West Palm Beach Congressman Tim Mahoney (D-FL), whose predecessor resigned in the wake of a sex scandal, agreed to a $121,000 payment to a former mistress who worked on his staff and was threatening to sue him, according to current and former members of his staff who have been briefed on the settlement, which involved Mahoney and his campaign committee.
Mahoney, who is married, also promised the woman, Patricia Allen, a $50,000 a year job for two years at the agency that handles his campaign advertising, the staffers said. […]
Friends of Allen told ABC News that Allen sought to break off the affair when she learned Mahoney was allegedly involved in other extra-marital relationships at the same time.
Her friends say she told them Mahoney threatened that ending the relationship could cost her the job.
You don’t wanna listen to the audio tape, either. Brutal.
(H/T: Dave D)
anyway. But, I still hate having to give up House seats.
Easily our most vulnerable Democrat…
This is probably not going to be helpful to other Florida Democrats running. Ah well, it’s going to be a wave election, so we’ll make up a loss here somewhere else.
FL-16 – Leans D -> Leans R
That didn’t take long. I think this is the first time ever Cook has moved an un-indicted incumbent to leans for the other party.
mean a whole lote more than others. IL-14 has been leaning takeover all year but he’s finally buying it.
We’re going to pick up 15 seats and all it takes is a majority in the House to get something passed.
Mahoney’s unkind words about Obama really rubbed me the wrong way.
1. Any money spent by the DCCC on Mahoney’s behalf beyond this point would be morally reprehensible and outright volatile.
2. Hopefully he doesn’t get enough attention to be a drag on Democrats that aren’t himself.
3. I agree /w Cook’s moves all around. The economy has turned West Virginia into a toss up, and the other shifts were all moves waiting to happen.
… did anyone catch the Clintons’ rousing endorsement of Paul Kanjorski yesterday? Methinks that plus the general economic fracas could very well be enough to put PA-11 back in the Leans Dem column.
I am sorry to lose this seat, but it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. I know the first two guys who worked for Mahoney when he first ran. He is apparently one of the worst people in politics. Not a good guy.
My one fear is that this could taint our great races in FL-08/21/24/25, as the GOP is desperate to turn the page away from the economy. In the end, though, I don’t think that this story will be able to impact districts that have never heard of Tim Mahoney.
Sucks to lose a seat that won’t be easy to get back, but good riddance to one of our worst, and stupidest, Democrats.
“You know, this isn’t exactly the best job I’ve ever had.”
I think I read that quote here, actually.
Given that I and most everyone on this board would give our right one to be in Congress, I thought that was a pretty, um, uninspiring thing to have said.
The story of how Mahoney was recruited by Emanuel doesn’t really inspire either. Emanuel did know that Foley would break, and he did recruit Mahoney (and push aside the previously greenlighted candidate) when he learned of it. So this is kindof a dark lesson to Emanuel too. Don’t recruit assholes. It does you no good in the long run.
Emanuel just lost a district here. I know it’s kindof weird to lay this at his feet, but the reports I was reading did suggest that Emanuel handpicked Mahoney, and had to recruit him out of the GOP too.
OTOH, I do now recall the those reports were from the sideswiped candidate, and via Howie Klein, so I guess I ought to take them with a whole chunk of rock salt.
Anyone got any information for or against this narrative?
When the heated primary was going on, Mahoney said he had no desire going to convention unless “they needed him”. Like the whole party would fall apart without his support.
I never like Mahoney from the start, ex-Republican and complained that being a Congressman is the toughest job i’ve ever had. You know what’s pretty sad, i’m only 21 and I could of told him that when you become a politican, your going to half to dedicate about 100 percent of your time to your job and most importantly your constitutents back home, who rely on you to fight for him. I rather have a Republican take this seat who wants to be in Congress than a Democrat who’s going to complain about how hard his job is.
Good riddence SSP, him and Bill Jefferson are the two Democrats I want out of our caucus badly. I may get my wish in Mahoney (after the primary I rather support Jefferson than the opponent he’s facing in the runoff).
Seriously, Chad, can you find me some politicians in your state that AREN’T corrupt or trying to have sex with little boys, or any number of things! lol
Page scandals, money filled briefcases, paying off your mistresses, confirmed bachalors until you’re being vetted for VP. lol
Oh well, if the guy is a douche, it will be a shame to lose that seat, but Florida is trending our way, it will be ours, again, oh yes, it will be ours.
are the exact type of politicians who would try to use this story to get away from the economy. I just checked, and thankfully only the 13th district touches the 16th of the competitive races.
I still believe we are going to sweep the 8th, 21st, 24th, and 25th…so long as this story doesn’t disturb the apple cart.
And seriously – why am I not surprised it occurred in Florida?
I wonder if it was John Edwards…