Brent Bozell: ABC's Marianne Gingrich Interview "Smacks of an October Surprise of the Worst Sort"
MRC President Brent Bozell issued the following statement in reaction to ABC's decision to air an interview with Newt Gingrich's ex-wife, Marianne, on the January 19 Nightline, just two days before the South Carolina primary:
It is not necessarily inappropriate for a news outlet to interview a candidate's former wife. However, three conditions must be met: 1) is it newsworthy?; 2) is it fair and respectful to the families involved?; 3) is the timing appropriate?
On the timing issue alone it is clearly inappropriate for ABC to run this interview on the eve of the South Carolina primary. This smacks of an October Surprise of the worst sort, for which so many in the left wing press have become so infamous. There is no reason it couldn't run next week.
If it doesn't meet the conditions of newsworthiness or fairness and respect it should be killed altogether.
