David Brody reports:
[Newt Gingrich] goes on to say that, “it may make me more normal than somebody who wanders around seeming perfect and maybe not understanding the human condition, and the challenges of life for normal people.” (Dig at Romney???)
Yup, Mitt Romney is definitely the odd one. Just imagine being 100% faithful to your one and only wife. That’s just plain weird.
Come to think of it, Rick Santorum has the same problem, doesn’t he? So does Ron Paul. It would seem then that according to Newt Gingrch, the only truly “normal” person running for President is good ol’ Newt himself.
Wasn’t this the same guy who declared that he only cheated on his wife because he was working so hard for his country?
January 26th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
It’s a dig at the others, as well as the electorate.
“So what if I’m a human POS? So are the rest of you, we’re all alike!”
January 26th, 2012 at 1:37 pm
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahaahahahahahahahaahahahaahahahahaahahahahahahaahahhaahahahahahahhahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahhahah.
Ha.
January 26th, 2012 at 1:38 pm
There are a couple of posters on this site that are wishing they hadn’t got that “Newt” tattoo after all.
January 26th, 2012 at 1:38 pm
GNV,
I think you’re hitting at a new slogan for Newt.
Newt Gingrich. An adulterous POS just like you.
It could be the tagline at the end of all his ads.
January 26th, 2012 at 1:41 pm
Newt TRULY has psychiatric issues. Narcissism mixed with bipolar disease (or at least cyclothymic disorder).
I’m NOT kidding folks. He needs medication . . . not power.
January 26th, 2012 at 1:43 pm
One of the main storylines of this election cycle is the decline of the religious right. They can no longer claim to be social conservatives. If Mitt wins the nomination their decline will be complete and social conservatism will have a new face, one that is not tainted by religious bigotry.
January 26th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
If elected President, Newt will leave for a younger, hotter country who has ignited his passions that he no longer has for the US.
January 26th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
L O S E R ! ! ! ! ! ! !
And so is anyone supporting this pig.
January 26th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
While marital infidelity is a pretty common plague on our society, I’m pretty skeptical it’s good to hold it up as an ideal.
Following MWS’s suggestions for new campaign slogans:
Newt 2012: As bad at science as you are!
Gingrich is God! An egotistical man for an egotistical age!
Gingrich 2012: Because we all lie occasionally, don’t we?
January 26th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
#7
LOL!
January 26th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
5- His suppoters have the same problem but it seems they are getting therapy and will recover in a few days, hopefully.
January 26th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
Nut Gingrich loves the sanctity of marriage so much, he sought to try it as many times as possible.
January 26th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
“If Mitt wins the nomination their decline will be complete and social conservatism will have a new face”
That doesn’t indicate an end to the religious right, just a broadening of what has traditionally been considered the socon movement. To point out: No protestant is likely to win a primary this year. Romney is Mormon, Santorum and Gingrich are both Catholic.
There’s still going to be a religious right, and it will still have considerable influence in the party, but its going to be a little less centralized in nondenominational megachurches.
January 26th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Yes, that was a dig at Romney, the most un-normal candidate we’ve seen since John Kerry.
January 26th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
#13 The nondenomination megachurch movement is likely to be as liberal as the PCUSA in another decade or two.
Whatever social conservatives you’ve got then will probably be traditional Catholics, Confessional Protestants, Orthodox Jews and traditional Mormons.
January 26th, 2012 at 1:50 pm
This is just begging for a SNL skit or video on Colbert or Leno. Can you imagine the video?
[Condescending tone:]
“Mitt Romney spent his life with just one wife, he is just too out of touch with the rest of America.”
[Cut to a bar scene with three women flirting with Newt]
“Newt Gingrich knows how to GET. IT. ON!”
“I’m Newt Gingrich and I approve this message.”
January 26th, 2012 at 1:50 pm
EGS,
Newt does seem to be a little flirty with Canada lately. He always seems to need to use the copier whenever Canada is there. He laughs too long at Canada’s jokes. Newt holds eyecontact with Canada a little too long, and is always looking up around lunchtime to see when Canada gets up from its cubicle.
I had just written it off as the eccentricities of a genius, but now that you mention it……
January 26th, 2012 at 1:50 pm
#14 It’s only a dig if the man has a shovel to dig with.
It’s not a dig. It’s a fail.
January 26th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Newt’s going to dump the earth for the moon.
Big thinking people.
January 26th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
By that same logic we can say that it was good for Obama to hang out with terrorist ayers. Reverend Wright too.
Helps him understand the real world. Not like that self-righteous Romney who spent his time with the honest and patriotic.
January 26th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
I am beginning to think Newt does need some serious help. I don’t know whether it’s psychiatric or medicinal or both but this guy is truly over the edge……and evidently has been for some time
January 26th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
America hates rich people, because they’re not that rich. Seeing their wealth is a reflection of their inadequacy.
Now Newt also wants America to hate people who make good choices because seeing others make good choice reflect on their moral failures?
