Ensign: I did a bad, bad thing
posted at 8:16 pm on June 16, 2009 by Allahpundit
Mitigating factors: He was separated from his wife at the time, or so he says, and was reportedly being blackmailed over this, which prompted the disclosure. Exacerbating factors: His mistress was married — her husband’s the accused blackmailer — and Ensign’s been known to tsk-tsk loudly and publicly about his colleagues’ indiscretions. Quoth Andy Levy, “Preaching about the sanctity of marriage while cheating on your wife is the same as a Treasury Secretary not paying his taxes.”
Political insiders in the Senate and in Nevada told POLITICO that Ensign began an affair with a staffer several months after he separated from his wife. When Ensign reconciled with his wife, the sources said, he gave the aide a severance package and parted ways.
Sometime later, a Nevada source said, Ensign met with the husband of the woman involved and had what this source described as a positive encounter. Sources said that the man subsequently asked Ensign for a substantial sum of money – at which point Ensign decided to make the affair public. In his Las Vegas press conference, Ensign declined to give specifics about the woman involved but did say she and “her husband were close friends and both of them worked for me.”
His wife issued a statement too saying that the marriage is back on track. I don’t think this will hurt him much if he launches a presidential bid, but then, I don’t think his presidential bid would go anywhere regardless. Exit question: Why’d he announce this today? Is it because the blackmailer was threatening to disclose it tomorrow or is it because Ensign knew it’d be buried under headlines about Iran and health care?
Blowback
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If only I could get all the passes that politicians do.
blatantblue on June 16, 2009 at 8:51 PM
Terrye,
That doesn’t mean that someone who was given the public trust and was found to be having an affair, shouldn’t be held accountable for his actions. As a constituent, I have every right to tell Senator A that he should resign. That’s the consequences of his breaking the public trust. I’m his boss.
Beaglemom on June 16, 2009 at 8:51 PM
Now that’s a white headed ho…..
Hog Wild on June 16, 2009 at 8:51 PM
Are you implying that you need that many passes?
ladyingray on June 16, 2009 at 8:52 PM
Actually, in Ensign’s home state, prostitution is legal in certain counties. Basically it’s legal in the counties that don’t include Las Vegas and Reno.
Del Dolemonte on June 16, 2009 at 8:52 PM
I’d like to need em!
jkjk
blatantblue on June 16, 2009 at 8:52 PM
Funny you should mention Jefferson. We were just talking about him on one of the other threads and I said that I considered Jefferson to be the archetype of the hypocritical liberal.
Jefferson was not that instrumental in the actual construction of the US, though the Louisianna purchase was one of the greatest acts done by a President.
progressoverpeace on June 16, 2009 at 8:52 PM
Dr.Magnolias:
I am committed to integrity too, but that does not mean I have to be a judgmental prig about everyone else’s private life.
Terrye on June 16, 2009 at 8:52 PM
Let’s all look the other way, and just pretend that this never happened. Nothing to see here.
sandman on June 16, 2009 at 8:52 PM
It’s Hot on HA tonight! Whew!
bazil9 on June 16, 2009 at 8:53 PM
If everyone got all the passes that politicians do all the prisons in the country would be almost empty.
MB4 on June 16, 2009 at 8:53 PM
This is worth repeating because conservatives don’t throw this kind of thing back in the face of liberal turds often enough. Ensign’s a moron, but his bigger problem is with his wife, his family, and his constituents. I’m put off, but I don’t feel shafted. With Geithner, he violated an obligation that’s a critical responsibility of his position and so much more.
To what POP said, I’ll add the questions: Why do liberals find it impossible to draw appropriate analogies? And who the hell is Andy Levy?
BuckeyeSam on June 16, 2009 at 8:53 PM
The best part of this post was the speculation of an Ensign presidential run. LOL. No. Seriously, ROLOL!
Branch Rickey on June 16, 2009 at 8:53 PM
progressoverpeace:
I see, so now Thomas Jefferson is not good enough for you. No wonder so many people do not want to be Republicans.
