Posted on 05/03/2005 3:26:49 AM PDT by Born Conservative
Local political observer advises facing issue linked to D.C. ‘domestic incident.’
Republicans are circling the wagons around U.S. Rep. Don Sherwood, R-Tunkhannock, in the wake of an incident involving a 29-year-old woman in his Washington, D.C., apartment last September.
“The only thing you have in life is your reputation,” said Marge Matisko, an activist with the Luzerne County Republican Party. “Don Sherwood has always been very well-respected, and he always valued that. This has hurt him personally and professionally, and that’s a shame.”
No one was charged in what police termed a domestic incident.
Despite an absence of charges, Sherwood may have suffered severe political damage, one pundit says.
“He’s sitting on a hot issue, and one that is potentially damaging,” said Thomas Baldino, a political science professor at Wilkes University. “If he’s smart, he’ll just come clean.”
Sherwood did not return calls for comment Monday.
Matisko defended Sherwood’s reputation, saying it may not be necessary for the congressman to disclose everything that happened to the public.
“I don’t know the whole story, and I don’t know that we need to know the whole story,” she said. “I think we need to hold judgment.”
Officials with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which finances Democratic congressional campaigns, refused to comment.
Sherwood is unlikely to experience much political fallout from the incident, say officials of the Republican National Congressional Committee.
“I’m not sure there are any (repercussions),” said Carl Fonti, RNCC spokesman. “You have an allegation in an incident where there were no charges filed, where the allegations were withdrawn, and it was sent to the newspaper by a political opponent of the congressman who obviously has an ax to grind.”
Baldino, however, argued that Sherwood would be wise to face the controversy head-on, rather than let it fester.
“Truth is the best antidote for a scandal like this,” Baldino said. “If there is no scandal, he should have no problem coming clean. ... You can die by 1,000 cuts from something like this. Until he puts it to rest, it’ll keep coming up. This is a self-inflicted type of wound.”
The incident occurred seven months ago. A partial police report was faxed to numerous newspapers and TV stations last week.
The Times Leader obtained the full report from the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, which verified the incident.
According to the report:
Police responded to a 911 call on Sept. 15 from Cynthia Ore, 29, of Rockville, Md. She locked herself in a bathroom in Sherwood’s D Street apartment and told operators that Sherwood “choked her for no apparent reason” while giving her a backrub.
Sherwood, 64, told police he was giving Ore a backrub when she “jumped up” and ran to the bathroom.
Police said they saw no visible injuries on Ore’s neck, and Ore later backed off her story when questioned by police.
“Both parties have left out significant information or are not willing to discuss in detail what actually happened,” Washington Metropolitan Police stated in the incident report.
Ore said that she and Sherwood, who is married, have had an ongoing relationship since 1999, when the two met at a Young Republicans meeting. Sherwood has refused to specify the nature of their relationship, calling Ore “an acquaintance.”
Matisko and Sherwood both said they believe the story was leaked as part of a political smear campaign.
Veronica Hannevig, a Constitution Party candidate who faced Sherwood in the 2004 congressional race, faxed some information about the report to the Times Leader. She said someone from Washington mailed her the first page of the incident report on April 26 in an envelope with no return address.
Hannevig, of Simpson, Pa., said she forwarded the report to local media, believing news outlets already had the documents in hand.
Her intent, she said, was to determine why the media had held off on the story.
“I thought you already had it,” Hannevig said Monday. “I do agree with Congressman Sherwood that it’s probably a political thing, maybe someone either in the Democratic or Republican parties who want his seat, that let this loose.”
The 2002 redistricting plan carved out a relatively safe Republican seat for Sherwood’s far-flung 10th Congressional District, with the GOP holding a decided advantage in registered voters.
For that reason, Baldino said it’s more likely that Sherwood could see a Republican upstart in the 2006 primary election rather than a viable Democratic challenger.
“He is inviting a challenge in the primary,” Baldino said. “It’s all in Sherwood’s hands.”
If a Republican challenger does arise, Fonti said RNCC would not back the candidate.
“Ultimately, the RNCC is an incumbent-retention committee, and incumbents have our support,” he said.
Come what may, Matisko stands by Sherwood.
“The congressman is a family man,” she said. “When I think about family values, I think about the Don Sherwoods and Rick Santorums of the world. I have complete faith in Congressman Sherwood.”
Ping
He is married. What the heck is some women getting a back rub from him for ---- in his apartment nonetheless?
Gives the good guys a bad name - step aside I say.
Must be a very strong Republican district. However, he's probably toast.
Another case of a 29 year old political groupie placing her body in the hands of a 64 year old overdosed on Viagra it sounds like.
Slips like this are easy to make in Washington, the man believes its his charm and not the power he wields that has brought this young maiden to his bedroom. He finds out different when the girl decides to put the pressure on him.
A stupid mistake made by members of both parties. Probably 20% of the Congressmen in the House are facing the same thing in one way or another. The secret is not to get caught. Wonder why no one advised Clinton to tell the truth.? Probably a waste of time Clinton wouldnt recognise truth if it bit him, and it did.
The good news is that at 65 Sherwood can still attract a 29 year old, even if she is a bit odd.
The bad thing [for the Dims] is that it's a hetrosexual, boy meets girl story.
If true ... wrong, but nothing that reaches the depths of depravity of a James McGreevy, or Barney Franks, much to the dismay of the perverted Dimocrat hopefuls.
I've got to agree with you. I'm not for shooting the wounded, but the truth is that we as conservatives look so hypocritical when this kind of BS happens. I would also agree that he needs to come clean once and for all, just to get it over with.
I don't want him in my party anymore. He needs to go. It's a safe district for us. He's also (IIRC) a RINO.
I'm married and I hate giving my WIFE a backrub. Unless...it leads to pie.
They met at a Young Republicans meeting...tee hee.
I've been in YR's for a number of months now, and all they do is drink.
Hmm, maybe that's all you SEE them do. (!)
Admittedly, some of the single members have a strange vibe about them.
Sweet merciful crap! I didn't see the age difference before! He must have tons of dough to attract the youngins like that.
...and the dumbing down of America continues.
http://www.dumpsherwood.blogspot.com/
Don't know who started this blog, but the long knives are coming out...
He's wealthy; his family owns a car dealership in a small town in Northeast PA.
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