# Fox News Article: "Newt Gingrich's three marriages mean he might make a strong president -- really" **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 21, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-article-newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-he-might-make-a-strong-president-really/610220 "2012-01-21T15:46:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-article-newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-he-might-make-a-strong-president-really/610220/1 "2012-01-21T15:46:45Z")
This is either a great example of how Fox will stoop to any level and twist any facts in order to further their agenda, or it’s a brilliant satirical piece. Unfortunately, I suspect that it’s the first. If this article wasn’t on [foxnews.com](http://foxnews.com) and it wasn’t written by someone described as “a psychiatrist and member of the Fox News Medical A-Team” I’d think that it was written for The Onion. This is Poe’s law at it’s finest. This is just a small sample. I can’t quote more than this but you really should read it. Dr. Ablow is saying that Gingrich’s sexual and marital past, including the “brutally honest” (his characterization) way that he’s treated his wives, all are indications that he would make a great president. [http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/01/20/newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-might-make-strong-president-really/](http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/01/20/newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-might-make-strong-president-really/) > [@](#): > > Newt Gingrich’s three marriages mean he might make a strong president – really > By Dr. Keith Ablow > … > > 1. Three women have met Mr. Gingrich and been so moved by his emotional energy and intellect that they decided they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with him. > > 2. Two of these women felt this way even though Mr. Gingrich was already married. > > 3 ) One of them felt this way even though Mr. Gingrich was already married for the second time, was not exactly her equal in the looks department and had a wife (Marianne) who wanted to make his life without her as painful as possible. > > Conclusion: When three women want to sign on for life with a man who is now running for president, I worry more about whether we’ll be clamoring for a third Gingrich term, not whether we’ll want to let him go after one. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-article-newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-he-might-make-a-strong-president-really/610220/2 "2012-01-21T16:00:49Z")
That article lists a publishing date of 20 January 2012 (Friday, which was yesterday). I had no idea who the author (Keith Ablow) was, so I googled him. The article is already written up in his wikipedia page, with a caveat: [ > [@](#): > > During the 2012 Republican primary, Ablow wrote a column arguing that Newt Gingrich’s three marriages actually made him more qualified to be president: “When three women want to sign on for life with a man who is now running for president, I worry more about whether we’ll be clamoring for a third Gingrich term, not whether we’ll want to let him go after one.” The column was widely ridiculed, with Rod Dreher contending that Ablow’s argument represented “shamelessness cross[ing] the line from character defect to psychopathology.” ]([Keith Ablow - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Ablow)) I didn’t know who Rod Dreher was either, and since the wiki article doesn’t like a source for the quote from him, I googled him as well. The second listing was for the article quoted. Guess what liberal rag printed it? **The American Conservative** Here’s a quote from the (very brief) Dreher article: [ > [@](#): > > Oh for frack’s sake. At some point, you have to wonder when shamelessness crosses the line from character defect to psychopathology. If only Dr. Leo Spaceman were a Republican, he could have a lucrative career on Fox. ]([http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/2012/01/20/fox-m-d-newts-serial-marriages-good-for-america/?utm\_source=rss&utm\_medium=rss&utm\_campaign=fox-m-d-newts-serial-marriages-good-for-america](http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/2012/01/20/fox-m-d-newts-serial-marriages-good-for-america/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fox-m-d-newts-serial-marriages-good-for-america)) ETA: I had to google Dr. Leo Spaceman, too. Turns out he’s a character on _30 Rock_ played by Chris Parnell. From the context, I’m gonna guess he’s batshit crazy or something. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-article-newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-he-might-make-a-strong-president-really/610220/3 "2012-01-21T16:03:58Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > That article lists a publishing date of 20 January 2012 (Friday, which was yesterday). I had no idea who the author (Keith Ablow) was, so I googled him. > > The article is already written up in his wikipedia page, with a caveat: > > [ > > I didn’t know who Rod Dreher was either, and since the wiki article doesn’t like a source for the quote from him, I googled him as well. The second listing was for the article quoted. Guess what liberal rag printed it? > > **The American Conservative** > > Here’s a quote from the (very brief) Dreher article: > [url=[http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/2012/01/20/fox-m-d-newts-serial-marriages-good-for-america/?utm\_source=rss&utm\_medium=rss&utm\_campaign=fox-m-d-newts-serial-marriages-good-for-america](http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/2012/01/20/fox-m-d-newts-serial-marriages-good-for-america/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fox-m-d-newts-serial-marriages-good-for-america)]]([Keith Ablow - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Ablow)) Ablow’s also the guy who co-wrote a self-help with Glenn Beck -[the one with the really creep cover.](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B006ZO7ZSU/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books) So, yeah I’d take anything he had to say with a bushel of salt. Also, can’t say I’m surprised that Fox News is grasping at straws here. Nothing new for them. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-article-newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-he-might-make-a-strong-president-really/610220/4 "2012-01-21T16:05:42Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > Ablow’s also the guy who co-wrote a self-help with Glenn Beck -[the one with the really creep cover.](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B006ZO7ZSU/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books) Oh yeah… I remember we had a thread about that book cover. IIRC, it’s one of Jerry Sandusky’s favorite inspirational books. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-article-newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-he-might-make-a-strong-president-really/610220/5 "2012-01-21T17:22:31Z")
