Thousands of South Carolinians stood to their feet to applaud Newt Gingrich’s “brave” rebuke of CNN anchor John King, who started the debate by using allegations on past affairs from Newt’s second wife.
The crafty, former speaker of the House cried foul and proceeded to paint the image that he was the victim of liberal media attacks. While the timing of the ABC interview was nothing short of sketchy, it does not take away the former speaker’s responsibility to own up to his mistakes. Rather than addressing the question with humility, Mr. Gingrich decided to blast the liberal media.
This strategy paid off. Debate attendees and viewers across South Carolina ate it up. There is no denying that former Speaker Gingrich is an excellent orator–and more importantly–a debater. He was able to successfully fluster the former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney on several occasions. These moments of weakness for Gov. Romney, combined with Newt’s harsh rebuttal of liberal media bias, flipped public opinion in favor of the former speaker.
I’ve always hoped that Republicans wouldn’t be as fickle as Democrats in politics. Or hypocritical. Yet when push came to shove, the GOP caved in like I hoped they wouldn’t. The South Carolina Republicans proved that they care less about the morals they claim, and more about the superficial characteristics of a candidate.
Isn’t this what Democrats did in the ’90s with President Clinton? Overlook Mr. Clinton’s obvious character flaws because of his superficial qualities? Over a decade later, evangelicals who yelled and screamed for President Clinton to be impeached for his infidelity, are now supporting the guy who led the crusade against Pres. Clinton while simultaneously having multiple affairs of his own.
This is certainly more than irony. It is hypocrisy to the ultimate degree. I absolutely believe in forgiveness, and giving people second chances. What I don’t believe in are double standards.
If character counts for President Clinton in the 1990s, it most certainly should count for Newt Gingrich in 2012. The South Carolina Republicans effectively hurt the GOP’s chances in the 2012 general election, whether in the short term or in long term, by the way they voted on Saturday.
Speaker Gingrich is a brilliant man, well-versed in political savvy. But, evangelicals, is it really that hard to see that Newt Gingrich is putting on a performance? The guy lived in Washington for decades and knows how to manipulate the system. Enter ethics charges here.
While Newt Gingrich is certainly the most articulate on the debate stage, he certainly lacks what I thought most evangelicals thought was the most essential trait–character. Obviously times have changed in American politics, but things continue to remain disgusting.
Posted on January 22, 2012
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