WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A New York congressman who admitted to fathering a child out of wedlock with a woman who bailed him out of jail on a drunk driving charge this month announced Monday that he will not run for re-election.
"This choice was an extremely difficult one, balanced between my dedication to service to our great nation and the need to concentrate on healing the wounds that I have caused to my wife and family," Rep. Vito Fossella, a six-term Republican, said in a written statement.
Fossella, who represents Staten Island and part of Brooklyn, is the 30th Republican to announce they would not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
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Yet another stick of kindling in the funeral pyre that is the Republican Party.
The American people may not especially trust Democrat politicians. They have not proven themselves especially effective or demonstrated great leadership skills, by and large. But they have not proven themselves as consistently hypocritical or criminal as the Republican Party has these last 10-40 years.
One after another, these "pro-family" Republicans have cheated on their wives, dumped them for younger, "prettier," blonder NEW wives (John McCain, anyone?), explored their sexuality and homosexuality in less-than-healthy ways and otherwise given lie to the "Pro-Family" title.
One after another they have been involved in financial scandals, been convicted of crimes, given pardons to their croneys after THEY were convicted of crimes and otherwise given lie to the notion of Republicans as Rich White Men of Character.
The people are ready for a change. We may not trust the Dems, but at least they're not hypocrites or convicts in anywhere near the numbers as Republicans.
It almost makes you feel sorry for the actually honest and upstanding Republican politicians out there (and I'm sure they exist in the real world - at least they used to; it could be they've gone extinct).
23 comments:
You know, it's pretty amazing. These guys have so thoroughly screwed up that nothing surprises me anymore. However, it isn't like this is a new phenomenon. They've been hypocrites for a long time, just not in these sorts of numbers. Bob Barr, Mr. "Defense of Marriage Act" has been married 3 times (leading one person to ask him, "Which marriage are you defending, your first, your second, or your third?), Newt, an adulterer, married 3 times, divorced one of his wives as she lay dying of cancer, Dole, Reagan, all divorced, etc. etc. etc.
And then these same Republican hypocrites give guys like Vitter a standing ovation when he returned to the Senate after his prostitute scandal and Craig is still in the Senate.
It's hard not to feel a bit of schadefreude. However, I'd be much happier having two strong parties, with real differences, that each actually believed in what they say they believe in. (For example, if conservatives were actually for *smaller* government I'd be much more likely to support them.) Alas, for both parties, it's mostly just talk. But it does seem like the Republicans have pretty much cornered the market on hypocrisy these days.
GAY MARRIAGE! TERRORIST APPEASERS!!
PAY NO ATTENTION TO WHAT THESE PEOPLE ARE SAYING!!
GAY MARRIAGE! TERRORIST APPEASERS!!
[This has been a Republican Emergency Warning. If you want people marrying their dogs and terrorists taking over the nation, then listen to these marxist family-haters. Otherwise, vote Republican.
And pay no attention to what these people are saying... It's better for you that way.]
For example, if conservatives were actually for *smaller* government I'd be much more likely to support them.
Aahh, what I wouldn't give to see an honest to goodness Conservative Republican in the wild. I've only heard tell of them and seen photos in books, but never actually spotted one.
You know it's bad when even GOP talking heads are saying that, EVEN IF MCCAIN SQUEAKS OUT A WIN, the House Republicans will lose at least 20 seats and the Senate GOP somewhere from 2-5 seats (I think the number is 5-8 and could even go as high as 10, giving Dems a filibuster proof majority). Therefore, McCain's domestic agenda (which includes trying to privatize Social Security again!) is dead on arrival and his foreign policy might be, too.
I still don't think we can afford even 4 years of a neutered McCain presidency, but it's good to see the downticket races in such good shape. If Dems unite and GOTV for Obama in all 50 states, we can have a clean sweep. And, yes, Dems will disappoint us--but we are trying for improvement, not paradise.
"For example, if conservatives were actually for *smaller* government I'd be much more likely to support them."
We do exist but we are unelectable.(not electable?..English...sigh...)
If you are currently supporting democrats then you cannot possibly have the moral compass to judge others for their mistakes. At least Republicans know when it is time to exit state left. Dems just hang around (Clinton, Kennedy, Frank, Bird, Murtha, Jefferson).
