Something about Newt Gingrich's appearances to promote his candidacy for America's executive office gave me an uneasiness which I could not define. Remembering him as the Speaker of the House who assailed Bill Clinton's affair, some of the memory of that time returned. Gingrich's own history included an affair with his Congressional aide, a hypocrisy that resulted in his own scandal and resignation.
That story can still be re-created through news articles of that time. Common knowledge will affirm the fact that not only was the Speaker involved in an affair, but that he had previously been divorced, and his own trail of failed promises [supposing he made wedding vows] would be viewed with scorn by fundamentalist Christians who have strong values about marriage and prohibitions about divorce and re-marriage.
While recollection of that knowledge of Newt's relationships with females in his life, and his apparent disregard for Christian morality, gave me an answer to my uneasiness, it was the news about he and his current wife, Callista, which provided the answer.
Last night (Thursday, May 12th) at Villanova University, the New York Times published an article about the event which included, "As he prepares for a Republican presidential primary run — he said Monday that he would formally declare his intentions on Wednesday — Mr. Gingrich is presenting himself as a family man who has embraced Catholicism and found God, with his wife as a kind of character witness. Depending on one’s point of view, she is a reminder of his complicated past, or his secret political weapon." Not only was Newt attempting to redeem his own character faults, he and his third wife, Callista, were signing books and DVD covers, presenting a screening of the couple's movie about Pope John Paul II at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast!
It was the knowledge of Newt's own hypocrisy, now in overt redemption by their association with The Roman Catholic Church and its historical dogma, that gave me reason to comprehend my uneasiness. Here they were, the Candidates for Redemption, seeking absolution from the Church, while presenting themselves and Candidates for the Presidency of The United States of America. This too is hypocrisy!
How will the American voting public view this man as he attempts to not only disgree with his political opponents, but dismiss and demean them by referring to them as 'liberals,' which was his pseudo-patriotic claim during his 'Contract With America'
House campaign? Would his behavior as a wife cheater and marriage relationship destroyer not put him in a moral category as dark as the one he hoped would result in the impeachment of Bill Clinton? What about his own eventual resignation from Congress?
When I read about the family life of his third wife, it is apparent that her conservative family values are a necessary part of his redemption, but isn't it the Roman Catholic Church that has declared he and his wife adulterers, because of his acts? Or is this a 'Demons-to-Angels' ritual exorcism? This religious charade for political office disturbs me both because of Newt's failed character and the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast event in which they were allowed to promote their versions of dogma and cannon which they obviously believe can be re-written for them!
In this episode in the life the Republican hypocrite Newt, I now see Callista Gingrich as a 21st Century Stepford Wife, someone who has been programmed to be submissive for the will of her husband and their 'elite society.' I can remember that it was Newt who always projected his hatred of the Democratic Party as being represented by 'the elite,' and so, for me, the hypocrisy of Newt is not only his own corrupt morality, but his blame-shifting and condemnation of others, that is truly disturbing.
I doubt his sincerity. I doubt their sincerity. This is a political Stepford Couple.
In support of my assertion, here is an overview of the fictional story:
The premise involves the married men of the fictional town of Stepford, Connecticut, and their fawning, submissive, impossibly beautiful wives. The protagonist is Joanna Eberhart, a talented photographer newly arrived from New York City with her husband and children, eager to start a new life. As time goes on, she becomes increasingly disturbed by the zombie-like Stepford wives, especially when she sees her once independent-minded friends — fellow new arrivals to Stepford — turn into mindless, docile housewives overnight. Her husband, who seems to be spending more and more time at the local men's club, mocks her fears.
Updated by Spirit Compass at Fri May 13, 2011 at 03:24 PM PDT
The last choice in my poll should read, "Do not merit public redemption." I was not able to edit that choice.