View Full Version : Gingrich admits to an affair during Lewinsky scandal
Banquo's Ghost
03-10-2007, 09:47
Now I'm one of those Euro-weeny freedom-hating morally-bankrupt satanists that couldn't care less about politicians having affairs - and this applies to Mr Gingrich as well.
I bring the item up (http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article2344755.ece) because of the breath-taking hypocrisy that seems to afflict some politicians, especially of the religious right. My naivety obviously knows no bounds if I think this man should have excused himself from the witch hunt, at the very least.
Oh, and I know there will be those who will harp on (as Newt does) about the "crime" being President Clinton's perjury - but it was a perjury that would never have happened without the immense persecution about his private life.
Making a mistake is one thing - but surely trying to destroy the president for infidelity, while guilty oneself, is beyond the pale?
Gingrich admits to affair during Lewinsky scandal
By Andrew Gumbel in Los Angeles
Published: 10 March 2007
Newt Gingrich, the conservative who led the Republican revolution of the early 1990s, has admitted he was having an extramarital affair even as he called for the impeachment of Bill Clinton nine years ago over his dalliance with Monica Lewinsky.
Mr Gingrich came clean in an interview with the powerful Christian lobbyist James Dobson of Focus on the Family, confirming what had been a persistent rumour in political circles at the time. "The honest answer is yes," Mr Gingrich said in the interview. "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."
Mr Gingrich left his first wife as she was recovering from cancer surgery and cheated on his second with a congressional aide who is now the third Mrs Gingrich. Mr Gingrich insisted, however, that he was not a hypocrite to try to bring down Mr Clinton.
"The president of the United States got in trouble for committing a felony in front of a sitting federal judge," he said. "I drew a line in my mind that said, 'Even though I run the risk of being deeply embarrassed ... I have no choice except to move forward and say that you cannot accept ... perjury in your highest officials."
The admission may have been an attempt to clear the air and test the mood of the Republican grassroots before he decides whether to make a run for the White House next year.
He remains popular, according to presidential opinion polls, and is a regular fixture on cable news discussion shows.
Mr Gingrich became Speaker of the House of Representatives after the Republicans swept the 1994 congressional elections. He described Mr Clinton at the time as "the enemy of normal Americans".
By 1998 - the year of Monica - Mr Gingrich was forced out of the speakership over a scandal involving misuse of tax-exempt political funds. Larry Flynt, the publisher of Hustler magazine, was the most forthright of many Gingrich enemies who threatened at the time to make public the marital infidelity.
Mr Gingrich's short-lived successor as Speaker, Bob Livingston, had to resign after it turned out that he too had strayed from the marital path.
Fisherking
03-10-2007, 10:27
Politics & political partys!
I'll point out again that one is just as untrustworthy as the other.
I will however, point out that the Republicans resigned after becoming involved in scandal…something that rarely happens when the scandal involves a Democrat.
This is perhaps, because of the difference in standards between the two parties' electorate.
I only wonder why anyone still tries to believe what either of them say when they have trouble believing it themselves.
Hosakawa Tito
03-10-2007, 12:12
If I recall the story correctly he even asked his wife for a divorce, while she lay sick in hospital. Family values man..... Look too closely and you'll find that some of the loudest mouths on the subject have virtues akin to a filthy rag.
Perhaps they are speaking from experience?
ShadeHonestus
03-10-2007, 15:45
Yeah or murderers like Jabba the "Ted Kennedy" Hut.
Get a chick pregnant, just run her off a bridge...
Adrian II
03-10-2007, 16:00
Yeah or murderers like Jabba the "Ted Kennedy" Hut.
Get a chick pregnant, just run her off a bridge...Yeah right. After which a black helicopter picked Kennedy up and delivered him to his waiting UFO.
ShadeHonestus
03-10-2007, 16:02
uhhh its not really denied in any circles...
except by those who believe they've been on UFO's
Adrian II
03-10-2007, 16:25
uhhh its not really denied in any circles...Of course there are those who claim that National Guardsman George Bush, lying in wait behind the grassy knoll, popped the front tire on that Oldsmobile.
Proletariat
03-10-2007, 16:29
Okay, we know this is prolly just the Dutch debating style that's going over our heads, but what are you actually disputing, Adrian?
Adrian II
03-10-2007, 16:40
Okay, we know this is prolly just the Dutch debating style that's going over our heads, but what are you actually disputing, Adrian?Nuttin much, Ma'am. Just the essentials of that post: the murder and the pregnancy.
By the way, it's nice to see one's favourite engine of history manifesting itself in the Backroom again, if I may be so Dutch. :bow:
ShadeHonestus
03-10-2007, 20:43
Of course there are those who claim that National Guardsman George Bush, lying in wait behind the grassy knoll, popped the front tire on that Oldsmobile.
