Rush Limbaugh: Newt Gingrich asking his wife for permission to cheat is “a mark of character.”

Newt Gingrich with second wife Marianne Ginther

Rush Limbaugh attacked ABC News’ decision to air an interview with Newt Gingrich’s second wife, Marianne, tonight in advance of the South Carolina presidential primary.

Limbaugh was extremely skeptical of reports that ABC News was debating the ethical implications of airing the interview before the South Carolina primary. The radio host charged, “If there was any debate at ABC, it was over when would be the best time to do it so as to cause the most harm.” He alleged that the network was trying to “clear” the GOP field, and never dug up dirt on Democratic candidates.

Limbaugh also drew parallels between Gingrich and Bill Clinton over their affairs. He said that Gingrich “wanted an open marriage just like Bill and Hillary and in fact, Newt actually had the politeness to ask permission for it. You think Bill ever did that?” He speculated that the charges against Gingrich, which he dismissed as unimportant, might even prompt Democrats to vote for him.

Some quotes from Limbaugh’s show via Think Progress:

“I don’t understand why the media’s pretending to be so upset” about Gingrich’s behavior with his ex, Marianne. Limbaugh went on to read a “great note” from a “good friend of mine,” which posits that Newt and not Marianne — whom Gingirch left shortly after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis — is the real “victim” here….

LIMBAUGH: I got a great note from a friend of mine. “So Newt wanted an open marriage. BFD. At least he asked his wife for permission instead of cheating on her. That’s a mark of character, in my book. Newt’s a victim. We all are. Ours is the horniest generation.” […] That’s from a good friend of mine, “Newt’s slogan ought to, ‘Hell, yes, I wanted it.’” (laughing) I’m sharing with you how some people are reacting to this.

Limbaugh didn’t seem concerned about the fact that Gingrich had already been carrying on his affair with Callista for years before he supposedly “asked permission.”

So this is the state of Republican morality today. Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, married for the third time after cheating on his first two wives is defended by drug addict Rush Limbaugh, who is now married to his fourth wife. But somehow Bill Clinton is still the real bad guy.

Here’s ABC’s preview of the interview with Marianne…

and a radio interview with Brian Ross about the interview