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Note To Newt: Character Matters, Especially In Presidents
IBD Editorials ^ | January 20, 2012 | RUTH MARCUS

Posted on 01/20/2012 7:23:43 PM PST by Kaslin

By definition, if you run for president, anything is on the table. Ask Grover Cleveland. Ask Andrew Jackson. Anything is on the table. I accept that, but I don't have to participate in the conversation."

That was Newt Gingrich, last May, when I asked him about whether intrusion into candidates' personal lives had gone too far. At the time, Gingrich's biggest headache was his Tiffany shopping habit, but Gingrich obviously had issues of sexual misconduct on his mind as well: Cleveland was assailed for allegedly having an out-of-wedlock child, Jackson for a possibly bigamous marriage.

And I thought Gingrich had it about right: When you run for president, you open yourself to the kind of searching scrutiny that a finger-pointing, voice-raised Gingrich condemned at Thursday night's debate.

"I think the destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the news media makes it harder to govern this country, harder to attract decent people to run for public office, and I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that," Gingrich told CNN's John King.

Gingrich, denouncing the reports from his second ex-wife as "trash" and "false," continued. "Every person in here has had someone close to them go through painful things," he said, to wild cheering from the audience.

"To take an ex-wife and make it two days before the primary a significant question in a presidential campaign is as close to despicable as anything I can imagine."

(Excerpt) Read more at news.investors.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: crone; romneybot
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1 posted on 01/20/2012 7:23:50 PM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Not worth the read. Waste of time.


2 posted on 01/20/2012 7:27:41 PM PST by vortigern
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To: Kaslin

So, this woman is pretending that media bias somehow doesn’t exist? Lol @ her.


3 posted on 01/20/2012 7:28:14 PM PST by Utmost Certainty (Our Enemy, the State | Gingrich 2012)
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To: Kaslin

You’re asking for trouble posting that kind of stuff on FR. Newt is the new untouchable messiah around here and Newt bashing will not be tolerated. /s To be serious, I agree with the article, its Newt’s problem and its fair game to question him about it. It also speaks volumes of the character of Newt Gingrich.


4 posted on 01/20/2012 7:29:04 PM PST by eak3
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To: Kaslin

Bobby, Marilyn & John


5 posted on 01/20/2012 7:33:09 PM PST by bunkerhill7 (BMJ? ? Who knew?)
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To: Kaslin

I’m at the point where I’m rooting for Newt. Who’d’a thunk it? I can dream about a brokered convention where I get the nomination, but we can do a lot worse than Newt. Isn’t that how it always ends...that explains the calluses on my nose. Either way, anarchy is on the horizon. Why is the left so angry when they are winning?


6 posted on 01/20/2012 7:33:49 PM PST by gorush (History repeats itself because human nature is static)
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To: Kaslin

Character is important, but the the elitists forced them out. Cain and Bachmann weren’t good enough, for the GOP, media, Rove, and the other RINOS. So, what are we left with? The GOP forced us to look elsewhere, other than their beloved Romney. The republican party will never get another dime from me.


7 posted on 01/20/2012 7:34:31 PM PST by Jaidyn
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To: eak3
The idea this does not matter is silly, some people have their heads stuck in the sand. Many more people oppose the man than support him. He is what, 20 percent nationwide, so only 80% are looking for someone else. What we have here is a math learning problem. We went down the same road with McClain.
8 posted on 01/20/2012 7:35:40 PM PST by org.whodat (Sorry bill, I should never had made all those jokes about you and Lewinsky, have fun.)
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To: eak3
The idea this does not matter is silly, some people have their heads stuck in the sand. Many more people oppose the man than support him. He is what, 20 percent nationwide, so only 80% are looking for someone else. What we have here is a math learning problem. We went down the same road with McClain.
9 posted on 01/20/2012 7:36:09 PM PST by org.whodat (Sorry bill, I should never have made all those jokes about you and Lewinsky, have fun.)
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To: eak3
It's like walking on eggshells around FR lately. Watch what you post, it may offend someone.
10 posted on 01/20/2012 7:36:46 PM PST by goodtomato (I'm really, really blessed! WWW.MIKEMcCALISTERFORSENATE.COM check him out!)
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To: eak3
With the millions of people who are qualified to be president in the USA I think it is interesting that all we have to choose from are a communist who might not be qualified, a ultimate politician and a serial, if forgiven by God, adulterer. What a pity!
11 posted on 01/20/2012 7:37:39 PM PST by cotton
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To: cotton

