GINGRICH . . . RHYMES WITH RICH

First Al Gore's parents gave reporters mildly-embarrassing letters he had written to them as a college student. Now, in an interview with CBS anchor Connie Chung, to be aired on "Eye to Eye" Thursday, new House Speaker Newt Gingrich's mother, Kathleen, confides in a whisper that her "Newty" told her that Hillary Rodham Clinton is "a bitch." The Speaker immediately turned the incident into a tussle over journalistic ethics, demanding an apology for Chung's tactics in securing the comment from his mother, who, he noted, was unsophisticated about interview techniques. He may have a point.According to the CBS transcript, the exchange in question ran as follows:Chung: Mrs. Gingrich, what has Newt told you about President Clinton?Mrs. Gingrich: Nothing and I can't tell you what he said about Hillary.Chung: You can't.Mrs. Gingrich: I can't.Chung: Why don't you just whisper it to me, just between you and me?Mrs. Gingrich: "She's a bitch."As Mrs. Gingrich whispered the comment, the CBS tape continued to roll.