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.
Why would that be curious?
one should only caste the first stone if one is without sin.
I really don't see any rock in Dobson's hand. I see him articulate an opinion about character which christians do every day...and should. Sounds like you're all for gay marriage, eh?
By the same token, it sounds like you're casting stones at Dobson. Sinless are you?
I’ll take an eight year mistress compared to the First Wookie we have now.
“You may not like him but many do respect and seek out his opinion on issues.”
There are always useful idiots falling for a hypocrite charlatan...Baker, Swaggart, Dobson.
She can sing in all the choirs in the world and she is still Newts mistress.
Thanks!
We’re not electing a First Lady, we’re electing a President. If what you’re looking for is a nice happy family in the White House, you’ve already got it, so reelect B.O.
I have been pretty tough on Newt around here, but the alternative to one of our imperfect people running is Barack Hussein Obama.
From what I know, his family guy act is an act.
We don’t have a perfect human in this race. All of them have certain things I could complain about.
This time, we need a person who wants to save the country. I don’t really know who that is, nor do I trust them, but we can do better than we have now.
Swaggert, Baker...yes they were hypocrites.
Fine - You beleive you have the right to judge others past mistakes? now let’s hear your sanctimonious take on THIS woman?
Judge not lest you be judged. Have you checked your own skin lately?
Not one person that you have named are Baptist. There is a huge divide between Pentecostals and Baptist.
Though I am leaning toward Rick Santorum, Dr. Dobson did not ingratiate himself to me by making such a statement regarding Newt Gingrich. Our country is nearly beyond repair so by throwing red paint on the Grinch, probably the only man running who can bring down the communist now in power, does not bode well for my country!
If we can live through Bill clinton and his squalid escapades, we can can survive a love affair which, at least, ended in marriage!
Rather than increasing my zeal for sanatorium, Dobson’s catty remark makes me side more with Gingrich! Dr. Dobson would do better to keep his eye on the Lord rather than fostering derogatory remarks against a viable GOP candidate.
Dobson is not a Pastor, he is a shrink.shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiachHe consistently rejects scripture concerning himself.
Bluntly, he is a hypocrite.
But he is a christian leader, having worked in christian ministry and followed by millions of church-going christians. Suprised you didn't know that.
Fine - You beleive you have the right to judge others past mistakes? now let’s hear your sanctimonious take on THIS woman?
You hypocrites are all going to get what you deserve...
Barrack Obama, and 3 Liberal Supreme Court Judges....
Useful idiots twice over to Hypocrite Charlatans and Leftist rags.
Gingrich did well last night. He’d be a better president than Obama and Romney. But let’s face it. His wife was a mistress for years. She was under Newt’s desk for years because newt told his other mistresses that that way wasn’t really cheating. I won’t enjoy her as first lady because she chose to cheat with another woman’s man. For years. She could have chosen to wait for the divorce. She did not. It’s the truth. Why should it be avoided?
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