Newt's Affair: Role Reversal and the Sanctimony Two-Step

So Newt was having an extramarital affair even as he led the effort to impeach President Clinton. What if Newt had been asked under oath about his affair? Is there any doubt that he would have LIED HIS ASS OFF?

Newt had an affair. While leading the effort to impeach Bill Clinton. Really, even for a Republican, even for Newt, this represents the Olympian heights of hypocrisy. Is there even a doubt that, had the shoe been on the other foot and had Gingrich been asked under oath about his affair, HE WOULD HAVE LIED HIS ASS OFF?

But now the fun really starts. Now we can watch the entire Conservative community try to rationalize this.

Newt himself does a little two-step: I was bad, yes, but I was doing Good Work. Step one:

"There are times that I have fallen short of my own standards. There's certainly times when I've fallen short of God's standards."

Okay, so you've fallen short, gotcha. We've all done that. Now then, step two:

"I drew a line in my mind that said, 'Even though I run the risk of being deeply embarrassed, and even though at a purely personal level I am not rendering judgment on another human being, as a leader of the government trying to uphold the rule of law, I have no choice except to move forward and say that you cannot accept ... perjury in your highest officials."

Ah, there we go! The Newt Gingrich Sanctimony Two-Step. Yes, I had shortcomings. But hey, I had to do it! In fact, it was a courageous decision to expose myself to personal embarrassment! I had no choice! I had to uphold the rule of law!

How will Conservatives react?

I expect James Dobson and his ilk will probably pronounce Newt's affair to be a "lapse for which he is deeply remorseful," and maybe add that "it's something Newt will have to make right with God, but that's between Newt and God." Something like that. It’s between Newt and God. Move along now, there’s nothing to see here!

Other observers will probably admire in breathless tones Newt's courage in making this forthright admission, in exposing himself to the slings and arrows of the liberal media. My, how brave you are!

Maybe Giuliani will announce that, although he was previously in favor of affairs, he is now opposed to them. My, how electable you are!

•  Loved the part

  about the former girl friend who said Newt preferred the bj because he could then say he "never slept with" the woman.

  Hmmmm.

  by murphy on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 10:35:06 AM PDT

•  Cripes, they're back to

  "It's not the sex, it's the lying!" (re: Clinton)

  by RobLewis on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 10:38:03 AM PDT

•  I wonder how religious Newt the technocrat

  really is. Is he a regular churchgoer?

  Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if deep down he's an atheist. Let's ask him under oath.

  'Course, we all know atheists don't give a shit about oaths.

  by RobLewis on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 10:40:06 AM PDT

•  Ummm

  Gingrich Says Goodbye to '08 Hopes  Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 06:20:34 PM PST

  Newt "Born Again?" Falwell Swoons   Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 07:11:33 PM PST

  The Political Salvation of Newt Gingrich   Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 08:25:09 PM PST

  Gingrich Will Run    Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 06:38:12 AM PST

  Frameshop: Confess Infidelity, Win Votes   Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 08:57:45 AM PST

  Pope Newt's Flaming Hypocrisy  Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 09:02:51 AM PST

  Newt's Affair: Role Reversal and the Sanctimony Two Step   Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 10:35:22 AM PST

  at what point does this become about the diarist, not Newt?  And how many other diaries die, scrolled off the front, so people can put their own spin on the same issue on top?  

  Nothing personal, but repeat if you write a repeat diary, particularly a 5th, 6th, or 7th diary, you might as well find people who worked hard on another issue and spit on them.

  by dhonig on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 10:40:28 AM PDT

  •  What about the 1-diary-a-day limit?

    Do some privileged people escape this limit?

    by RobLewis on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 10:42:27 AM PDT

    •  Not

      to my knowledge.  Why?

      by dhonig on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 10:59:47 AM PDT

•  Goody Two Shoes

  Yes, but he participated in the political lynching for all the right reasons.  What a prick.  
  Will he select Henry Hyde to run as his VP?

  by AllanTBG on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 10:47:42 AM PDT

•  Really a problem?

