The Galling Hypocrisy of Newt Gingrich

I just wish Newt Gingrich would do us all a favor and end his presidential campaign now.

He's already made a fool out of himself on multiple occasions. He has made comments on large topics like the US role in Libya or Medicare reform and then tried to reverse himself.
He routinely distorts, exaggerates or lies. He takes things out of context so constantly that no one tries to correct him. And, he is one of the most full-fledged, annoying hypocrites I've seen in American politics.

Newt's latest whining about NBC doing such an unfair story about his wife's role in his presidential campaign was very hard to take.

As those of us political junkies know, Gingrich's campaign suffered a major setback recently when 16 of his campaign staffers resigned all at once due to disagreements with the candidate over the overall direction of Gingrich's campaign. In some stories about this embarrassing development, Gingrich staffers told reporters anonymously that they felt Newt's wife, Callista, was part of the problem because she was influencing Newt to make bad decisions. For instance, news reports said, it was at Callista's urging that she and Newt went on a recent vacation to Greece despite Gingrich's campaign getting off to a horrible start. It was very bad timing, his staff felt, according to news reports.

So, Gingrich, being the clever guy he is, made some initial remarks to the effect that, yes, he did have a large disagreement with his staff, but, he explained, he was running a non-traditional campaign, so, it wasn't surprising that campaign consultant types would complain. He claimed he felt fine about the state of affairs despite the incredible mass exodus of his campaign staff.

Then, Gingrich protested later about NBC's story on this topic.

"I believe NBC owes Callista an apology," Newt said, "because the fact is my campaign is my campaign....Yes, we make decisions as a couple, but in the end, I take full responsibility. And I think the program this morning was totally irresponsible, and personally reprehensible, and the kind of thing that makes it hard to get decent people to run for public office..."

Are you kidding me, Newt?

You think the reporting on your wife's role was vicious? Yeah, the news media felt it was a big story that after months of your public exploration of a run for the presidency, most of your top campaign staff decided to resign after only a couple of months. That IS a big story! I can see you reacting if you felt the reporting of your wife's role was described accurately or not, but somehow, certain members of your staff chose to talk to the press about your wife's role.
So, that's the way it goes.

What kills me about this is that Newt, over the years, has been the most unfair, callous, inflammatory, insensitive politician with his own biting, critical remarks about everyone else.
Now, he's barely out of the gate, and he and his campaign have screwed up about 15 ways in two months, and he's whining about NBC!!!!

Poor Newt!! I do NOT feel sympathy for you. And what gall Gingrich has to suggest that this is "the kind of thing that makes it hard to get decent people to run for office.."

Newt, you have not seen anything yet! Barack Obama has taken more criticism and crap in the past few years than you could ever handle. You want to see unfair attacks? Did you listen when Obama's patriotism and very citizenship was questioned during the 2008 campaign? What about the reactionary pack that called for him to produce his "long-form" birth certificate after he was President for two years? (I could list examples for about 24 hours straight...)

Newt, you are not as strong or tough as Obama and many, many other politicians. You are a guy
who belongs on the sidelines. That way, you can hurl your reckless, attention-grabbling, rhetorical "grenades" and avoid responsibility.

You are not a serious candidate. You are not worthy of being treated as such.

As Harry Truman said: "If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen..."

Please stop whining about NBC reporting facts and spare us your self-absorption and hypocrisy.

If you stay in the race, I hope the media holds you accountable for your falsehoods and irresponsible remarks. Maybe, you'll get more of a dose of the kind of coverage you've deserved for a long time.