If somebody basing their campaign on moral values, then their private life should definitely be a factor. You shouldn't be able to just lie and lie to sucker in voters and get away with it. I don't know why some voters aren't smart enough to see through these scummy liars.

Obviously, as of this writing we have 5.1% of those responding to this question declaring a persons moral fiber is not important. What a sad conclusion, thank God there are only 5.1% of your kind.

I wouldn't trust Newt as far as I could throw him, and it's obvious from his extremely ROTUND appearance that I couldn't physically pick him up much less throw him! I know this is katty BUT I'd love to mess his NOW wife's hair up!!!! What a superficial looking woman!!! I'd be embarrassed for the world to see that these two idiots were our President and First Lady - errrrrrrr - Third Lady!!!

Understanding a candidate's character - particular a candidate for the presidency - is an important part of making an informed decision about whom to vote for. To the extent that a candidate's private life reveals their character - yes, it should be open to scrutiny.

Like any government employee who is involved in major decisions which may affect national security. All presidents should be required to get a top secret (or Higher) security clearance. No one gets a security clearance if the have been involved with drugs, alcoholism, marital instability or any other situation which puts them in a position where they can be blackmailed because of their behavior. Obviously blackmailed by someone trying to influence Presidential decisions

It's not a simple yes or no. In general, I would not delve into a candidate's background, but when a candidate makes "defense of marriage" and "family values" into campaign issues, then the public deserves to know how that candidate lives. When a candidate builds discrimination into his platform, then I think that candidate is inviting scrutiny. When that candidate leads the impeachment process versus a sitting president over sexual matters, then that candidate's sexual history is relevant. Newton Leroy Gingrich should stay out of other people's private lives if he doesn't want them to probe his. QED.

MSNBC should add Asnwer 4 and call it "None of our business"

It is not my place to Judge. Fact is, we all have something we are ashamed of. As a Christian, I cite the Gospel of John, chapter 8, verse 7, which are the words of Christ.

If I have offended anyone by bringing in a Bible verse, then I apologize - but it is not meant to condemn any of you who do not share my faith. Thank you.

A hipocrite has no business running for President. How could Newt ever expect to receive any respect in office after his shinanigans regarding the Bill Clinton episode. This guy is not to be trusted at any level. His moral compass is certainly not anything the US should follow.

I heard a news piece from the Iowa caucuses where one of the voters greeted Gingrich by saying, "You're an embarrassment to the Republican Party. Get out of the race now!" That pretty much sums up my feelings for Gingrich. The debate moderator should have been able to say, "Well, quite frankly, Mr. Gingrich, I can't believe you had the audacity to ask your wife to be in an open marriage and, furthermore, run for President and not expect to be asked about it. I think its a sad day for the Republican Party that Gingrich has gotten this far. Why can't we elect a moderate republican who is not pulled by the extreme right, bible thumping fundamentalists who do not speak for the majority? I was a lean govt., that reduces its size, maintains or lower taxes and does not try to force people to adopt its ideology to be accepted. Newt has every right to live his life his way but its a reporters job to ask about it. He's an embarrassment. I sort of hope the party nominates him so he can get trounced in the election then they only have themselves to blame.

On the whole I believe private life should stay that way.

However if that private life indicates a serial condition of sociopathic behavior like Newt's does, then it does become relevant. Newt has shown he has a self absorbed, massively overly inflated ego and a willingness to pander to whatever group or idea he sees as a stepping stone to his own aggrandizement without even a smidgen of regret. He is a classic opportunistic sociopathic scammer and cannot be trusted on any level.

In that regard, sometimes revelations of private behavior can be useful in determining whether or not an individual should be granted power over us.

Newt has so many mental lapses, everyone should worry about his mental capacity and ability. His continual rounds of delusion and depression really should be a concern. He is a hypocrite and he thinks that his private life is off limits but goes after other people's private lives. You have to play by your own rules. This bowl of jello with a ribbon around his waist is a disgrace to the Republican Party. Between Mitt and Newt the Republicans will surely be eliminated as a serious political party. It amazes me that this is the best that have to offer the country.

YES!!!!! You absolutely should explore and scrutinize every defect of moral character in a candidate......unless it is MY party's candidate of course. (insert R or D here)

Newt is a failed Catholic. I wonder if he is allowed to take communion?

Had this discussion elsewhere on the net yesterday. It's the media's job to dig and bring forth everything they can about every candidate because we can't know these people personally. It's our job to determine if what they find makes a candidate worthy or not of our vote. If cheating on a marriage isn't a trait that disqualifies a person to be your leader then vote that way. Personally, I want a guy that honors his commitments to be my leader. If the guy has an understanding with his wife that lets them both roam then it's not really cheating. Its then a personal thing that I wouldn't choose for myself but in my opinion, it doesn't impinge the character of the candidate.

DO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO. I got special dispensation from the Pope.

Yes, it's relevant. It adds a little more information to the puzzle of who really is the candidate - what's he like, is he truthful, does he keep his promises, is he duplicitous? In the case of Gringrich, the answer is obvious.

It's only an issue because Republicans constantly make it an issue. The "family values" party, right? Gingrich's swipe at the media was SO predictable, and the roaring applause from that audience of conservatives was SO predictable. But EVERY SINGLE ONE of the conservatives in that building last night would have gone NUTS screaming about moral turpitude had Obama been the one accused of marital indiscretion. Gingrich calls out the press for being vicious and despicable? HOW ABOUT GINGRICH'S OWN BEHAVIOR??? THAT'S the REAL issue, not the press.

MSNBC Anchors & panels

Stop discussing ex-Speaker Gingrich's wives and start discussing the more relevant issue: his fine and expulsion from the congress for unethical behavior.

You don't have to predict his behavior based on marital conduct. You can just look at how he was unethical while actually in congress & how the Republicqans rebelled and threw him out. ; This is factual and there in the records for all to see.

Stop focusing on the "sexy" easy topic and let voters know about his record please.

The majority of households in the U.S. ARE NOT the traditional GOP husband and wife married till death. I think the hypocrisy of Newt going after Clinton while he was doing the same thing is what really turns people off. I would love to see a poll of U.S. women and if they would vote for Newt. Women vote and I will guess that it will not be for Newt.

Although I'm a democrat, I agree with Newt's statement. At a debate, it should not have been the opening question. It lacked class and was ruthless. It's okay if it was a personal interview but during a debate for the office of the President, it was irrelevant and childish. I don't really give a d*** what happened in 1999, my focus is what can they bring to our country in 2012. The media is ruining America on the political side as well as the entertainment world. Human being's sleep around, smoke marijuana, cigarettes, etc. So who cares what someone did 15, 20, and 30 years ago. Unless they murdered, raped, or anything of that nature, it doesn't matter. I'm not in any way, shape or form a supporter of Newt but right is right and I 100% agree with his statement.