Readers Respond to Newt Gingrich's Family Values Conversion

Dan Gilgoff, God & Country

Lots of readers reacted to my interview with Newt Gingrich about his recent Roman Catholic conversion by calling him out on his extramarital affairs and multiple marriages, branding him a hypocrite for flaunting his faith and values side. "Newt seems to me to be milking his conversion for political gain from what I've seen so far," one prominent Catholic blogger told me via E-mail. "I hope I'm wrong."

It's important to note that in the course of a couple of hours I spent with him this week, Gingrich hardly flaunted his Catholicism. He didn't mention his conversion until I asked about it. I'd say it's a stretch to characterize him as loudly advertising his new religious affiliation.

But many readers branded Gingrich a hypocrite or a con man.

Terry Campolieti of California writes:

Now I've heard it ALL!!! Which wife is Callista? One, two, or three or who knows? It can't be the one he left on her death bed dying of cancer? Or is it the Page working in Congress when old Newt was in the bigtime!?

Now, as a Catholic, I am completely embarrassed to be a Catholic!

From Tony of Ohio:

I think Newt got religion just like Bush. You know vote for me because I had a religious conversion and now I'm a Christian. Give me a break. Bush "became" Christian when he needed votes. He even had to have a former Christian minister coach him in how to act. I suppose Newt will do the same. Both of these idiots and those that support them have given Christians a bad name.

As Gingrich mulls his political future and a run for the White House, it's worth noting that Southern Baptist Convention public policy chief Richard Land recently told me he couldn't support Gingrich because of his past personal conduct, comparing it to Barack Obama's:

Not enough religious conservatives are saying this: It's terribly important that [Obama] gives every indication of being a moral man who is demonstrably fond of his wife and children. I think that's important in a president, be it a Democrat or a Republican. That's why I said I couldn't vote for Giuliani or Gingrich. I think [Obama's] making a real difference in this country in his example as a model father and husband.

At the same time, many readers defended Gingrich, saying those who would damn him are the hypocrites. Jim B of Idaho writes:

Regarding Gingrich's "sins": Christ said he came to heal sinners, not the righteous. The church is made up of sinners who have turned to Christ.

What do you think? Is the former speaker's past personal conduct a deal breaker for voters?

• Follow Dan Gilgoff on Twitter.
• Read more about Republicans.