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GOP Plots Ensign's Ouster
(Jeff Scheid, Rapport Press / Newscom
Republicans are turning against Senator Ensign in the wake of revelations that his parents paid off his mistress. The Daily Beast's Margaret Carlson on the GOP plan to save his seat in 2012.
Republican Sen. John Ensign did what any red-blooded American would do upon returning to the floor of the Senate after the revelation that his parents paid off his mistress and her family. He gave a speech about a bill to help families of our wonderful veterans and brought his young son along as a human shield.
But compared to the first time Ensign showed up on the Hill after news broke that he'd had an affair with the spouse of his top aide, the reception was much less fulsome. The earlier attitude was the whole thing would blow over. Members of the Club are never eager to discipline another member of the Club unless the conduct in question is clearly outside the bounds of accepted sexual deviance. Calls for Sen. Larry Craig to quit were immediate and loud.
Ensign, said a colleague, should “leave now so the Republican governor can appoint someone new who has time to get a leg up on holding the seat for the GOP.”
At first, Ensign's case seemed closer to that of Louisiana Republican Sen. David Vitter, who apologized, wife at his side, for his brush with the "D.C. Madam" Deborah Jeane Palfrey and held on—although he could have a rough reelection race in 2010. Now Ensign’s standing is shakier. On the heels of his cameo at the Capitol on Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, asked whether Ensign should stay and run for reelection, replied brusquely "Sen. Ensign will have to speak to those issues himself" before walking away from reporters.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who has a personal pact with his fellow senator from Nevada not to speak ill of each other, was asked the same question. All he could muster in response was "this is Ensign's own personal decision to make."
One former Republican member of Congress told me this week that sentiment shifted decidedly against Ensign after details of the affair, and the payoff, emerged. The best chance of keeping his seat, he said, is for "Ensign to leave now so the Republican governor can appoint someone new who has time to get a leg up on holding the seat for the GOP in 2012."
It was revelations about a "Christian intervention" and his parents' involvement that turned Ensign’s colleagues sour. Ensign's parents, casino moguls (Ensign himself worked on The Strip), funneled nearly $100,000 to the family of Doug Hampton, the cuckolded husband who blew the whistle on Ensign. Not only do these "gifts" raise tax issues, they also infantilize the senator and makes him look foolish.
Then there is the colorful group of conservative men who came together to "save" Ensign at a group Christian residence on C Street on Capitol Hill. Former NFL star and Republican Rep. Steve Largent, who no longer lives there but visits frequently, said that the group got involved because their friend was "wandering off the reservation."
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ApresSki
So much for "family values"!!
ROTFLOL!
Banjo1
Nothing to do with family values here. What we have here is the homage vice pays to virtue. Put another way, hypocrisy. There are no hypocrites in the Democratic Party, none.
foxwolfer9
Hypocrites abound politically. From John Edwards to John Ensign, they're all cut from the same dishonest, self-serving cloth.
easton
perfect, when caught red handed point at everyone else and challenge them. So much for taking responsibility. Yes, it is the Democrats fault because not every single Democrat is without sin. What a silly argument you make.
uscutxp0
The Democratic Party has never claimed to be the "party of values" or moralized about gays and gay marriage. Republicans have wrapped their arms around determining for EVERYONE what "family values," morality," and "personal responsibility" should be. That the difference. And it's a big difference. If you don't see why things like this are destroying the Republican Party from the inside out, you really are just as clueless as your comment.
socialworklady
Looks like the new and improved Banjo1 roll out isn't going quite as well as expected.
TREESKE
The Repubs claim to be the party of family and ethical values is what brought them back to power and the meaning of Hypocrite does not exist for them, they're CHOSEN!
sippewissett
Every adult knows there's plenty of sinning on both sides of the aisle, but pointing at the other party doesn't fix what's wrong with this jerk. Stop trying to deflect from Ensign's miserable ethics with a "Look over there" gambit. He's a reprehensible jerk that even the Repugs don't want around.
ubupete
"Rep. Largent, who no lives there..."
That's Margaret Carlson writing?
blinky
attn: Tina...I was once a proof reader and considered myself one of the worst in the business, looks like somebody at the Daily Beast has set an even lower standard...Impressive.
SolDogatto
Indeed! What editor in their right mind would stet "he doesn't show up for"?
southernyankee
blinky, I am happy you were a proof reader at one time. Really who cares we get the point of the article.
Hedda-Harlowe
You said it, blinky. There's a lot to be said for professionalism, standards and respect for the American English language. What our southernyankee friend doesn't appreciate is that if this writer and her editors are worth a damn, THEY care that A. they were sloppy, B. we noticed and C. we called them on it. Keep keeping them on their toes.
socialworklady
Tina,
Listen to blinky. Maybe you could drop the "culture blog" and make Rachel the new copy editor?
dlc1550
I agree Blinky - but it's not just the Daily Beast, it's all of the tv and print news. I used to point out misspelled words but it's gotten so ubiquitious that it's pretty much a waste of time. Now I just close my eyes and shake my head.
