The Political Chase

Newt Gingrich had affair while leading Clinton impeachment

Former Speaker of the House and architect of the Republican’s “Contract with America” Newt Gingrich (R-GA) had an affair at the same time he led the efforts to impeach former President Clinton. Hypocrisy abounds in oh so many ways.

Gingrich and every other Republican attempted a political coup d’etat decrying Clinton’s moral stance and allegations of perjury. The coup failed, but the rhetoric that came with it could not be withdrawn and it certainly did not stop. Clinton lied about his affair with Monica Lewinski, which was wrong, but Clinton’s misdeed (singular) paled in comparison to the plethora of high crimes and misdemeanors of the Bush administration. How many people were directly or indirectly damaged as a result of Clinton’s misdeed? One, and she received $700,000 - not bad income for a minimum wage earner.

I don’t need to list the misdeeds of the Bush administration for justification purposes - they are well known and have been sanctioned for years. Only Scooter Libby has succumbed to justice and that was this week.

Gingrich, a neocon four sure, had this to say about his sordid affair, rule of law, justice and morals. From the AP:

“The president of the United States got in trouble for committing a felony in front of a sitting federal judge,” the former Georgia congressman said of Clinton’s 1998 House impeachment on perjury and obstruction of justice charges. “I drew a line in my mind that said, ‘Even though I run the risk of being deeply embarrassed, and even though at a purely personal level I am not rendering judgment on another human being, as a leader of the government trying to uphold the rule of law, I have no choice except to move forward and say that you cannot accept … perjury in your highest officials.”

For emphasis, let me repeat these eight words, “you cannot accept … perjury in your highest officials.”

Scooter Libby’s verdict had barely been read when Republican leaders, neocons, and neocon publications (e.g. National Review), demanded a presidential pardon for Libby. Give Scooter a pardon today for the crimes he committed and the related devastating wake of his and Cheney’s crimes, but send Bill Clinton straight to hell for his? Yeah, that’s hypocrisy.

Well, at least we can say Gingrich has chutzpah…start an outrage on Clinton’s moral issue, that ultimately leads to impeachment of the President, and he is out equally indulging himself.