I’m very protective of journalists, since I am one.
I have a huge problem with people that hate the media and yell at reporters for asking simple questions.
We're like a big family.
...So don’t talk shit about my aunt.
As a general rule, I make a point to not talk about politics over dinner on this blog.
But I gotta move up a TOOLBAG TUESDAY to TODAY and tear into Republican Presidential Candidate Newt Gingrich for his temper tantrum during last night’s debate in South Carolina.
When asked a completely relevant question about an interview his second ex-wife did on TV, UH, THE DAY BEFORE, where she said he cheated on her and then asked if they could have an open marriage (whaaat), Newt WENT OFF on the reporter in front of everyone like the pompous asshole that he is.
HOW DARE YOU ASK ME A QUESTION ABOUT MY PERSONAL LIFE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY BEEN TWITTER-ING THE SHIT OUT OF!!!!
I get it. It’s embarrassing. No one wants their dirty laundry or their cheating or their general repulsiveness out in the open.
But, to borrow a line from The Big Lebowski: DID CNN URINATE ON YOUR RUG???
I have to give it to CNN reporter/moderator John King for not rolling his eyes and lashing back at NEWT (God, he’s so reptilian) for screaming at him like a 2-year-old.
“I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that,” he shouted. Then he waxed on about how “much of the news media” is “destructive” and “vicious.”
That made me laugh. Because that’s exactly how politicians answer journalists when they don’t want to answer an embarrassing question.
I know from experience.
Whether it’s a presidential candidate who somehow gets multiple women despite his looks and personality, or a small town administrator being questioned about his town-issued credit card purchases.
“HOW IS THIS QUESTION RELEVANT??? HOW DARE YOU!!!!”
It’s a simple deflection tactic and I don’t stand for it. And I’m appalled that NEWT’s hissy fit got a standing ovation from the crowd. (And in Charleston, SC, too!!! Tisk Tisk, y’all)
I thought we were trying to combat bullying in this country. But now we’re clapping for someone who yells at a reporter for asking a question that would be a deal-breaker for so-called “value-based” voters?
QUICK! EVERYONE SHRED YOUR QUESTIONS FOR NEWT WHEN IT COMES TO HIS PERSONAL LIFE!!! HE’S EXEMPT LIKE HIS 2011 TAXES!!!!
GOD THAT REALLY GRINDS MY GEARS.
Of course, when OTHER PEOPLE’S personal lives are under a microscope, NEWT has no problem talking about it.
Like last year, when he was asked about former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain’s alleged sexual harassment/adultery.
NEWT totally fielded the question and smirked as he said, “everyone should be given a chance to try and recover.”
(Unless it’s him. He doesn’t need to recover. He just needs to yell at people.)
NEWT didn’t say, “I’M APPAULED YOU’D EVEN ASK ME THAT!!!” “HOW DARE YOU, VICIOUS MEDIA!!!”
No. He realized that there was something NEWSWORTHY going on that deserved a comment.
But, when it comes to his own bastard-ness, NEWT feels like he needs special consideration.
And people’s standing ovation is just encouraging his bad behavior. YES! Everyone clap for Newt!
Give him a standing ovation for berating a reporter for simply asking what everyone wanted to effing know.
What a crock of shit.
That’s a reporter’s job, NEWT. To ask questions.
All the other cheating politicians had to face the music!
If you don’t like to squirm, you shouldla kept it in your pants.
Oh, and your rug smells bad.
-Jenny
I'd have to say that this was not the most artful way to ask the question. John King really dropped the ball. I mean, Newt was ready to knock that question out of the park (which he did). Whether all this was old news or not is kind of not the issue (his ex has done several interviews about this topic over the years and has been questioned pretty thoroughly on it-if she mentioned open marriage its old news, if she didnt, well- why bring it up now?). The better way to bring it up would have been in context of Newt getting involved in other people's personal lives, legislating morality, etc. Instead Newt got to avoid it all together and he took that question out of play for the next couple of months (thanks to the response he got from the audience and other candidates subsequently not wanting to take on the audience). It didnt look like restraint on John King's face, either. It looked like he was in shock. You can't go after Newt all half arsy like he did.
ReplyDeleteAs for the press- i dont see many reporters out there asking really thoughtful,tough, and fair questions. Do you? lemme know who they are, i'd be interested in following them.
Yeah...I have my issues with Newt and being a horndog is definitely among them. He's also more anti-liberal than he is Conservative. I think he thinks those running the gov. are the problem...not gov. itself. He thinks he can do it better.
ReplyDeleteBut, I don't know how this could have worked any better for Newt if he had planned and set the whole thing up himself.