Terrye on June 16, 2009 at 8:53 PM
ladyingray on June 16, 2009 at 8:52 PM
What are we gonna do with this young pup? lol
bazil9 on June 16, 2009 at 8:53 PM
Maybe when you’re older…right now you shouldn’t need any.
ladyingray on June 16, 2009 at 8:53 PM
pwn.
bluelightbrigade on June 16, 2009 at 8:54 PM
If I know about his life–this man I have never met–how is it private?
DrMagnolias on June 16, 2009 at 8:54 PM
Well after a quick spin on google,
Liberal Men who cheat/ 25.5%!
Conservative Men who cheat/ 18.7%
canopfor on June 16, 2009 at 8:55 PM
One at a time…Ronald Reagan didn’t admit to an affair…he got divorced…not the same.
Second, TJ and BF were wrong…but they weren’t out there at the forefront supporting DOMA either were they? They were at least smart enough not to be hypocrites weren’t they? Ensign…not so much.
AUINSC on June 16, 2009 at 8:55 PM
I never liked Jefferson. So sue me.
progressoverpeace on June 16, 2009 at 8:56 PM
Nothing…just let him ramble…he’s amusing much of the time…
ladyingray on June 16, 2009 at 8:56 PM
Agree POP!
Branch Rickey on June 16, 2009 at 8:56 PM
This is so so sad. What are these people thinking? We (conservatives) just can NOT afford these screw ups (pun intended) at this point in our country’s history.
stenwin77 on June 16, 2009 at 8:57 PM
It’s too that it wasn’t Ensign who went to a prostitute (legal in Nevada) and Vitter caught in “normal” old adultery, everyone knows about Louisiana, then everything would be okay.
/sarc
Cindy Munford on June 16, 2009 at 8:57 PM
Dr.Magnolias:
How is it private? Are you serious? Well then why don’t we just put cameras in his bedroom and a tape recorder under the bed.
My point is that I do not know anything about you. I don’t know your character.
But this man made a mistake, he committed a sin. We are all sinners. That does not mean that he is a horrible human being you can not be trusted, that does not mean he should be driven out of his job. That does not mean you can judge him as a human being. You can find fault with his behavior, sure, but you don’t know what kind of person he is.
Terrye on June 16, 2009 at 8:58 PM
What the hell is wrong with some of you people?? The lady that he schlepped has THREE LITTLE CHILDREN! They are the victims in this “victimless indiscretion”. I am embarrassed that some of you think of yourselves as conservatives.
No wonder Romney didnt get nominated. Too many tools in the republican party.
“We cannot spare this woman…she fights. The liberals FEAR her…you can smell the fear.”
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The Final Cut on June 16, 2009 at 8:58 PM
Cindy Munford on June 16, 2009 at 8:57 PM
But technically, isn’t going to a prostitute still adultery for a married man?
ladyingray on June 16, 2009 at 8:59 PM
You really don’t know until you’re in the situation. Not all men who cheat are bad people. Sometimes it really was just a one time complete screw-up.
I knew a man who was cheated on. He dumped her immediately, believing exactly as you do about cheaters, but then, he cheated on his next girlfriend even though she was completely faithful to him. He couldn’t believe that forgiveness in that case was possible until she forgave him and though he waited three days to tell her, he was sure it would be over between them. It wasn’t easy for her, but she loved him and knew her feelings were returned. In the end, she’d only be hurting herself by leaving.
I can’t say I’d ever recommend a person staying with someone who cheated, but this isn’t something where a blanket statement is always appropriate.
Now of course, if the person is a habitual offender, it’s another story altogether.
Esthier on June 16, 2009 at 8:59 PM
progressoverpeace:
I have no intention of suing you. But I am just saying that if Jefferson is not good enough for you, then most of the men and women who founded the country and served in high office probably won’t fare much better.
Terrye on June 16, 2009 at 8:59 PM
If the Left comes after him, I for one would love for him to then list all the Dems who have had, or are having affairs, or public investigations. Like William Jefferson Clinton and William Jefferson from LA, etc.
