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 ...
Examples?
CORRECTOMUNDO!
If we just accepted it, then we would be NO different from the RATS. What amazes me is the ARROGANCE of these idiots, who STILL think they can get away with these shenanigans in today's world... Amazing...
But far worse is the impact on a spiritual level - he professed to be a Christian. Believers have no idea how they mar the face of Christ each time they do these things.
Well, I think that’s appropriate. But I hope he doesn’t really have to leave the Senate completely over this. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a serious thing and my respect for him has gone down, but he shouldn’t have to quit his job over it. We wouldn’t ask a soldier or police officer who committed adultery to quit his job, so why a politician.
Would I vote for him now? It depends who else was running I guess. The system makes us choose between two, usually, and there are some worse things out there than adultery. All else being equal I’d prefer a senator who has good family values but I’d still rather have a cheater than someone who is in favor of abortion or something.
We wouldn’t ask a soldier or police officer who committed adultery to quit his job, so why a politician.
The soldier would be going to Court Martial and possibly having brig time. He would DEFINITELY lose his job with an other than honorable discharge. Now would FREEPERS ask for his resignation??? I can’t say yes or no, but the military sure would!!!
Yes, it’s just so intolerant of us to expect someone to be faithful to his wife.
Yes, tolerance is the key word. He was separated from his wife at the time. It does make some difference. He was under the threat of being blackmailed. Not happy that he had an affair and neither is he.
Life is not always perfect. Are you?
Try googling "Thune" + "RINO"
It isn't hard.
Here are the first three representative examples. IMO, Thune's opposition to Bolton alone proves my point.
http://shovel.blogivists.com/2008/09/09/thune-catches-rino-virus-with-anti-drilling-bill/
http://chargingrino.blogspot.com/2005/05/thune-to-oppose-bolton.html
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/08/senate_gangs_new_energy_plan.html
After finding out that the charges against Alaska Senator Ted Stevens was basically a Liberal media rail job out of town.........proven a total set up and b.s. as are most Liberal premise......
After watching Florida Congressman Foley’s replacement do double what Foley did and Democrats didnt blink an eye..........
........I’m willing to sit back and let the residents of his state decide his political future....
He has resigned his top level seat on Rep. Policy Council.....knocking him off the #4 power perch in GOP.........enough penalty for now...
his potential 2012 POTUS run is now history....if there was really any chance?
There is time to flush.......time now to sit back and count the turds still floating in the democrat Soup kettle........lot more than B.Frank.....can start chronologicaly with the Chapaquidik “swimmer”
This chucklehead got smoked running the last election. Elizabeth Dole, who set the record for incompetence, did better.
After this blowout, he should have resigned his posts because he has proven to be incapable of doing what is needed
That would be a fantastic start.I doubt conservatives will be that lucky.Remember,its the gop.
“While he and his wife were seperated.”
I wouldn’t try to minimize this, unless you are saying that private failings should always remain private. He did sleep with one of his employees (not good) while he was married (really not good) and while she was married (really, really not good).
Ensign should have stood his ground.
Typical spineless Repub.
Could you link me to the story where he was separated, when it first happened occurred, thanks!!
You are welcome! This is Page 2 of the article, but the info on the separation is top of the page.
I hadn’t thought about it, but Ensign is really saying by his action that the Senate seat itself is not as important as the chairmanship of the policy committee.
I think it’s highly likely...understand, he gave jobs to the woman’s son and husband, and then...when the husband demanded a bigger bite, he revealed the affair, but ONLY after the husband demanded a bigger mordita.
I don’t see a shred of honor here, just a willingness to make payoffs...it’s possible, extrapolating from this, that he’d be willing to betray his country in a similar exchange.
Of course, that might not be the case...but who knows? I posit that a man willing to betray his wife and kids is willing to betray more...
Ed
Really, even if it was not another soldier he cheated with? I didn’t know the military was so strict. I’ll stand corrected.
Anyway, I really can’t defend Ensign for it too much, what he did was really wrong. It just seems like making him quit his job over it is extreme. But I do wish we could find more politicians who are upstanding people in their personal lives AND also good advocates for the country. Ensign has been a good conservative senator from all accounts but he’s not a good role model.
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