Newt Gingrich and the Polygamy Question

Running for the Republican nomination in the US Presidential race, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich has been forced to address the issue of his multiple marriages-divorces and cheating. He recently was questioned about the polygamous freedom to marry. Honest and consensual polygamy is surely preferable on a personal and societal level than repeatedly cheating and going through acrimonious divorces, right?

Newt responded, "That's a fairly unusual question. Having gone through the annulment procedures of the Catholic church I don't meet the standards you just described."

That might make remarrying okay in the eyes of his church, but it doesn't change the fact that he has cheated and failed at monogamy.

"And I can assure you that I believe marriage is between a man and a woman and I oppose any effort to legalize polygamy."

On what basis does he deny the same-sex freedom to marry or the polygamous freedom to marry? He believes marriage is between "a man and a woman," (though he hasn't lived like it) but granting full marriage equality under the law doesn't have to change his personal beliefs.

Read jezebel.com's take on this encounter.