Why Newt Gingrich's 'Open Marriage' Request Matters

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Randy's comment below says it all...
"Open Marriage: Newt Gingrich's Ex-Wife Says He Proposed Extramarital Arrangement"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/19/open-marriage-newt-gingrich-marianne-affair-_n_1217944.html
In a Nightline interview airing Thursday, Marianne tells ABC's Brian Ross that while she was married to Newt, he asked for her blessing in continuing his affair with Callista. Open marriage describes as an arrangement in which both partners are free to have sex with others. Communication and honesty -- before engaging in traditional sorts of infidelity -- are generally considered key.
Columnist Dan Savage called Newt out on his retroactive open marriage request.
"Technically you're not asking your wife for an open marriage if you've already been f-----g another woman for six years," he wrote on his blog. "You're presenting your wife with an ultimatum. That doesn't make you a proponent of open marriage, Newt, it makes you a CPOS."
..."open marriage" my rubber red nose. This guy is merely a cheating POS!

Jan J. of WY 8:16AM January 22, 2012

What open marriage request ? If you believe this, then obuma is gay...

Bill Hedges of MO 6:35PM January 21, 2012

She married a man who divorced his sick with cancer first wife to be with her and she has the unmitigated gall to claim the high road? What a bag full of vaginal washing products.

EffPoliticiansAndTheirHangerson of VA 5:05PM January 21, 2012

There is nothing in your article that shows how wanting an open marriage translates to "not wanting the rules to apply to oneself." That would mean that Gingrich would be against open marriage for others. What your article shows is that you're part of the bunch of people who wants to define what arrangement between consenting adults are valid or not.

pov of MA 4:58PM January 21, 2012

What is even more disturbing his absolute naivete. He can not really believe that he was the only married member of Congress that Calista was involved with 6 years. An obese man 20 years her senior was the man of her dreams. How ridiculous.

ernest lamonica of NY 4:14PM January 21, 2012

I could care less that Newt, by his own admission, has had several affairs. But his hypocrisy does speak to his credibility. How could he chastise Clinton when he was doing the same thing? How can he give speeches on family values? How can he be a champion of "traditional" marriage when he makes a mockery of the institution? If Newt wants to sleep around I have no problem with that, but don't then sanctimoniously mock your rivals or put your morals above others. Even if God did forgive him for his past how can he with any credibility point out the sins of the past of someone else?

JNAgain of GA 1:17PM January 21, 2012

So, what appears here is, is that Romney or Newt will get the Republican bid to run for the Office of the President of the United States, along with the incumbent Democrat, Barack Obama.
Which of the lessor of these proven evils will you vote for?
How freaking aggravating!
Pssssst on it! ....I'm voting for Dr. Ron Paul!!!

I've have it! You??? of GA 11:51AM January 21, 2012

I've learned over the years that one can never believe what one spouse says about the other in a failed marriage. It's very annoying that this editorial assumes Gingrich's former spouse is truthful, and the author bases the entire piece on that assumption. Since we will never know what was actually said between Gingrich and his ex wife, "news stories" such as this are more appropriately described as cheap gossip, and deserve to be tossed into the trash.

jaybay of TN 10:18AM January 21, 2012

Newt has taken a lesson from Bill Clinton's version on what "is" sex.
He did not ask for an open marriage since that would imply multiple partners. He did ask if he could have a mistress.
If someone asked him this he would have said yes, indeed".

paul of PA 9:35AM January 21, 2012

The simple political fact is that a politician with high national office ambitions must generally have a socially able spouse to organize and host events -- particularly Presidential hopefuls. Even more certain is that retaining a sick wife and any serious office is impossible: either the care demands on your time are too high to handle the office or voters crucify you in one of the next two elections for neglect.
Additionally its better to be newly married after an affair than being simply newly divorced at election time. Divorced status is the kiss of death as it is taken as having zero family concerns and a sign of a cold heart -- plus it opens questions of untold abuse. Apparently voters can understand and prefer loving someone else or lusting for a newer model over cold-hearted ethics.
So Gingrich took the ambitious job-oriented path and changed wives. Definitely not romantic, but it was fairly clearly a decision driven by dedicated political service.

ObjectiveAnalysis of TX 8:05AM January 21, 2012