Newt Gingrich attacks media for behaving like Newt Gingrich

US Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich has launched a scathing attack on the media for behaving in a way normally associated with Newt Gingrich.

Speaking at a debate before Saturday’s South Carolina primary, Gingrich angrily denied claims that his genitals had a tendency to override his brain, accusing the media of using exactly the same kind of smear tactics that he has throughout his career.

“Rooting through someone’s past in an attempt to drag up some dirt that will discredit their campaign is exactly the sort of underhand tactic that I would use,” he fumed.

“For the media to adopt a similar tactic in its coverage is as destructive, vicious and negative as I hope that it is when I do it.”

Mr Gingrich went on to claim that the media’s reporting of claims by his ex-wife that he wanted an “open marriage” was “as close to despicable as anything I can imagine that doen’t involve a sacrificial alter, several goats and an industrial sized tin of grouting paste”.

Gingrich outburst

Gingrich is surging in the polls in South Carolina and is neck-and-neck with Mitt Romney, following allegations by Gingrich that Romney was able to say ‘my name is Mitt Romney’ in a deeply un-American language that could invoke evil spirits.

His outburst against the media is expected to go down well with Republican voters who are simultaneously for and against freedom of speech depending on what’s being said.

The two other remaining candidates in the race to become the Republican presidential nomination are Christian conservative Rick Santorum, whose campaign has been guided by voices, and some other fella who for some reason barely gets a mention.