Everyone is bad is not quite the standard I want for my country.
January 26th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Newt is just trying to use Mitt’s marital fidelity to ostracize him as one of the One Percent.
January 26th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
Is he saying it’s not just our pain he’s feeling?
January 26th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
January 26th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
Several thoughts.
1. You all forgot Obama. He’s not normal either.
2. Is Gingrich actually taking advice from Perry, too? I mean it was Perry that tried to play the “I’m as ignorant as you are, look at my grades” card.
3. Romney is extremely wealthy, has been on many roadtrips with late nights, is good looking. Don’t you think he’s ever been approached? Only on TV and those with no core (but I repeat myself) is it hard to say No when confronted with a immoral choice.
January 26th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
14.
Un-normal as in not having an affair on his wife?
Un-normal as having his family intact?
Un-normal as in being a self made millionaire?
Un-normal as in not spending his life massing his fortunes in DC?
Un-normal as in giving back every dime hes make in DC to the tax payer?
Un-normal as in giving 7 million to charity in the past 2 years?
Un-normal as in his remarkble work ethic day in and day out?
List goes on and on.
The real question is what is wrong with YOUR ideals?
January 26th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
#7 and #17. . . He’ll probably just ask the American people for an open presidency where he can continue to be President of the US while also serving as Prime Minister of Canada.
January 26th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
Wasn’t his ethics violation series in the 1990s due to his “normal” human susceptibility to temptations involving money?
January 26th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
You church ladies crack me up
January 26th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
I’m all-in…
January 26th, 2012 at 1:59 pm
30 — I think Newt’s done…
And no, Santorum won’t endors him…
January 26th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
alaska,
That sounds like a reasonable proposal!
January 26th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
27. Awesome
January 26th, 2012 at 2:01 pm
1. This is hilariously stupid.
2. I don’t want ordinary in the White House. I want EXTRAORDINARY. Extraordinary morals, success, intelligence, and competence. I want extraordinary character and extraordinary performance potential.
Christ, people…
January 26th, 2012 at 2:01 pm
Soon Newt will be back to writing books and giving speeches…
January 26th, 2012 at 2:01 pm
There’s a reason why Newt and his drone-like following give Newt a pass on all of this stuff.
…
You see what’s really going on here is …
…
*whispering* …
…
They got to stop the ‘religion-that-shall-not-be-named’ at ANY cost.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:03 pm
31
Stop playing a reverse jinx. Don’t think I can’t see through this.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:04 pm
#22 The thing about wealthy people is that they tend to marry each other, to live in the same elite zip codes, and to go to the same pricey stores/groceries. The wealthy tend to have middle managers between them and all the workers in a company.
So for most Americans, wealthy people are almost completely known about through television. When you don’t have any connections to a group that segregates itself from everyone, it’s very easy to scapegoat them.
Rich people in America have become disconnected from ordinary Americans and that makes them an easy target. It also makes envy easier as few ordinary people personally know wealthy people. So many ordinary Americans tend to assume the worst about wealthy people living far away, enjoying a different culture.
This sort of populist anti-wealthy attitude was lot less acute before the wealthy started to segregate into their own zip codes so aggressively.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:04 pm
Now that the Bob Dole and Tom Delay have found the need to dig at Newt I am sure that everyone in the GOP is oh so confident about Mitt’s ability to beat Obama.
This is great though. I can’t wait for the Cayman Island candidate to suffer an onslaught from Axelrod in the left.
It will be even better to see Rove, Coulter, the entire establishment and all the Mormons cry themselves to sleep at night in November.
It’s gonna be epic
January 26th, 2012 at 2:05 pm
You see Newt’s fans don’t really like him – they just like that he’s against Romney. Period. Just like it was with Trump, Bachmann, Perry and Cain before him. The name isn’t what is important – just the opposition.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:05 pm
Tonight’s gonna b entertaining though.
Will Newt attack again the moderators for thundering applauses?
I like to stuff myself with that stuff up. It’s fun cause the moderators can’t argue back !!
Angry Newtzilla likes to get in punches against people who aren’t allowed to fight back.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:06 pm
30. Hey Telly, put a sock in it.
Touting your gutter sludge ideals as some sort of smugness isn’t convincing coolness.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:07 pm
37. That should be common knowledge by now. Sad
January 26th, 2012 at 2:10 pm
what is worse cayman island or a new mistress popping up?
January 26th, 2012 at 2:10 pm
tele, it’s been a rough week for all of us, up, down, and sideways. What I thin you’re seeing here is a reaction to Newt’s way of turning his misadventures into virtues. His infidelities were patriotically induced. He went to the Greek Islands on a cruise right after declaring his campaign to see the collapse of Greece up close and firsthand. He was hired as an historian by Freddie Mac and he gave them what for and insulted their business model, so that too was virtuous.
And now he tells us his opponents fall short of his capacity for empathy with the rest of us by virtue of their virtuousness.