If you are currently supporting democrats then you cannot possibly have the moral compass to judge others for their mistakes.
Oh? Is it your position that only Republicans have the necessary moral fiber to judge morality?
Is your god partisan, Druid?
"At least Republicans know when it is time to exit state [sic} left."
You mean like Republican Larry Craig? You mean like Republican David Vitter? etc., etc., etc.
Yeah, I don't know how noble it is when you resign before going to prison, rather than after...
I could live without the Republican party-- I'm a Conservative. The Republican Party USED to reflect my values, and likely will again... one day. For now, I'll vote my conscience, and support what my conscience will allow.
"Republican hypocrites..." ??
A point I won't argue, but don't act like Democrats aren't equally hypocritical. The entire Congress is hypocritical, self-serving, and dangerous to both the Constitution AND the American people.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
"Oh? Is it your position that only Republicans have the necessary moral fiber to judge morality?
Is your god partisan, Druid?"
Dan that makes no sense at all. Your post is about a republican who is stepping down because of poor moral fiber. My response can be summed up with at least he is stepping down. The other party whom you glaze over in your post wont even do that.
I don't even have to mention God and you accuse me of idolatry. Feeling judgmental today Dan.
Two words: Bill Clinton. The man held the highest office in the land and I don't know of any Democrats who asked him to step down. So obviously Dems are cool with adultery ergo they do not have the moral compass to judge things.
Oh yeah before you give me that whole I'm not a Democrat thing, ask yourself why do you support so many democrats.
Name a few.
I, for one, asked Bill Clinton to step down. I find the notion of a grown man having an affair with a woman just barely out of her teens despicable - not to mention the fact that Clinton was married and a father.
I don't think he should have been impeached (lying over an affair? That's impeachable? You may as well throw out half of Congress.) But I do think he should have stepped down and I think his Dem comrades should have demanded as much.
And, as you may have seen here, I have given the Clintons grief over their policies.
So how many Dems other than Obama can you cite that I have heaped praise upon or endorsed? You said I support "so many Dems" - WHO have you seen me support here?
But like the roach you have shown yourself to be, that will be yet another question you won't answer, another false allegation you cast and then run and hide beneath your rock.
And I notice you didn't answer my first question (par for the course). After you made the ridiculous claim "If you are currently supporting democrats then you cannot possibly have the moral compass to judge others for their mistakes." I asked you:
Is it your position that only Republicans have the necessary moral fiber to judge morality?
No answer.
What sort of god do you worship that only votes Republican and teaches you to twist truths, cast lies and run away when the light is turned on, only to come back later to twist truths further and then scamper off again?
"Two words: Bill Clinton."
Four words: Larry Craig, David Vitter.
And, like Clinton, Fossella isn't stepping down either. He's simply not seeking re-election.
It's one thing for these guys to be hypocrites, Edwin, but your hypocrisy is showing too.
A point I won't argue, but don't act like Democrats aren't equally hypocritical.
Haven't acted like it. Won't start now.
It's just that the Republicans have fashioned themselves out as the party of "values" and when you do that, AND when your arrest and scandal record is greater than the party that HASN'T set itself up as the party of values, you can't expect not to be called on it.
The entire Congress is hypocritical, self-serving, and dangerous to both the Constitution AND the American people.
I wouldn't go so far as to say the "entire congress" (or "all politicians") is/are hypocritical, self-servinga and dangerous. They are flawed human beings trying to do a difficult job and, oftentimes, they have failed. I wouldn't expect anything much more out of imperfect humans.
However, I do think we can do some things to ameliate the negative effects of our poor human condition and have our representatives be in a better place to better represent us.
For instance, we should get bribe money out of politics, as much as possible. Reduce chances for graft to enter the equation. Lobbying is fine - sometimes quite the moral good - BUT, when people with a vested interest (think Oil, Coal, Highways, Military Contractors, etc) are able to send great sums of money and promises of future benefit to politicians, that skews the process. Poisons it. Work to remove that sort of "lobbying."
For starters.
