Are values voters preparing to forgive Newt Gingrich’s infidelities? Evangelical leaders seem to be moving in that direction, reports Dave Weigel. Notoriously anti-Mormon pastor Robert Jeffress succinctly summed up the status of the race, in the eyes of evangelical conservatives:
“I think there’s now an evangelical tri-lemma,” says Jeffress, who still backs Perry but doesn’t have illusions about his current electoral oomph. “Do you vote for a Mormon who’s had one wife, a Catholic who’s had three wives, or an evangelical who may have had an entire harem?”
With Herman Cain nearing the end of the line, evangelicals find themselves with few options. Which wins out as the most disqualifying sin: Mormonism or serial adultery?
It sounds like the key is repentance. While Romney’s a practicing Mormon, Gingrich has supposedly atoned for his philandering days. It’s not much, but with such slim pickings for evangelicals, it could be enough to get Gingrich some key Religious Right endorsements:
They were accidentally disagreeing with Bob Vander Plaats, chief executive of the FAMiLY Leader. “There’s been a sincere life change for Newt Gingrich,” he says. “Now, if Newt would have had a Road to Des Moines conversion this year, it might be hard to take him seriously. But since four or five years ago, he’s shown a very transparent grace and maturity. He’s been married to Callista for over a decade. He’s healed his relationship with his children.”
The actual values voters may be more difficult to convince, however. According to a recent Public Religion Research Poll, evangelical Protestants are not particularly forgiving when it comes to infidelity: 70 percent say an elected official who commits adultery should resign. They also closely associate personal faithfulness with professional trustworthiness.
These are similar to focus group findings by evangelical leader Richard Land, who says Gingrich will need to do more if he wants to win the evangelical vote. Namely, he’ll need to apologize publicly (again) and explain that period of his life. Gingrich hasn’t responded to Land’s advice yet — but so far on the campaign trail, he hasn’t exactly shown a willingness to engage in additional self-reflection.
Evangelicals believe in Grace. They know humanity is fallen. We all sin and come short …. Also we say, "let he who is without sin cast the first stone". The whole message of Christianity is forgiveness. Amen.____Margaret
Faith, hope and charity. These three but of all the greatest is charity. Charity is the pure love of Christ. I hope Newt possesses it, but dumping both sick wives while they battle life threatening illness does not the exemplify love. Newt has had and may still have a mean streak. n
This is a tough issue for me with Gingrich: If you'll betray your wife and run the risk of destroying your family just for sex, why should I trust you not to be corrupt in key matters of state? n nI was thinking about this yesterday, and I think a point for religious Christians is the time factor: Gingrich's affairs involved 2 divorces that led to 2 marriages with the women. Not pretty. But, not Clinton. And not what Cain is accused of. n nThis post calls Gingrich a serial adulterer. I guess that fits technically, but does 2 make a pattern? Adulterer, for sure. Serial? Philanderer? n nTechnically, divorce itself should cause hardcore Christians to raise an eyebrow, going by scriptures, but it has been such a common feature of our society for so long, it's taken for granted. If Gingrich were accused of having a string of affairs over the decades – like a Clinton – a philanderer – a serial adulterer – he'd be dead in the water with religious Christians. But, 2 affairs, divorces, and re-marriages? With some, this will be too much. With others, given the other options, and given the nature of our society today, it won't.
Infidelity is one thing, but dumping both sick wives while they battle life threatening illness is quite another. This man has a mean streak. He has been on the take and on the make his entire life.
It was not just two – it was indeed serial. It was merely two THAT HE MARRIED – NOT all that he HAD. n nI won't consider voting for him. n nI saw the 45 minutes he laughed at Sean Hannity in Newt's support of McCain Kennedy SHAMNESTY in agreement with Alan Colmes. I mean 45 minutes of Air Time on TV laughing at Sean and at Border Security. n nHe is not an option.
I know how difficult it is to understand the strands of Chistianity – I gave up on a history of the Thirty Years War because it was hard to understand why a difference in liturgy was cause for war. nBut, to label Pastor Jeffress as "Notoriously anti-Mormon " is just as intolerant as all the liberals finding hidden racism in any criticism of Obama. n nAbraham gave birth to three religions that never stop arguing over who is not a heretic. n nI am surprised Commentary keeps trying to make anti-Mormonism into the newest politically incorrect form of bigotry. You know the Baptists will revert to thinking the Jews have horns, and the Catholics will re-consider their Christ-killer libel, and then the Mormoms will think it really was ok to baptise every Jew murdered since Mr. Smith found those gold tablets of Moroni. n nBecause, in the end, everyone always blames everything on the Jews. Certainly been the case in my fifty-nine years of failing to find one square inch of America truly free of Jew-hatred, including most of New York City, Miami, and 'liberal' Massachusetts, where I have spent 80% of my time on earth.
Krister Stendahl , Emeritus Lutheran Bishop of Stockholm once said, " I have three rule for interfaith discussion. 1) Ask them about what they believe rather than their enemies, 2) Compare your bests with their bests. 3) Leave room for holy envy." This is I think a more enlightened Christian perspective.
Ms. Goodman should spend two hours and listen to the eleven Iowa Evangelical Christians in Deace's focus group on Tuesday. Very enlightening on all the candidates, and almost post-modern on divorce and adultery as these eleven related these "issues" to character.
Adultery and divorce are one thing, but meanness is another thing: nL.H. Carter, his campaign treasurer, Gingrich said of his first wife Jackie Battley: "She's not young enough or pretty enough to be the wife of the President. And besides, she has cancer." Gingrich visited her while she was in the hospital, recovering from surgery, and Gingrich wanted to discuss the terms of their divorce. nGingrich's 2nd ex-wife Marianne Ginther says he ditched her eight months after finding out she had multiple sclerosis. The ex-speaker of the House told her on Mother's Day 1999 that he wanted a divorce, after learning she had a neurological condition that could lead to MS [multiple sclerosis]. n