Fred Thompson, Putting It Out There
Newt Gingrich did exactly that in March, when he told Christian leader James Dobson that he had "fallen short of God's standards."
"There are things in my own life that I have turned to God and have gotten on my knees and prayed about and sought God's forgiveness," said Gingrich, acknowledging that he was cheating on his wife around the time of the Bill Clinton impeachment hearings.
Now TV star and possible candidate Fred Thompson is trying to control a personal issue of his own – the chatter around his "colorful dating history" when he was divorced between 1985 and 2002.
"I was single for a long time, and, yep, I chased a lot of women," Thompson reportedly said, with a chuckle. "And a lot of women chased me. And those that chased me tended to catch me."
Thompson spokesman Mark Corallo added this: "I don't think any of the members of Congress or the American people are concerned about the dating habits of a single man."
In other words: This is a non-issue, people! Now move along!