It’s not particularly our sense of religiosity he is offending here, rather it’s our ability to smell.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:10 pm
SoJo – We have no reason to cry. Life is pretty darn good, buddy.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:11 pm
EGS,
#39
Interesting point. Of course, for the most part, this is not true of the wealthy in rural and small town America. They go to the same churches, shop in the same stores, and their kids go to the same schools as the middle class and poor, as that’s all there is.
Perhaps that is one of the reasons the working class is more conservative in rural and small town America, and less motivated by class envy.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:11 pm
Former US Senator and 1996 GOP Nominee, Bob Dole has slammed Newt Gingrich claiming that if Newt is the nominee that it will hurt GOPs running for election at the federal, state, and local levels.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:13 pm
49 – Yes, because Bob Dole knows how to win elections.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:13 pm
Name the posters on this site with “Newt” tattoos.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Watch #46
Well said.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
“It will be even better to see Rove, Coulter, the entire establishment and all the Mormons cry themselves to sleep at night in November.”
The last part of that comment is all you need to know about SoJo and his anti-Mormon bigotry. Why does Kavon let an actual bigot on this site?
January 26th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
There’s a myth that rich people got it all from luck or inheritance. The truth is that those types of rich people make up about .001% of the population. The VAST majority of rich got there from hard work, and years in schooling and a grueling schedule. They there because they decided to spend their evenings studying and working late instead of plopping in front of the TV.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
51 – Name the posters on this site with Mitt’s signature on their magic underwear.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
Damn, Newt is losing his mud on the trail tonight. He is spitting angry. Tonight is going to be like a WWF event complete with rowdy audience.
I need more popcorn.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
51,
SoJo, Smack, Teledude, Craig for Newt. Need more?
January 26th, 2012 at 2:18 pm
This story reminded me of C.S. Lewis who said:
No, I think Newt’s narcisistic bubble will shortly be popped by Florida voters. This isn’t the kind of man I’d want representing me.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:18 pm
What is it with these high empathy candidates, anyway? Why do we have so many of them? Especially in the South.
Looking at Newt’s numbers, the appreciation for his high level of empathy seems to be limited to one gender.
Those darn church ladies and their highly developed sense of smell!
January 26th, 2012 at 2:18 pm
36 . . . Yes he’ll get back to those $ making activities like books and speeches.
But don’t forget his “influence peddling!
This is why I almost barfed when I heard Newt say that Mitt got an “automatic $20 million a year for no work” . . . Newt has to peddle his influence like crazy so that he can keep his $500,000 line of revolving credit open at Tiffany’s. Mitt’s way to cheap for that . . . and he’d too busy doing “no work” all the time.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Yep, Newt is the normal one, like Herman Cain. Men weren’t designed to be faithful to anyone or anything, I suppose. I look at Mitt, who has been by his wife’s side during a terrible illness, then I look at Newt who left both of his wives when they got ill.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
55. I’m Catholic you bigot.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
#48 Well rural areas and small cities rarely have concentrations of the most wealthy. They have non-specialist doctors that usually get paid a fraction of their more specialized urban counterparts. They have lawyers that tend to deal with less financial rewarding clients. They have mid-sized business owners that often live in closer to their workers (Larger businesses often have distant owners located in a superzip).
What’s troubling is that small cities and rural areas are shrinking in proportion and the segregated pattern of urban/suburban life is becoming broader and deeper. The Superzips each decade tend to have fewer non-wealthy each decade.
I think cultural trends limit the extent that Americans will relate to the wealthy as fellow citizens instead of a suspicious alien group. This bodes very poorly for conservatives who speak of capitalism as synonymous with love for the wealthy. You’ll probably see Huckabee/Perry type rhetoric become more common in the Republic Party each election cycle.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Newt: “Having no morals makes me more normal”
Sadly, that is kind of true.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:33 pm
58 . . . Great quote Joseph, and VERY true.
Thanks for sharing
January 26th, 2012 at 2:35 pm
55. Sojo. If you’ve got an uncommon interest in underwear, or in mocking profanely another’s earnest faith, (as if that kind of belittling lowers anyone other than you), isn’t there a blog for you somewhere else? Kind of like, say, a sump blog where all the lowest and muckiest comments can be shared and admired by intellects and temperaments similar to yours, and you can feel more at home? I hate to think how alien and unhappy you must feel here.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
Wow…i gotta say….he can totally screw off after making those horrible claims. He should be applauding the others for being faithful to their wives. What an a**hat.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
Started out listened to Hopeless Hannity who’s having a cow that the Romney people would suggest that Newt’s emotional makeup might be questionable.
Thank goodness I could quickly flip to Medved saying that Newt is “inconsistent” and should not be POTUS.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
#58 Many of Newt’s sins are public. Mitt’s are mostly private. We’ve got no way of knowing the spiritual condition of either man from the outside. All we can observe is their public behavior.
