Gingrich campaign reacts to ex-wife's TV interview

By: Sarah Huisenga
Topics: Campaign 2012

Republican presidential candidate, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich greets supporters following a campaign town hall meeting at the Art Trail Gallery, Jan. 17, 2012, in Florence, S.C.

(Credit: AP Photo/David Goldman)

Newt Gingrich's campaign on Wednesday released a letter from his daughters to ABC News executives seeking to blunt the perceived damage from an interview the network reportedly plans to air with the former House speaker's ex-wife.

The letter came after news outlets reported that ABC was debating whether to air the interview with Marianne Gingrich, who was married to Gingrich for 18 years. After their divorce, Gingrich married his third wife, Callista, with whom he has acknowledged having an affair while he was married.

"ABC News or other campaigns may want to talk about the past, just days before an important primary election," said the letter from Kathy Lubbers and Jackie Cushman, his two daughters from his first marriage.

Special Section: Campaign 2012

But the two women said their father was more interested in discussing creating jobs, lowering taxes and defeating President Obama. "We are confident this is the conversation the people of South Carolina are interested in having," they said.

An ABC News spokesman confirmed Wednesday night to The New York Times that "Nightline" will broadcast the interview at 11:35 p.m. EST on Thursday. Excerpts will be released earlier in the day, before a CNN-sponsored Republican debate that evening.

Marianne Gingrich, in 1995

(Credit: AP Photo)

Marianne Gingrich gave an interview to Esquire magazine in 2010 in which she contended that he saw no connection between his words and his actions when they were together.

She quoted him as telling her: "It doesn't matter what I do. People need to hear what I have to say. There's no one else who can say what I can say. It doesn't matter what I live."

Sarah Huisenga
Sarah Huisenga is covering the Mitt Romney campaign for CBS News and National Journal.
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by RighteousOffender January 19, 2012 4:35 PM EST: Looks like it's not going to happen, but I was so hoping Newt would win the Republican nomination. Among the current clown car of candidates, he really is the most entertaining.; Reply to this comment


by Jaylah54 January 19, 2012 1:48 PM EST: Let's see. Divorcing two wives when the both are diagnosed with health problems, marrying a plastic, bubble-headed bleach blond with helmet-hair, and admitting that he's already had an affair while married to his third wife isn't slimy enough, right?

Now he needs to draw his CHILDREN in to attempt to justify his can't-keep-it-in-the-pants problem.; Reply to this comment

by thomasmc1957 January 19, 2012 1:31 PM EST

This must be that "sanctity of marriage" the sanctimonious Newt is always going on and on about.

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by Jaylah54 January 19, 2012 1:50 PM EST: However it seems that even his third marriage isn't sacred to him, since he's publicly admitted to having yet another affair with his third wife.


by addict42 January 19, 2012 11:30 AM EST: It seems as if for conservative Christians as long as Republican comes before the name that's who they'd vote for regardless. Republican Jack the Ripper wins South Carolina.; Reply to this comment

by addict42 January 19, 2012 11:17 AM EST

Wasn't Gingrich leading the charges against Clinton's moral failings the entire time he was having an affair? This is what's wrong with the GOP, they are the ones that lie, cheat, steal, and murder by proxy but condemn these actions and persecute the Dems for doing it with such gusto that it takes on an aire of insanity.

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by chevyhotrod January 19, 2012 11:31 AM EST: "they are the ones that lie, cheat, steal, and murder'

Now educate yourselve on how President Obama and his wife Michelle bought their home in Chicago and who helped them buy it?

Just the tip of an iceburg....

by chevyhotrod January 19, 2012 11:10 AM EST

Tom Brokaw, There's A Lot About Obama We Don't Know
Posted on November 1, 2008

Ever since Barack Obama clinched the Democratic nomination, those of us on the political right have pointed out a few things about this candidate. His lack of experience, his nearly non-existent legislative record, and the the lack of public knowledge about just who the man is and where he is coming from. As has been written here many times, because he is, compared to his opponent John McCain, a relative unknown quantity, taking a look back into the man and his character and his life's work becomes more important than it otherwise would.

So when it comes to Charlie Rose and Tom Brokaw, why is it that they do not know more about Obama? Is it because they live in their own mainstream media cocoon? Is it because they choose not to look into Obama's past out of fear of what they will find? Is it because they accept the Obama campaign's spin that any revelations about him are 'distractions' by those extreme right-wing crazies? Maybe it is some of each?

Those of us on the Right have done the work of the mainstream media. We found out much of what the two men who should know, Tom Brokaw and Charlie Rose, do not know about Barack Obama.

