News & Events
Nurses to Newt: Leave Us Out of Your Excuses!
12.15.2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dawn Kettinger (517) 614-6810, dawn@progressmichigan.org
Nurses to Newt: Leave Us Out of Your Excuses!
Gingrich compares self to the most respected profession in explaining his adultery, etc.
OKEMOS – Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich was out of line and offensive today in comparing himself to a nurse and implying that the resulting exhaustion drove him to behavior such as ethics violations and adultery, members of the Michigan Nurses Association said today.
In reference to his past behavior, Gingrich said in an interview with the Des Moines Register today: "I think I was exhausted, I think it was a sense of, it wasn’t hubris …. I was so tired, and I had tried to do so many things … I felt empty, it’s a common challenge that nurses have."
"Of course nurses are exhausted after a long shift of taking care of our patients, but it is incredibly offensive for Newt Gingrich to suggest that we would ever use that as an excuse to hurt our families or break the law," said Deb Nault, Associate Executive Director for Nursing Practice at the Michigan Nurses Association. "There’s a reason that nurses are voted the most honest and ethical professionals in the country, year after year. It’s no surprise that members of Congress are at the very bottom, with politicians like Newt Gingrich trying to present themselves as something they’re not and refusing to accept responsibility for their behavior.
"My fellow nurses and I have a message for Mr. Gingrich: Take care of your own dirty laundry and leave us out of it."
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The Michigan Nurses Association, www.minurses.org, represents more than 10,000 registered nurses across the state, advocating for them and their patients. Visit fightformainstreet.org for more information on their Main Street Campaign for the American People, which demands new priorities to rebuild our state and country and a financial transaction tax to support them.
Gallup Poll results, Dec. 12, 2011: Nurses No. 1 again - http://www.gallup.com/poll/151460/Record-Rate-Honesty-Ethics-Members-Congress-Low.aspx