From Newt’s public behavior we can see his imprudence in doing things that will publicly harm him. From Mitt Romney’s public behavior we see a man who relentlessly keeps his darker impulses out of public view.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
Must suck fot Newts supporters to see him collapse before their very eyes but, Newt has provided for some good punchlines on this site.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:39 pm
6.
I agree, I no longer take social conservatives seriously any longer after this primary.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Bob Dole unleashes on Newt . . . it is HARSH!
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/289360/dole-goes-nuclear-nro-staff
OUCH
I have not been critical of Newt Gingrich but it is now time to take a stand before it is too late. If Gingrich is the nominee it will have an adverse impact on Republican candidates running for county, state, and federal offices. Hardly anyone who served with Newt in Congress has endorsed him and that fact speaks for itself. He was a one-man-band who rarely took advice. It was his way or the highway.
Gingrich served as speaker from 1995-99 and had trouble within his own party. Already in 1997 a number of House members wanted to throw him out as speaker. But he hung on until after the 1998 elections when the writing was on the wall. His mounting ethics problems caused him to resign in early 1999. I know whereof I speak as I helped establish a line of credit of $150,000 to help Newt pay off the fine for his ethics violations. In the end, he paid the fine with money from other sources.
Gingrich had a new idea every minute and most of them were off the wall. He loved picking a fight with Bill Clinton because he knew this would get the attention of the press. This and a myriad of other specifics helped to topple Gingrich in 1998.
In my run for the presidency in 1996, the Democrats greeted me with a number of negative TV ads and in every one of them Newt was in the ad. He was very unpopular and I am not only certain that this did not help me, but that it also cost House seats that year. Newt would show up at the campaign headquarters with an empty ice-bucket in his hand — that was a symbol of some sort for him — and I never did know what he was doing or why he was doing it.
In my opinion if we want to avoid an Obama landslide in November, Republicans should nominate Gov. Romney as our standard bearer. He has the requisite experience in the public and private sectors. He would be a president we could have confidence in.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
#69
Witch hunt much? Good grief! Change your handle to Cotton Mather and his infamous penchant for projection.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:45 pm
Common Cents,
No, the real thing is that social conservatives were never very much of the party, at least the committed core.
Just like most of the party has no problem blowing money on conservative things like superfluous tax breaks and useless wars in a region we shouldn’t be meddling in, despite preaching “fiscal conservatism”
Social conservatives that do take their principles seriously exist. Santorum despite my disagreement with him on other matters is unquestionable in that one, and Adam Graham has been pretty clear on this site about why Gingrich is unacceptable to him.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:47 pm
69,
I’m going to tell you truthfully….i don’t trust mitt on political issues much. But i do trust him as a family man…and to protect his family and work hard for them. He is a great person. I’m not a supporter of his either…but i will honestly say that you comparing Newt to Mitt in the way you did….makes you lose all credibility. Mitt is a good guy…and we could do a lot worse than him…and in fact if we nominate Newt…we will do a lot worse.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:47 pm
#72: Meanwhile the FL SEIU is spending a bundle in an attempt to defeat Mitt in favor of Newt.
By their friends ye shall know them.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:47 pm
I already had become VERY jaded against this man based on his “apology” for his past because he was “too patriotic” which caused him to “work too many long hours”.
Now he wants me to believe that the norm for American society is to be not just a one time, but a two time cheater on his wives. My drive for a more moral society could very well trump my political views if Newt were to be the nominee of the republican party and I would be unable to vote for someone who lowers the values bar in society in the way he did with that one interview.
My kids already had to deal with crap like this “normalization” of society when they brought home a high school assignment where one of the essay questions talked about how Bill Clinton and other national leaders’ past had caused adultery to be “more accepted” in society. I don’t want it to be acceptable – I want to fight for family values and putting this man as the leader of the party would do more damage to that view than I could possibly imagine.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:47 pm
75,
Amen
January 26th, 2012 at 2:49 pm
#4, 7, 9, and 19 may be some of the best comments I’ve ever seen here at Race.
Hahahahahaha! Well done.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:50 pm
EGS,
Everyone has darker impulses. Concupiscence is the human lot. But it’s strange and silly to insinuate, as you clearly are, that Romney’s hiding anything more than typical human frailty.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
55. I am a Mitt supporter and an Evangelical Christian.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:52 pm
Many people have openly admitted that they voted Obama because they wanted to vote for first African American president, even if they were politically relatively far away from him like apparently libertarian Gene Simmons.
There are some people who are confused over concepts of forgiveness and trust. Forgiving Bernie Maddoff doesn’t mean you give him a pardon and make him Secretary of Treasury or Chair of Federal Reserve, you can forgive, but that doesn’t mean you have to give him the top job in his field. Gingrich failed so bad as leader, he hasn’t really shown that he can handle presidency, if he couldn’t even handle speakership.
So there might be these confused people who feel warm and fuzzy “Oh, I voted for that person who has sinned so much, so that makes such a good and nice forgiving person”, kinda like voting for the first African American for warm and fuzzy feeling.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:52 pm
#75 I thought you’re a Lutheran? If so you ought to get where I’m coming from.