“With the millions of people who are qualified to be president in the USA I think it is interesting that all we have to choose from are a communist who might not be qualified, a ultimate politician and a serial, if forgiven by God, adulterer.”

If there are millions of people qualified to be president in the USA you’d think at least one of them would have shown up to run for the office in the past 30 years.


12 posted on 01/20/2012 7:43:54 PM PST by Magic Fingers
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To: Kaslin

But the left only takes apart the right-—never the JFK’s, LBJ, FDR’s, BJC, Zero.

True, character matters, but too good-—a person (like Marcus Aurelius) who was not Machiavellian enough to kill the evil Commodus, because he was his son, destroyed Rome. The philosopher king knew how evil Commodus was even in his childhood, and he allowed him to become the next emperor.

That being said-—great people—like St. Paul, St. Augustine, etc., have very checkered, evil pasts and turn out great——Past wrongs-—especially if you believe in God, doesn’t mean you can’t change.

The fact that Newt has grandkids maybe will make him understand the dire need to protect this last, great hope of mankind. He sure says some great things and has written some great books.


13 posted on 01/20/2012 7:43:54 PM PST by savagesusie (Right Reason According to Nature = Just Law.)
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To: cotton

Tagline it.

Truth is until we decide to start changing the culture in America, we won’t find the leaders we need.

One or two elections will not save the United States of America.


14 posted on 01/20/2012 7:46:37 PM PST by EBH (God Humbles Nations, Leaders, and Peoples before He uses them for His Purpose)
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To: Kaslin

I have thrown all my support behind Newt Gingrich. I would hope all rational conservatives would do the same. Sure there will always be some panty-waisted pharisees out there analyzing their navels but screw them. This is war.


15 posted on 01/20/2012 7:57:09 PM PST by plain talk
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To: Kaslin

Proof he is dead wrong:Clinton and Obama, enough said? Character does not count one tiny spec!


16 posted on 01/20/2012 7:59:23 PM PST by big bad easter bunny
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To: Kaslin

Note to Ruth..character only matters to you if it is a republican. If its a Democrat they could rape a girl scout and you would say she shouldn’t have been selling cookies


17 posted on 01/20/2012 7:59:45 PM PST by South Dakota (shut up and drill)
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To: Utmost Certainty

Well, she’s a left wing lunatic. What do you expect?


18 posted on 01/20/2012 8:00:53 PM PST by Kaslin (Acronym for OBAMA: One Big Ass Mistake America)
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To: eak3
Just a cut and paste from a reply I made on another thread.

“Last time I checked, Newt and his Wife have atoned for their sins and have sought forgiveness in their Church.

Of course, we could just stone them to death like the Muzzies like to do, reelect the Marxist with nothing to lose for the next four years and move on”.

Since none of us will ever know the true circumstances surrounding Newt and his current and former Wives, all we have is our Christian belief in forgiveness and redemption.

For some of us that is enough, for others, there is nothing that Newt and his Wife can say or do that will sway their opinion. So be it.

19 posted on 01/20/2012 8:01:29 PM PST by Kickass Conservative (Liberals, Useful Idiots Voting for Useless Idiots...)
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To: South Dakota
character only matters to you if it is a republican

Well we try to say we hold the moral high ground, christian values etc. Talk is cheap, walking the walk is what counts.
20 posted on 01/20/2012 8:07:24 PM PST by ThinkingBuddha
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