Disgraced Nevada Senator John Ensign is back in Washington, DC and offered a full-fledged mea culpa today at a GOP policy lunch. Republican attendees were quick to offer support for the Republican senator.
(NEWSCOM)Photos (1 of 1)
Ensign receives round of applause (for apologizing, not affair)
By Jimmy Orr | 06.23.09
It really would signal the GOP is way out of touch had they given disgraced Nevada Senator John Ensign a standing ovation for having an affair. He did receive much applause today from Republican senators. But it was due to his apologies for the affair — not the affair itself.
Ensign, who last week admitted having a 10-month fling with a former staffer, spoke at a GOP policy lunch this afternoon and offered up a two-minute mea culpa for his infidelities which only added more PR problems to a party overrun with troubles.
Ensign was a regular Mark Sanford in his eluding skills. Much as the Governor of South Carolina ditched his security detail and family to hide out for a few days on the Appalachian Trail, Ensign took great steps to avoid the media taking, as the Washington Post reported, “circuitous routes to and from the luncheon.”
Although Ensign won’t talk to the media, his supporters did — all offering their encouragement.
“He expressed himself sincerely and candidly,” Sen. Mel Martinez (R) of Florida said. “It’s time to move on, and we wish him the best.”
Sen. Dick Lugar (R) of Indiana said Ensign “apologized to everyone who had been hurt, indicated that he had certain deficiencies in his own character and outlook and was going to make substantial improvements.”
Even Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) of Nevada offered some love.
“Everyone knows that Senator Ensign and I had a very difficult race in 1998. We have become friends since then,” Reid said. “I’m concerned about his family, and I hope he works his way through this… As far as me commenting on any more, I think I’ve said all I plan to say on Senator Ensign today.”
You could call Ensign’s talk today predictable as every embattled Republican senator in the past year has used this venue to express sorrow for their respective scandals, including Sen. David Vitter (Louisiana) and former Sens. Ted Stevens (Alaska) and Larry Craig (Idaho).
Not surprisingly, those on the left are salivating at the latest GOP foible. EyesOnObama, a left-leaning site, recounted the Republican slippage in Nevada in a column today, but said it is indicative of a wholesale western shake-up.
“The GOP is having a rough stint in Nevada, but that result is hardly surprising,” they write. “Rising popularity of Democrats in the western region (including other states like New Mexico and Arizona), has been compounded by scandal-plagued Nevada Republicans. The result could be a long-term dominance in the Silver State that Democrats have never really known. And for Republicans, it’s one more state in which they can’t afford to lose their foothold. And yet, they seem to be slipping.”
———–
Hey, we’ll give you a round of applause for anything. So follow us on Twitter!
Comments
2. Douglas Goodall | 06.24.09
As a Christian I am all for repenting sin and forgiveness, but the Senate seems to be VERY forgiving of their members who commonly are guilty of all kinds of things, moral and legal. They seem to lead charmed lives with little in the way of repercussions for lapses in judgement and behavior. Sometimes I think about our representatives and shake my head in wonder.I have a hard time finding role models there. Jesus will have to do.
3. Patrick | 06.24.09
Having an affair with a subordinate is not against US law. It is incredibly unethical and should be grounds for removal from office. Such enforcement would quickly empty the halls of congress, though.
And how is “granting favors to the husband of your lover” against “religious law”? I must have missed a commandment or two.
4. Bill | 06.24.09
And he was very vocal in calling for Clinton to step down after his affair became public.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
Leave a Comment
We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. The comments feature is a forum to discuss the ideas in our stories. Constructive debate - even pointed disagreement - is welcome, but personal attacks on other commenters are not, and will not be published.
Tip: Do not write a novel. Keep it short. We will not publish lengthy comments. Come up with your own statements. This is not a place to cut and paste an email you received. If we recognize it as such, we won't post it.
Please do not post any comments that are commercial in nature or that violate copyrights.
Finally, we will not publish any comments that we regard as obscene, defamatory, or intended to incite violence.
Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. David Jay Crispin | 06.24.09
This is just wrong on so many levels. He had an affair which is against his religious beliefs. He had an affair with a subordinate which is against US law. He granted favors to the husband of his lover which is against US, State and religious law. But his fellow Senators are saying, “Hale fellow well met.” What a travesty. I am not a Republican, I am not a Democrat, I am not especially religious, but come on people. “I have sinned,” states Ensign, “now ignore it and let me belly up to the trough some more.”