Salon: The "frugal" life of Newt Gingrich

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Monday, May 23, 2011 09:01 ET
War Room
The "frugal" life of Newt Gingrich
By Justin Elliott



http://www.salon.com/news/2012_elections/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2011/05/23/frugal_life_of_newt_gingrich

On Face the Nation on Sunday, Newt Gingrich was asked about the embarrassing revelation that, at one point a few years ago, he owed over $250,000 in a credit account to the jeweler Tiffany's.

"We’re private citizens. I work very hard. We have a reasonably good income. I currently owe nothing except I owe one mortgage on a house that’s rental property in Wisconsin," a visibly annoyed Gingrich said. "Everything else is totally paid for. My home is paid for. My cars are paid for. We don’t have a second house. We don’t do-- you know, we don’t do elaborate things."

He added, "Well, go, you go talk to Tiffany’s. All I’m telling you is we-- we are very frugal. We, in fact, live within our budget. We owe nothing."

The idea that Gingrich and his wife are "frugal" would seem on its face to be at odds with that epic Tiffany's bill. But even allowing for the purchase of an extravagant wedding ring -- or whatever the $250,000 was for, Gingrich won't say -- there are signs that Gingrich lives anything but a frugal lifestyle.

[LynneSin]

1. It takes alot of money to make a 45 year old women look like she's turning 55

I was still shocked when I found out she was my age.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

2. 45? I never would have guessed that in a million years.

My first guess probably would have been 55. I'm assuming she's a smoker, too, because I saw a photo the other day that clearly indicated the Gingriches are "frugal" when it comes to dental bills.

The overriding theme, though, is that we have two people here attempting to put on an elaborate masquerade in the name of gaining more power, more money.

Pretty amusing given how much of his life is an "open book."

[LynneSin]

7. I was shocked too, she's just a few months older than me

The shine on her forehead shows she's a regular with the botox and she's got the development of the 'trout pout/joker smile' which probably is related to lip fillers. And I'm guessing from that shade of blonde, she is probably not a natural blonde but knows these GOP superstars want their 2nd & 3rd wives to be bottled blondes. Some reason we're to perceive a bottle blonde as being some sort of 'elegant lady'.

Personally, I'd rather hang out with people like Michelle Obama and Jill Biden - both of those ladies are aging naturally and look like they would have just as much fun dressed up for a fancy event as they would hanging out having a Bud. Hell Dr. Biden is a major Phillies fan - she'd be fun to hang out with and watch a game, kicking back having a beer.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

8. People slammed Laura Bush for being a "Stepford Wife," and worse...

...but Calista seems "frozen"...I don't know if that's the exact word I'm looking for, but it's close enough. I imagine the Gingrich home is filled with many expensive nick-nacks to dull the ache of being "Mrs./Ms. Newt Gingrich."

[LynneSin]

9. That's the effect of longterm use of Botox and Lip Fillers

I mean geez, Botox is essentially the same virus (or is it bacteria - I could be wrong) that causes Botulinum. These lil buggers are a neurotoxin and a pretty powerful one and what they do is paralyze the area where it's been injected. Since this is not a permament fix, many women (and a few men) will make it a point to have it regularly done 2-3 times a year. After awhile you see this change in the face and this permament shine on the forehead. Take a look at pictures of Kidman in her 30s before she hopped on the Botox train - she was absolutely gorgeous and now you can play Quarters off her foreward.

It's the same thing with these lip fillers. The first time you do it your lips look great but it's not a permament fix. Overuse of these fillers basically wears out the lips and that creates the 'trout pout' you'll see on many hollywood actress - their lips look long and flabby.

I'm not against these things, I suppose I might consider Botox one day but I would save it for special occassions, if I'm correct your body can bounce back if you use the product occassionaly. I would never touch the lip filters. Lisa Rinna was the poster child of lip filler abuse and she finally had to have corrective surgery to fix her lips (and btw, it did help alot!).

It's sad because for us women, we're taught at a young age that aging is bad. And for some women, it's no different than an eating disorder - they become obsessed with not aging and they abuse these products. And the abuse shows when their face becomes frozen looking.

[rfranklin]

3. The ugly rubbed off...

She was in high school when Newt started shtupping her in the parking lot.

[provis99]

10. she looks older than 45.

Yet Don Lemon of CNN also claims to be 45; I always though he was around 25-30. Clean living, I guess.

[Ikonoklast]

4. They just keep picking on 'Ol Newt.

Look, everyone Newt pals around with spends a quarter-million dollars or more on jewelry and shiny baubles for Wife Number Three.

Newt is either so arrogant to think he will ever be anything more than a disgraced former politician or he is just in this race to get free media time and generate income off the gullible.

I hear that third wives' tastes in jewelry tend towards the extravagent.

[TheOther95Percent]

5. The Tiffany Bill

I don't assume ol' Newt was spending $250K on gifts for the wife and friends. I'm willing to bet that his pattern has not changed. He cheated on wife number one with wife number two. He cheated through a good chunk of his first and second marriage. I don't see any reason to believe he's not cheating on this one. I don't believe he is capable of fidelity or sustaining a long term monogamous relationship. Just ain't in his DNA.

[Zoeisright]

6. Oh, it's "private", huh?

Like a woman's medical decisions are "private" to you?

Like Democrat's sex lives are "private" to you?

Fuck off, Newt. And crawl back under your rock.

[yellowcanine]

11. The only thing Newt is "frugal" with is his humility.

He doesn't seem to spread much of that around.