Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev caught in Affair

[Crossroads Inc.]

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Analysis: Ensign affair a shock GOP didn't need

AP – Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev. speaks at a news conference at the Lloyd D. George Federal building, Tuesday, …
By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 11 mins ago
WASHINGTON – It's just about the last thing the beleaguered Republican Party needed: a Christian conservative with national aspirations admitting to an extramarital affair with an ex-staffer.
Add Nevada Sen. John Ensign's infidelity admission to an ever-growing list of woes for the out-of-power GOP.
One senator's predicament hardly condemns an entire party. But the episode is an unwelcome distraction as the Republicans, their ranks shrinking, seek a turnaround after disastrous losses in consecutive national elections.
Since President Barack Obama took office, Republicans have struggled to counter his popularity and the Democrats' command of Congress.

The GOP's new national chairman, Michael Steele, got off to a rocky start. Moderate Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter defected to the Democrats. And Democrat Al Franken is favored to eventually be declared the winner of the disputed Minnesota Senate race over incumbent GOP Sen. Norm Coleman.
Now this.

"Last year I had an affair. I violated the vows of my marriage. It is the worst thing I have ever done in my life," Ensign said Tuesday at a hastily arranged news conference in Sin City itself, Las Vegas.
He didn't name the woman, but 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.

On Wednesday, as fellow senators remained mum, Ensign resigned his leadership post. The skilled communicator and proven fundraiser was the chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, the No. 4 Senate Republican.
Until his admission, Ensign was trying to raise his national profile. Popular in Nevada though virtually unknown elsewhere, he recently flirted with a 2012 presidential run, visiting the early voting state of Iowa and refusing to tamp down speculation of a bid.

Those dreams now seem dead.

Said Scott Reed, a Republican operative in Washington: "It's a setback for the GOP in that Ensign is an attractive Republican politician who has national potential but has probably been sidelined."
There is no shortage of ambitious Republicans angling to be the fresh face of a party that many voters consider stale. Yet, other prospects also seem to be falling out of favor.

Stunting one potential threat, Obama recently named a GOP rising star with White House interest — Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman — as the U.S. ambassador to China. Another Republican hopeful, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, has asked supporters to end efforts to draft him for a presidential run.

The 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, seems to be tangled in a new controversy every week. One week, it was an embarrassing high-profile back-and-forth with GOP House and Senate leaders over her attendance at a fundraising dinner. The next, she went after comedian David Letterman.
That said, there are others methodically positioning themselves to lead the GOP — and perhaps be the 2012 nominee. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty opted against running for a third term; confidants believe he'll run for president. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is fundraising for GOP candidates and criticizing Obama in anticipation of another campaign.

But the GOP is having trouble turning the page on the George W. Bush era. Polls show that it's the old-timers touting years-old messages — former Vice President Dick Cheney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich — who are identified the most as party leaders.

Since Obama won the White House and Democrats padded their House and Senate majorities last fall, Republicans have struggled to consistently challenge the new president. He's rolled out a bold agenda and is racking up successes. Republicans recently have seized on his sweeping government expansion and giant price tags. But, with fewer numbers in Congress and no singular leader, the GOP's ability to do anything more than gripe is limited.
Then there are the party's structural and philosophical problems. Polls show a dwindling percentage of people consider themselves Republican and the GOP has lost its grip on every part of the country but the South. It's obvious the GOP needs to attract new loyalists. But the party is in the midst of a family feud over whether to return to conservative roots or moderate its pitch to recruit a wider membership.

Sex scandals don't help, particularly for a party that's weathered its share in recent years and that's made up of staunch social conservatives who preach morality. They include Ensign, who is a member of the men's Christian ministry Promise Keepers, which calls itself committed to building strong marriages.
Over the past two years, Senate Republicans watched Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho plead guilty to charges in connection with an airport bathroom sex sting with a male undercover officer and Louisiana Sen. David Vitter apologize for a "very serious sin in my past" after his Washington phone number was discovered among those called by an escort service suspected of prostitution.

Electorally, the GOP's situation in the Senate has been disastrous; Republicans lost no less than a dozen seats in 2006 and 2008, when Ensign was in charge of electing GOP senators. And, 2010 is shaping up to be another tough year, with a wave of open seats Republicans must defend because of retirements.
House Republicans, too, sustained back-to-back shellackings. But the GOP has reasonable expectations of gaining seats there next fall; even Democrats say some of their members are in reliably Republican districts.
The GOP hopes its resurgence begins this fall by retaking governorships in Virginia and New Jersey — and even Democrats say they have a shot.
The party has plenty of revival plans. Barring more unpleasant surprise

While "GOPS caught in sex scandle" is up there with "the sky is blue" these days, its worthing noting simply because, as Always, the GOP tote themselves as the "Moral" party....

[Xenophobe3691]

At least it's not a gay sex scandal!

Although DW's words start to make a disturbing amount of sense. It doesn't matter what the man does, it matters who the man is...

[Samuel]

At least it's not a gay sex scandal!

