Newt Gingrich Glitter Prank: GOP Presidential Candidate Hit With Confetti At Minneapolis Book-Signing (VIDEO)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich and his wife Callista were hit with glittery confetti by a protester Tuesday during the couple's appearance at a book-signing.

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The man approached the Gingriches during the signing at a downtown Minneapolis hotel, dumped a cracker box full of colorful confetti on the pair and said, "Feel the rainbow, Newt! Stop the hate! Stop anti-gay politics!"

Two Associated Press reporters witnessed the event. The man was quickly pushed out of the room by an event organizer as the Gingriches brushed confetti out of their hair and laps.

Newt Gingrich smiled as he brushed confetti off the table, and said, "Nice to live in a free country."

Although authorities couldn't immediately confirm the man's identity, he appeared to be Nick Espinosa, a prankster who has disrupted at least two other political events in Minnesota, including one in which he dumped a bagful of pennies in the lap of a Republican candidate for governor last year. In that prank, Espinosa - who has also used the name Robert Erickson - told reporters he was trying to highlight immigration issues.

Espinosa emailed reporters later Tuesday and attached pictures of the confetti attack. He said it was a protest against a proposal to amend Minnesota's Constitution to ban gay marriage.

Newt Gingrich was due to give a speech at the event sponsored by the Minnesota Family Council later in the evening.

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Comments

[Roedy Green]

06:11 PM on 06/09/2011

Cenk Uygur said that Newt was completely blameless in the glitter event. He was an innocent victim. Had Newt's policy been that second class black people should not be permitted to marry would he have been blameless? He is a old-style bigot. He deserved a lot worse. Gay people put up with a LOT worse from the likes of him.

[metivo]

10:57 AM on 05/22/2011

A very peculiar stunt and the choice of 'weapon' sends the wrong message that gays are flaming "glitter types." Not cool.

[JonB2057]

10:08 PM on 05/22/2011

Things that make you go hmm.....

[mrrraleigh]

04:43 PM on 05/20/2011

What would the reaction from everybody be if this protester had done this to Obama for taking so long to get DADT repealed? Would the headline still read "Prank"?

[thelazypaperboy]

12:23 PM on 05/20/2011

Good thing the guy didnt't come at Newt with a banana ,,,

http://www.jrdeputyaccountant.com/2011/05/tlp-suppose-hed-had-pointed-stick.html

[kamikazewarthog]

11:17 AM on 05/19/2011

to support this kind of behavior is juvenile. Not to mention... is this guy even gay or is he just a glory hog?

[Ning Rowley]

11:13 AM on 05/19/2011

HAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS BETTER A FREAKING NUCLEAR ATTACK NOBODY DIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAA I THINK IT'S FUNNY! ONLY IN AMERICA!!!

[sb250guy]

10:13 AM on 05/19/2011

The glitter attack was not a very good idea. I know it's harmless and there may be a point to it but it will be lost on most people. It also gives the repugnant Newt a chance to just brush it off and look like the civilized one. You've got to think these things through.

[rtaylor352]

09:30 AM on 05/19/2011

"Have you ever seen us do this at one of your events?"

I would have said, you don't need to come to any of our events, you're keeping us from our rights politically.

[wustner]

08:48 AM on 05/19/2011

It should have been compost

[sergal stew]

04:05 AM on 05/19/2011

Interesting he tells Newt not to hate..while he is assaulting him...and for people saying "it's just a harmless prank" What would you think about it in this context. a straight boy dumping glitter on a gay boy at school and he say it's "just a prank". I bet 2:1 he would be charged with hate crime. Gays need to denounce this person. if not then I guess it proves their hypocrisy

[rtaylor352]

09:33 AM on 05/19/2011

I see a difference in that Newt wants to be in a position to make laws and policy of the country, and his views need to be pointed out, even if it's from stunts like this.

[Megapril]

09:14 PM on 05/25/2011

Some of you GLBT people are just like some from the Black community, you use reverse discrimination to your own needs. Hypocrites...

[HuddledMasses]

06:17 PM on 05/19/2011

So throwing, what amounts to cut up paper, at someone is now classified as an attack? WOW!

[michelesda]

09:57 PM on 05/18/2011

I'm no Gingrich fan. Nonetheless, IMO not only was this guy out of line but I have to doubt whether he did much good or credit for his cause.

[captained50]

09:27 PM on 05/18/2011

it's pixie dust newt ...now you can fly.....!!!

[Tim Moore]

09:10 PM on 05/18/2011

I think it's kind of funny, although a bit silly. No, it wasn't a Gabby Giffords or Monica Seles or any other type of incident, I don't equate throwing glitter with shooting or knifing someone. Or even throwing a shoe.

[Tykete]

09:02 PM on 05/18/2011

Absolutely stupid and pointless

[rhomsky]

08:37 PM on 05/18/2011

Off topic for a second. Is the bush shoe thrower guy still locked up? I hope not.

[kamikazewarthog]

11:15 AM on 05/19/2011

Seriously! You cannot physically attack the President of the United States. The guy should still be locked up as an example. I don't want anyone throwing anything at Obama either.