Newt Gingrich To Gay Iowan: Vote For Obama

Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich had an exchange with a gay voter Tuesday in Oskaloosa, Iowa that ended with the former House speaker telling him to vote for President Barack Obama if gay marriage was the most important issue to him.

Scott Arnold, an adjunct professor of writing at William Penn University who is a Democrat, asked how Gingrich plans to engage gay Americans.

(Video above via CBS News.)

"I think for those for whom the only issue that really matters is the definition of marriage I won't get their support, and I accept that that's a reality. On the other hand, for those for whom it's not the central issue in their life--if they care about job creation, if they care about national security, if they care about a better future for the country at large, then I think I'll get their support."

"So what if it is the biggest issue?" asked Arnold.

"Then I won't get their support," he replied.

Arnold continued to press Gingrich. "Well if that's the most important issue for you then you should be for Obama," said Gingrich. "That's perfectly legitimate."

"I am, but thank you," replied Arnold, who proceeded to shake Gingrich's hand.

At another campaign stop in Iowa Tuesday, a voter called Gingrich a "f***ing a**hole."

Comments

[Madeleine Davis]

07:45 PM on 12/23/2011

Still undecided, but Newt always gives you a straight answer, (no pun intended) You know where the man stands on the issues. Like the answer or not.

[loaferguy]

04:52 AM on 12/23/2011

In much the same way that a broken clock is right twice a day, Gingrich gives excellent advice here. Thanks, Newt! I'll be casting my vote bright and early on election day....for Obama.

[kpo5]

07:44 PM on 12/22/2011

Why is showing "honesty" all of a sudden applause-worthy to the Logs? Had Newt told any other subset of the population to vote for the other guy because he wasn't looking out for their best interests, it would be campaign suicide. Even Santorum (I'm new here, will typing Santorum get through the filters?) and Bachmann try and make a twisted case as to why the LGBT community should vote for them. To Newt, gays are disposable. That begs the question, if he could care less about the LGBT community, who else will be carelessly thrown out if he's elected?

[girlwild]

11:43 AM on 12/22/2011

Thanks, Newt. Now to all the Log Cabin Republicans out there, take his advice and vote for Democrats. The Republicans will NEVER want you in their party and you are continuing to pound sand for bigots.

[olitenup]

09:51 AM on 12/22/2011

84 ethics violations, while Speaker of the House. Run out of DC by his own party. That is all we need to know about him.

Next.

[green34]

09:34 AM on 12/22/2011

Well said Newt!!!
Gingrich In 2012!!!

[sargentbowen]

09:33 AM on 12/22/2011

An honest politician....imagine that!

[sargentbowen]

09:31 AM on 12/22/2011

Love it Newt!!

[boogie albert 56]

09:20 AM on 12/22/2011

Excellent board. The Dems have filled me with laughter for the day. For this I give you my appreciation. Be carefull who you kiss under the mistletoe, it might be your brother or your sister in disguise. Merry Christmas everyone.

[gaydood]

09:48 AM on 12/22/2011

u dont want to pay taxes?

[boogie albert 56]

02:56 PM on 12/22/2011

What does that have to do with my post. Besides, taxes on what?

[Doug Whitinger]

08:57 AM on 12/22/2011

Newt has once again proven himself to be the cold-blooded, reptilian creature he was named after.

[thatgirljd]

09:55 AM on 12/22/2011

No he showed honesty! Obama would like lied to the guy to get him to like him! Just because someone is gay doesnt mean they need to be a liberal. Thats seriously scary! I vote with my brain, not my heart. It gets good results!

[pfreddie88]

01:38 PM on 12/22/2011

He showed indifference, not honesty. Big difference

[talkstocoyotes]

05:11 AM on 12/25/2011

Honey, are they paying you by the exclamation point?

[Justjack1]

08:24 AM on 12/22/2011

Well he just said what we already know, they love the segregation thing, weather its race, gender, or sexual preference thats the GOP platform.

