The American Mind

When I was college student in 1994 Newt mesmerized me like no other politician every has (was too young to appreciate Reagan in office). He talked about big ideas and the political steps he thought it would take to advance them. He was/is an egghead with pretty good political savvy. Name the last politician who had a reading list?

Newt’s intellect and love of ideas is also a weakness. Sometimes it feels like he treats politics as an intellectual game. He can get rather technocratic much like Al Gore.

Also, Newt can sometimes be out in left (right?) field.

But Gingrich’s biggest problem is his personal behavior. News is out that while he was leading the charge for President Bill Clinton’s impeachment he was having an extra-marital affair. Newt can try to parse and explain why he wasn’t a hypocrite, but it will fail.

“The president of the United States got in trouble for committing a felony in front of a sitting federal judge,” the former Georgia congressman said of Clinton’s 1998 House impeachment on perjury and obstruction of justice charges. “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.”

It’s not because Newt can’t offer a credible explanation, but because he has a track record of relationships with women that would make a moderate conservative cringe:

Gingrich, who frequently campaigned on family values issues, divorced his second wife, Marianne, in 2000 after his attorneys acknowledged Gingrich’s relationship with his current wife, Callista Bisek, a former congressional aide more than 20 years younger than he is.

His first marriage, to his former high school geometry teacher, Jackie Battley, ended in divorce in 1981. Although Gingrich has said he doesn’t remember it, Battley has said Gingrich discussed divorce terms with her while she was recuperating in the hospital from cancer surgery.

Gingrich married Marianne months after the divorce.

If Rudy Giuliani’s three marriages are damaging to his Presidential aspirations Newt’s past is just as damaging. Giuliani’s safer because he’s never moralized about it.

The talk of Gingrich joining the 2008 Presidential race stems from conservatives desire for a bold leader speaking for economic freedom, limited government, and a strong national defense. President Bush has fought the war and cut taxes but has failed to push for limited government. As for his speaking skills, they are–err–lacking. The big three, McCain, Romney, and Giuliani are trying to be the leader who will inspire conservatives, but they haven’t captured their adoration. With 10 months before the first primaries there’s plenty of time. Gingrich’s ghost floats above, but this news will remind activists why it’s probably best if he just float away.

“Gingrich Had Affair During Clinton Probe”