by Jack Lee
Another bad example of what not to do when you're representing your State or your Country as an elected official has surfaced today. It's about the last thing the Republican Party wanted to hear too; another avowed Christian and a respected conservative with national aspirations admits to cheating on his wife. Nevada Sen. John Ensign's infidelity admission only compounds the problems for the, out-of-power and not-soon-to-be-back-in-power, if this keeps up ...GOP!
Granted, a single marriage infidelity doesn't automatically drag the whole party into the toilet, but when every vote counts, when your numbers are shrinking and you have been kicked to the curb by voters, well, it sure can't help! It's especially embarassing when you are a self proclaimed member of the God Squad and you used your faith to get you elected. People have a right to expect more of you then!
The Senator didn't name the "other" woman, but staffer Cindy Hampton came forward later to say through an attorney that she regretted Ensign's decision to "air this very personal matter." Federal records showed that she was on his political payroll and received a promotion and a pay raise around the time he said the affair began in late 2007. There also was a report of a previous affair, in 2002, an indication that the drip, drip of dalliance details may only just be beginning.
Add Sen. Ensign's name to that of Republican Congressman Mark Foley who abruptly resigned from Congress after "sexually explicit" emails surfaced showing him flirting with a 16-year old boy. Just before that we had Sen. Larry Craig who was busted in a mens room sting operation and plead guilty to disorderly conduct. Then we have Republican Party leader Bobby Stumbo, he was arrested for having sex with a 5-year old boy. Republican County Chairman Armando Tebano pleaded guilty to fondling a 14-year-old girl, Republican legislator Edison Misla Aldarondo was sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping his daughter between the ages of 9 and 17, Republican Congressman Donald "Buz" Lukens was found guilty of having sex with a female minor and sentenced to one month in jail, Republican Congressman Dan Crane had sex with a female minor working as a congressional page, and then we have Republican congressman and anti-gay activist Robert Bauman was charged with having sex with a 16-year-old boy he picked up at a gay bar. There's more, many, many more, and it sickens me to have to say so!
People who represent America as high profile elected officials, Republican or otherwise, should have the courtesy and brains not to risk a sex scandal. But, if they are caught they deserve whatever they get! Because when they are exposed, and at least 10% of them will eventually be exposed, it turns off those decent voters who don't want to be associated with that kind of stuff. It causes us to lose faith in the decency of our elected officials and party leadership when they transgress!
Let this be yet another lesson to the estimated 90% who are currently getting away with it! Maybe it will scare them into reforming... probably not.
I generally do not like the media's coverage of "sex scandals." I think that as long as said politician is not committing any crime, i.e. the person they are having an affair with is a legal adult, it's none of our business, and a moral failing in this area might not necessarily affect their ability to do their job. It's a shame and a disgrace to be sure, but it makes me uncomfortable that we place so much importance on this. And there have been many Democratic politicians involved in sex scandals as well. But I will say that from a man who claims to defend the "sanctity of marriage" from teh evil gayz, this is quite hypocritical.
You know what K, I'm going to have to totally disagree with your "it's none of our business" comment. Such activities leave our American leader's vulnerable to blackmail and/or coercion. Not to mention it undermines our confidence because they are caught lying.
Look, we're at war with terrorists and any number of nasty little countries would like to do us harm. This "it's none of our business" what they do in the bedroom is BS. This is about national security. Hipocrisy too, you betcha!
It is bad for a Republican politician to get caught with his pants down, but it helps the Democrat politician. If a Republican finds himself in the grip of sin, what he should do is become a Democrat.
That's a good point, I hadn't thought about the blackmail angle. Better to get it out now, then.
I'm with Snopes...it's a better fit.
K's comment about blackmail was prescient, but not in the way that K or Jack intended. Latest reports indicate that Ensign came forward because the story leaked, and the story leaked because negotiations broke down between him and Hampton's husband, who was trying to extort a large sum of money from Ensign on the threat of exposing Ensign's long-term affair with Hampton's wife. In a case of attempted blackmail or extortion of a public official, you might expect law enforcement to be making an arrest or at least investigating. However, just today, both the Las Vegas Police and the FBI said that there is no investigation. I think I know the reason. The negotiations were handled by Hampton's attorney. What would be extortion for an ordinary citizen is merely an attempted settlement out of court for a lawyer. Ambrose Bierce defined a lawyer many years ago as a person skilled in ways to circumvent the law.
Good update information on this story, thanks Snopes!