callista Bisek in 1993. She was hired to the position on the Ag Committee in 1995. Newt was Speaker at the time, but I've not seen anything that indicated he had any role in the hiring.
HOWEVER, obviously he cannot keep it in his pants, as he has proven time and time again.
As a result, I will never vote for him. His behavior is the height of arrogance, dishonesty, lack of self control, and lack of respect.
I am done singing his praises. Treating your spouse (or spouses in his case), in such a way is despicable.
This is not an "oops". Newt has done this several times, and every time there was an innocent victim; his wife.
I don't care who you are. You treat people like this, people you profess to love and to whom you make a vow, you are scum.
I have no tolerance for cheaters and liars. And that, sadly, is what Gingrich is.
That is not the kind of character I want in the white house.
It is not about sex or someone's personal life; it is about character.
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