Gingrich Demands CBS Apology for Mother’s Televised Remarks

On the day he became House Speaker, Newt Gingrich condemned the professional ethics of CBS News correspondent Connie Chung and demanded that CBS apologize for a scheduled broadcast interview in which Gingrich’s mother says that her son referred to First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton as “a bitch.”

“I think it is unprofessional and frankly pretty despicable, to go to a mother, who is not a politician, not in public life, and say, ‘Whisper to me,’ and then share it with the country,” Gingrich told reporters in Washington. Chung “in effect, lied to my mother,” Gingrich said. He called for Chung to apologize to his mother and to Mrs. Clinton.

CBS executives defended the interview and said that they still intend to broadcast it tonight on “Eye to Eye with Connie Chung.”

CBS News President Eric Ober said Wednesday that Kathleen Gingrich had made the comment with knowledge that the cameras were rolling. “We are absolutely certain that no confidences were violated,” Ober said.

Gingrich’s mother “volunteered an unsolicited view that she said her son had expressed regarding Hillary Rodham Clinton,” Ober said. “While broadcasting Mrs. Gingrich’s comments may have been perceived by some as unfair, CBS News does not believe withholding those comments would have been appropriate.”

The remark came during a two-hour interview with Chung and the Speaker’s mother, his stepfather and his three stepsisters. According to an excerpt from the interview, released on Tuesday night by CBS to generate interest in the Gingrich family profile, Chung asked: “Mrs. Gingrich, what has Newt told you about President Clinton?”

“Nothing, and I can’t tell you what he said about Hillary,” Mrs. Gingrich replied.

Chung: “You can’t?”

Gingrich: “I can’t.”

Chung: “Why don’t you just whisper it to me, just between you and me?”

Gingrich: “ ‘She’s a bitch.’ About the only thing he ever said about her. I think they had some meeting, you know, and she takes over.”

The Georgia Republican did not deny that he had made the comment.