Politics

What Marianne Gingrich and Al Green Teach Us About the Man Who Could Be President What Marianne Gingrich and Al Green Teach Us About the Man Who Could Be President

Last night’s 179th GOP debate of the season taught us so much, again, about the GOP candidates: socialism for the military, no government at all for anyone else, protect zygotes, execute humans, “I swear I never once provided a single person with healthcare”/ “Yes you did!”/ “Did not!”/ “Did too!,” etc. But the biggest revelations of last night did not occur at the debates. Thursday, I blogged about Marianne Gingrich, one of Newt’s several exes, and her tell-a-little interview (and how inconceivable sex with Newt Gingrich was to me). That was based on a mere preview of Marianne’s interview that ABC had released. But after the debate, ABC ran the entire at-least-a-couple-of-minutes-long interview. Here’s what stood out: • Gingrich left his first wife after she got cancer and left Marianne after she got MS. The take-away is that at least Newt is consistent and that Callista better take her multi-vitamins, though she does have her age on her side. • It was while he was cheating on his wife that Newt crucified Clinton for his infidelity and stated that there was “no administration with less moral authority than the Clinton-Gore administration.” • Marianne Gingrich knows about only “some of” the skeletons Newt keeps in his closet since, presumably, he has more skeletons than could fit in one closet or one person’s mind. And, of course, Newt has continued collecting skeletons since leaving his wife, so she’s in the dark on those. So, last night, we learned, or relearned, that Newt Gingrich is seriously one of the most disgusting, cheating, hurtful, wife-hopping people in the world. We also learned something about President Obama that puts him on the other end of the disgusting/adorable spectrum. And that is that he can sing! Which he did, at a fundraiser at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. Perhaps Newt’s unfaithfulness (and the fact that Al Green was at the fundraiser) was what made Obama sing a few (too few) bars from Green’s classic, “Let’s Stay Together” and, specifically, the words “I’m so in love with you.” I pity the wives of Gingrich, but I envy Michelle Obama. See the video and look out for the president’s Kermit the Frog moves. It should convince the “there’s no difference between a Republican and a Democrat” crowd that, when it comes to Gingrich and Obama, there’s a huge difference, at least on a personal level. And, of course, as we all know, the personal is political. Download Video as MP4  

Jan 20, 2012 / Blog / Katie Halper

Eleven Shocking Facts About Campaign Finance Eleven Shocking Facts About Campaign Finance

Citizens United exacerbated the problem of money in politics to an extent that few actually comprehend.

Jan 20, 2012 / Blog / George Zornick

Can Gingrich’s Visceral Appeal Outweigh His History?

Can Gingrich’s Visceral Appeal Outweigh His History? Can Gingrich’s Visceral Appeal Outweigh His History?

Newt Gingrich appeals to South Carolina Republicans like no other candidate. But can he overcome his personal history and his incompetent ground game?

Jan 20, 2012 / Blog / Ben Adler

Rick Perry’s Greatest Hits: He’s Gone But Not Forgotten Rick Perry’s Greatest Hits: He’s Gone But Not Forgotten

Here are some of his Perryisms we'll miss. 

Jan 20, 2012 / Blog / Katie Halper

This Week in Poverty: An American Commitment to Children? This Week in Poverty: An American Commitment to Children?

Eighty-eight percent of voters say that a presidential candidate’s position on equal opportunity for children of all races is important in determining their vote. But do ou...

Jan 20, 2012 / Blog / Greg Kaufmann

Forget Romney, Gingrich Is Running Against ‘Liberal Media’—and It Might Work

Forget Romney, Gingrich Is Running Against ‘Liberal Media’—and It Might Work Forget Romney, Gingrich Is Running Against ‘Liberal Media’—and It Might Work

Speaker Gingrich condemned Bill Clinton’s hijinks; at last night's debate, candidate Gingrich preached moral values. He’s a hypocrite. But hyprocisy sells.

Jan 20, 2012 / Blog / John Nichols

So Long, It’s Been Bad to Know Ya… So Long, It’s Been Bad to Know Ya…

 Eric asks how about the real relevancy of the Tea Party and Reed examines the crazy 27 percent.

Jan 19, 2012 / Blog / Eric Alterman

Food Stamp Fight Looms Food Stamp Fight Looms

Not for nothing is Newt going after the “food stamp president.” There’s a battle shaping up, but who will fight it?

Jan 19, 2012 / Blog / Laura Flanders

John Nichols: America’s ‘People Power Moment’ John Nichols: America’s ‘People Power Moment’

Although the media do not know how to cover protest movements well, they do know how to cover elections. This will serve the Wisconsin recall effort well. 

Jan 19, 2012 / Nation in the News / Press Room

Shocking Revelation: It Was Newt, Not His Wife, Who Wanted to Have an Open Relationship! Shocking Revelation: It Was Newt, Not His Wife, Who Wanted to Have an Open Relationship!

Had I been married, to Newt, I would have been more than happy to let other women have him.

Jan 19, 2012 / Blog / Katie Halper

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