As “sex scandals” go this one is rather mild. A married Republican Congressman has resigned over having sent flirty emails containing shirtless photos of himself to a women from Craigslist. Kinda boring, isn’t it? With his quick resignation one wonders if he knows that there is a whole stream of women he did more than send racy photos of himself to.
In any case, Republican Congressman Christopher Lee of New York is going home and a special election will have to be called to replace him. Naturally, it was the scandal site Gawker that uncorked this story.
It appears that Congressman Lee was looking at the “Women Seeking Men” section of Craigslist and there he found a woman with whom he began to e-flirt. Like an idiot, he used the G-Mail account connected with his campaign to tell his would-be paramour that he was divorced, that he was a lobbyist in DC (instead of a Congressman) and that he was a “fit, fun, classy guy.”
The woman told Gawker that once she found out he was lying about who he was, his age, and just about everything else, she was a bit upset. Naturally she ran straight to Gawker with her story! Duh! He should resign just for being so stupid that he didn’t realize all this would happen!
Of course, it got worse. Congressman Lee tried to claim that his account had been hacked and that he didn’t send the photos or carry on with the Craigslist chickie. This appears to be… uh, shall we say a fantasy?
At some point, Lee finally realized that he couldn’t explain this incident away and he simply resigned.
“It has been a tremendous honor to serve the people of Western New York. I regret the harm that my actions have caused my family, my staff and my constituents. I deeply and sincerely apologize to them all. I have made profound mistakes and I promise to work as hard as I can to seek their forgiveness,” he said in a statement.
“The challenges we face in Western New York and across the country are too serious for me to allow this distraction to continue, and so I am announcing that I have resigned my seat in Congress effective immediately.”
Blah, blah, blah.
It’s good riddance to Lee, of course. It is good he’s gone. But actually this incident once again shows a major difference between the GOP and the Democrats.
When Republicans have scandals, even those as relatively minor as this one, Republicans resign because they know they’ve broken faith with the voters not to mention their own families.
On the other hand, when Democrats get caught in these sorts of situations, they go on to greater power and higher position in the Democrat Party. This is because nothing but power means anything to Democrats. Infidelity, breach of faith, betraying friends and family alike, none of this means anything to a Democrat. In fact, such vile behavior as Lee’s is celebrated among Democrats.
Whatever. Mark another example of the foibles of man.
You know, I never did get Christopher Lee’s part in that last Star Wars movie, anyway.
February 10th, 2011 at 6:49 am
“In fact, such vile behavior as Lee’s is celebrated among Democrats.”
WT – Really??? What the hell are you talking about? Are you questioning my morals based on my politics? Because please, if I’m supposed to be as loose as you imply please let me know – I should be having a LOT more fun than I am.
I’ve said this over and over. Voters could give a rat’s ass about the sex lives of politicians. It’s the hypocrisy that gets them, every single time. Lee was known as a “family values” guy. If he hadn’t been judgmental of the bad behavior of others, this would have been a paragraph on page 22 and a marital problem.
Same thing with Spitzer – a democrat – a few years back. No one really cared about the sex scandal. It was the fact that he’d made his political bones in part by busting prostitution rings in his prosecutor days. Again, the hypocrisy was his undoing, not the sex. (Well, that and the fact that he kept his socks on, which totally would have cost him the womens’ vote.)
I don’t know what they’re saying in Wingnutistan, but in NY folks are comparing this to the Massa scandal. A democrat. Who resigned after first trying to lie his way out. And you know what? It wasn’t the salacious aspects of the scandal that brought Massa down, it was the fact that he broke an actual law (harassment) and that he lied. Stupid hypocrite!
February 10th, 2011 at 7:39 am
The only thing Lee did here that even deserves discussion was to use his campaign’s Gmail account, and then try to lie about it. The first is stupid — it takes all of 15 seconds to set up a new Gmail account — and the second is a legitimate problem. He shouldn’t have tried to cover it up.
But the actual “offense”? A single guy flirting with a girl on Craigslist? How is that a problem, or any of our business? How does something like this show a politician has “broken the faith with the voters”? If he hadn’t covered up this stuff to begin with, it would be no problem whatsoever.
February 10th, 2011 at 7:51 am
Rhay -
He’s married, ergo the conservative outrage. But I don’t disagree with you. This should have been a marital, not a congressional, issue. But fair point about the email account. Not knowing how to set up free gmail account speaks volumes.
February 10th, 2011 at 7:59 am
Rhayader,
You answer your own question.
You ask how this is a problem for the voters then you immediately say, “If he hadn’t covered up this stuff to begin with…”
He lied, he tried to cover it up. THAT is a breach of faith, don’t you think?
February 10th, 2011 at 8:01 am
People who do this sht on computers are idiots to start with.
Good ridance
February 10th, 2011 at 8:06 am
“. Not knowing how to set up free gmail account speaks volumes.”
BACK OFF JACK !!!
When I got my first computer 6 years ago I spent the first half hour looking for the smiley keys !
February 10th, 2011 at 8:08 am
Mubarak is stepping down.
Now the real fun starts
February 10th, 2011 at 8:28 am
When I got my first computer 6 years ago I spent the first half hour looking for the smiley keys
Wow, that really does explain a lot!
February 10th, 2011 at 8:38 am
… wow slow rash, you can’t even accept with good humor a guy poking fun at himself. You are a pretty hateful one, aintcha?
