(CNN) - Newt Gingrich may not have officially announced a run for president, but he was already preparing for character attacks from his opponents in a radio interview Monday night.
"I expect my opponents to go back 15, 20, 25 years and try to render an alternate judgment I understand that's what they'll do," the former House Speaker told WRKO radio host Howie Carr, referring to his previous marital infidelity and how it might affect a bid for the Republican presidential nomination.
Gingrich, who has been married three times and admitted to past infidelities, responded to criticism he sidestepped responsibility for his affairs in an interview with CBN reporter David Brody last week. Gingrich told Brody he was "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."
During Monday night's WRKO interview, Gingrich said, "I'm not blaming my life on anyone, and I'm not offering excuses."
"I've made no bones about the fact there were times I did the wrong thing, and I've made no bones about the fact that I've asked for forgiveness," Gingrich said.
There is at least one potential 2012 GOP presidential opponent who is already weighing in as to how Gingrich's past will play into the campaign.
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum said in a interview with National Review Online earlier this week that Gingrich's personal history, while relevant, should not be the main focus.
"He, like we all do, will have to account for our past decisions. People will take (his past) as a legitimate issue to consider, as to how it would affect his ability to do his job," Santorum said. "I am not saying that is not a legitimate question, but it's not an issue with respect to the positions he takes."
Gingrich was upbeat on how voters would ultimately judge his fitness for office.
"I think most Americans are fair," he said. "And I think most Americans will look at the totality of my life."
If there is anyone on this planet who fits the phrase "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel" it is this lowlife lieing hypocritical scumbag Gingrinch.
The man has 0 chance at the presidency. Big baby huey. Everyone laughs at him, just like Palin. The Reps are lacking a qualified candidate for the 2012 election-it is clear.
Lets those without sin cast the first stones. Of course it is ok for dems to have affairs and all is forgiven. Just think about ole Slick Willie and his eight years of affairs, not counting those in Arkansas. But the dems/libs and state run media forgave him. It is good to see the left is still pathetic, deserpate and still lying.
The fact that he continued to make the same mistakes repeatedly and what actively engaged in this behavior while publicly spouting the importance of "Family Values" and attacking others for not living their lives in accordance with his hypocritically publicly stated morals says everything we need to know.
The GOP and Gingrich have no sense of irony- or shame either, for that matter.
Compared to Bill Clinton he's a saint. The Dems can't play to a double standard on this one.
You're right Newt – we'll judge on your totality.....which isn't looking so great.
It is not Newt Gingrich's past affairs that are the problem, but how he wants everyone to be moral except himself. Newt your past is your own personal life, you've broken no laws, but a few of the Ten Commandments. I don't think you are in a position to judge others. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone, and yet Newt you've already thrown a bunch of rocks. Sorry this is one republican that can't vote for you.
If he had his "indiscretions" when he was in college, OK. But since he was the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and completely pilloried Clinton for his actions while canoodling himself.....FORGET IT NEWTER. If those things don't matter so much, I guess your parties' "Obama pals around with terrorists" blather is off the table too, right? No? I didn't think so you disgusting pile of filth
Blame the Democrates
Newt gave his wife divorce paper when she was about to die. It is very hard to believe any human being could do what he did. I will vote for him, not as the Republican Candidate but as the worst person of all time.
Fraud. Hypocrite. Desperato. Cow.
Newt is right! Most American's are fair, and most will jusge him on the totality of his life. And, when they do that, he will come up seriously lacking in the attributes to be President of these great States. To even think he has a chance is a real laugh!
i think it is cool when a politician is such a winner that he gets lots of women. its a plus in my view, so i support someone who does that
He was Speaker of the House and presiding over the impeachment of Clinton while having one of his many affairs. The part I like best is when Newt says that he did it because he loved his country and was working too hard on its behalf. How rich!
For me, it's less a problem that he did the wrong thing in his personal life, and more that he was actively doing said wrong things in his personal life while outwardly pretending to be the voice of the so-called moral majority. That kind of conscious, cynical deception is not what I'm really looking for in a president.
If Newt wins, his wife won't be the First Lady, she'll be the Third Lady!!!
How does patriotism have anything to do with using your boner?
I take it that it was his love for the country that led to his mistakes.
Since Clinton was in a much higher job his mistakes can also be
for the love on his country. That is a bunch of BS and everyone
know it.
He can say and do what he wants, but I won't vote for him. I do not trust or respect him.
He criticized Clinton when he was doing the same thing. He says he's a conservative, but like Cheney (and his pro-gay stance), they are just after power. Given the choice between Obama and Gingrich, I'll go to the ER on Election Day.
Com'on, you heard his interview. He was working hard for the American people. He was stressed. He did it because he was such a dedicated, patriotic American. I haven't heard this many excuses since I watched John Beluchi with Carrie Fisher in the tunnel in the Blues Brothers.
Anyone buying this crap. Gingrich is a political hack who was a Sierra Club member in the 70's and then changed his politics conservative when the wind changed direction in the 80's. Now, like a bad penny, he's back.
Everyone makes mistakes, but not everyone makes huge mistakes, then repeats them, and them repeats them again, like Newt has.
Who in their right mind would want to have sex with a "NEWT"?
Newt was loving his country one person at a time....how patriotic of him!