Posted on 01/17/2012 2:50:57 PM PST by VinL
At the now-controversial meeting of evangelicals at a Texas ranch, influential evangelical leader James Dobson made a strong pitch for Rick Santorum's wife — and noted that Callista Gingrich was her husband's "mistress for eight years," questioning whether that's what people want in a first lady, three sources told POLITICO.
The moment left several attendees at the confab at the Pressler ranch stunned, according to the sources.
It came on Saturday, before the group of about 150 conservatives voted on a candidate they wanted to back. On the third round of balloting, the vote went to Santorum, but Gingrich backers and other attendees have argued that the voting was done unfairly, and in a way that seemed to benefit the former Pennsylvania senator.
The meeting was initially described as an event to try to unite behind a single candidate to thwart Mitt Romney, but his representatives also ended up speaking there, and despite the third round of balloting — which took place after some Gingrich backers left, thinking the meeting had ended — broad consensus was never reached, according to multiple attendees.
"Dobson first talked about how great Santorum is," recalled one source, who had first-hand knowledge of Dobson's comment. "[He said,] 'I want to tell you that I've gotten to know Karen [Santorum] and she is just lovely. She set aside two professional careers to raise these seven children. She would make a fabulous first lady role model. And Newt Gingrich's wife, she was a mistress for eight years."
Another source confirmed the account, and said Dobson concluded the sentiment about Callista Gingrich with, "Who do you want as your first lady?"
"It was like a chill [set into] the room," said one source. Several people were offended by the comment, said another source, adding that it was noted among some participants that Callista Gingrich had only been married once.
Divorce is not the issue here.
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No. Religion is the issue here- Donson says a mistress should not be First Lady. OK. Reagan was divorced, that’s an abomination before God- marriage is for life. Should Reagan have been disqualified?
It was hurtful and counter productive to the conservative Christian cause.
I’m not voting for First Lady. Newt’s indiscretions aside, and Santorum’s virtues considered, the important thing is who can beat Obama, and who can best lead America back to greatness.
More confirmation that Newt is a playa who can jolt Bammy Boy down to his bones. David Axelrod is praying his boy doesn’t have to run against the Newt
See post 26. See post 18.
Clinton has never repented. Newt has.
It's usually the liberals who typically say christians should shut up about morality and character. A ridiculous stance.
Newt is the man! He does not need Dobson and most Dobson follower will vote for Newt in November. All we need is for Willard to stumble and fall and provide an opening for Newt. We have to get lucky. Axelrod is salivating at running his boy against Romney
Do two posts tar Catholics as a group?
I'm Catholic, btw. Would you like to say something about me?
Do you hate Reagan? Is that your game?
You keep bringing up Regan and comparing him to an adulter like Newt.
Listen, if you don’t like Ronnie and Nancy, just say so.
Now it’s my turn to ask. What are you talking about?
James Dobson needs to seek the face of YHvHshalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
and ask for forgiveness for his arrogance and pride.He is a sinner as are all created beings.
Well, as I said, I'm not intending to defend everything Dobson says or does.
But let's just keep in mind, this is a group of social conservative Evanglical leaders who are meeting to discuss whether they can get behind one of the more conservative candidates, and perhaps edge out Romney in the process.
Their business is not to placate the press, or us, or libertarians. There business is to see if they can agree on a candidate and persuade Evangelicals to vote for that candidate.
Whatever one thinks of Evangelicals, we NEED THEIR VOTES if we are going to win this ballgame. So, if Gingrich has some negatives that the media will harp on, that could easily end up with millions of Evangelicals staying home, as they did in 2006 after Bush disappointed them in his second term.
I absolutely detest Newt, BUT if he is the nominee, he has my vote.
My position is that christian leaders are to be expected to bring up issues like this...to be concerned with immorality.
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And my position as a Christian and gentleman is that if Dobson belives Newt to be of questionable morality (as I belieed of Clinton), then go after Newt.
For Dobson to say Calista is a fallen woman unworthy of First Lady-— begot my 1st comment-— let he who is w/o sin...
So, you're holding that VERY SAME DOCTRINE against Santorum the Catholic, right?
He's not a REAL Christian either, right?
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