Posted on 06/17/2009 10:47:42 AM PDT by MaestroLC
The Republican senator who went public a day earlier about an extramarital affair has resigned his GOP leadership post on Wednesday.
Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., stepped down as chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, the fourth-ranking GOP position in the Senate, after holding a brief news conference Tuesday to come clean about his affair with a former aide. He is not expected to resign from the Senate.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., confirmed the move Wednesday afternoon.
"He's accepted responsibility for his actions and apologized to his family and constituents. He offered, and I accepted, his resignation as chairman of the policy committee," the Kentucky senator said.
Several reasons contributed to Ensign's decision to step down from his post, according to a Senate GOP leadership aide. They included the likelihood of a persistent media firestorm stemming from his admission Tuesday; growing irritation within the conference regarding other distractions; and the possibility that more damaging information could emerge regarding the affair.
Sources told FOX News the admission was prompted by a blackmail threat. Two Senate Republican sources close to Ensign said a former employee had asked Ensign for money in what both sources described as a case of "extortion."
The employee, Doug Hampton, worked in Ensign's Senate office, and his wife, Cindy Hampton, worked for Ensign's re-election campaign. Both ceased working for the senator shortly after the affair ended, the sources said, with Cindy Hampton receiving a severance package. The circumstances of Doug Hampton's departure remain unclear.
Ensign expressed regret Tuesday for his actions.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Agreed, it actually shows just how far down the line this POS senator is in moral values. I would like to think and know a friend of mine could trust me with his wife.
He was the most conservative member of the Senate leadership.
He couldn’t be according to the catechism of republicanism thread earlier.
> How about just keeping the sacred promise you made to your spouse?
THANK you. I don’t stomach excuses from Clintoon, Newt or any other moral-free knave in any ideological camp.
If you betray the one person you swore in front of God, family and friends to be true to, how are you going to treat your constituents, your country, your constitution?
So what is the problem with Thune?
As a Catholic I am not familiar with the moral situation with folks who are separated? Are you expected to be faithful when you are legally separated?
According to Politico, John Thune is making a run for the spot. Thune would be a great choice, IMO.
Marriage is a contract and until that is annulled or legally broken by divorce it is still in force, in my opinion, morally.
BTW, I am also Catholic.
LCS wrote: “As a Catholic I am not familiar with the moral situation with folks who are separated? Are you expected to be faithful when you are legally separated?”
I would think that being separated before having an affair would preclude blackmail. That’s why I think we are not yet getting the whole story. The article hinted at Republicans being worried about further revelations...hence Ensign’s resignation.
I would support that.
Great point. They mentioned it five times in the snippet and four times for GOP.
Ensign to Acknowledge Extramarital Affair
Wash Post | June 16, 2009 | Chris Cillizza and Paul Kane
Posted on 06/16/2009 2:59:31 PM PDT by Hawk720
Edited on 06/16/2009 3:56:18 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2273098/posts
Had it been a democrat the party might have been mentioned once, perhaps twice in the whole article.
This has been pointed out so many times it’s a running joke here.
I just do not understand why these pols risk their careers and self-respect for a little booty on the side. I guess they think they are too smart and too big to get caught. Not so for some of them, although I am sure there are dozens more fooling around with staffers late at night in their offices.
This explains the rinos whinning about moral and ethical standards within the GOP. They can’t keep it in their pants.
I like this quote: it is brief and powerful.
Denial is not just a river in Egypt. He did an honorable after doing the disgraceful thing.
You nailed it!
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