Newt Gingrich

Re “Defiant Gingrich Says He’s Victim of Double Standard,” Jan. 26: It came as no surprise to me when the speaker’s curt apology to his colleagues suddenly changed to a churlish apologia before his constituents. Revealing shades of rueful repentance and reviviscent remonstrance has always been one of the outstanding capabilities of the noted Newt, a consummate chameleon.

JACK R. LEWIS

Los Angeles

A tear came to my eye while reading about Newt Gingrich’s claims of cruel and unjustified treatment by the Democrats and media. After wiping away that tear I thought, “Wait a minute. This is the very definition of hypocrisy.”

Gingrich whines that he is being held to a double standard of conduct. On the contrary, he invented the double standard by proposing a code of conduct for a former Democratic speaker, which he has now admitted he cannot abide by. Gingrich does not like being held to his own standard.

As usual, Rep. Gingrich is saying whatever it takes for him to gain or hang on to power.

JAMES SALLIS

San Diego

As someone who likes to think high political offices are still obtainable to average Americans, I object to any system that personally threatens the long-term economic stability of people who might otherwise serve their country very well.

When House members voted to fine Gingrich $300,000 for violating rules that are so technical it takes a team of lawyers just to understand them, I think they may have set a very bad precedent.

Newt’s punishment seems to be way out of proportion to his crime, especially if we examine his probable intent. Levying that large a fine will certainly discourage many good Americans, who would not want to accidentally find themselves similarly devastated, from stepping forward and offering to serve their country.

SCOTT YOLLIS

Granada Hills

Never have the media written so much about so little. If the transgressions of Gingrich are worth $300,000, the sins of Bill and Hillary Clinton could retire the national debt. Rarely have we seen a more glaring example of “straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel.”

GARY L. DAVIS