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The media was eager to score the first five minutes of Thursday's CNN debate as a win for Newt Gingrich, because he used the opportunity of being asked about his former wife's interview on ABC to excoriate John King. Certainly, it got him a standing ovation from the audience, but let's be honest, those jokers actually believe that there *is* a liberal media. But those of us with higher critical thinking skills recognize a fairly desperate deflection, the whole "the best defense is the a strong offense" strategy.
As Rachel shows, this is an old standby defense for Gingrich, attacking the media. And luckily in John King and CNN, he had a target that isn't strong or self-possessed enough to retain control of the debate and turn that attack back on him.
But that won't always be the case, and whining about it won't get Gingrich out of answering those uncomfortable questions, especially ones that point to his character. And character matters, no matter how badly the guy with a history of infidelities, leaving critically ill spouses and corruption charges wants to make it not so by the sheer volume of his complaints.
Some day--maybe a day not so far from now--those questions are gonna be asked again, and Newt better get ready for some real answers.
