If you can say one thing for Newt Gingrich, it's that he knows how to work these Republican debate crowds. When asked by CNN's John King about the interview with his second wife that's due to air on ABC tonight, Gingrich tore into John King. He's got that pearl clutching down pat here.
KING: Your ex-wife gave an interview to ABC News and another interview to The Washington Post and this story has now gone viral in the Internet. In it, she says that you came to her in 1999 at a time when you were having an affair, she says you asked her sir, to enter into an open marriage. Would you like to respond to that?
GINGRICH: No, but I will. I think the destructive, vicious negative nature of much of the news media makes it harder to govern this country, harder to attract decent people to run for public office and I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that.
KING: Is that all you want to say, sir?
GINGRICH: Let me finish.
KING: Please.
GINGRICH: Every person in here knows personal pain. Every person in here has had someone close to them go through painful things. To take an ex-wife and make it two days before the primary, a significant question in a presidential campaign, is as close to despicable as anything I can imagine.
My two daughters, my two daughters wrote the head of ABC and made the point that it was wrong, that they should pull it, and I am, frankly, astounded that CNN would take trash like that and use it to open a presidential debate.
KING: As you noted Mr. Speaker, this story did not come from our network As you also know, it is the subject of conversation on the campaign. I get your point, I take your point...
GINGRICH: John, it was repeated by your network. You chose to start the debate with it. Don’t try to blame somebody else. You and your staff chose to start this debate with it.
