Newt Gingrich: There’s no question at times of my life, partially driven by how passionately I felt about this country, that I worked far too hard and things happened in my life that were not appropriate. And what I can tell you is that when I did things that were wrong, I wasn’t trapped in situation ethics, I was doing things that were wrong, and yet, I was doing them. I found that I felt compelled to seek God’s forgiveness. Not God’s understanding, but God’s forgiveness. I do believe in a forgiving God. And I think most people, deep down in their hearts hope there’s a forgiving God.

Wow and this is from someone hoping to get forgiveness? I saw excerpt from this interview and I went to reporter's David Brody blog. He is the reporter who interviewed Gingrich for the Christian Broadcasting Network. I found it curious that the reporter put on his blog that evangelicals (and I assume he used this distinction to separate them from Christians) are forgiving and if they could look past his transgressions he might be a force for the Presidency. I thought forgiveness had the component of feeling guilt or sorry for what had been done. Newt has given an interesting explanation as to why he has divorced twice, and in ways that a lot of people would frankly call cold. Remember, he didn't just leave his first two wives. Both wives were divorced while they were gravely ill. His first wife was served her walking papers while she was being treated for cancer. The second wife was served while she was being treated for MS.

His curious defense that he was worked too hard and felt passionate about his country is a joke. As I think about it, there have been two high profile men who used the Clinton defense and were caught in the same extramarital affair mess as the former President. Newt was leading the charge to impeach the President for getting a blow-job in the White House and Newt was getting his own special attention from a female staffer. Jesse Jackson was giving spiritual council to the President while he was laying hands on his secretary.

I guess if I was Newt I would figure I had a shot at the Presidency also. Clinton got what was some relatively minor punishment for what he did, but he is still regarded as a powerhouse President and is his post-Presidential years he is seen as a rock star. Jesse Jackson, just a few days ago, was in Wisconsin marching in solidarity with the protesters and is still a favorite guest of talking head shows. You have Eliot Spitzer, who had to resign from the governorship of New York because he was paying for a number of prostitutes, most notably former prostitute Ashley Dupre. He now has a talk show on CNN.

While there are countless politicians who have been caught up in sex scandals, a good number of them remain relatively unharmed by the experience and quite a few of them recover and continue to be in the spotlight. If you want to look at what the high bar might be, just look at John Edwards. He cheated on his beloved cancer stricken wife, had a child with the mistress, then an aide of Edwards agreed to pretend he was the father of the child. When the truth was exposed, Elizabeth Edwards, John's cancer stricken wife, was stoic at first but finally had enough. While it would be impossible to know if this was a factor in her decision to give up her cancer treatment, the impression that his infidelity led to this is unmistakable to a lot of people. That she never mentioned him or left him anything in her will is a powerful statement.

As bad as that all is, it wouldn't be a surprise if in ten years or so Edwards has a come to Jesus moment and is forgiven by the public. Newt, for all is personal problems, doesn't come close to the stain Edwards has. As silly as it may sound to many, the comment in the blog is correct. If Newt, with is wacky explanation, is regarded as being sincere, people will forgive him.