What you posted is denied in all circles, while the death and pregnancy above isn't denied in any but the most fringe...2 totally different things. However, I do appreciate the effort even if without purpose.
Adrian II
03-10-2007, 20:59
What you posted is denied in all circles, while the death and pregnancy above isn't denied in any but the most fringe...2 totally different things. However, I do appreciate the effort even if without purpose.There was no prosecution for, or conviction of murder; no coroner's report or eyewitness account confirming either death by murder or a pregnancy on the woman's part. She was a devout Catholic and there is no reason to smear her reputation just because one doesn't like Ted Kennedy. All but the lunatic fringe believe in the murder and the pregnancy, that was the whole point of my exaggerations.
ShadeHonestus
03-10-2007, 21:27
All but the lunatic fringe believe in the murder and the pregnancy, that was the whole point of my exaggerations.
Exactly
Adrian II
03-10-2007, 21:30
ExactlyTen four.
*jumps into black heli*
ShadeHonestus
03-10-2007, 21:44
Ten four.
*jumps into black heli*
We going to scout for oil in the name of Haliburton or the Masonic Lodge?
HoreTore
03-10-2007, 21:55
Hmmm...any politicians left without affairs?
I've only been in politics for 2 and a half year now, but it seems like there's some good stuff ahead!
Hmmm, I'm norwegian however...Only thing we've had was a right wing politician getting it on with a 16-year old in a closet...
Adrian II
03-10-2007, 22:42
We going to scout for oil in the name of Haliburton or the Masonic Lodge?Noper, Soros says Giuliani is our next target. I'm awaiting Kofi's debriefing.
There was no prosecution for, or conviction of murder; no coroner's report or eyewitness account confirming either death by murder or a pregnancy on the woman's part. She was a devout Catholic and there is no reason to smear her reputation just because one doesn't like Ted Kennedy. All but the lunatic fringe believe in the murder and the pregnancy, that was the whole point of my exaggerations.
I don't know about the pregnancy, and I don't think it was pre-meditated murder- but what Ted did was reprehensible and what he tried to do to cover it up afterwards was even worse.
On topic, Newt is right about the distinction. Had Clinton come out and admitted what he had done, he would've been pilloried for it no doubt- but there would've been no grounds for impeachment. Perjury is a different matter. Along similar lines though, I think the latest Newt revelation should and probably will completely disqualify him from ever getting the Republican nomination.
Gawain of Orkeny
03-11-2007, 01:54
Now I'm one of those Euro-weeny freedom-hating morally-bankrupt satanists that couldn't care less about politicians having affairs - and this applies to Mr Gingrich as well.
I bring the item up because of the breath-taking hypocrisy that seems to afflict some politicians, especially of the religious right'
Wait a minute . Didnt the republicans force Newt to resign his position because of this? Isnt this very old news? Thers no hypocricy except among democrats. They never step down. In fact they are honored for their indiscretions.
ShadeHonestus
03-11-2007, 02:10
'
Wait a minute . Didnt the republicans force Newt to resign his position because of this? Isnt this very old news? Thers no hypocrasy except among democrats. They never sta\ep down. In fact they are honored for their indiscretions.
Basically...its more hip to shag everything with a pulse than be of principle and since the Democrats only have rebuttal issues and special interest groups in their corner, this is is a major tool for them. Hence the lack of shock when it was leaked that Al Gore's 'package' was digitally enhanced on the Rolling Stone mag cover during his campaign.
Seamus Fermanagh
03-11-2007, 05:06
'
Wait a minute . Didnt the republicans force Newt to resign his position because of this? Isnt this very old news? Thers no hypocricy except among democrats. They never step down. In fact they are honored for their indiscretions.
Well, Newt wasn't SotHoR for very long.
He had a book deal that looked too good to be true that he had to back out of.
He was not a paragon of marital virtue (this loses points with the moralist conservatives). This is not all that rare among our politicos, party notwithstanding.
He allowed Clinton to box him in during the government "shutdown" and lay all of the blame on the GOP -- the Gingrich that stole Christmas
Finally, he was forced out over the tax exempt stuff.
With this latest, Newt has managed to shelve any political ambitions he still holds -- at least in terms of holding office. His negatives are sky high.
For the Dems, whose support base includes relatively few of the conservative moralists, this is not much of an albatross, in the GOP it is.
Gawain of Orkeny
03-11-2007, 05:17
With this latest, Newt has managed to shelve any political ambitions he still holds -- at least in terms of holding office. His negatives are sky high.
Thats the point. If he were a Dem he would be sitting pretty :laugh4:
... the Democrats only have rebuttal issues and special interest groups in their corner ...
I just love unsupported wholesale slanders of either party. Now if only someone would jump in and declare that Republicans are corrupt weenies who wet their beds, the circle would be complete.
Gregoshi
03-11-2007, 08:41
I'd just like to add that Republicans are corrupt weenies who wet their beds. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some bed sheets to change.