Even great people have darker impulses. That’s human nature. The only way Romney doesn’t have darker impulses is if he’s not human.
The only point I’m making about Romney is that he has discipline and keeps his darker impulse either in check or at least in private. That’s not a negative for a public figure.
It means Romney’s unlikely to ever have the sort of personal scandals Newt does. Not because Romney is sinless and perfect but because his sin remains out of public view.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:52 pm
#75 Good post. Palin actually caused problems by her endorsement of Newt. What in the heck was she thinking!!!!! If all of us could see there is something very wrong with Newt, why didn’t she. The last thing this country needs is someone mentally unqualified to be President. Between his grandiose ideas and his uncontrollable anger issues, he should not be anywhere near the WH.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:53 pm
Well…
Rubio on Newt: “I’m an admirer of his”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcYwIAvVlCo&feature=youtube_gdata
January 26th, 2012 at 2:53 pm
69. Econ Grad Stud. The fact that you call yourself a stud only shows that you aren’t. Otherwise you wouldn’t have to say it. It’s only to convince yourself. We already know. Maybe you spend too much time on “adult” web sites and that’s where you get your “darker impulses”. You are incapable of comprehending that Mitt doesn’t have “darker impulses” because you are consumed with them.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:54 pm
Newt’s belief that his sins allow him to relate better to normal everyday people is a direct assault on the foundation of Christianity. The only perfect being to walk this earth is the one who can relate to us in our sorrows and tribulations. Of course, I’m not really surprised that Newt doesn’t get that.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:55 pm
81,
I’m not a mitt supporter…but i’m an evangelical, and i have to say that it is really surprising to me that people would rather have a serial adulterer, lying a**hat than an upstanding family man…and when you compare their records…they are very similar.
If the choice is between Mitt and Newt…i’m with Mitt. Seriously…it’s not a choice, and anyone that believes it is…is really hurting themselves. Mitt is so much smarter…and more believable.
Of course i’m a nut because i’m a ron paul supporter.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:55 pm
#39 What church do you go to? If you choose wisely, it’s a great de-stratifier.
#58 Excellent quote. Lewis rocks.
#69 Keep squinting. There is no “darker side”…
January 26th, 2012 at 2:56 pm
I think Madoff is an interesting character. Publicly hung for the sin of being the only fraudster with the gall to defraud other rich and powerful people.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:58 pm
Watch,
#66
That was a smack down a British aristocrat would appreciate.
Nicely done.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:58 pm
#86 “Economics Graduate Student” was what I was in 2007 when I started posting here. I’m a father of two daughters, and work for the Army in 2012. I just keep the old nickname for continuity and so old acquaintances know who I am.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:59 pm
83,
I’m an evangelical christian. No i’m not lutheran. I’m assembly of God, but i grew up baptist. I teach adult sunday school, do street evangelism and preach.
Anyways, romans 3:23 tells us that we are all sinners. That is true…but it is a major negative that Newt’s sins are so public AND that he isn’t remorseful for them at all. He only seems to apologize for the fact that he got caught. I could only imagine that if Mitt were to be caught committing adultery(i seriously doubt that would happen)…his response would be much more humble, and he would be willing to take the blame for it…rather than blaming his love for his country.
January 26th, 2012 at 3:02 pm
#69 What the heck?
The Salem witch hunt really doesn’t suit you.
January 26th, 2012 at 3:03 pm
#93 Most have mistaken you for someone with a similar nick on the confessional lutheran interwebs.
I don’t assume Romney would:
a) Ever commit adultery.
b) Ever be caught in it if he surprisingly did.
He seems too disciplined for that sort of thing. His sins are obviously of the less bombastic more socially acceptable sort.
January 26th, 2012 at 3:05 pm
#66 Watch,
Thanks for that. Beautifully said.
I was thinking something much less eloquent…
“SoJo man, just WHY are you fixated with my underwear?”
Bigotry belongs to the sullen.
January 26th, 2012 at 3:07 pm
Don’t hate on Newt because he’s so shagadelic! Yeah, baby!
January 26th, 2012 at 3:08 pm
#95 You’re spouting off things you know nothing about, and not looking like a stud I must say…
January 26th, 2012 at 3:09 pm
88,
I have close friends who are Ron Paul supporters. I wish I felt I lived in a world where I could be comfortable in Ron Paul’s politics. I am not there yet. I respect Paul for being very consistent in his record and for living by his views. I concur completely and totally on your view of Gingrich and his support. The Evangelical support for this man in South Carolina perplexes me.
January 26th, 2012 at 3:13 pm
#88 Tell your guy to keep it up. This is awesome:
http://thecompetentconservative.com/ron-paul-ad-says-gingrich-doesnt-have-skeletons-in-his-closet-he-has-a-whole-graveyard/
January 26th, 2012 at 3:13 pm
#98 Lady See #92. The nicks for 2007, I’m now a father of two who works for the Army. ‘Econ’ is for Economics, ‘Grad’ is for Graduate, ‘Stud’ is for Student. Is that really so hard to figure out?