  I mean, you're not a real Republican unless you've had a string of extra-marital affairs and at least one trophy wife...

  by Minerva on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 10:54:14 AM PDT

  •  Well said...nt

    by ohcanada on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 11:02:34 AM PDT

•  Magical Religion

  Hypocracy? Or a religion that lets you philander all week and "poof" you are changed on Sunday morning, only to return to your sweetie for more "afternoon delight?" I asked a friend how "Flip Flop MItt" could even hope to attract a crowd from the religious right, given his past stands on gays, abortion, etc. My answer? He's been "born again" and seen the light. Of course, that didn't excuse Kerry from changing his vote when they changed the bill.

  Today he says it wasn't about Clinton's "crime," it was about perjury...at the same time saying Libby should be pardoned because it wasn't about the perjury, it was about the crime.

  Isn't this the guy who almost stopped government because he didn't like how he exited a plane? Let him get nominated; video lives!

  by MrMichaelMT on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 11:00:34 AM PDT

•  The Dreaded Trouser Newt

  Amen brother.  This guy is dancing something fierce.  

  If the R's had anyone in the race that looked like a winner this guy would still be a wall flower, but he thinks in this field, he thinks he might be a potential nominee.  And like March Madness, you have to get in before you talk about whether or not you can win.  And once the tourney/campaign starts, anything can happen.

  Blatant Diary Whoring - My Diary on the Newt Affair

  by M A P on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 11:12:04 AM PDT

•  Someone had the goods on him

  no doubt.  He thought he'd get it out first -- after all, if he's running.  Also, he will be admired by the base for his honesty.  What a world!

  by xanthe on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 11:26:13 AM PDT

•  To me the big news was

  that Newt has "standards"!  Really, who knew?

  by oscarsmom on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 11:35:24 AM PDT

  •  Also,

    "line in the sand" my a$$!!  So Clinton lied about his BJ while being investigated tirelessly by Inspector Javert, and Newt's been lying about his for the past 6 years.  I don't want to hear anything about "under oath" either, Newtie.  GMAFB!  Tell it to Jesus!

    by oscarsmom on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 11:38:14 AM PDT

•  Perjury

  How does Newt feel about Libby?  Newt should be a Catholic, you can just confess and all is forgiven.  I guess that is how Foley and the pedophile priests could live with themselves.

  by chigh on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 12:06:42 PM PDT

•  not JUST an affair

  but an affair with a congressional aide. Newt Gingrich had an affair with his subordinate. It is almost astounding how closely this man's behavior parallels with Clinton. I personally will welcome him into the 2008 presidential run just so he can take a pounding for his hypocrisy.

  by cwaltz on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 12:20:40 PM PDT

•  Gingrich bigamy public back then; reaction muted.

  Doesn't that say a whole lot about the dark side of the media as early as that part of the Clinton era? It was a foreshadowing of the now-overt corporate dominance and manipulation of the media, centralized government, etc, since NeoCon principal Gingrich was/is a mouthpiece for the toxic machinations his money masters wish him to push into the public sphere.

  Previously, Newtron ended his first marriage to his then desperately sick wife. A distinguished human being, indeed. Living proof that the people who hate everything good in life (democracy, faithful partnership, community, morality, dignity, sovereign states, humanity, compassion--I could go on) and campaign actively to destroy it, operate from an internal surplus of self-hatred and self-loathing. How else to explain his scorched earth approach toward everything life affirming? How very sad.

  Don't buy this impression of conservatism's self-anointed purest apostle? Then read these reviews of this interesting creature:

  1. There's this about the sanctimonious saint Newt, who may in fact be credited with perfecting the hypocrite-as-victim-poser strategy so widely used by the likes of Limbaugh, Hannity, etc

  2. Here's Newt the bomb-thrower's boomerangingboomeranging comeuppance comeuppance in action. Anyone need to guess as to the pedigree of Ann Coulter's idiotic venomous style?

  3. Finally, "Newt the Iconic Ironic": victim of his own victimization of others, as he suffers editorial blowback from those incensed at his crappy moral fiber.

  by Enough Talk Lets Get Busy on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 12:43:07 PM PDT

•  It is always Clinton's fault

  I'm sure Newt will say he was just doing research into Clinton's mentality.

  After all, to the wacko right, everything is Clinton's fault

  by Maaarrrk on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 06:06:26 PM PDT