POLL: Does Newt Gingrich Owe You an Explanation of His Debt?

The website Politico.com has two stories about Newt Gingrich and debt — specifically Gingrich’s $250k-$500k revolving debt to Tiffany — the jewelry store made famous by the band Deep Blue Something.

In some respects it’s a non-story: Callista Gingrich, Newt Gingrich’s third wife^*, had to report the debt in her 2006 and 2007 filing, which covered the 2005 and 2006 calendar years, because she was employed by the House Agriculture Committee until 2007. It’s Newt’s debt; but it’s also old debt — if it still exists at all.

Gingrich, of course, isn’t entirely thrilled about answering questions regarding the debt — but then, who among us wants to talk about what we owe and to whom? But then, who among us is running for president? And if one of your responsiblities as commander in chief is to be responsible for the nation’s pursestrings, shouldn’t you have to answer questions about your spending?

Sarah Palin’s BFF and Fox News personality Greta Van Susteren found herself on the angry end of Gingrich’s defensiveness when she tried to ask him about the Tiffany’s debt:

“Notice I talked about jobs. I talked about the price of gasoline. I talked all these real problems for real Americans.”

Debt, of course, is a real problem for real Americans — though, of course, a lot of Americans I know don’t owe half a million dollars to a trinket shop.

So, we turn it to you: Do you think Newt Gingrich should be exempt from questions about his finances? Is it any of our business what the debt level is of an employee we elect? Take the poll and/or leave a comment.

^* Gingrich left his first wife, Jackie Battley, to be with his second wife, Marianne Ginther, before moving on to his current wife, Callista Bisek. In an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network, Gingrich explained his history of infidelities this way: “There’s no question at times in my life, partially driven by how passionately I felt about this country, that I worked too hard and things happened in my life that were not appropriate.”