CNN Nuked By Newt

KING:  You've met the candidates.  It's time now to begin the debate, an event that has quite a dramatically different feel than just a few hours ago.  

Just this morning, as Senator Santorum just noted, we learned he, not Governor Romney, won the Iowa caucuses.  There were five podiums on the stage when the sun came up.  Four now because of Governor Rick Perry's decision to drop out.  

And just as Speaker Gingrich surged into contention here in South Carolina, a direct fresh character attack on the Speaker.  

And Mr. Speaker, I want to start with that this evening.  

As you know, your ex-wife gave an interview to ABC News and another interview with "The Washington Post."  And this story has now gone viral on the Internet.  

In it, she says that you came to her in 1999, at a time when you were having an affair.  She says you asked her, sir, to enter into an open marriage.  

Would you like to take some time to respond to that?  

GINGRICH:  No, but I will.  

(APPLAUSE)

GINGRICH:  I think the destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the news media makes it harder to govern this country, harder to attract decent people to run for public office.  And I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that.  

(APPLAUSE)  

KING:  Is that all you want to say, sir?  

GINGRICH:  Let me finish.  

KING:  Please.  

GINGRICH:  Every person in here knows personal pain.  Every person in here has had someone close to them go through painful things.  To take an ex-wife and make it two days before the primary a significant question for a presidential campaign is as close to despicable as anything I can imagine.

(APPLAUSE)

My -- my two daughters -- my two daughters wrote the head of ABC and made the point that it was wrong, that they should pull it, and I am frankly astounded that CNN would take trash like that and use it to open a presidential debate.

(APPLAUSE)

KING:  As you noted, Mr. Speaker, this story did not come from our network.   As you also know, it is a subject of conversation on the campaign.  I'm not -- I get your point.  I take your point.

GINGRICH:  John -- John, it was repeated by your network.  You chose to start the debate with it.  Don't try to blame somebody else.  You and your staff chose to start this debate with it.

(APPLAUSE)

Let me be quite clear.  Let me be quite clear.  The story is false.  Every personal friend I have who knew us in that period said the story was false.  We offered several of them to ABC to prove it was false.  They weren't interested because they would like to attack any Republican.  They're attacking the governor.  They're attacking me.  I'm sure they'll presently get around to Senator Santorum and Congressman Paul.

I am tired of the elite media protecting Barack Obama by attacking Republicans.

(APPLAUSE)