February 10th, 2011 at 8:42 am
… wow slow rash, you can’t even accept with good humor a guy poking fun at himself. You are a pretty hateful one, aintcha?
I’m just messing around with him and he knows that. Actually I rather like Micky. Now go away Mr. Todd.
February 10th, 2011 at 9:20 am
“Wow, that really does explain a lot!’
I’m willing to bet that when you fist when on line you looked up the biggest set of hooters you could find. didnt we all ?
The last time I had to type anything before I got a computer was 40 years ago in typing classes at junior high.
I hated it, only went for the chicks
February 10th, 2011 at 9:25 am
I’m willing to bet that when you fist when on line you looked up the biggest set of hooters you could find. didnt we all ?
Damn straight!
February 10th, 2011 at 9:47 am
Fun piece over at the Daily Beast on this topic. They’ve broken down scandals over the past twenty years by party.
Topline results pasted here, but truly a funny read.
• The number of sex scandals has increased dramatically over the past few decades, thanks to technology, new press standards and a post-Clinton belief that everything is fair game.
• Republicans have more scandals (34 to 27), but Democrats have bigger ones, based on our methodology (13 out of the top 20).
• Democrats tend to have more problems with harassment, staffers and underage girls; Republicans tend to have more problems with prostitutes, hypocrisy and underage boys.
February 10th, 2011 at 9:52 am
TA,
According to WTH Republicans will honorably resign, I wonder how many of the 34 are really so honorable.
February 10th, 2011 at 10:21 am
I guess that once you’ve been caught trying to purchase boys in a mens’ room, honorable resignation is the only recourse?
The sad thing to me, especially when it comes to some of these up-tight GOPers who turn out to be closeted homosexuals, is that it’s so unnecessary. If their politics didn’t mandate hiding their true selves, they could happily meet other men out in the open, save their wives and families untold grief and embarassment, and save themselves having to master some bizarre foot-tapping mens’ room code. Such a waste of time and hurt for something that should never have mattered in the first place.
February 10th, 2011 at 11:01 am
Wow, the news is about a Republican being caught in a sex scandal and somehow the article takes a shot at Democrats.
February 10th, 2011 at 11:20 am
“Actually I rather like Micky.”
I’m gonna cry.
We do have fun at the agreement nether is an idiot but human.
“• Republicans have more scandals (34 to 27), but Democrats have bigger ones, based on our methodology (13 out of the top 20).”
Its scandelous when you have a set code of standards to adhere to and break them.
no one really pays attention when you’re already deemed a promiscuous horny little fck.
Freaking p0rn stars run for liberal office
February 10th, 2011 at 11:21 am
“scandalous”
sorry
February 10th, 2011 at 11:25 am
Hey RP !
Lets get somethin up on Egypt.
All hells gonna break lose soon one way or another.
Tired of the morality arguments.
Lets just be thankful that most of the easy hotties are moonbats.
They’re good for sumpthin
February 10th, 2011 at 11:30 am
“• Democrats tend to have more problems with harassment, staffers and underage girls; Republicans tend to have more problems with prostitutes, hypocrisy and underage boys.”
They might want to re-think that.
The left/ACLU actually attempted to defend NAMBLA at one point before they found out that might not be such a good idea.
Screwing little boys is pedophilia but no doubt also a homosexual preference.
Last I checked gays seem to hang in the moonbat camp
February 10th, 2011 at 11:37 am
Check the full article – it’s broken down quite well and not at all subjective. A little tongue in cheek, to be sure, but well done.
February 10th, 2011 at 11:47 am
No doubt TA.
Just making historical observations.
Everyone has the fire down below.
I didnt become less horny when I converted to the right 15 – 20 years ago.
I just operated differently
February 10th, 2011 at 11:53 am
From Jake Tapper, the emcee at the Washington Press Club at the Congressional Dinner last night:
“Is Congressman Chris Lee here? The Chippendale auditions are in the foyer,”
“Say what you will about Congressman Lee, but that’d guy give you the shirt off his back”
“He wrote to a woman on Craigslist, ‘I won’t disappoint.” But I have to tell you, I’m disappointed, I want more…Do not follow the example of Congressman Lee. Drag it out…do not not end it immediately.”
“Now he can be a divorced lobbyist for real and not just on Craigslist.”
February 10th, 2011 at 12:06 pm
I’m gonna cry.
We do have fun at the agreement nether is an idiot but human.
Exactly. I can certainly see why I come across as so hateful and anti-Republican to many so I can see why WTH might think I’m just some hateful little prick, but in truth I really enjoy this place and many of the people here, or else I simply wouldn’t come.
I’ve mentioned before that some of my best friends in the world are VERY hardcore Republicans and we’ll spend hours giving each other sh*t, much like I do on here, but when it comes down to it I’d easily take a bullet for them and they for me.
February 11th, 2011 at 8:12 am
I actually think that what the people should worry about is the politics. What does (insert name here) do for me. Do I agree with their stands on x, y, and z. If we took a detailed look at everyone in congress, how many do you think do not have something in their closet so to speak. The problem becomes when they talk one way ( I support this or that) and then are caught doing something else.
Crash,
I understand what you are saying. My closest friends and I do not agree on a lot of things. We spend many an hour discussing our viewpoints and after the discussion is over, we go have a beer. Reminds me of my college rugby days. You spent 80 minutes beating the s*** out of each other and when the game was over, you all went out partying.