Gingrich vs. Gingrich, 12 years later

I‘m not sure what to make of Newt Gingrich’s second wife coming out with these “exclusive” revelations concerning his moral character. At first glance, ABC’s preview of the Nightline interview doesn’t seem to add much to the body of knowledge.

Marianne Gingrich (still keeping the name a dozen years after the divorce) seems to think she’s unleashing a bunch of bombshells here. But they all appear to be stuff we’ve heard before: Newt carried on an affair for six years while he was married. He wanted an “open marriage” — which is pretty much what all philanderers want since it skirts the need for a messy divorce. He lacks the moral character to be president. He is, in short, an asshole.

Sorry, what was that? I was dozing off there. A candidate for president might be an asshole? This is not exactly startling, especially given New Gingrich’s well-documented political history of tantrums, influence peddling and ego-driven brinksmanship. The man is a train-wreck in the moral character department. But that doesn’t seem to be hurting him much. If you want to know why the GOP race is so universally uninspiring, you have only to look at Newt Gingrich and realize that he remains in it despite his 16 tons of baggage.

Marianne Gingrich’s petulant interview isn’t going to change that. If anything, it might actually help her deeply flawed ex by granting him the sweet whiff of victimhood. Americans can forgive an unprincipled jerk, but a shrewish ex-wife with a score to settle? Not so much.