Eh, I see his point. Anybody who could convince three women to marry Newt Gingrich has to be pretty damn persuasive. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-article-newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-he-might-make-a-strong-president-really/610220/6 "2012-01-21T17:39:19Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Eh, I see his point. Anybody who could convince three women to marry Newt Gingrich has to be pretty damn persuasive. Right. Able to persuade people to do stupid things. That’s an attribute I expect to see in a grade school kid who persuades others to eat bugs, not a president. ---
**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-article-newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-he-might-make-a-strong-president-really/610220/7 "2012-01-21T18:54:14Z")
Maybe the (ex-)wives aren’t completely stupid. Apparently, [anyone can marry a psychopath](http://www.squidoo.com/anyone-can-marry-a-psychopath). ---
**Author:** ![Batfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Batfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batfish)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-article-newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-he-might-make-a-strong-president-really/610220/8 "2012-01-21T19:29:33Z")
Too bad Warren Jeffs is in jail. :smack: By this criteria he’d be the perfect Republican candidate. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-article-newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-he-might-make-a-strong-president-really/610220/9 "2012-01-21T19:40:32Z")
As the new Mr and Mrs Dexter snuggle in the honeymoon suite, he says, “I probably should have told you about my hobby…” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-article-newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-he-might-make-a-strong-president-really/610220/10 "2012-01-21T19:50:48Z")
Ken Ablow is a dipshit, but I’m not bothered by this. If you need to convince yourself that Gingrich’s marriages are a good thing, this silly reasoning is as good as any other. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-article-newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-he-might-make-a-strong-president-really/610220/11 "2012-01-21T19:53:27Z")
But what happens if we fall in love with Newt and elect him President? What happens if he decides we’re not good enough for him and he wants to be President of a better-looking country like Norway? You laugh but he walked out on Georgia’s 6th Congressional District after they had been together for twenty years. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-article-newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-he-might-make-a-strong-president-really/610220/12 "2012-01-21T21:10:46Z")
Ron Paul’s racism means he might make a strong president–really. He’ll hire fleet-footed black youths as staffers, which means things will get done faster. Rick Santorum’s google problem and homophobia mean he might make a strong president–really. He’s so obsessed with man on man, and man on dog, action that he will project a strong, silent image while watching gay porn on the teleprompter. Mitt Romney’s wealth problem and tax problem mean he might make a strong president–really. He made so little during his speaking gigs that he’ll be thrilled to make so little as president. Or something. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-article-newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-he-might-make-a-strong-president-really/610220/13 "2012-01-21T21:16:58Z")
Jeez, ya can find a brain-whore for **anything** these days! ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-article-newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-he-might-make-a-strong-president-really/610220/14 "2012-01-21T21:28:07Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > Also, can’t say I’m surprised that Fox News is grasping at straws here. Nothing new for them. Fox personalities in general has been pretty down on Newt (presumably because the Powers that Be know he’d be a weak general election candidate). Apparently Ablow didn’t get the memo. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-article-newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-he-might-make-a-strong-president-really/610220/15 "2012-02-23T11:00:13Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Jeez, ya can find a brain-whore for **anything** these days! Hey! :mad: On behalf of PR workers and spin-docters worldwide, I object against…um, amateur brain-whores who do out of idealism what we get paid for to do ? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-article-newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-he-might-make-a-strong-president-really/610220/16 "2012-02-23T15:01:35Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > You laugh but he walked out on Georgia’s 6th Congressional District after they had been together for twenty years. Interesting. That seems to be around his limit. Marriage to Wife #1 = 19 years Marriage to Wife #2 = 19 years Marriage to Wife #3 = 12 years and counting By that measure, he must be courting Wife #4 by now. Might be fun to elect him to 2 terms just watch the first couple’s marriage fall apart. (Nah, maybe not.) ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-article-newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-he-might-make-a-strong-president-really/610220/17 "2012-02-23T18:17:38Z")
This just proves that there are power-mad, money hungry sluts around. And I’m not crazy about Newt’s wives either. (At least the 2nd and 3rd ones.) ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-article-newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-he-might-make-a-strong-president-really/610220/18 "2012-02-23T18:18:23Z")
Bernie Madoff persuaded people to trust him with billions of their money. Madoff for President :smack: ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-article-newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-he-might-make-a-strong-president-really/610220/19 "2012-02-23T20:43:58Z")
Sure, until he leaves us for a younger, healthier country . . ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-article-newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-he-might-make-a-strong-president-really/610220/20 "2012-02-23T20:59:21Z")
Hell’s bells … Clinton talked Lewinsky in to letting him stick a stogie up her twat. Clinton for Emperor! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-article-newt-gingrichs-three-marriages-mean-he-might-make-a-strong-president-really/610220.md?page=2)