NationStates

Sen. Ensign admits extramarital affair
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer Kevin Freking, Associated Press Writer
17 mins ago

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Ensign of Nevada, a leading Republican mentioned as a potential presidential candidate, admitted Tuesday he had an extramarital affair with a former member of his campaign staff.

"I deeply regret and am very sorry for my actions," the conservative lawmaker said a statement to The Associated Press.

An aide in Ensign's office said the affair 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. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the developments.

The aide declined to comment on whether Ensign would resign. Ensign scheduled a news conference in Las Vegas for later Tuesday. Ensign did not participate earlier Tuesday in a vote concerning the ailing travel industry, an unusual absence considering the topic's relevance in his home state.

"I know that I have deeply hurt and disappointed my wife, my children, my family, my friends, my staff and the people of Nevada who believed in me not just as a legislator but as a person," Ensign said.

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 said.

The Ensigns have three children.

Ensign was first elected to the Senate in 2000 and has been an influential conservative voice within that chamber. Last year, his GOP colleagues picked him to serve as chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, moving him to the No. 4 position in leadership. The committee coordinates the GOP's legislative efforts in the Senate. Previously, Ensign ran the Republican Senate campaign operations.

Last month, Ensign traveled to Iowa for a speech organized by a conservative advocacy group, sparking speculation that he had an interest in possibly running for president. Aides said the visit was about staking out a leadership position within the GOP.

Ensign has been a rising star among conservatives, speaking out against President Barack Obama's stimulus package, statehood for the District of Columbia and union-organizing legislation and in favor of gun owners' rights.

NERVUN wrote:And as a Nevadan, who has had to listen to this guy talking about how holy marriage is (Goddamn Question 2!) and a number of other braindead statements, I'm laughing my rear off at this moment!

Sen. Ensign admits extramarital affair
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer Kevin Freking, Associated Press Writer
17 mins ago

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Ensign of Nevada, a leading Republican mentioned as a potential presidential candidate, admitted Tuesday he had an extramarital affair with a former member of his campaign staff.

"I deeply regret and am very sorry for my actions," the conservative lawmaker said a statement to The Associated Press.

An aide in Ensign's office said the affair 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. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the developments.

The aide declined to comment on whether Ensign would resign. Ensign scheduled a news conference in Las Vegas for later Tuesday. Ensign did not participate earlier Tuesday in a vote concerning the ailing travel industry, an unusual absence considering the topic's relevance in his home state.

"I know that I have deeply hurt and disappointed my wife, my children, my family, my friends, my staff and the people of Nevada who believed in me not just as a legislator but as a person," Ensign said.

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 said.

The Ensigns have three children.

Ensign was first elected to the Senate in 2000 and has been an influential conservative voice within that chamber. Last year, his GOP colleagues picked him to serve as chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, moving him to the No. 4 position in leadership. The committee coordinates the GOP's legislative efforts in the Senate. Previously, Ensign ran the Republican Senate campaign operations.

Last month, Ensign traveled to Iowa for a speech organized by a conservative advocacy group, sparking speculation that he had an interest in possibly running for president. Aides said the visit was about staking out a leadership position within the GOP.

Ensign has been a rising star among conservatives, speaking out against President Barack Obama's stimulus package, statehood for the District of Columbia and union-organizing legislation and in favor of gun owners' rights.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090616/ap_ ... ign_affair

Grave_n_idle wrote:Obvious smear.

If it was real, it would have been with a boy. That's just the way Republicans roll.

Lunatic Goofballs wrote:

Grave_n_idle wrote:Obvious smear.

If it was real, it would have been with a boy. That's just the way Republicans roll.

Exactly. Being Republican, I find it hard to believe he cheated on his wife with a woman. Could it have been a man in drag?

Grave_n_idle wrote:

Lunatic Goofballs wrote:

Grave_n_idle wrote:Obvious smear.

If it was real, it would have been with a boy. That's just the way Republicans roll.

Exactly. Being Republican, I find it hard to believe he cheated on his wife with a woman. Could it have been a man in drag?

I had to go back and check the article. He does seem to claim to be straight, so, yeah - cheating with a woman seems very out of character.

Ah... I got it... John Ensign is the really really rabidly pro-life guy, isn't he. Hold your breath for the revelation his affair ended because she got an abortion... no?

Lunatic Goofballs wrote:

Grave_n_idle wrote:I had to go back and check the article. He does seem to claim to be straight, so, yeah - cheating with a woman seems very out of character.

Ah... I got it... John Ensign is the really really rabidly pro-life guy, isn't he. Hold your breath for the revelation his affair ended because she got an abortion... no?

That would get him back into the Republican norm.

Grave_n_idle wrote:

Lunatic Goofballs wrote:

Grave_n_idle wrote:I had to go back and check the article. He does seem to claim to be straight, so, yeah - cheating with a woman seems very out of character.

Ah... I got it... John Ensign is the really really rabidly pro-life guy, isn't he. Hold your breath for the revelation his affair ended because she got an abortion... no?

That would get him back into the Republican norm.

It's either that or there are hookers and coke that haven't been mentioned so far. Or maybe they only had their encounters in public toilets?

Ashmoria wrote:why do congressmen have to announce old affairs? id rather not know.

Lunatic Goofballs wrote:

Ashmoria wrote:why do congressmen have to announce old affairs? id rather not know.

Simple; because somebody found out about it and made allegations to the press. The congressman couldn't deny it because there was evidence it was true,so came forward with the truth.

Why else?

Ashmoria wrote:

Lunatic Goofballs wrote:

Ashmoria wrote:why do congressmen have to announce old affairs? id rather not know.

Simple; because somebody found out about it and made allegations to the press. The congressman couldn't deny it because there was evidence it was true,so came forward with the truth.

Why else?

would it keep him from getting re-elected?

Autumn Wind wrote:This will obviously get a lot of attention on Fox tonight. I'm sure Sean Hannity will be as outraged about this as he was about Edward's affair.

Vampire Knight Zero wrote:I'm really not suprised. But the main thing is, who cares what he does in his private life? What matters is he does his bloody job.

Treznor wrote:The issue is that he's made it his job to be a "family values" politician, one of the social conservatives who wants to defend the sanctity of marriage by denying it to gays. In other words, the textbook example of a hypocrite.

Vampire Knight Zero wrote:

Treznor wrote:The issue is that he's made it his job to be a "family values" politician, one of the social conservatives who wants to defend the sanctity of marriage by denying it to gays. In other words, the textbook example of a hypocrite.

Meh. It matters not what your values are, what matters is that you can do the bloody job.