IS NEWT GINGRICH THE ST. PAUL OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

We may recall that St. Paul started out as a persecutor of the Jews, but in traveling across the desert, he had what was probably a sun stroke and also had an epiphany. After an extended period of recovery during which he could not speak, he became "no sinner like a converted sinner" and with fervor, laid the foundation for Christianity. A number of his letters eventually became part of what is now the Bible. He was very convincing and converted even jailers and kings. St. Paul is the great redemption story with his earlier transgressions against the Jews being forgiven, though he remained unforgiven by some in his day who even threatened his life.

Newt Gringrich is running for president even though he is carrying a heavy load. He had to resign his speakership of the House and pay back a lot of money. There are his well known serial monogamy marriages with the "open marriage" claim. He claims to be a Reagan Republican though when Reagan was president he was quite critical of him.* In politics, Gingrich has flip flopped on many issues, probably as much as Romney.** Gingrich admits that he isn't proud of some things he did earlier in life, but he has reformed and, in South Carolina at least, the religious right and no doubt others forgave him, giving him a big victory. His bellicose response in a debate concerning open marriage was lapped up by the audience and is given much credit for his win. It remains to be seen just how much carryover this victory will have, but it looks like Gingrich is a great redemption story in the Republican Party.

* http://www.mittromney.com/news/press/2012/01/former-reagan-offical-elliot-abrams-gingrich-was-“dead-wrong”-criticisms-reagan

** http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/11/newt-gingrich-flip-flops.html