It is time our side said, “Yeah well, he who lives in glass houses!” I am fed up with our guys resigning, and the Dems bring in every tax evader, criminal, and slime bag from the planet!
freeus on June 16, 2009 at 9:00 PM
Heh. You meant “schtupped”. To “schlep” is to drag. If he schlepped her, then we’ve got some real problems.
But, you’re correct. The fact that she was married is one of the problems, not that he was separated.
progressoverpeace on June 16, 2009 at 9:01 PM
So what? If your senator falsified his resume…lied about having a law degreee…would you hold that against him?
AUINSC on June 16, 2009 at 9:01 PM
In my 8:58 post I meant who can not trusted rather than you can not be trusted. That sounded a lot nastier than I meant for it too.
Terrye on June 16, 2009 at 9:02 PM
One of mine voted to confirm Geithner…does that count?
ladyingray on June 16, 2009 at 9:02 PM
No, he made a choice — a bad one, an immoral one. Mistakes are what you make on Math tests.
Beaglemom on June 16, 2009 at 9:02 PM
Character is one factor I consider when I vote. So is judgement, like what judgement skills did Ensign use by getting involved with a woman who works for him when her husband works for him, too?
Judging who goes to heaven is God’s job, not ours. But we can excerise judgement about right or wrong deeds anytime, having first taken the log out of our own eye.
happy2behere on June 16, 2009 at 9:02 PM
AUINSC:
I would be a lot more likely to hold a falsified resume against someone. But this is not the same thing.
Terrye on June 16, 2009 at 9:03 PM
Any dude that would schlepp a broad that is married and has three little children at home is an a$$hole.
How is he going to argue about the sanctity and importance of keeping marriage traditional and as the best place to raise children when the d-wad is a home-wrecker.
I dont vote for tools like that. If you need to get some…go get some…just not married ones with little kids.
No wonder Mitt didnt get nominated….too much wickedness, evil, and hypocrisy, not to mention all-around-toolness in the Republican party.
PS: Many of you are going to hell. So, live it up now baby.
“We cannot spare this woman…she fights. The liberals FEAR her…you can smell the fear.”
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The Final Cut on June 16, 2009 at 9:03 PM
Maybe that’s something their father, the blackmailer, should have thought about before he forced this all out into the public.
Socratease on June 16, 2009 at 9:03 PM
Depends…do you think you can judge his character?
AUINSC on June 16, 2009 at 9:04 PM
schlepped = schtupped
“We cannot spare this woman…she fights. The liberals FEAR her…you can smell the fear.”
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The Final Cut on June 16, 2009 at 9:04 PM
Or in bed after a 24 pack of Corona
blatantblue on June 16, 2009 at 9:05 PM
Why not? It didn’t harm anybody (except possibly him).
AUINSC on June 16, 2009 at 9:05 PM
Beaglemom:
So he made a mistake, a bad choice. I am not saying it is okay. But people sometimes make bad choices. It is part of life.
Terrye on June 16, 2009 at 9:05 PM
None of that speaks of cheating on the woman he pledged to love and support.
Franklin? Yes, I think he was. Jefferson? I’m not as sure. Does it take away from their accomplishments? I don’t think so. Most of the musicians I love have messed up personal lives. I’d never want to be friends with them or trust them with much of anything but creating music, but I still love their work.
He obviously disagrees with you. As to his character, I’m not so fond of the fact that he was willing to pay these people off. Is that what you want in a politician?
Esthier on June 16, 2009 at 9:05 PM
Jefferson was a Francophile who had no concept of the necessary structure of a strong and stable republic. It was Adams and Madison and Hamilton who did the heavy lifting on fashioning the structure of our federal government. Jefferson just sat in the background and caused problems.
I don’t see why acceptance of Jefferson is some requirement for anything. He didn’t do anything great, other than having authored the Declaration (though Franklin had a heavy hand in that) and the Louisianna purchase, which was fantastic. Of course, Jefferson had to go back on everything he had ever espoused in order to get the money for the purchase! But, that was Jefferson. He was also a nasty, underhanded person.
progressoverpeace on June 16, 2009 at 9:06 PM
AUINSC:
I did not say it hurt anyone. I said that if someone faked a resume I would think that might have more to do with his job…get it…but I am not going to peer into other people’s lives and assume I can always judge them.
