Republican Senator admits to extramarital affair

I love it when a Republican falls from grace, not because I wish suffering on anybody but because right wingers tend to be on a bit (a bit?) on the self-righteous side, so I find it entertainingly ironic when their sins are exposed, especially if they think themselves to be "good" enough and "right" enough--vs. bad and wrong, like everyone else--to be presidential hopefuls.

Sen. John Ensign of Nevada, a leading Republican mentioned as a potential presidential candidate, admitted Tuesday he had an extramarital affair with a woman who was a member of his campaign staff, AP reported.

Uh, oh...

"Last year I had an affair. I violated the vows of my marriage," Ensign said at a brief news conference in his home state. "It is the worst thing I have ever done in my life. If there was ever anything in my life that I could take back, this would be it."

What he's likely really sorry about is getting caught, if you ask me.

The affair reportedly took place between December 2007 and August 2008 with a campaign staffer who was married to an employee in Ensign's Senate office. Neither has worked for the senator since May 2008, AP reported.

Ensign said he would not mention the name of the female campaign aide involved in the affair, describing her and her husband as good friends.

"Our families were close," he said. "That closeness put me into situations which led to my inappropriate behavior. We caused deep pain to both families and for that I am sorry."

You all know he didn't write a word of this, right? That's what staffers are for, among other duties...

Ensign made it clear he does not plan to resign.

Ensign's wife, Darlene, also released a statement about the affair.

"Since we found out last year we have worked through the situation and we have come to a reconciliation. This has been difficult on both families. With the help of our family and close friends our marriage has become stronger," Mrs. Ensign (staffers) said.

The Ensigns have three children.

Ensign was first elected to the Senate in 2000 and has been a rising star among conservatives. He's also a member of the men-only Christian ministry Promise Keepers.

This hypocrite blasted former Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, who served in Congress for 25 years, when he was arrested in an airport bathroom for *ahem* seeking some company there. Ensign stopped short of urging Craig to resign.

"I wouldn't put myself hopefully in that kind of position, but if I was in a position like that, that's what I would do," Ensign said at the time. "He's going to have to answer that for himself." In the end, Craig served out his term.

Self-righteous BS.

Ensign is the latest member of Congress who has acknowledged infidelity. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., is rebounding from being linked with a prostitute by appealing to the populism in his state.

How does the saying go? Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones?

Source: The Associated Press, My Twisted Mind
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