Although DW's words start to make a disturbing amount of sense. It doesn't matter what the man does, it matters who the man is...

Tribalism being a defining feature of the GOP? Who could have guessed!

"Last year I had an affair. I violated the vows of my marriage. It is the worst thing I have ever done in my life," Ensign said Tuesday at a hastily arranged news conference in Sin City itself, Las Vegas.

Worst thing ever? I'd think starting a war that got people killed would be worse.

[FSTargetDrone]

Most amusing is what Ensign said about Larry Craig in this 2007 article:

Senator Ensign says Craig Resignation Best For GOP

Republican Sen. John Ensign of Nevada said Thursday it would be best for the Senate and the GOP if Sen. Larry Craig resigned, but stopped short of calling for the Idaho Republican's resignation over his arrest in an airport men's room.

"I wouldn't put myself, hopefully, in that kind of a position like that but if I was in a position like that, I think that's what I would do," Ensign told The Associated Press. "He's going to have to answer that for himself... I think the pressure will continue to build."

Craig, 62, pleaded guilty earlier this month to a charge stemming from an undercover police operation last June in a Minneapolis airport bathroom.

Ensign, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said he was a driving force in the GOP leadership's decision Wednesday to ask Craig to step down from key committee posts, which Craig did.

"You should not be in a position of leadership, especially because he admitted guilt," Ensign told AP in an interview after touring a geothermal plant in Reno.

"This wasn't like he's been charged with something but yet he denied it. He admitted guilt. He plead guilty. It's a little different situation than just being accused of something," he said.

Ensign said Craig's resignation clearly would be in the interest of the Republican Party.

"That's obvious," he said. He said Craig ultimately may decide to resign, especially if the Senate Ethics Committee decides to hold public hearings.

"We'll see whether Larry wants to put himself through that," Ensign said. "I can't imagine him wanting to put his family through that or the Senate through that, but we'll see."

"You never know what people will do in these situations," he said.

So Ensign was in the middle of the affair in 2007. Yet he opened his mouth about Craig's nonsense in the same year.

Guess that came back to bite Ensign right on the ass, eh?

Then again, I may be too hasty. After all, maybe he was specifically referring to screwing around in a public restroom as a situation he wouldn't put himself it.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

Well, Craig had a GAY affair, and that's worse!!

-- Republican defenders.

More seriously, I admit when I was first told this, though without the gender of the person he had the affair with being specified, I answered with "Who's the lucky rentboy?"

[FSTargetDrone]

Well, Craig had a GAY affair, and that's worse!!

-- Republican defenders.

More seriously, I admit when I was first told this, though without the gender of the person he had the affair with being specified, I answered with "Who's the lucky rentboy?"

Hey, for all we know he may have been doing that in the 2002 affair! Of course, that is just baseless speculation on my part.

I just love these Promise-Keeping Clowns.

[Vendetta]

Has Fox put a D in front of his name yet?

I hear that's the secret sign for the party to throw him under the bus.

[Glocksman]

Well, Craig had a GAY affair, and that's worse!!

-- Republican defenders.

More seriously, I admit when I was first told this, though without the gender of the person he had the affair with being specified, I answered with "Who's the lucky rentboy?"

Joe Madison was wondering if the affair was voluntary on the part of the woman.
She's the wife of one of his staffers and had worked for him herself, so that opens up the possibility of a quid pro quo sexual harrassment taking place.

Either way, cuckolding someone you call a friend and cheating on your wife is a 'twofer' in the world of assholery.

[Bob the Gunslinger]

I wonder if there will be any paternity tests done on the woman's children. Imagine the fallout if he really had cuckolded his friend.

A Republican who screws over his friend, breaks up a familyu and leaves an unwanted child in his wake? It's like a microcosm of the party.

[Gil Hamilton]

He had an affair with a woman? Wow, that's boring. He's a Republican, shouldn't his sex scandal involve coke and a male gay lover?

[KroLazuxy_87]

Did anyone check this guy's trunk for a dead hooker?
Or maybe one of his kids is gay?

As far as the republicans getting caught with their pants down goes, this is pretty minor for them.

[Oskuro]

Then again, I may be too hasty. After all, maybe he was specifically referring to screwing around in a public restroom as a situation he wouldn't put himself it.

What? Don't you know anything about American values? He's referring to being caught.

[Memnon]

"Last year I had an affair. I violated the vows of my marriage. It is the worst thing I have ever done in my life," Ensign said Tuesday at a hastily arranged news conference in Sin City itself, Las Vegas.

Worst thing ever? I'd think starting a war that got people killed would be worse.

Well, the Republicans put enormous and value on their concept of marriage (see their position on gay marriage), putting it over things such as civil rights.
Besides, Ensign said that it was the worst thing he personally had ever done, so he probably doesn't see Afghanistan/Iraq as something he is personally culpable for.

[Ziggy Stardust]

Wasn't Ensign also one of the Republicans who really led the charge against Bill Clinton to get him impeached for HIS affair?

[The Original Nex]

Yes. He strongly urged Clinton to resign because of his infidelity.