Former Gingrich Wife Says He Asked for ‘Open Marriage’

NYTimes ^ | January 19, 2012 | TRIP GABRIEL

[maggief]

EXCERPT

Paraphrasing Marianne Gingrich’s account, Mr. Ross said, “He came to her and said I want to stay married to you and still have an affair with Callista.” Marianne said Mr. Gingrich asked her “share” him, Mr. Ross said. That was unacceptable to her and the marriage ended.

[Proudcongal]

And he's the married man whose family she helped wreck.

I'm always surprised when women who cheat with married men are surprised when it's done to them.

[Strategerist]

There’s a bit of a difference between a 1-1 TV interview with the woman in question compared to rumors, don’t you think?

You’re welcome to live in a political fantasy world. Don’t expect to further any of your political goals while you’re there, however.

[babyfreep]

Interesting, but no surprise that the nyt and other msm will run with these “sexcapade” stories and juicy gossip about Newt (Republicans, et al), but nary a word about Larry Sinclair and his buddy.

[ELS]

The best thing the GOP could do is remove the halo and wing it towards the heads of the rat party. You know, like Oddjob did with his hat.

Off topic: Sean Connery was the best James Bond, ever. IMHO.

[stuartcr]

Well we sure heard a lot about those guys, even after they were out of office. It’s not like anything they did was secret.

[wardaddy]

u two are off base...this is all old news and folks here who keep up know this

I have two daughters...my wife too supports Gingrich

all this blather from a bitter ex wife who was a cheater herself does squat except for folks here who never liked him anyhow

rekindled by a leftist media who ignored Clinton’s rapes and maybe Mitt Romney who himself comes from a long line of polygamists

does it get any stupider?

you really think they won’t attack Santorum either...and his wife’s flawed past and so forth

you don’t like Newt for ideological reasons...I can respect that

you don’t like Newt over what this harridan says for revenge and her own leftist views...then that’s a shame

[Jane Long]

Can you narrow that URL down just a bit?

[Strategerist]

And beyond the multiple “ick” factor with women, if it’s one thing the public can’t stand, it’s a moral hypocrite.

From the Washington Post:

“Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich in 1999 asked his second wife for an “open marriage” or a divorce at the same time he was giving speeches around the country on family and religious values, his former wife, Marianne, told The Washington Post on Thursday.

Marianne Gingrich said she first heard from the former speaker about the divorce request as she was waiting in the home of her mother on May 11, 1999, her mother’s 84th birthday. Over the phone, as she was having dinner with her mother, Newt Gingrich said, “I want a divorce.”

Shocked, Marianne Gingrich replied: “Is there anybody else?” she recalled. “He was quiet. Within two seconds, when he didn’t immediately answer, I knew.”

The next day, Newt Gingrich gave a speech titled “The Demise of American Culture” to the Republican Women Leaders Forum in Erie, Pa., extolling the virtues of the founding fathers and criticizing liberal politicians for supporting tax increases, saying they hurt families and children.

“When a liberal talks about values, will he or she actually like us to teach American history?” Newt Gingrich told the women’s group. “Will they actually like young people to learn that George Washington was an ethical man? A man of standards, a man who earned the right to be father of this country?””

[my small voice]

To most of America, this probably won’t look all that shocking. Clinton, Weiner, Tiger, etc etc etc.......

Good thing he didn’t flush a goldfish down the toilet....he’d be FINISHED!!!!!

[wardaddy]

it only feeds your existing anti Newt fervor...not much more

and with money now and another debate Newt can fight back unlike in Iowa

so good luck...you’re gonna need it to bring him down as much as I will need it to stop the Romney War Machine

[teenyelliott]

Oh please, lady, politicians by definition are lacking in moral character.

I don't want to marry the guy for crying out loud....I just want him to smash Obama, which is capable of doing.

[longtermmemmory]

I am alway surprised how a bitter shrew is shocked to find her man is not attracted to a bitter shrew.

This is not really relavent and is a distraction.

This is the primary, Perry is out and has endorsed Newt.

Santorum is doa at the polls and at the ballot box. (no money, no votes) Santorum should also drop out and endorse newt. This will trump Romeny.

[chris_bdba]

That is what I was thinking.Any man out there who has an ex he’d rather forget will decide that Gingrich is just like him.As a women this does nothing to me other than wonder how many meds she is on.They seem to miss that women on the republican side don’t vote for who they want to sleep with like democrat women do.....

[Strategerist]

all this blather from a bitter ex wife who was a cheater herself does squat except for folks here who never liked him anyhow

Hate to be a broken record, but "folks here" doesn't matter.

It's the folks out there.

[jersey117]

This is not really relavent and is a distraction.

Cain was sitting pretty on top of the polls. His little distraction brought him down within 48 hours. Can conservatives at least have Plan B?

[stuartcr]

We certainly didn’t like what Clinton did, did we?

[pgkdan]

There's just no way that Newt brings along independents and conservative leaning democrats. No way. He's even more polorizing to those people than obama is to us. And not only that but he dosen't wear well for long with conserrvatives either. We're making a huge mistake if we let him be our standard bearer.

Santorum's not perfect but he's a damned sight better than the current alternatives.

[Will88]

Again, my opinion of her statements and the opinions of everyone on FR is irrelevant; this is prediction of the views of the great mass of people out there.

Totally true, and it seems many who post here forget that, or never even consider it. I don't know if Newt is toast, but this sort of story doesn't have to affect half or more of those who might vote for him. If this affects 10% to 20% of his potential vote, then it's very significant.

It will affect the vote of some number possible Newt voters. It's of question of how many.