Terrye on June 16, 2009 at 9:07 PM
Terrye, my point was that his behavior isn’t private if I know about it. In addition, I simply do not trust people who demonstrate themselves to be untrustworthy–there are plenty of mistakes a person can make that do not reflect a negative character, but violating trust does. Character matters a great deal–the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, and if a man demonstrates himself willing to compromise principles, we should expect the same in the future. If you are not bothered by Ensign (or others who behave like him–I don’t know where you live), it is your prerogative to support them. I am enormously bothered by people who will participate in the violation of trust, and believe they should find another line of work.
DrMagnolias on June 16, 2009 at 9:07 PM
Any other pearls of wisdom of us, Ms. Obvious Point???
“We cannot spare this woman…she fights. The liberals FEAR her…you can smell the fear.”
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The Final Cut on June 16, 2009 at 9:07 PM
I_C on June 16, 2009 at 9:07 PM
progressoverpeace:
I am not going to get into some ridiculous argument with you about Thomas Jefferson. forget it.
Terrye on June 16, 2009 at 9:08 PM
Actually, I do like him. I was just very disappointed in his vote and I sent him an email telling him so.
ladyingray on June 16, 2009 at 9:08 PM
The Final Cut:
Oh do not be so snarky. What do you want to do? Shoot the man? Tell people that unless you are perfect and never ever screw up you can not be a conservative or deal with conservatives because they are just so perfect and above it all?
This is exactly why Republicans get judged more harshly than Democrats. This is why the press has a hey day with Palin and her family.
Terrye on June 16, 2009 at 9:10 PM
And when you are a Senator, I think character has to do with your job…he diddled a subordinates wife…bad character..get it?
AUINSC on June 16, 2009 at 9:10 PM
We were on a break! /Ross
- The Cat
MirCat on June 16, 2009 at 9:10 PM
He should announce he will not run for re-election to the Senate. We need to trust our representatives to do what is right – even when (they think) no one is watching.
huckleberryfriend on June 16, 2009 at 9:11 PM
ladyingray:
I have sent my Congress man Ellsworth so many emails complaining about his votes he probably thinks I am stalking him.
Terrye on June 16, 2009 at 9:11 PM
I didn’t say they were
You can forgive but that doesn’t mean you have to stay with someone who cheated on you. Civility is good especially if you have children.
My thing is how can you ever really trust him again and how do you get the thought out of your mind that he has been in someone else when he wants to be in you? It could be just me but I think that would be too much…
CCRWM on June 16, 2009 at 9:11 PM
No, you don’t want that.
And this is the same guy who apparently had no problem judging other men for similar behavior. Does that not bother you? Doesn’t that also speak to his character?
Esthier on June 16, 2009 at 9:12 PM
I know, I constantly send my Senators and Rep regularly…
ladyingray on June 16, 2009 at 9:12 PM
AUINSC:
Fine. whatever. I get it. The man is a heel because he had sex with a woman not his wife. Therefor he can not be trusted ever again. Got it.
Terrye on June 16, 2009 at 9:12 PM
You’re right — I don’t.
Just making a point — the elite gentry of the US get a pass on everything.
The rich and the political class can do whatever they want. The rest of us?
blatantblue on June 16, 2009 at 9:13 PM
Esthier:
I do not know anything about Ensign judging anyone.
Terrye on June 16, 2009 at 9:13 PM
Jeez, you’d think he was getting blow jobs from an intern while at work or something.
Socratease on June 16, 2009 at 9:14 PM
We’re screwed…without the fun.
ladyingray on June 16, 2009 at 9:14 PM
Adultery is horrible, that he did it with staffer is even more vulgar. Many employers and the military fire people for that behaviour. The affair with a political staffer pretty much makes this a non-private event, even more so since he publically admonishes others for the very same behaviour. Ensign’s employers are his constituents, we’ll know how they feel next election.
