Gingrich waves magic wand, states personal life is not an issue for Presidential candidates LINK

[Blackhatjack]

http://www.rawstory.com/showarticle.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newschannel5.com%2FGlobal%2Fstory.asp%3FS%3D6258312

I guess if you have been married three times, waited until your wife was recovering from cancer surgery in the hospital to serve her with divorce papers, married a much younger office aid, and engaged in an extra-marital affair while making speeches onthe floor condemning Bill Clinton and leading the effort to impeach him for doing the same thing -- then obviously the 'personal life' of this candidate cannot be an issue in his run for the Presidency.

Otherwise, the strict religious fundamentalists which he appeals to for support might have some difficulty resolving his actions with his deeds.

On the hypocrisy scale Gingrich rates an almost perfect 10.

And if you thought the religious fundamentalists like Dobson, Falwell and Perkins would point out these problems to their followers, you would be right. They are supporting Gingrich, and nary a word about his 'accountability' is heard from any of them.

[Bluebear]

1. I'd rather not picture his "magic wand".

I think it's been overused.

[sellitman]

2. You are a tough act to follow

Great reply!

[Vinca]

4. ROFLMAO - coffee on screen. nt

[seabeyond]

3. what i have found consistantly with the fundamentalist in this area.

they spread hate in so many areas, yet when i point out the hypocrisy or unchristian behavior of fellow christian i get the pat and consistant answer "we are all sinners". they are not gracious enough to share that attitude with anyone but there own, excusing the very behavior they strongly judge others that are not part of their exclusive club

[zanne]

5. I used to think the Religious Right was at least sincere...

Insane, but sincere. Now I know that they're not even that. All they're doing is hurting their religion. They give Christianity a bad name.

[Ian David]

6. No New Axes! n/t

[SoCalDem]

7. He's a wizard, I tell ya.. Burn him!!

:)

[Solly Mack]

8. It's the "we're forgiven" bullshit portion of their foundational self-delusion

If you're a Christian and getting your feathers ruffled at that comment - breathe

the religious right practices a self-comforting, self-righteous, sanctimonious thinking that says it doesn't matter what they do because God forgives them - so their actions don't count.

Now, what this thinking includes is that other people, even those who call themselves Christians, aren't truly saved or real Christians , so their actions matter. They aren't forgiven because they aren't "real" or "true" Christians.(read - they aren't "our kind" of Christian and if they are the only true Christians, everyone else has to be lying)

This justification allows them to boast that their brand of Christianity, which is nothing more than a method of control through authoritarian means, is the only true way to be a Christian

If you goal is to control people, then the marriage of that brand of Christianity with right wing authoritarian political ideology is only natural (if such can be called natural)

the issue of such a marriage gives us Newt, Dobson, Falwell, Perkins...Bush.
and a powerhouse operation that feeds one into the other to gain the greatest amount of control and money.

[izzie]

9. It goes back to my thoughts on how partners think of it.

If an open marriage is what you both want fine, but with endless divorces I would say both these parties did not understand the others rules on it. That to me is the problem. Some one did not live up to the deal and they are the ones you have to worry about.

[Blackhatjack]

10. Bush and Gingrich both use 'selective amnesia' to slip the bonds of accountability...

But in this case, the facts on Gingrich are already out there and a part of the public record, so it won't work this time.

So the next best strategy is to say I already admitted it, asked for forgiveness, and now because I am forgiven I don't have to discuss it any further. From a personal point of view, I have no problem with that.

From the point of view that if this person is elected he will be a public servant, and have responsibilities far beyond those held by individuals not in public office, it is not sufficient evidence of rehabilitation and insurance against similar conduct in the future.

The hubris of Gingrich is matched by his ego.

I don't like to kick people where they are down for their personal indiscretions, but Gingrich is not required to run for office --and because he has made the choice to run, this is definitely germane to any evaluation of his character and fitness for that office.

[TlalocW]

11. It's because he's found Jaaaaay-susssss!

Of course, if Clinton ever did that, they would call it a stunt because while every "good christian" knows that no one gets to God but through Jesus, no one gets to Jesus except through Dobson, Falwell, Robertson, etc.

TlalocW