Missouri Rep. McCarthy Will Retire From Congress

Associated Press ^ | 12/21/03 | Libby Quaid, AP

[Jokelahoma]

Rep. Karen McCarthy, D-Mo., will retire after 10 years in Congress, her hometown newspaper reported Sunday. McCarthy, 56, told The Kansas City Star she seeks tranquility.

"I want to focus on balance in my life," she said. "Too often, I've put my career and helping others ahead of my own needs. I made sacrifices willingly; it was what I did best." McCarthy did not return telephone calls to her home and cell phone Sunday from The Associated Press.

McCarthy's descent began last March with a drunken fall on a Capitol Hill escalator. It ended amid allegations, first reported by The Associated Press, that she misused her staff and her campaign for personal gain, such as several trips to the Grammy Awards.

Her exit foretells a lively primary race in Kansas City, Mo., an area likely to remain in Democratic hands. Local leaders are entreating beloved former Mayor Emanuel Cleaver to run. Among those already running, newcomer Jamie Metzl has raised more than $310,000. Another Democrat, Damian Thorman, also is running, as are two Republicans, Steve Dennis and Jeff Brauner.

McCarthy maintained a low profile in the House for eight years until her very public fall on March 21, when she hurled her satchel at an aide, lost her balance and gashed her forehead on an escalator inside the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Because of her fall, McCarthy missed an important tax-cut vote.

The incident called attention to a pattern of behavior her low profile had obscured. McCarthy frequently missed votes, at a rate higher than two-thirds of her 435 colleagues, according to an AP analysis. The turnover among her staff of about 14 people was so frequent that she lost more than one aide each month.

Then McCarthy got into a dispute with House bookkeepers over a campaign consultant she had hired; she wanted taxpayers to pay some of the bill.

Finally, McCarthy came under fire when former aides spoke out in interviews with the AP, saying she went to the Grammys in New York City and stayed in the historic Waldorf-Astoria hotel on the campaign dime, which violates House conduct rules and federal election rules.

Aides also said she used them as personal chauffeurs to and from work and on personal errands, which is against federal law.

Travel documents obtained by the AP backed up the claims.

McCarthy defended herself in a recent television interview, but she abruptly walked out eight minutes into it.

"It seems to me you're looking for how to kick a person when she's down, and people see that for what it is, and you need to know that. Bye," she told KMBC-TV, the ABC affiliate in Kansas City.

AP-ES-12-21-03 2152EST

Copyright 2003 Associated Press

[Jokelahoma]

I search for the story... hope no one has posted this already

She's a leftist representing the Kansas City district. She'll be sorely missed . The only problem with her retiring is that the lefties in downtown KC will likely scrape up enough votes to elect someone even more vile and disgusting to replace her. But at least with no true incumbant, there's a chance we can get someone in there who is decent and worthwhile. Wish us luck!

[Paul Atreides]

"It seems to me you're looking for how to kick a person when she's down, and people see that for what it is, and you need to know that. Bye," she told KMBC-TV, the ABC affiliate in Kansas City.

Yeah, Dims never kick a person when he's down, do they?

[sauropod]

So let's replace her with Jenny McCarthy....

Always hoping...

[LADY J]

"I made sacrifices willingly; it was what I did best."

Spoken like a true RAT. An obnoxious - pompous - crook!

[Paul Atreides]

"I made sacrifices willingly; it was what I did best."

Yeah, babies on an altar.

[martin_fierro]

Behold the Lush (Miss Jane Hathaway likes the occasional nip).

[Jokelahoma]

When the story about the Grammy trips broke, she was giving interviews, but only so she could answer every question with quips about how biased the media was (to a leftist, bias means "I got caught"). It was pathetic. She didn't even sound worthy of any sympathy. She sounded snide, rude, condescending... Hillary with a booze problem. She dug her own grave, then staggered around until she fell into it. Good riddance, I say. Shame she'll can't just leave now and save us having to put up with her all through 2004.

[arasina]

Just wondering: Are you the "Jokelahoma" from Ye Olde Prodigy Chat Room GREAT DEBATE?

[hellinahandcart]

McCarthy maintained a low profile in the House for eight years until her very public fall on March 21, when she hurled her satchel at an aide, lost her balance and gashed her forehead on an escalator inside the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington.

Wow. I'm here every day and I never heard of this until now, so how public could it have been?

[WackyKat]

Too often, I've put my career and helping others ahead of my own needs

But not ahead of the Chivas Regal, apparently

[Jokelahoma]

uh... yes, yes I am, as a matter of fact. Guess this witness protection thing needs work, eh?

[Paul Atreides]

I had not heard about any of this. Yet, her name sounds familiar.

[hellinahandcart]

I had not heard about any of this

I know!! Jeez, we'd have been all over a story about a drunken Democrat falling down an escalator and missing the chance to vote AGAINST the tax cut. She'd have had a nickname and Photoshop tributes and everything by the end of the day.

[Paul Atreides]

Well, that little (D) at the end of a person's name can cover a multitude of sins....unless you happen to be Jim Traficant.

[MedicalMess]

McCarthy maintained a low profile in the House for eight years until her very public fall on March 21, when she hurled her satchel at an aide, lost her balance and gashed her forehead on an escalator...


Class... Real class.

The party is over! Our host has passed out at the bar.

[skinkinthegrass]

haha..She joins the infamous ranks of Tip O'neal and Swimmer Ted...so many drunk on power (and the Chivas Regal, apparently) to name here.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

If only she'd been a Kennedy. Then this would be a feather in her cap.

[ikka]

"I want to focus on balance in my life," she said.

Does she not get a wonderful pension plan since she has been a congress-thing for 10 years?

[Paul Atreides]

"I want to focus on balance in my life," she said.

From the sound of things, it will be the first time in her life she will have a sense of balance.

[Missouri]

MISSOURI PING.