As I mentioned the other day, Newt Gingrich has threatened to pull out of future Republican debates unless the audience is allowed to bellow, weep, and cheer every time he throws them a disingenuous applause line. Gingrich even framed it as a free speech issue, which is total bullshit.

CNN told Huffington Post (via Poynter) that applause will be welcome at tomorrow night's debate, but it can't become a free-for-all:

"As we have done in the past, CNN will ask the audience to be respectful of the candidates," a CNN spokesperson said. "We have always said that if audience reaction such as shouting or booing interferes with the debate or with the candidates’ answers, we will ask the audience to refrain."

I wonder if Gingrich will take this as an assault on his liberties, too. Either way, tonight's debate should be an interesting one, especially since Gingrich and Romney are running neck-and-neck.