January 26th, 2012 at 3:15 pm
95,
Never been on a lutheran board or site that i’m aware of. But i do pop up under the same name on other websites. Particularly the watcher forum, and harpazo. Search at your own risk. Someone once tried to quote from one of my religious posts…and use it as a reason i should be discredited, but it kind of backfired.
January 26th, 2012 at 3:15 pm
#97 I think people are ‘hating’ on Newt because
a) he seems hypocritical
b) he hasn’t respected his duties and obligations in the past
c) his emotions seem to get ahead of his prudence
All are weaknesses in a candidate. I don’t think Newt is anymore evil than anyone else. He’s simply got character traits that are weaknesses in a leader.
January 26th, 2012 at 3:17 pm
101. Econ…
Nonetheless, the word “stud” was not lost on you when you picked your screen name. Don’t act all innocent like that escaped your notice. Nice attempt at condescension…
January 26th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
#88 Is is just me, or does this almost sound like an implicit endorsement. From Ron Paul’s website:
“Unfortunately, as many voters are now finding out, ‘politics as usual’ is really what every other ‘top-tier’ Republican alternative to Mitt Romney besides you is all about.”
Seems he is excluding Romney from this group, that he then goes on to skewer…
http://www.ronpaul2012.com/pages/nocounterfeits.html?pid=mntv
January 26th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
104. wow, why so harsh…econ grad stud is short for student, as he explained. Obviously.
I got that right away…but then
I’m not a judgmental uptight church lady!
I wonder WHO influenced him to abbreviate it like that…hhhhhmmmmmmm?
maybe… oh, I don’t know….maybe…
SATAN!!!!!
January 26th, 2012 at 3:25 pm
#104 I appreciate the motherly scolding (reminds me of my departed mother) but it’s fairly irrelevant to the point that some of you folks play Romney off as a superior human being.
That’s first not true, and secondly harms him with voters turned off by self-righteousness. You’re not doing your leader any favors playing up a superior self-righteous attitude. Romney will need the votes of adulters, divorcees, and people with multiple marriages who might resent being denigrated by his supporters.
January 26th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
EGS #69
I agree with you that I’m not going to judge each man’s spiritual condition or standing before God. I think your a little off in your judgement of behavior vis-a-vis Mitt though. Let’s face it: Newt believes his private behavior has no bearing on his public character. He believes that he can have numerous indiscretions and infidelities and it won’t affect his public life.
Your implication in #69 is that Mitt has just as sinful a life, but he just does a better job hiding it. I happen to have family in Waterton, near where Mitt worked and served most of his life, and all that I hear is that this is a man with impeccable moral thinking and behavior in both private and public. It isn’t so much that he’s seeking to conceal his ‘darker impulses’ from public view, but that he is trying to totally eradicate his darker impulses from existence, and his success in doing so has apparently made some people so uncomfortable that they look at any shadow of indiscretion (a glance, a simple ambiguous compliment) as almost equal to Newt’s numerous affairs.
Now I respect your intellect, but I get the sense from some evangelicals that the “everybody is a sinner” mantra is nothing more than a way to lend moral equivalence to their own chosen tribesman while bringing those with manifestly superior virtue and moral integrity down to the level of the serial adulterer. Well, like I said, I’m not judging the man’s soul, but neither am I going to buy into the “everybody is a sinner” crap when choosing a president who should exhibit the highest level of character and integrity. I’m not voting for the person who is most adroit at concealing their animal urges, but for the person who has best integrated reason and moral thinking as the master of their passions. Newt’s a very smart man slave to passion in both private and public. The same is not true of Mitt and I don’t think it’s fair to say that it is.
January 26th, 2012 at 3:27 pm
Dr. Paul is getting some mormon love in Nevada. Good for him.
http://www.ronpaul2012.com/2012/01/25/ron-paul-nevada-team-names-additional-%e2%80%98lds-for-ron-paul%e2%80%99-nationwide-coalition-members/
January 26th, 2012 at 3:28 pm
105,
No he’s saying that the “alternatives” aren’t really alternatives at all(except for Dr. Paul). He’s also made it clear…that it would be very difficult to get an outright endorsement from him…because they are so fundementally different.
January 26th, 2012 at 3:30 pm
#80 M. E. M
You said in one sentence what I took three paragraphs saying. I really need to learn economy of writing.
January 26th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
#110 I know, wishful thinking
#108 Well said.
January 26th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
There are a lot of LDS Paul fanatics in my area. They are generally Constitutionalists.
January 26th, 2012 at 3:42 pm
EGS, #107,
First of all, I understand some theological position that we are all equals before God–equally sinful, etc., but you know what? I don’t have to live in your post-modern/calvinist/Lutheran world when choosing a president.