If there is one union that needs busting it's the teachers.
Sleepyd
Ha Ha. That's too good. I'm guessing you spelled ubiquitous with the extra I on purpose... possibly to make your point? I would hope so because misspelling a word while bitching about how bad teachers are and how bad spelling is throughout "ALL OF THE TV AND PRINT MEDIA"... well, that's too funny. Thank you for bringing a good laugh to my AM.
*closes eyes and shakes head*
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n--Y--Yurdelitepiktor
blinky and friends -- Have you seen any advertisements on this site? No? Wanna have limpid edition? Yeah?
Well, it don't come free. Wanna see this site edited by pros? Bring on the commercials then, Tina. Some readers here -but not all, I am sure- would rather have their edition druthers and ancillary costs.
socialworklady
piktor,
Good point. Only ever saw that gawd awful ad for for handbags or whatever it was. It came up on the front page as clickable option along with the stories. Ughh. If that's the alternative, bring on the typos -- but still -- can't we lose the culture blog and give poor Rachel something else to do?!
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n--Y--Yurdelitepiktor
socialworklady -- Yeah, those commercials were schlocky. Advertisers will arrive sooner or later, though. Huffpost was amateur hour until real writers were brought in. Tina is backed by Barry Diller, so this site will have to become a moneymaker or it will fold. Some of the authors here seem to have barely finished college, the shallowness and gutless writing of some of the stories is a flailing journalistic malpractice of sorts.
pricklypear
Yep, I agree. The worst one I recall was the one where Michael J's ex-wife supposedly agreed to keep her maternity a secret from the kids in return for money. Come on!
And all the Palin stories. They should just have a whole category for "Character Assassination" for all the conservative Republicans they love to bad mouth.
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
badbee54
Ensign had an abortion that he doesn't want anyone to know about since it also goes against his party's line.
garryboyle
It totally makes sense that Coburn is his doctor. Ms. Carlson indicates that Ensign is a big baby ("they also infantilize the senator and makes him look foolish").
southernyankee
What I worry about more than the affairs of these numb nuts is the connection with this group The Family. Plus Coburn is a female doctor. I don't think the privacy law with Coburn and Ensign applies to privilege. This group needs to be investigated.
socialworklady
southern,
Coburn isn't a female doctor, he's a doctor with female patients ....
OffenbachStutz
Southern: No wonder you don't give a fig 'bout dem der copy edeets.
AlwaysOptimistic
"The Family" aka "Christian Mafia" of which Ensign, Coburn and others are members of have been working for decades with conservative political leaders, of both parties, to pass bills to "blur the lines" between "Church and State".
David Coe, the current leader of the group, says that they must be like the "mafia"...staying secretive so that they can have have more influence.
Their goal....To see that God's sovereignty is in every aspect of governance...
To learn more google....author Jeff Sharlet "The Family": The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power...
Again, this group has both republicans and democrats in their ranks. This is not about a political group's agenda. It is about a secret religious groups "grab for power and influence' in our government.
sippewissett
Great. A theocracy. Just what we need: a narrow interpretation of ONE religion as the state religion. So much for reflecting the diversity of our melting pot.
We need to be vigilant and expose groups like this for what they are. We need to name everyone in Congress who participates in this clandestine blurring of church and state (including Palin's whackiness).
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n--Y--genomegkjanuary13a
Not only are the Republicans weird, comical and pathetic, but they are damned scary also. They are so fanatical about their moralism that they are turning into a sexually hedonistic group of weirdos and an crazy evangelical fanatical bunch. Not much different from those hysterical "witch burners" from Salem, Massachusetts and, quite frankly, the Taliban.
Antinous
Doctor patient privilege? These clowns are more fun than a barrel of monkeys.
paristokyo
Could not agree more!
shag11
Couldn't happen to a better group of guys. The is what ya get when you "thrown stones."
mslewis
Well, to be fair to Mr. Coburn, even if your speciality is obstestrics, as a physician you have learned to treat other injuries. Therefore, even if he put a band-aid on Ensign's finger, he can cite doctor/patient confidentiality as a reason not to talk. I just wanted to point that out!!
pmwolf
You are wrong. A doctor-patient relationship is established by formal treatment. Did Coburn do Ensign's PAP smear? Or prescribe his birth control pills? Maybe Coburn put in Ensign's IUD. Doctor-patient relationship can't be sighted so casually as you describe. Check the laws which govern medical practice in your state. I'm certain you'll find a narrow definition of doctor-patient relationship. Of course, what's really going on here is the Senator-Senator relationship, right?
