[nctexan]

"At least Newt has owned up to his failings and even done it publicly, with no equivocation."

I wasn't aware that Newt was the one that "brought it to the public's attention".

Doesn't look like he had any other choice than "own up".

[ItsForTheChildren]

Sure he had to give an answer to the question. He could have said...

No comment.
It was just sex. No big deal.
You've blown this all out of proportion.
This is nothing but a witch hunt. A vast left-wing conspiracy.
Etc. etc. ad nauseam.

But he didn't.

He's not perfect. None of us are.

Some of us may think they are, but they're not.