[des946]

09:12 AM on 12/22/2011

Amazing, huh? You take an "extreme and controversial issue" and try to manipulate it into being a generalized indictment of the entire Republicvan party. I happen to be what i consider to be a -middle-of-the-road, moderately conservative Republican; and I think that the Republican Party has been highjacked by the rather oligarchic, elitist special interests groups . . . but you are labelling me a biggot in general because of one issue? People taking extreme political positions is the basic casue of a lot of our political problems. People voting out of emotionalism rather than considered, reasonable and objective thoughts. And that is why BOTH political parties are corrupt, and hy we have so many either incompetent or corrupt politicians because people allow themselves to be manipulated with emotional issues rather than what is in the best interests of our nation and the people.

[Justjack1]

10:05 AM on 12/22/2011

The "Both parties" argument again, like i have said in a lot of posts from healthcare, to the war... but anyhow I'm not calling you bigoted (unless you think you are), i'm making an observation that the majority of the conservative GOP politicians and a lot of the followers are bigoted. The problem is money in politics, and the degradation of the Supreme court by outside influences.
FYI An issue is only controversial if there are people that oppose it, and if they oppose it you have to consider the 'why' behind that opposition. Is it bigotry or not, that is the determining factor, and most times with the people that i have seen, including Newt today when he basically said "if you are for gay issues then vote for Obama"

[Justjack1]

10:08 AM on 12/22/2011

BTW, they werent hijacked! Wasnt it Fox news that started the TEA Party so they could voice their bias opinions without having to own up to having those views, and just blame it on the TEA party, The Tea Party is just the GOP unmasked.

[Kathlene Sims]

09:40 AM on 12/22/2011

I was product of desegragation in then 60's shipped to n all black school during the watts riots. I was one of three white students.I refused to go to school after one month of being threatens,stolen from, robbed and name clling.It was scry

[Justjack1]

10:27 AM on 12/22/2011

The 60s... really?
So Kathlene are you saying that because of your experience that schools should be segregated? And on the same token don't you think that this type of bullying goes on all the time in every school? You saw the pictures of the black kids going to an all white school right? Same thing, we arent the country we were back then, and btw i am a black man.

[Justjack1]

10:32 AM on 12/22/2011

Its sad that there are people that think as you do, that segregation was a good thing, that putting all the money in the "white" schools while letting the others fend for themselves was the way to a fruitful future in our country. Its not, look at countries outside the US, they are constantly educating all of their people, constantly upgrading their infrastructure, and constantly growing because of it. I have seen this as an American that has been living abroad for the past 12 years, and am currently in Germany, and from these experiances i can tell you that our healthcare before Obama was a sham of a joke compared to here, and our education system was severely lacking, heck "We elected Bush" twice.

[jrgilb0729]

08:21 AM on 12/22/2011

You have to stop burning bridges Newt. You don't have that many left.

[Doug Whitinger]

08:52 AM on 12/22/2011

I encourage him to keep burning, and eventually he'll end up on an island... all alone.

[thatgirljd]

09:56 AM on 12/22/2011

Anyone who campaigns on honestly instead of lies (hope and change) gets my vote!!!!!

[aeweidman]

07:49 AM on 12/22/2011

There he goes again shooting himself in the foot. I say "aim higher Newt"!

[jrhdgs]

07:27 AM on 12/22/2011

Newt is and advocate of conventional marriage: 1 man- 1 woman (at a time).

[Gwens]

08:23 AM on 12/22/2011

well one wife and muliple women

[sargentbowen]

09:34 AM on 12/22/2011

As it should be!!

[jlglaze]

07:18 AM on 12/22/2011

Let gays keep living their lifestyle. They will all soon be out of the way of most people lives by their lifestyle so it doesn't bother me. The one thing that does bother me is the fact it is crammed down our throats. If you are gay, then be gay, but don't cram it down my throat.

[aeweidman]

07:51 AM on 12/22/2011

It's a deal , as long as you stop cramming down our throats that you are straight and superior to anyone who isn't

[jrgilb0729]

08:01 AM on 12/22/2011

If you are an illiterate bigot, then be an illiterate bigot, but don't cram it down my throat either.