xlntcat
A judge who was not affiliated with "The Family" is unlikely to rule that doctor/patient priviledge would extend to an obstestrician and his male room mate. There are limits to confidenitality. I think Coburn is the most dangerous one of all because he is the brightest and the most ruthless. When a group decides that GOD is own their side and that they are the chosen ones, the mindset dehuminizes all others who are not one of them. They feel no obligation or responsbility to those who elected them because they do no credit the voter since God ordained them to power.
jenny4hill
The good doctor, Ensign's gynecologist, may be The C Street Family's private abortionist. With all those affairs going on, and the total hypocrisy, would anyone with a healthy dose of cynicism be shocked if that turned out to be true?
gobydoc
Doctor-patient confidentiality is the right to refrain from disclosing or divulging information gained within the context of a "special relationship." Special relationships include those between doctors and patients, attorneys and clients... Dr. Coburn would have to be 'treating' Ensign or seeing him professionally for this discussion to be protected by confidentiality rights. Given that Ensign is a 'lobbyable' govt. rep., there would have to be appropriate billing for these services (or conflict of interest issues would arise). So, I'm betting confidentiality rules don't apply in this case.Also, just curious but what other injuries has Coburn 'learned to treat' in his career as an obstetrician that would be applicable to Ensigns 'problem' ???
hmmmmmer
Coburn and the C street group need to be exposed for what they are. They helped keep quiet the illegal things that were going on as far as Ensign was concerned.
macpdx
Rachel Maddow has been doing a great job of covering the C St family.
Frankly, this C St group is scary. This secret family believe that they are the chosen ones and the laws of morality don't apply to them. No wonder they went ballistic when Obama mentions empathy.
finderj
Again and again in these scandals, the point that truly appals me is the utter, total stupidity.
Scandals are nothing new. historically, those in power have had scandals attend them throughout the centuries.
The problem with this latest batch of scandals is the stupidity.
How, how, do these people think that they will not get caught? Are they totally unaware of the paparrizi? Of political enemies? Of the internet? Of cell phone cameras?
Geeze.
Does anybody really want anyone this totally stupid runing anything? Even the shoeshine counter?
pricklypear
I two am udderly appled. There are sandals for sentries, hysterically. The latest batch of sandals is a problem..they are cots. Wearing eminem underwear in pizzerias? Selling phones on the intenet? Does anyone ruin anything? Totally! Eve and Joe shine the counter. Shame, shame.
socialworklady
prickly,
This sort of thing always seems to happen to you late at night...
Time to take your appled udders to bed, hon.
OffenbachStutz
Where am I? Feels like the Russian army just marched through my mouth!
piktor
socialworklady -- Homer!
Joanne38
What? (two(too), appled(appalled), sandals(scandals), sentries(centuries), hysterically(historically), ruin (run), they are cots(what?) Please help us out here. Give us some idea what the heck you are talking about. Anyone who can't spell any better than that shouldn't be posting. It just makes you look ignorant.
Joanne38
I forgot udderly (utterly).
pricklypear
cot (caught).
pricklypear
socialworklady,
I get bored.
The same ole same ole droning on and on and on.......and on.
For an original comment see my latest at 1400 hrs. 7/17.
socialworklady
prickly,
Okay. Is that what was going on with that *farts* thing late one evening -- all those posts that got removed? You were bored, so you filled the board with *cyer fart sounds?* Just checking.
Joanne38
They didn't seem to mind when Clinton was stupid, did they? And, he was running the whole darn country. Somebody put this stupid idiot in twice. OMG, he was a Democrat too. That is just UN-thought of, right?
AlanD2
Clinton was one of the most intelligent presidents we have had (unlike, say, George W. Bush). Clinton is the only president in the last 50 years to have a budget surplus - the holy grail of so-called conservatives.
"Somebody put this stupid idiot in twice." Yup. In 2000 and 2004. Wasn't my fault - I voted against Bush.
lovethesinner
As if John Ensign and Mark Sanford weren't example enough, it seems the mysterious Hotel for Hound Dogs known as "C Street" has produced yet another Republican Casanova:
(from Josh Marshall at TPM)
"But it's been occurring to us that the C Street Group, which is an emanation of a shadowy religious outfit called "the Family", might not be a religious fellowship at all so much as a covert 12 Step Group from Republican Hound Dogs, womanizers and sex addicts trying to get clean during their tenure in the hallowed halls of Congress."
(snip)
"Pickering and his wife divorced soon afterward and now she is suing the novelistically named Elizabeth Creekmore-Byrd for "alienation of affection," i.e., for stealing her husband. What's more, according to legal papers filed by Leisha Pickering, some of the "wrongful conduct" between Pickering and Creekmore-Byrd (I guess that's what they call it down there?) took place at ... you guessed, the C Street group home up on Capitol Hill."
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/07/c_street_on_the_skidz .php#more?ref=fpblg
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TREESKE
Like the rest of the country!
Thank you.
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