CPAC: Callista Gingrich makes rare speaking appearance

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

On the campaign trail, Callista Gingrich can regularly seen standing near her husband Newt -- but unlike the other candidates' spouses, she rarely says a word. That changed Friday at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), when Callista introduced her husband as a "supportive" family man before a ballroom packed with conservative activists.

Callista subtly addressed the criticism the thrice-married Gingrich has faced over his past infidelity, telling the crowd that her husband is "committed" to his family and that they have had "some great family moments over the last several months."

Callista's silence on the trail has drawn the interest political of observers. When asked before the Iowa caucuses if voters would get to hear from Callista, Newt Gingrich said, "We're waiting for R.C. to unleash her and he's being very measured and paced." R.C. Hammond is in charge of Gingrich's communications strategy.

In her three-minute introduction Friday, Callista Gingrich portrayed her husband as an average man who loves to learn. She said she could reveal two personal interests of the Republican presidential candidate "because I know Newt better than most": Golf and books.

Newt Gingrich is a golfer who "gets in and out of more sand traps than anyone I have ever seen," Callista said jokingly. The joke did not seem to land with the audience.

Callista also said that Newt has books "in every corner of our home" and "has an entire library on his Kindle."

Callista did ratchet up the rhetoric in her otherwise lighthearted remarks toward the end, when she said "America is the last bastion of our freedom."

"We believe that bold solutions and fearless leadership are necessary to build the America we love," she said.

[retm-w]

Hmm committed to his family and how could anyone believe a family wrecker.

[stupa5]

Woopy Doooo!

[boatdocster]

"Hi, I'm Callista, and I'm sure glad Neutered threw his "Sanctity of Marriage Pledge" in the trash can with wife #2; otherwise she would still have the little porker!!"

Silently, the "Mars Attacks" helmet headed bimbo smiles and glides off the stage...

[nancy_naive]

Republican Family Values: Having the daughters of your first wife claim that your second wife is lying about your third wife.

[Lindag10]

Great comment. LMAO

[benunhappy]

Sure lets elect NEWT, AMERICA needs more sexcapades in the white house. everybody loves dirty laundry and thats where NEWT probably found her.

[jdaryyl]

Without throwing out the ad-hominem, does anyone else here find it to be angering that Ron Paul does not, and has not had any coverage from CBSNews even though he has a very good chance of winning Maine? Also, he his campaign is getting obligations for delegates? He is not going anywhere, are they ever going to cover him?

Like I said, please talk grown-up like if you can without the baseless ad-hominem attacks. Thanks!

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

On the campaign trail, Callista Gingrich can regularly seen standing near her husband Newt -- but unlike the other candidates' spouses, she rarely says a word.
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I find the fact that a candidate who has a tramp for a wife would run in the first place.

But he's a dog himself so he probably has no idea how repulsive the prospect of having a tramp as First Lady is to many of us.

[carroll6]

What a pompous, phoney frump. The America "we" love, you mean the America that HE loves.. shutting down the government...directing $10,000,000 at a political enemy. Wouldn't give her the TIME OF DAY. Wouldn't protect her against any foreign, or domestic enemy.

[carroll6]

What a pompous, phoney frump. The America "we" love, you mean the America that HE loves.. shutting down the government...directing $10,000,000 at a political enemy. Wouldn't give her the TIME OF DAY. Wouldn't protect her against any foreign, or domestic enemy.

[Jaylah54]

I think I've figured it out. His "staff" has finally figured out that Gingrich's "campaign" is toast, so there's no harm in letting plastic Barbie talk.