Question of the week: “Are Newt Gingrich’s multiple affairs and failed marriages relevant issues in the GOP presidential primary?”
Karen Anderson: “Yes. They will be a continued distraction if he is president. His character was at a low point when he pointed his finger at Bill Clinton while engaging in an affair himself. A hypocrite. A man not to be trusted. Ditched two wives when they both had serious diseases. A rabble-rouser, not a leader. And too old.”
Dave Appling: “A candidate’s sex life, in itself, has little relevance. But the reported callousness and cruelty of Gingrich’s serial wife-dumping is very relevant, because it reveals his character and his cavalier attitude toward commitment and responsibility. For Newt, it’s all about Newt. Brilliant but erratic and self-centered, he has no business in the Oval Office.”
Bert Berson: “Yes. In the sense that Gingrich’s attitude toward women is fair game. Whatever we believe, our love of soap operas is not going away anytime soon. Whether we like it or not it will be out there.
Chris Bryant: “Yes, as they clearly demonstrate his narcissistic characteristics and his repeated ethical failures.”
David Cohen: “Yes, they are legitimate questions for Mr. Gingrich. It goes to his character and as he suggested with President Clinton, character does count in the occupant of the Oval Office.”
Dennis Kennedy: “Yes. It’s a question of trust.”
Julian Mancias: “No. But they probably will be.”
Henry Miller: “Relevant, yes. Disqualifiers, no. Many candidates, presidents, other world leaders and scores of powerful men have histories of dalliances. But that did not disqualifying them necessarily from being great leaders. However, Gingrich’s ethics violations, those are very relevant – even deal breakers.’
Jeff Nunes: “Are they relevant issues? No. Should they be? Probably. But, we can’t as a nation allow a sitting adulterous president to receive sexual favors from an intern in the Oval Office, and dismiss it as OK because he just lied to us about sex, and then somehow have another candidate’s failed marriages and affairs, that are more than 20 years old be a serious relevant issue. It’s sad, but we gave up that high ground years ago.”
Lisa Pampuch: “Yes, because Gingrich’s actions make them relevant. Gingrich advances the theory that discrimination against homosexuals is necessary to ‘protect marriage,’ while his own behavior led to the destruction of actual marriages. He led the charge to prosecute President Bill Clinton for his extramarital affair while conducting one of his own. Moreover, Gingrich’s behavior reveals levels of hypocrisy, intellectual dishonesty and narcissism that are dangerous in a Commander in Chief and thus are relevant concerns for intelligent voters.”
Jeff Smith: “Yes they are. Just as Clinton couldn’t be trusted I don’t trust Newt for the same reasons. On the other hand, with Romney there is no question about his character, his marital fidelity, or his ability to lead and create jobs. The GOP needs to get their act together. It seems they are willing to overlook a serial cheating adulterer who wants an open marriage, but can’t get over the fact that Romney is a Mormon who has made a lot of money honestly. If they make the mistake of electing Newt they’re going to get another McCain, lose again, and thus suffer four more years of Obama – which would be utterly disastrous for the economy and the future of America.”
