The 2012 Republican Presidential primaries has been riddled with issues surrounding women: from Herman Cain’s sexual harassment allegations, to the pro-life/pro-choice fight, to the candidates linked to a religion that believes in multiple wives. This week has been no exception with open marriages and “the other woman” being added to that list. Marianne Gingrich, Newt Gingrich’s ex-wife, came out with allegations, during an ABC ‘Nightline’ interview, that Newt asked for an “open marriage” during an affair with current wife, Callista.
According to Marianne, Newt asked if she would share him with Callista. “And I just stared at him and he said, ‘Callista doesn’t care what I do,’” she said. “He wanted an open marriage and I refused.”
Marianne Gingrich said her former husband “lacks the moral character to be president and that his campaign positions on family values and marriage don’t reflect his personal behavior,” according to excerpts of the interview released by ABC.
Newt Gingrich is currently on his third marriage, his first ending in 1981 when he then married Marianne 6 months later. He began dating her while her was still married to his first wife. Newt pursued a divorce from Marianne in 1999, months after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He then married current wife, Callista, shortly after his divorce in 2000.
What are your thoughts on open marriage? Does an open marriage help or hurt a relationship?
As a presidential candidate, Newt’s past is definitely shaded with controversy and our potential First Lady would have, at one point, been “the other woman.” The First Lady is supposed to be a role model for all the women, families, and children of the United States, so what do you think about our potential First Lady’s past? Can she still be a role model for women?
Should our president have to be a moral person? Can someone’s past disqualify them from certain positions in the future? Or should the past be overlooked?
It is important the President have good moral character. I think it’s very bad moral character to be as intensely hypocritical as Gingrich, denouncing other people’s behavior at the same time he’s been engaging in questionable behavior himself.
If he’s such a believer in open marriage, why hasn’t he come forward about it before. He should at least be honest about it. And if he’s President and Callista’s First Lady, what shall we call all the various other participants in their marriage, and when do we get to meet all Newt’s girlfriends and Callista’s boyfriends?