Scandal Dogs Family Values Republicans

Rick Perry has one you probably never heard of

(NEWSER) - Who needs debates? The Washington Times rounds up the GOP candidates' favorite movies:

• Herman Cain: The Godfather. (Yes, the former CEO of Godfather's Pizza winked when he answered.)
• Newt Gingrich: "Probably Casablanca."
• Michele Bachmann: "Braveheart, or maybe Saving Private Ryan."
• Rick Perry: Immortal Beloved. The most offbeat choice comes from the Texas guv, who favors this 1994 biopic of Beethoven.
• Mitt Romney: O Brother Where Art Thou, he told the New York Times.
• Rick Santorum: Field of Dreams, he said when pressed to pick just one. (It's in Iowa after all.)

Chris Dodd, Barney Frank should pay for collapse, not Wall Street bigs: Newt

(NEWSER) - Newt Gingrich has an interesting idea for resolving political conflicts: Jail Democrats. That was the former House speaker's surprising recommendation in last night's GOP debate . The suggestion came up as he expressed sympathy for the Occupy Wall Street movement, saying protesters have every right to be angry. But they should direct their ire at government officials, not Wall Street fat cats, he insisted. In fact, he added, top Democrats Rep. Barney Frank and former Sen. Chris Dodd, co-authors of financial reform legislation, should be jailed. "If you want to put people in jail, you ought to start with Barney Frank and Chris Dodd. And let’s look at the politicians who profited from the environment and the politicians who put this country in trouble," said Gingrich, who also urged "firing" Ben Bernanke and Timothy Geithner. More»

Former House speaker goes into damage control quickly

(NEWSER) - Newt Gingrich says he's sorry and sounds like he'd take a do-over if he could. After running into a buzzsaw of GOP criticism for bashing Paul Ryan's budget plan over the weekend, Gingrich personally called the congressman today, reports Politico . “Newt apologized,” says his press secretary. "The call went very well.” The trouble began for Gingrich on Sunday when he described Ryan's Medicare proposal as "right-wing social engineering" and "radical change." More»

Husband of Ensign's mistress reportedly contacted Ensign directly

(NEWSER) - When the husband of John Ensign’s mistress decided to email a Fox News anchor a request to discuss the affair, Rick Santorum found out—and warned the former Nevada GOP senator, a Senate ethics committee probe finds. Doug Hampton forwarded his email to Fox's Megyn Kelly to Santorum, asking for his help. The former Pennsylvania senator relayed the news to Ensign, Politico reports. Why Hampton wanted Santorum’s help isn’t clear. More»

He 'felt compelled to seek God's forgiveness' he tells Christian media

(NEWSER) - Newt Gingrich cheated on his first two wives , maybe because he loves America so much. That’s what the ex-speaker told the Christian Broadcast Network last night, in a repentant interview seemingly designed to address one of the bigger blotches on his presidential resume, Politico reports. “There’s no question at times of my life, partially driven by how passionately I felt about this country, that I worked far too hard and things happened in my life that were not appropriate,” Gingrich said. More»