The fact is that people in our world have varying degrees of superiority in the way they have furnished their minds with reason, moral virtue, intelligence, social grace, etc. Playing the theological universal-mediocrity card isn’t going to get your guy elected. One surgeon can kill fewer people by his own imperfections than another, and one president can inspire or lead with greater moral clarity than another. There are three candidates with pretty stellar moral clarity (one of them may be slightly wrong on the policy side in my opinion–but that’s another post), and one candidate who is a narcissistic charlatan.
January 26th, 2012 at 3:43 pm
We have several Mormon Ron Paul supporters on this site (I’m one of them).
January 26th, 2012 at 3:45 pm
#95 “He seems too disciplined for that sort of thing. His sins are obviously of the less bombastic more socially acceptable sort.”
That devious scoundrel!
January 26th, 2012 at 3:46 pm
#108 I’m very opposed to American Evangelical religion. I’m a confessional Lutheran. “Everybody is a sinner” isn’t a mantra for us but simply the clear reality of history, sociology, psychology and more importantly God’s Word. Christ said if you have lust you’ve already committed adultery in your heart. So from his perspective a “shadow of indiscretion” betrays the same human nature common to all people.
Now in politics we judge people on what they do not on what they are.
We’re all sinners but some have more disruptive behaviors than others. In politics we rightly judge people on their behaviors because there’s no differences between us in regards to our internal sin nature.
What gets my goat is when Romney is portrayed a superior human living on another moral plane than the rest of humanity.
January 26th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
tele –
Just so I’m clear with you – do you believe that somebody that cheats on two wives is “normal”?
If so are you happy that that is seen as being “normal”??
Are people who are faithful to their spouses “too perfect”?
January 26th, 2012 at 3:49 pm
#114: “Playing the theological universal-mediocrity card isn’t going to get your guy elected.”
My guy’s not running for election this round. I dislike Romney and Newt for differing reasons.
January 26th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Since the “stud” has turned this into a discussion re: the nature of man, let me make this point. Yes, the Bible tells us “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” But read the rest of your Bible, which makes it clear: Once we receive Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, we are “born again” as a son of God; our nature is now changed. The old man of sin is killed and buried in the waters of baptism and a new godly creature is born.
Ergo, once a person becomes a true Christian, the “dark impulses” should be gone. The fact that they may not be remains for the person to seek God and find out why not. The Bible is clear: once a person becomes a “saint” there is no longer any excuse for sin–or even “dark impulses.” Temptations, perhaps, but the way will always be made for our escape. We are not longer men of darkness but children of light.
This is not “self-righteouness” but the gift of Christ’s righteousness as we truly receive him.
Sadly, some voters will be turned off by God-acquired virtue as much as they are by honestly acquired wealth. What a sad, “Christian” country.
So all this stuff about hidden, dark sins may be your experience, but it should not be the experience of a person truly born again of the Spirit, which is the definition of a saint or Christian as explained oover and over in the Bible.
January 26th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Econ Grad Student: you have two daughters. Would you rather they grow up and marry a men like Mitt or like Newt?
January 26th, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Will Walworth’s question pits theology against practical living. I think this reveals the potential limitations of theology.
I understand the value (theological and practical) in not condemning others for their sins, because we all make mistakes. However, I am not going to appoint Bernie Madoff as my investor simply because a sin is a sin.
January 26th, 2012 at 4:00 pm
#117 BTW, I agree with you to a large degree being a great admirer of Bonhoeffer’s theological writings, but I just think you are misapplying it in this instance. What you say may be true in a grander sphere, but I can’t believe that you actually think that there is no difference in the moral capacity of a man who has willingly submitted to his inner demons (and continues to do so in his vengeful, angry and petty ways), and man who has lived his entire life honing his moral capacity through constant effort.
and Re: #119 I hope you aren’t planning on sitting on the sidelines in November, because the Democrats are the epitomy of universal mediocrity.
January 26th, 2012 at 4:06 pm
121: Better question:
Would you rather have your kid marry Tim Tebow, or Tom Brady?
Kim Kardashian or Lila Rose?
Snooki or Kim Middleton?
Charlie Sheen or one of the Jonas Brothers.
January 26th, 2012 at 4:07 pm
newt couches his affairs as “sadness” as if he is the only one thats experienced it. as if mitt wasnt sad when his wife got sick. wtf
January 26th, 2012 at 4:07 pm
The really stupid thing going on here is that many people (including pastors) have made the point that Newt is a forgiven Christian while Mitt is an unforgiven heretic. Therefore, we should vote for Newt over Mitt because Newt is forgiven, i.e. sinless and Mitt is still, in the words of John Calvin, “utterly depraved.”
Get it?
January 26th, 2012 at 4:15 pm
That Bob Dole warning about Newt is AWESOME!
