No. It has been covered already ad nauseam, but the problem was not with "ethics charge" which he was cleared by the IRS, but a mistake in one filing (inconsistent with two other filings, could easily have been a typo) by a junior lawyer from law firm representing him.
Still, the real fact is that the timid, shy Republicans didn't want to go against media and "rock the boat" about the witch hunt because they were already settled and comfortable in the position of power (which they would not have in the first place, without Gingrich Revolution). They failed to protect their quarterback, leader, when the unprecedented 84(!) bogus charges were filed against him.
He agreed to pay a reimbursement, not a "fine" (he vowed to fight a fine), but finally agreed to "reimburse" the committee for the expenses they incurred in the witch hunt against him! (Ref / background in: "Cain/Gingrich 2012"?)
I think their vote reflected the inability of Gingrich to get the loyalty and support of House Reps.
What it reflected was how cowardly and envious many Republicans in the Congress were of Newt's success, and how many wanted him out because he was competitor on their "way to power" and, instead of vigorously responding to "railroading" they would prefer not to have the "lightning rod" in their midst. He had enough "loyalty and support" to push through most of Contract With America and welfare reform.
I guess he has much in common with Winston Churchill, who was warning about the dangers of Hitler's fascism and Soviet communism, help win the World War, then was promptly discarded once again, for more "bread and circuses."
That entire "railroading" and witch hunt, as well as its resolution was a travesty, but he has already decided to leave Congress, formally finalize the divorce from Marianne (they were legally separated since 1987 and lived separately for years) and get married to Callista Bisek, whom he was dating since 1993, while financially supporting Marianne and having most of their assets (from his books and lectures) and accounts in Marianne's name.
Yes, they will care and the Dems will help them to care.
And while they keep talking about his failed marriages (he already inoculated himself from that line of attack, unlike, for example, Herman Cain) he will be talking about things that people can actually relate to. Besides, as he cleverly reminded Clinton's WH alumni Stephanopolous, he is a happily married grandfather, so it's unlikely that he would be embarrassing us with Clinton's behavior in the White House.
Is there any question that Reagan, Dole or Gingrich, who were married more than once, would be more likely to care about and uphold "family values" in private and in public policy than once-married Clinton, Al Gore, John Edwards or Obama?
If some can't let go of this particular "baggage," so be it - you can't please everyone, and other candidates' "baggages" will revolt other groups of constituents. Especially that we know now that much of the "baggage" is not true (like "served divorce papers to wife dying of cancer in the hospital") or that a second wife basically only cared about Newt being her "meal ticket on a gravy train". Not that he should or would talk about it, he's already humbly conceded "mistakes in his life" and moved on to a better and more fulfilling life.
As far as I know, Gingrich is the first and only three time married candidate ever to run for President.
And...? There is first time for everything. Kennedy, Reagan, Clinton, Obama... As far as precedents go, this one is a mosquito-sized.
Three times is not the charm.
Seems like this has been his most successful marriage. Rush Limbaugh is on his fourth, he made some mistakes in his youth also. Is this really the one and only criterium for some of you?
Read the 137 page report I linked to you. He pleaded guilty and agreed to pay the financial penalty. You can try to play word games, but the facts are the facts. Newt will have to go thru all of this again if he gets the nomination. It will be a major distraction and a negative for the voters. The fact that Reps voted overwhelmingly to issue the reprimand is an indisputable fact.
The concession was among the most dramatic of any Gingrich representative. The speaker in December admitted to having provided inaccurate information to the ethics panel. The full ethics committee on Friday voted 7 to 1, just two hours after the comments by Gingrich attorney J. Randolph Evans, to recommend a $300,000 penalty and a formal reprimand of the Georgia Republican, concluding a week of partisan wrangling that convulsed the Capitol. The committee vote is likely to be followed by approval of the sanctions by the full House when it votes on the recommendation Tuesday.
The ethics panel's subcommittee originally accepted special counsel James M. Cole's proposal that Gingrich be charged with submitting information he "knew or should have known" was false. But in exchange for Gingrich admitting his guilt, the panel altered the charge, deleting the word "knew," in what amounted to a plea bargain."
but he has already decided to leave Congress, formally finalize the divorce from Marianne (they were legally separated since 1987 and lived separately for years) and get married to Callista Bisek, whom he was dating since 1993, while financially supporting Marianne and having most of their assets (from his books and lectures) and accounts in Marianne's name.
No mention of his first wife, Jackie Battley, his former high school geometry teacher, when he was 19 years old and she was 26. Gingrich and Battley have two daughters from their marriage. In the spring of 1980, Gingrich left Battley after beginning an affair with Marianne Ginther. 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. Gingrich has disputed that account.
Although Gingrich's presidential campaign staff continued to insist in 2011 that his wife requested the divorce, court documents obtained by CNN from Carroll County, Georgia, indicated that Jackie had asked a judge to block the process stating that although "she has adequate and ample grounds for divorce... she does not desire one at this time [and] does not admit that this marriage is irretrievably broken.
According to L. H. Carter, Gingrich's campaign treasurer, Gingrich said of Battley: "She's not young enough or pretty enough to be the wife of the President. And besides, she has cancer." Gingrich has denied saying it. His supporters dismiss Carter as a disgruntled former aide who was miffed at not being asked to accompany Gingrich to Washington.
And while they keep talking about his failed marriages (he already inoculated himself from that line of attack, unlike, for example, Herman Cain) he will be talking about things that people can actually relate to. Besides, as he cleverly reminded Clinton's WH alumni Stephanopolous, he is a happily married grandfather, so it's unlikely that he would be embarrassing us with Clinton's behavior in the White House.
Calista is 23 years younger than Newt. She is his plastic trophy wife who is not an asset to him politically. 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
Especially that we know now that much of the "baggage" is not true (like "served divorce papers to wife dying of cancer in the hospital") or that a second wife basically only cared about Newt being her "meal ticket on a gravy train". Not that he should or would talk about it, he's already humbly conceded "mistakes in his life" and moved on to a better and more fulfilling life.
This will be grist for the Dem's mill. It will be a big issue, more than likely, brought forward by Dem surrogates. Three marriages, a couple of messy divorces, adultry, and admitted "inappropriate behavior" will just be more baggage for the Green Conservative who supports amnesty, addressing manmade global warming urgently, and a supporter of the individual mandate. Now he is changing his tune on these and other issues.
And...? There is first time for everything. Kennedy, Reagan, Clinton, Obama... As far as precedents go, this one is a mosquito-sized.
For you maybe, for others it will be Elephant size. I can see the National Enquirer doing some investigative reporting along with the Dem operations research folks. Look out Tiffany's.
Seems like this has been his most successful marriage. Rush Limbaugh is on his fourth, he made some mistakes in his youth also. Is this really the one and only criterium for some of you?
Rush Limbaugh is not running for President nor is Larry King. 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 Clinton's alleged affairs. We'll see how long this one lasts.
Newt changes wives like he does religions. Gingrich was raised a Lutheran. In graduate school he was a Southern Baptist, and he converted to Catholicism, Bisek's faith, on March 29, 2009.