He was as honest as can be expected from a politician, and fairly forthcoming about the circumstances. He behaved better than Edwards, for sure, but still very offensive.
Rode Werk on June 16, 2009 at 9:16 PM
no fun whatsoever
blatantblue on June 16, 2009 at 9:16 PM
You are exactly wrong. Republicans are held to a higher standard because we believe in higher standards. If we dont even call out people who preach higher standards while schtooping married broads with little kids, nobody will take us seriously and we have no moral authority. We might as well be liberal dems.
I believe in setting the bar high. Thats the way me and Mitt Romney and Roger Waters roll.
“We cannot spare this woman…she fights. The liberals FEAR her…you can smell the fear.”
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The Final Cut on June 16, 2009 at 9:16 PM
Glad he didn’t make his wife stand there while he announced this.
CP on June 16, 2009 at 9:17 PM
He cheated on his WIFE with a woman? huh.
angryed on June 16, 2009 at 9:18 PM
Maybe you should…then you might understand the issue better…BIG proponent of the ‘Defense of Marriage Amendment’ (DOMA). Are you a little more clear now about the damage this idiot has done because he couldn’t keep his thing in his pants…with the wife of one of his subordinates (power/sex)?
And oh, BTW, this does wonders for the GOP:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/06/gop-sen-ensign-admits-to-affair.php
AUINSC on June 16, 2009 at 9:18 PM
It matters more that he’s attempting to keep Obama from burying today’s kids with a federal debt that will hang over them for their entire lives. Lots of people have affairs or get divorced, but there are very few fiscal conservatives left in the Senate. Judge the guy by his record in the Senate.
dedalus on June 16, 2009 at 9:21 PM
Wow. It’s sad to see the bloggers / commenters who have been asking for comedian Letterman-the-bad-joker to resign for the past 7 days are now finding mitigating factors and excuses for Senator Ensign-the-adulterer to stay on his job.
sanjeevn on June 16, 2009 at 9:21 PM
Anyone thinking of having an ‘affair’ with a married man or woman with children…………
………. should walk through their home first.
Look at the pictures on the walls, see the toys in the hall way, smell the soap in the laundry room, see the ‘to do’ list on the fridge, and take a deep breath in the “Home” that you are about to destroy…………..
………. There are some things more important in this world than your genitals and what you may want to do with them,
the consequences of your actions, including growing old and dying alone are just one of them…………
Seven Percent Solution on June 16, 2009 at 9:23 PM
I never get why they make the wife do that…it’s like the second blow but more painful because it’s so public and you know everyone is watching her
CCRWM on June 16, 2009 at 9:24 PM
As with gay issue…..don’t care what any of these people do in their bedrooms…that is so Lewinsky……I do however care about the state of our country…………..term limits, term limits, term limits
nondhimmie on June 16, 2009 at 9:25 PM
David Vitter, known friend of the Lord, is praying for the Good Senator.
simplesimon on June 16, 2009 at 9:25 PM
Thank you for this.
DrMagnolias on June 16, 2009 at 9:25 PM
You’re so stupid you don’t even realize this:
right2bright on June 16, 2009 at 9:26 PM
I wasn’t trying to imply that you had. I was just making a statement.
It is, but that doesn’t mean leaving is the better option. As to trust, it’s built in broken relationships the same way it’s built in ones without a breach of trust: one step at a time.
The rest of us are better off for not getting away with murder. Just imagine how horrible a person you might become if you knew you could get away with it (and of course I don’t mean you specifically, just people in general).
You didn’t read the post up at top?
Esthier on June 16, 2009 at 9:29 PM
I was just being a not so smart a$$. Let me point out that I am glad I am not any of these folks constituents. As it is I will probably have to vote for an Umpa Lumpa in 2010.
Cindy Munford on June 16, 2009 at 9:30 PM
right on
jgapinoy on June 16, 2009 at 9:31 PM
I’m not sure the same ones are doing this. Hot Air bloggers have accepted Letterman’s apology with only one exception I’ve seen, and the posters have been divided on the issue.