January 26th, 2012 at 4:17 pm
Newt BASHES Ronald Reagan (VIDEO)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM-8Y_phsII&feature=channel_video_title
January 26th, 2012 at 4:22 pm
#121/124 I get your point and I agree with it although it may not seem that way. However I’d likely want my daughters to marry a member of our religion so my grandchildren could be baptized, catechized and receive the sacraments together in our common faith.
January 26th, 2012 at 4:26 pm
Donald Trump bashing both Mitt and Newt for bashing each other just now on Hannity. OK, Donald, if that’s a big problem, just endorse someone and help stop the food fight. Mitt has no choice but to fight Newt the nut; this man cannot be president. Dole, Abrams, Abramoff, Tyrell, Beck, Medved, Hedgecock and those endorsing Mitt have chimed in. Quit being such a weenie, Donny.
What’s the name of your new book again you’ve been trumpeting? Oh right. Time to Get Tough. If the trump give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare for battle? Get off the fence, Donald, time to get tough.
January 26th, 2012 at 4:34 pm
#124 Joseph: Who’s Kim Middleton?
January 26th, 2012 at 4:37 pm
#106 Hey Telly,
“I’m not a judgmental uptight church lady!”
At last, something we can agree on
January 26th, 2012 at 4:42 pm
Econ – I don’t think it’s fair to project mindless Romney worship on me or most people here. Certainly not my doing and most of the Romney supporters don’t fall under that illusion. So whoever is irritating you so bad with that behavior…don’t project it on to the rest of us.
The Mitt man has worked hard, lived well, and had some skills we need to boot. Don’t begrudge someone the few brownie points they might have earned.
January 26th, 2012 at 4:42 pm
#129 My question went toward the relative character traits of the two men. Imply whatever religion you wish.
I suspect that most fathers of daughters would choose a son-in-law of Mitt’s demonstrated character traits over a son-in-law of Newt’s demonstrated character traits. While it may be true that demonstrated character traits and past behavior are not perfect indicators of how a man will behave in the future, they’re pretty darn good. I don’t care how many times Newt has sought and received forgiveness. That’s between him, his ex-wives, daughters, and God. I do care that he has consistently demonstrated self-absorption, grandiosity, and lack of impulse control.
Mitt might not be the most flashy candidate, but he has consistently demonstrated personal behavior almost 180 degrees out from Newt Gingrich on these key character traits. Although I am not choosing either man as a son-in-law, I am choosing one of them to possibly serve as president. Character matter in the calculus of that decision.
January 26th, 2012 at 4:48 pm
128 MassCon,
We need to get that to Romney campaign or Restore the Future! This clip would make a pretty damning ad, especially if it was played alongside some of the Newt clips of him praising his favorite President, FDR.
January 26th, 2012 at 4:59 pm
135
Spread the video around. If it circulates enough, the Romney folks will pick up on it.
January 26th, 2012 at 5:21 pm
Newt! Plumbing the depths so you don’t have to.
Newt! Because I use the common denominator as my limbo stick.
January 26th, 2012 at 5:24 pm
Is Newt running for POTUS or is he applying to be the court jester?
January 26th, 2012 at 5:55 pm
Newt declares: “Romney is just not
in touchgroping the commonmanwoman”January 26th, 2012 at 5:57 pm
“Avoid that inferiority complext–Vote Newt!”
January 26th, 2012 at 6:30 pm
Shackin’ up with your mistress for six years while married to your second wife, with whom (among others) you apparently cheated on your first wife is more normal that Mitt Romney. Impressive.
That’s quite the revealing justification from a fella who says he’s a changed man having successfully repented for his sins. O, to have a confessional.
Roman Catholics. The only folks with a moral reset button.
*goad*
January 26th, 2012 at 6:48 pm
#141 You know Catholics aren’t the _only_ ones to have private confession and absolution. Lutherans do. I think some Anglicans, Orthodox and Syriacs do.
I think it’s mostly American Evangelicals who’ve totally abandoned that element of Christianity.
If God had to leave Heaven and inhabit the realm of men and die on the cross, I would hope that’s sufficiently extreme to earn us a “moral reset button” (known as absolution) when we confess our sins. If not that’s an awful lot of God’s work for nothing.
January 26th, 2012 at 8:13 pm
141 and 142,
Confession is one thing. I get pretty uncomfortable when people use religious confession as a vehicle to absolve themselves from civil or criminal guilt (I’m thinking Huckabee). I don’t even think religious leaders are in a position to proclaim divine forgiveness upon a person, but can only proclaim worthiness to commune and participate in church. Religious leaders too often arrogate for themselves the title of mouthpeice of God in proclaiming forgiveness of sin.
So, since I’m not a Catholic, and the issue I’ll be voting on isn’t Newt’s worthiness to receive communion–the fact that he has sought forgiveness from a priest is irrelevant. It would be irrelevant if he were a Mormon who was cleared as worthy after sinning. I am a moral free agent and able to decide a person’s fitness for duty as President–including my assessment of the heart and motives of the person.
January 27th, 2012 at 7:18 pm
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