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Kathleen Parker: Newt Gingrich and the forgiveness ploy
Washington Post ^ | 01/21/2012 | Kathleen Parker

Posted on 01/21/2012 2:09:49 PM PST by SeekAndFind

Newt Gingrich’s standing ovation Thursday night, when he attacked CNN moderator John King for asking about allegations that Gingrich wanted an “open marriage” with his second wife, told us little about South Carolina but much about human nature.

The query, for which King has been exhaustively critiqued, was both necessary and inevitable. Forget the elephant in the living room; it was the herd in the powder room.

SNIP

In a nutshell: The more you pick on a person for human failings with which all can identify, the more likely you will create sympathy rather than antipathy, especially if that individual has been forthright in his confession and penitent for his transgression, as Gingrich has been. He was ahead of the curveball this time, with nothing left to tell or for his aggrieved former wife to expose.

SNIP

To err is human; to forgive divine. We like that way of thinking because we all need others’ forgiveness. When Gingrich turned to his audience and said that we all know pain — we all know people who have suffered pain — he instantly morphed from sinner to savior, the redeemer in chief. He correctly counted on the empathy of his fellow man, if not necessarily womankind, and won the moment.

But a moment is just that, and projection of the sort experienced by the Charleston, S.C., audience can be fraught with peril. Over-identification clouds judgment, and, though we are all sinners, we are not all running for president of the United States. Gingrich’s sins of the flesh ultimately are of less importance than the narcissism and grandiosity that compel his actions.

Voters would do well to think less of what they would do in his shoes than what Gingrich will do, should he win the prize.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: forgiveness; gingrich; marriage; mittromney; newt; newtgingrich; ricksantorum; southcarolina
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1 posted on 01/21/2012 2:09:57 PM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind
Wasn't she fired because of Client Number 9?


2 posted on 01/21/2012 2:13:34 PM PST by darkwing104 (Let's get dangerous)
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To: SeekAndFind
Gingrich’s sins of the flesh ultimately are of less importance than the narcissism and grandiosity that compel his actions.

Oh?

Is narcissism bad? Is grandiosity bad?

Then I guess Obama is toast

3 posted on 01/21/2012 2:14:09 PM PST by ClearCase_guy (Nothing will change until after the war.)
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To: SeekAndFind

KP assails Gingrich as a narcissist, yet she unabashedly supported the biggest narcissist in American politics today (Obama). Although, one would be hard-pressed to conclude — between Obama and Bill Clinton — upon whom that title should rightfully fall; but Bill Clinton is not, arguably, in American politics today, at least as a candidate or officeholder.


4 posted on 01/21/2012 2:17:39 PM PST by ought-six ( Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule.)
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To: SeekAndFind

I don’t who is more annoying, Parker or Noonan. I think Parker is the dumber of the two.


5 posted on 01/21/2012 2:17:48 PM PST by DManA
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To: ClearCase_guy

*big grin*


6 posted on 01/21/2012 2:17:51 PM PST by zorro8987
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To: SeekAndFind

Parker is a hack writer hired by the POST because they needed a house “Republican”.

Only Democrats read her. Her job is to validate the beliefs of liberals about conservatives she hates, though she pretends to be one.

She is part of the Obama media...pay her no attention, maybe she will go away.


7 posted on 01/21/2012 2:18:39 PM PST by kjo
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To: SeekAndFind

Who IS this woman anyway? We only here from this ash hole when she has something to say attacking conservatives.


8 posted on 01/21/2012 2:18:53 PM PST by jmaroneps37 (Conservatism is truth. Liberalism is lies.)
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To: SeekAndFind

What is it with the insiders in DC and their claws being out for anyone but Romney?


9 posted on 01/21/2012 2:24:22 PM PST by chris_bdba
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To: SeekAndFind

This is a decision and a judgement each of us has to make with regard to Gingrich. Either its a ploy, or it was sincere.

My view is that he saw his life unravel when he saw his life’s ambition taken from him, and he had to do some real soul-searching.

My view also is that God gave him his life back. And he knows it.

If you don’t believe he was sincere, then you can’t vote for him. I do support him. I like Santorum and if he was the nominee I’d gladly support him. But Gingrich is a warrior. I’m glad he is back in the fight.


10 posted on 01/21/2012 2:25:12 PM PST by marron
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To: SeekAndFind
I don't think Newtie was looking for sympathy. He was pointing out the obvious, the political establishment/media cabal smearing every candidate that is not Their Guy.

No matter, it's just Kathleen securing her chair at the next Establishment dinner party. Gotta say what you gotta say.

11 posted on 01/21/2012 2:25:35 PM PST by FlyVet
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To: SeekAndFind
He correctly counted on the empathy of his fellow man, if not necessarily womankind,

Polls in SC show Newt winning among women.

12 posted on 01/21/2012 2:25:59 PM PST by Hugin ("Most time a man'll tell you his bad intentions if you listen and let yourself hear"--Open Range)
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To: darkwing104

Actually she was fired By Client Number 9.


13 posted on 01/21/2012 2:28:44 PM PST by C. Edmund Wright
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To: SeekAndFind

Interesting that Kathleen Parker doesn’t want to talk about the circumstances of her first marriage and subsequent divorce and then her 2nd marriage. And why she kept the name of her first husband (Parker) and didn’t take the one of her current one (Cleveland).


14 posted on 01/21/2012 2:30:01 PM PST by jimbo123
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To: SeekAndFind
Try the following handy fill in the blank quiz:

If Barack Obama --> FUBO

then

Kathleen Parker --> ????

and

Karl Rove --> ????

and

Charles Krauthammer --> ????

Cheers!

15 posted on 01/21/2012 2:30:06 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: DManA

Are you sure they aren’t the same person? Have they ever been seen in the same room at the same time?


16 posted on 01/21/2012 2:30:38 PM PST by C. Edmund Wright
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To: SeekAndFind
Try the following handy fill in the blank quiz:

If Barack Obama --> FUBO

then

Charles Krauthammer --> ????

and

Karl Rove --> ????

and

Kathleen Parker --> ????

Cheers!

17 posted on 01/21/2012 2:30:58 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Forgiveness is not a ploy, more a necessity


18 posted on 01/21/2012 2:33:09 PM PST by Clay+Iron_Times (Psalms 118:9)
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To: grey_whiskers

Any why do we post garbage from the NY times?


19 posted on 01/21/2012 2:34:08 PM PST by gswilder
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To: SeekAndFind

20 posted on 01/21/2012 2:36:03 PM PST by Bobalu (It is not obama we are fighting, it is the media.)
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