Understand the context here when it comes to the inquisitiveness of the media. Here are two media giants, one who has an audience and one who does not, wondering just who Barack Obama is. They are admitting that they don't know a lot about Barack Obama. Folks, the election is three days from now.

Who would have thought that the American people could possibly elect a President that they don't really know?

Within 24 hours, the world knew all about 'Joe the plumber.' We know about an insubordinate member of Sarah Palin's cabinet called 'troopergate,' and her sister's messy divorce. We know where Sarah Palin's clothes came from and how much they cost. Yet, for the last eight months we still don't really know a lot about Barack Obama? Credit the media for keeping us uninformed.

Below is a clip of Charlie Rose and Tom Brokaw trying to figure out who Obama is. Note that neither of them asks the obvious question. Why?

ROSE: I don't know what Barack Obama's worldview is.

BROKAW: No, I don't, either.

ROSE: I don't know how he really sees where China is.

BROKAW: We don't know a lot about Barack Obama and the universe of his thinking about foreign policy.

ROSE: I don't really know. And do we know anything about the people who are advising him?

BROKAW: Yeah, it's an interesting question.

ROSE: He is principally known through his autobiography and through very aspirational (sic) speeches.

BROKAW: Two of them! I don't know what books he's read.

ROSE: What do we know about the heroes of Barack Obama?

BROKAW: There's a lot about him we don't know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzMas1bVidw

Maybe it is time we start to look into President Obama background and worldview and interview people that he worked with in Chicago and friends in Chicago, including the ones that are sitting in jail today?

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by desertsage1 January 19, 2012 11:21 AM EST: Thank you for your incredibly original contribution. I don't know what this country would do without people like you who can think things through and then present those original ideas.


by chevyhotrod January 19, 2012 11:29 AM EST: Maybe if you would bother to read his TWO books you might know more about him?

"Dreams of my Father"

Now, after ready this book, maybe we should learn what his fathers dreams actually were?

education is key......

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by newz4me January 19, 2012 11:06 AM EST

"After their divorce, Gingrich married his third wife, Callista, with whom he has acknowledged having an affair while he was married." And quit a few in the family values party say, "Heck yeah, I'll vote for this guy." Interesting bottom line.

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by brad100100100 January 20, 2012 2:44 AM EST: Now what I know now with this vendictive hateful and scum of a ex wife I am voting for him


by peachallie January 20, 2012 11:08 PM EST: Plus the $300,000 sanction fir lying about cheating on his taxes; with the last Pubbie President's (AND VP'S) criminal records, only Gingrich can compete.


by chevyhotrod January 19, 2012 11:02 AM EST: December 15th, 2011

Tom Brokaw: "Obama has disappointed a lot of his followers and enthusiastic supporters"

NBC News special correspondent and author Tom Brokaw was a guest on "Piers Morgan Tonight" and talked about President Barack Obama and his place in history. "President Obama has disappointed a lot of his followers and enthusiastic supporters," Brokaw told Piers Morgan. "It was a steep learning curve, as it is for almost every president."

Brokaw talked about one of the "big issues" of Obama supporters he's talked to. "He doesn't have a passion for leadership and a kind of bold idea of where he wants to take the country," said Brokaw.

Nothing much has changed has it Mr. Brokaw?; Reply to this comment


by chevyhotrod January 19, 2012 11:00 AM EST: Tom Brokaw and Charlie Rose talk about Senator Obama 3 days before the 2008 election.

ROSE: I don't know what Barack Obama's worldview is.

BROKAW: No, I don't, either.

ROSE: I don't know how he really sees where China is.

BROKAW: We don't know a lot about Barack Obama and the universe of his thinking about foreign policy.

ROSE: I don't really know. And do we know anything about the people who are advising him?

BROKAW: Yeah, it's an interesting question.

ROSE: He is principally known through his autobiography and through very aspirational speeches.

BROKAW: Two of them! I don't know what books he's read.

ROSE: What do we know about the heroes of Barack Obama?

BROKAW: There's a lot about him we don't know.

Thank you main stream media for keeping the "We the People" so so informed....; Reply to this comment

by chevyhotrod January 19, 2012 10:53 AM EST

by FleetNavalAviator January 19, 2012 9:40 AM EST
I agree Molly. However, we are not running for office and voters are entitled to the entire picture of a candidate before voting for him/her.

Cound not agree more.....

Nov 1, 2008, 3 days before President Obama election.

Tom Brokaw and Charlie Rose being ridiculous together: This election is serious and these two geniuses sit around and talk about how little they actually know about Barack Obama just days before the the polls close. They also talk about how people shouldn't trust the media (which is them) and how lazy and pathetic the media is when it comes to covering important subjects.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzMas1bVidw

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