I don't think there were blogs in the '90s. Anyway, neither Dan nor I had one, so we can't point you to archives to prove it, but I back him up. I know that Dan asked Clinton to step down. So did I. I know many Dems who went to him and begged him to resign (and I suspect that Al Gore did, too!).
I did not think that consensual sex was impeachable--much less that it made sense for the charge to be led by people like Newt Gingrich who were repeatedly divorced and remarried over affairs. (Of course, I didn't know, then, that illicit sex was the ONLY thing left that Congress would impeach! Now, we have an administration that has committed so many high crimes and misdemeanors, in conservative John W. Dean's words is "worse than Watergate," but neither the GOP nor the Dems have the guts to impeach him. Sheesh!) I did think that Clinton's use of the military in Bosnia for more than a fortnight without Congressional authorizaton was a violation of the War Powers Act and of Article 1 (vesting the power to declare war only in CONGRESS). So, I thought THAT was something for which Clinton could and should be impeached, but the debacle over Lewinsky and rendered that impractical.
I can also attest that the only Dems I've heard Dan praise at all are Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), the late Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-MN), & Sen. Barack Obama. I have praised a few more. But we have both heaped plenty of criticism,too.
all of you condemn an entire party for the actions of few and support another party despite the very same actions from those holding a higher office.
You could care less if someone in Washington gets caught with his pants down, you only see it as an opportunity to criticize others. If adultery among elected leaders really bothered you then you would support the Republicans because they Expel the offender and not honor them as the Democrats do.
Alan, Kennedy killed a whore and still is in office. Yet you still side with his party.
How a person who writes this: "all of you condemn an entire party for the actions of few and support another party despite the very same actions from those holding a higher office. "
And then write this, in the very same comment: "Alan, Kennedy killed a whore and still is in office. Yet you still side with his party."
is beyond me. Truly, Edwin, you have an amazing ability to construct the most nonsensical, circular "arguments." Well played, sir. Well played. LOL
Let me know, won't you, when you decide to attempt some intellectual consistency, eh?
"If adultery among elected leaders really bothered you then you would support the Republicans because they Expel the offender and not honor them as the Democrats do. "
Expel? Where is Larry Craig today, Edwin? Expelled from the Senate? No, he's still there. How about David Vitter, Edwin? Where is he? Oh, that's right, he literally received a standing ovation by Senate Republicans upon his return to the Senate after his afair with a prostitute was discovered.
You really should pay attention to the news. Sheesh.
Alan, I believe that Edwin is probably about seven years old, so cut him some slack. He's doing really good for such a widdle fella. Yes, you are! Yes, you are!
That explains why he can't answer direct questions and repeats flawed logic over and over. He's not yet at the age where he can understand all of that. Give him time.
Now, Edwin, go play with people your own age and come back when you're ready for adult conversation. Okay?
And for any visitors who may be wondering why I am giving Edwin such a hard time, it's because he comes here, comments (often off-topic, often twisting words and ideas), doesn't generally respond to questions or address it when he's called on an incorrect statement he's made.
I should, and shall, just start ignoring him, but sometimes my baser nature causes me to want to gently taunt these type of folk who don't want to have adult conversations and who prefer to snipe and twist.
BTW, Dan, I wanted to reassure you about the question of still existing good and reasonable and honorable Republicans. I note, for instance, that retiring Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE), who has argued against the surge and for the ending of the Iraq War, has rebuked McCain & Bush for equating talking with enemies with appeasement, as has James Baker III, the former Sec. of Defense of the first Pres. Bush. Meanwhile, Sen. Joe Liebermann (I-CT), former Democrat who went war-mad after 9/11, sticks up for the Bush-McCain position.
It's good to know that Republicans of integrity still exist and a good reminder of the universality of sin to be reminded of Democratic trolls like Liebermann.
Once again, Hillary is threatening a floor fight for the nomination at the Convention. If she does this, Democrats will also have gray days. Currently, both Obama and Clinton out poll McCain nationally, and both have plausible election strategies (with different states). But I think if we do not wrap this up, shortly, the Party with the nominee back in April will beat the Party without a nominee until August--and scenes of a floor fight could even hurt House and Senate races that Dems are otherwise winning.
It seems to me that Hillary's desire to be president is outweighing her concern for either the Party or the nation. Sad.
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