That said, one is attack on the child of a politician, the other an attack on his own wife. It’s not exactly the same.
Esthier on June 16, 2009 at 9:34 PM
Yep, I agree. I also am angered that these people are in these positions to represent us, I don’t want a cheater to represent me. It’s NOT ok!
4shoes on June 16, 2009 at 9:36 PM
Let’s just call this what it is…this is what’s wrong with the GOP on so many levels. The sooner we get rid of these people who don’t stand for anything, the better off we are. We’ve have too many RINOs and hypocrites in this party to win anything. This guy is the latter, Specter, Collins and Snowe are the former. If this is the face of the GOP going into 2010, we might as well just give up now and save ourselves the heartache. That or we can demand better.
AUINSC on June 16, 2009 at 9:39 PM
Yes, if they were being blackmailed. Like he apparently was.
I’ve never heard of this guy before today, and if he was separated, I’d cut him slack on sleeping with another woman (I’m sure it happens, but I’ve never heard of a relationship where people are separated for months then go back to being married). But it also comes down to judgement.
He chose to sleep with a married woman who worked for him. I’m not judging him as a human being capable of making mistakes, I AM judging him as an elected official who made a seriously bad mistake.
If you’ve done something so stupid/bad/etc that you can get blackmailed over it, then you messed up bigtime.
I give him credit for denying the blackmailer further money and outing himself, but I’d have to always wonder “what if his blackmailer didn’t ask for money and asked for polictical favors instead? Or if a foreign agent was asking for sensitive material, etc? Did he only out himself because the blackmailer’s demand was too high? Would he have kept quiet if the blackmailer didn’t get too greedy too fast, etc?”
DrAllecon on June 16, 2009 at 9:41 PM
Um. This is a private matter. Bill Clinton told me so. Except, in this case, no laws were broken. So it really is a private matter.
misterpeasea on June 16, 2009 at 9:41 PM
How not to blackmail someone
misterpeasea on June 16, 2009 at 9:45 PM
I would think that separation is nearly as rich in the same circumstances, even if he wasn’t sleeping with someone else.
MadisonConservative on June 16, 2009 at 9:49 PM
Wow what a letdown. I read the headline and started to get wet and bothered. Thought there might be more coming. Turns out he didn’t have a freezer full of money in a flood zone, didn’t drive off a bridge and forget his passenger, didn’t use a cigar to go places no man should go. Heck he didn’t even run a gay brothel out of his basement. Here I was seeing my chance to move in and hoping that in the future I could reverand Wright to marry us.
Dang
proudteadrinker on June 16, 2009 at 9:52 PM
so this is a non-story to me. Don’t care.
Ampersand on June 16, 2009 at 10:03 PM
the consequences of your actions,
Seven Percent Solution on June 16,2009 at 9:23PM.
Seven Percent Solution: SPS,yo are so right!
Better think awfully long,for what one might throw away,
for that one minute bombing run(SEX)over Toyko!!:)
canopfor on June 16, 2009 at 10:07 PM
:-(
ladyingray on June 16, 2009 at 10:14 PM
Ok, so he made a mistake but he didn’t come anywhere close to driving a women into the water then running away a letting her die . . . of course he’s not a Kennedy.
rplat on June 16, 2009 at 10:19 PM
How DARE you call me stupid?
I thought you were a Christian!!!
Look, Not2Bright, my copyright is not illegal so your text does not apply. Got it now?
Is it too hard for you to understand?
“We cannot spare this woman…she fights. The liberals FEAR her…you can smell the fear.”
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The updated text reads as follows:
The Final Cut on June 16, 2009 at 10:30 PM
As if someone would do that. Get a grip.
tree hugging sister on June 16, 2009 at 10:32 PM
I’m sorry but maybe I’m having a brain block but when was the last time a democrat had a press conference and apologized for cheating on his wife? Was it chris dodd or ted kennedy?
peacenprosperity on June 16, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Eliot Spitzer?
Upstater85 on June 16, 2009 at 10:38 PM
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