(CNN) - Newt Gingrich's campaign admitted Wednesday night the former House speaker was inaccurate when he claimed his team offered several witnesses to ABC News to refute statements made by Gingrich's second wife in a controversial interview aired last week.
CNN Chief National Correspondent John King reported the campaign said it only recommended Gingrich's two daughters from his first marriage, who wrote a letter discouraging ABC to release the interview.
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Marianne Gingrich claimed in the ABC interview that her husband asked for an open marriage while he was having an extramarital affair with his current wife, Callista Gingrich.
"The story was false. Every personal friend I have who knew us in that period says the story is false. We offered several of them to ABC to prove it was false. They weren't interested," Gingrich said at a CNN debate last week.
In an interview on Tuesday, King pressed Gingrich on those claims, saying ABC News insisted no such witnesses were put forward.
Gingrich said ABC's defense was "just plain baloney."
"If they're saying that, then they're not being honest," Gingrich said. "We had several people prepared to be very clear and very aggressive in their dispute about that, and (ABC News) wasn't interested."
On Wednesday, however, the campaign conceded the candidate was wrong, both in his debate answer and in his interview with CNN on Tuesday.
R.C. Hammond, the campaign's press secretary, told CNN the only people the campaign offered to ABC were the speaker's two daughters, Jackie Cushman and Kathy Gingrich Lubbers, who make regular appearances for their father on the campaign trail.
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If, I saw several witnesses and its only my two daughters > its a lie
Newt says several witnesses but its only his two daughters > campaign error
Newt has the best forked tongue of any politician I know. He understands it is not what you say
but what you can convince your supporters you said.
I'm sure Gingrich meant to tell the truth but his runaway tongue couldn't be stopped. It's not HIS fault, it's his tongue's fault.
One more reason to NOT vote for Gringrich. I noticed in the last debate that he would not answer tough questions, but instead said they were based on "misinformation" and that he would put the answers on his website. The GOP will lose if they put Gingrich to run agains Obama. Eventhough I like Santorum as a person, Romney is the only logical choice.
This just in...Gingrich continues to lie...
I like the phrasing CNN uses... " inaccurate". No gingrich LIED... TWICE!
I recently saw an interview where Gingrich was defending his hypocrisy in the '90's when he went after Clinton for his infidelity. Gingrich said it wasn't the infidelity, it was because Clinton lied about it. Well, here is proof that Gingrich is not a "changed man" but is a liar now as he always has been.
How can we nominate someone who is so blatantly immoral? The president has a staff to generate ideas - we need a president who will execute!
His biggest error is continuing this campaign.
amazing, isn't it ? the newter hurts himself, everytime he speaks. It's too bad the Republicans are going the wayside. In about 4 to 8 years, the republicans really won't want to be 'labeled' that – I talk to republicans all the time, and they tell me that would rather be labeled (or called) or reffered to as : "Conservatives" they actually hate the word 'republicans'
Larry in Houston
The biggest Gingrich campaign error? The fact that it was formed at all. It's people like Gingrich who give the Republicans a bad name.
Gingrich is a grinch!!! Dont let him steal Christmas....
Gingrich remembers after the cameras stop rolling, how conveinient. He will never make it to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., as President. He might be able to go with a tour group. lol
I never believed he offered up "friends" who would state Marianne Gingrich's claims were false. How would friends of the family know what conversation took place between Newt and Marianne 20 years ago? These claims didn't come out until now....not 20 years ago. As usual, it is Newt who is "full of baloney". Next thing you know he will be pulling a "Herman Cain" and drop out of race because he doesn't "want to put my family through this anymore".
Why is it when one of these guys lies directly into the camera to the American people they're allowed to get away with the lie being described as "he was mistaken"? Right-wingers hammer the other side over things like this but don't care at all if their candidates lie!
What else would one expect from the man who pursued the impeachment of a president while committing precisely the same transgression himself at the same time.
"blaoney". I'll tell you what's baloney. Newt Gingrich telling the truth.
What? Gingrich told an outright lie? And got caught? Say it isn't so! Next thing you know, water will be wet and children will be frightended by Newt's face.
In other words.......Gingrich was lying as necessary to get out of a situation. Some things never change!
Newt needs to learn the difference between an error and a lie. Don't hold your breath.
Let me get this straight: Gingrich has to rely on his campaign staff to tell him how many witnesses he has to refute his ex-wife's allegations about their marriage? What would it say about me, if I had to rely on my employees to tell the world about my marriage because I got the facts wrong? This is not about truth. Gingrich is obviously concerned about managing the facade of his public image. He is just trying to coordinate his lies and he can't do that as well as he would like. Do you really want this man for president?
Will Gingrich be the end of the GOP?
That was no mistake/error. It was a bald faced lie! Are we supposed to believe that Gingrich is apparently the only man alive, who was having an affair and that he discussed his marriage with "close friends"?? OR is it the two daughters that he discussed his vile affairs with all while attacking President Clinton for his affair?? Hogwash! Newt Gingrich couldn't tell the truth if his life depended on it.
That's not a matter of being "wrong", it is lying! Personally, I'm not sure what the difference is between lying under oath (perjury) and lying in front of the entire country in a televised debate to get elected (apparently quite legal). Can we please re-elect Obama and move on? Outstanding article this month in newsweek on Obama for those that care to learn more about this election.
It's not a "campaign error", just another calculated campaign lie to dupe his gullible followers.
He lies. He cheats. He is not worthy of the office he is pursuing. Get a clue America!
No, he was not wrong. He was LYING. LYING. LYING.