Gingrich was right to feel as he does, and because he is who he is, he knew how to take it to John King, who embarassingly tried to weasel out of it. I might temper that a bit if ever, just once, if ever Barack Obama were asked a piercing question about the myriad sordid and troubling details of his past:
And just as Speaker Gingrich surged into contention here in South Carolina, a direct fresh character attack on the Speaker.
And Mr. Speaker, I want to start with that this evening.
As you know, your ex-wife gave an interview to ABC News and another interview with “The Washington Post.” And this story has now gone viral on the Internet.
In it, she says that you came to her in 1999, at a time when you were having an affair. She says you asked her, sir, to enter into an open marriage.
Would you like to take some time to respond to that?
GINGRICH:Â No, but I will.
(APPLAUSE)
GINGRICH: I think the destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the news media makes it harder to govern this country, harder to attract decent people to run for public office. And I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that.
(APPLAUSE)
KING:Â Is that all you want to say, sir?
GINGRICH:Â Let me finish.
KING:Â Please.
GINGRICH: Every person in here knows personal pain. Every person in here has had someone close to them go through painful things. To take an ex-wife and make it two days before the primary a significant question for a presidential campaign is as close to despicable as anything I can imagine. Thanks to Fox News.
I live-blogged tonight’s debate. If interested, read my notes here.
Newt Gingrich Takes it to John King in CNN South Carolina Debate (video)
Linked by Grumpy Elder – thanks!
Posted by Maggie @ Maggie’s Notebook
That was a beautiful 3 minutes. I loved the look on King’s face. He looked like he just soiled his undies…
Adrienne recently posted..Newt started the night off right…
See?
No more alarmist posts re. Newt please lol
Reaganite Republican recently posted..Charleston GOP Debate Highlights
RR, when did I write an alarmist post about Newt?
Maggie recently posted..Newt Gingrich John King: Gingrich Slams King for Opening Question About Ex-Wife Video
[...] Newt Gingrich John King: Gingrich Slams King for Opening Question About Ex-Wife Video [...]
CNN just made themselves look really bad. Their little chat amongst themselves after the debate kind of proved that….talk about making excuses for that question.
CNN can’t understand why it’s losing money. It isn’t ideology… it’s competence. Effete elitism. Shameless arrogance. The likes of John King.
One good thing about this segment as the cork-popper: It humbled King into behaving with neutral respect for the balance of the show. He was surprisingly free of condescension.
Newt delivered on push-back started by Fred Thompson years ago. That standing ovation was years of audience push-back, too. It felt great!
Cheers Maggie.
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