Senator Ensign to admit extramarital affair

[Steyr_223]

I know Ensign is very progun and is well rated by the NRA. How will this effect us?

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/06/16/breaking-senator-ensign-to-admit-extramarital-affair/

WASHINGTON (CNN)– Senator John Ensign is admitting he had an extramarital affair.

In a statement released by his office, the Republican from Nevada says "I take full responsibility for my actions. 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. I deeply regret and am very sorry for my actions."

The senator's office also released a statement from Ensign's wife Darlene, saying "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. I love my husband."

The senator's office says Ensign's in Nevada and will go before cameras in Las Vegas at 6:30 pm Eastern Time.

Ensign's considered a rising star within the GOP. He was first elected to the Senate in 2000 and comfortably won re-election in the midterm elections of 2006, when the Democrats won back Congress. He's not up for re-election until 2012. Earlier this month Ensign spoke to a conservative group in Iowa, stoking speculation that he might have interest in running for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012.

[Steyr_223]

Looks like Ensign pulled a Gavin Newsom..

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090616/ap_on_go_co/us_ensign_affair

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.

[Gator Monroe]

Looks like this could Propel him beyond Harry Reed in politics !:)

[Untamed1972]

So what? So the guy cheated on his wife.....why is that anyone's business? As long as he wasn't hiring hookers (although in NV that is legal) and paying for it with tx dollars I don't really care. That's between him and his wife. Anymore I pretty much expect that they are ALL cheating on their wives.

She loves her husband.....and I'm sure the paycheck and the perks go along way in aiding her recovery too.

[bwiese]

She loves her husband.....and I'm sure the paycheck and the perks go along way in aiding her recovery too.

Senators don't make that much - around $170K/yr avg.

She could slime on down to any Silicon Valley watering hole here and find midlevel managers that make quite a bit more.

I will add that Sen. John Ensign has been a gun owner's friend and I hope he continues in office.

[Untamed1972]

Senators don't make that much - around $170K/yr avg.

She could slime on down to any Silicon Valley watering hole here and find midlevel managers that make quite a bit more.

Well this is always the perks and status of being a senator's wife though. Women do love a man with "status". And all 6 of Heff's girlfriends love and share him cuz he's just such a great guy! :rolleyes: LOL

[Roadrunner]

Well, generally speaking, if the politician is a democrat, it's no big deal. However, since he's a republican, I'm sure the dems will consider him a womanizing no good son of a ***** that preys on women. Kind of like Bill Clinton.

[berto]

I know Ensign is very progun and is well rated by the NRA. How will this effect us?

Why would it? Plenty of senators have been busted for similar things and continue on in DC as if nothing happened. Nevada has legal gambling and prostitution so an affair is unlikely to swing his constituents against him.

[DDT]

Nevada has legal gambling and prostitution so an affair is unlikely to swing his constituents against him.

I don't see how these are related.

[trashman]

Senators don't make that much - around $170K/yr avg.

Mild quibble...that's quite a bit of "not that much". $170k/yr puts you within the top 5% of all household incomes in the U.S. IIRC. Yes, salaries in the Valley are of course buoyed by many factors...

In either case the guy shouldn't be pooping where he's grilling (to paraphrase the metaphor)...

--Neill

[gunsmith]

Ensign on the AWB "the stupidest law I ever heard of"

[CalNRA]

Mild quibble...that's quite a bit of "not that much". $170k/yr puts you within the top 5% of all household incomes in the U.S. IIRC. Yes, salaries in the Valley are of course buoyed by many factors...

In either case the guy shouldn't be pooping where he's grilling (to paraphrase the metaphor)...

--Neill

it's nothing when Oakland city administrator makes 250k, the UCB police chief makes 215k a year, and the chancellors of UC campuses make on average 400k+.

Do you want a list of CA state employees that make over 170k? Local politicians? City bosses?

There are only 2 senators from each state. How many employees does the state of california alone that make more than 170k a year?

[trashman]

it's nothing when Oakland city administrator makes 250k, the UCB police chief makes 215k a year, and the chancellors of UC campuses make on average 400k+.

Do you want a list of CA state employees that make over 170k? Local politicians? City bosses?

There are only 2 senators from each state. How many employees does the state of california alone that make more than 170k a year?

I agree with you those salaries are staggering for public employees - but that wasn't my point. My point was that by any measure $170k/yr is a sizable income.

Even the Bay Area has a median (meaning 50% of the population make less than...) HOUSEHOLD income of ~$65k/yr.

--Neill