Newt Gingrich Called 'F-cking A--hole' By Man At Campaign Stop
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich got a piece of one voter's mind Tuesday at a grocery store campaign stop in Iowa.
"You know something?" Tom Sorensen of Iowa City asked Gingrich, shaking his hand. "You're a f-cking a--hole."
Gingrich appeared to be somewhat unsure of how to respond.
"Well, it's honesty," Sorenson continued.
"Luckily it's a free country," Gingrich finally mustered, before moving on to greet more people gathered at the store.
(Video above via CNN)
Tracked down later by CNN's Shawna Shepherd, Sorenson, who said he hasn't decided who he'll vote for in the Jan. 3 caucus, explained the exchange.
"We shook hands, I looked him in the eye and told him what I thought," he said, before going on to opine that Gingrich "represents everything that's bad about politics."
The profane insult is just the latest sign that Gingrich's candidacy, which has slowed considerably this week after a somewhat spectacular rise to the top of the pack, is highly polarizing to Iowa voters.
Earlier on Tuesday, one of Gingrich's own supporters employed some brutal honesty, pleading with him not to be "arrogant and narcissistic."
"Do you feel like you need to be a little more humble to make it?" 31-year old Jenny Turner asked the former House Speaker in front of a slew of reporters and other Iowans. "But I think you're great! I just get nervous."
And it's not just Republicans that publicly challenged Gingrich Tuesday in confrontations that have left him worse for wear.
Scott Arnold, a gay Iowan, pressed Gingrich on his stance on gay rights during a separate incident in Oskaloosa.
"What if [marriage equality] is the biggest issue?" Arnold asked Gingrich.
"Then I won't get their support. ... [I]f that's most important to you then you should be for Obama." Gingrich responded.
Arnold answered: "I am, thank you."
Video of that exchange via Washington Post:
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First Posted: 12/21/2011 8:25 am Updated: 12/21/2011 11:48 am