Banquo's Ghost
03-11-2007, 10:19
Wait a minute . Didnt the republicans force Newt to resign his position because of this? Isnt this very old news? Thers no hypocricy except among democrats. They never step down. In fact they are honored for their indiscretions.
I believe Mr Gingrich was forced out over mis-use of political funds. According to the article, the concurrent infidelity is new news, brought into the public domain by Mr Gingrich's confession prior to testing the waters for a presidential run.
Ironside
03-11-2007, 10:29
I'd just like to add that Republicans are corrupt weenies who wet their beds. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some bed sheets to change.
Isn't that a job for the uhm "gift" from Pemex? :laugh4:
On topic, didn't another Republican have something simular to this a few years back (accusing Clinton for adultery while having a mistress)? I have some vague memories about that and that it went public because something bad (murder?) happened to the mistress and that this Republican was the prime suspect. Rings any bells for anyone?
Major Robert Dump
03-11-2007, 12:47
You're thinking of Gary Condit. The cops "missed" her body in the woods several times and his Hells Angel brother probably had one of his prison buddies whack her.
BTW Gingrich didn't lie under oath.
Gawain of Orkeny
03-11-2007, 14:56
According to the article, the concurrent infidelity is new news, brought into the public domain by Mr Gingrich's confession prior to testing the waters for a presidential run.
Well Ive known about it for some years now. And I know I heard it on the news when he resigned. Maybe he had mulitiple affairs and this is a different one. But there is no doubt he addmitted infidlity long ago and before he resigned.
ShadeHonestus
03-11-2007, 15:27
I just love unsupported wholesale slanders of either party. Now if only someone would jump in and declare that Republicans are corrupt weenies who wet their beds, the circle would be complete.
Thats awesome, you have anything to support that claim? Didn't think so. On the flip side you'll find it very difficult to get any democrat, especially in an election year to stand up and state his issues. Even when you do pull one out of them they usually wrap it up in a negative response to the opposition. You can't even honestly look at the democratic constituency and not claim that they thrive on a populous fractured into easily identifiable and categorized interests groups to which they can pander.
It use to be that interest groups were there to lobby for a solution to a problem. Now they are just there for pork barrel politics and the politicians don't want to solve the problems as that would rid them of constituents. A political history shows the modern evolution to this is a Democrat brainchild.
I don´t understand how anyone can be surprised that politicians have mistresses...
think about it...their job is basically to **** the public....so they need a lot of practice...
ShadeHonestus
03-11-2007, 16:43
I don´t understand how anyone can be surprised that politicians have mistresses...
think about it...their job is basically to **** the public....so they need a lot of practice...
Ronin is great, Ronin is wise....
Crazed Rabbit
03-11-2007, 18:14
I believe Mr Gingrich was forced out over mis-use of political funds. According to the article, the concurrent infidelity is new news, brought into the public domain by Mr Gingrich's confession prior to testing the waters for a presidential run.
Huh? I recall hearing that he had cheated on his wife several years ago, I don't see this as new news.
He doesn't really have a shot at the presidency due to this, and other things already mentioned.
CR
On the flip side you'll find it very difficult to get any democrat, especially in an election year to stand up and state his issues. Even when you do pull one out of them they usually wrap it up in a negative response to the opposition. You can't even honestly look at the democratic constituency and not claim that they thrive on a populous fractured into easily identifiable and categorized interests groups to which they can pander.
You sound as though you've rather missed having Democrats in power to get worked up about. Obviously, your interesting conclusions about the Democratic party are fodder for another thread. You should hook up wit DivArma, he has developed your theory to interesting and detailed conclusions. Doesn't make it any more correct, just more detailed and baroque.
ShadeHonestus
03-12-2007, 06:04
You sound as though you've rather missed having Democrats in power to get worked up about.
I do miss having the democrats in power, the last one they had was a fiscal conservative and did well by my bank accounts. However, it was one of the greatest missed opportunities in history. As bright as Clinton was, of which there is little dispute, he really did little with the opportunity. Hats off though for allowing the market to bubble for as long as it did.
You should hook up wit DivArma, he has developed your theory to interesting and detailed conclusions. Doesn't make it any more correct, just more detailed and baroque.
No idea who this is that you are looking to sidestep towards. However this is another plain tactic of those with no position, they charecterize other's views to fit their scope of reality and forgo the substance. "You are wrong and bad" is their battle cry and their motto is "Real men/women don't need substance".
This is another plain tactic of those with no position, they charecterize other's views to fit their scope of reality and forgo the substance. "You are wrong and bad" is their battle cry and their motto is "Real men/women don't need substance".
Hmm, as I said, if you want to make a determined and structured argument for the complete moral bankruptcy and evil of the Democratic party, that should be its own thread. If you want to take that suggestion as a cop-out and admission of, well, complete moral bankruptcy and evil, that's your business.
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