John Amis / AP Photo
Newt Gingrich demanded an apology from NBC News Wednesday night for a report that blamed his wife for much of his campaign’s recent turmoil. (Sixteen top staffers resigned en masse last week.) The NBC report said staffers were upset over Callista Gingrich’s role, including her demand that the campaign arrange screenings of movies made by their for-profit production company. NBC says she insisted on screenings followed by Q&As, where they could sell DVDs—events that took up hours of time. When staffers in South Carolina refused a screening, she and Newt skipped an event in Myrtle Beach so they could return to D.C. to attend the opera “Don Pasquale” at the Kennedy Center. NBC also says Callista refused to allow early-morning travel because she needed time to do her hair. ““He wanted to campaign but on the other hand he had to keep his wife happy,” said one former staffer. On Wednesday, Newt told Fox News, “I believe NBC owes Callista an apology, because the fact is my campaign is my campaign. We make decisions as a couple, but in the end, I take full responsibility.”