Tonight Senator John Ensign (R-NV) will announce he has had an extramarital affair (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/eye-on-2012/ensign-to-acknowledge-extramar.html?hpid=topnews). While many of the details have yet to be revealed, Ensign was a rising star in the GOP, having the unenviable task of leading the NRSC in the 2008 cycle. He even recently spoke in Iowa, stoking chatter that he may be considering a 2012 Presidential run. So this can’t be considered a minor blip on the radar for the Republicans, as it puts an embarassing scandal in front of them right as they’re trying to mount a united opposition to Obama’s agenda.
Moreover, in 2007, Ensign was one of the first Senators to call for Larry Craig’s resignation over his foot-tapping affair in a Minneapolis airport bathroom, calling such behavior “disgraceful.” While it is unlikely that he will step down as a result of this (even though he, unlike Craig, was actually caught having an affair) it will likely kill any hopes he had of a 2012 bid for President. It may also damage the GOP as well, as he was (to date) the only Western, or in truth non-Southern GOPer, to consider mounting a serious bid (some may argue Palin is also a Westerner but I’d put her in a whole other category). Geographically, it only further limits the base the GOP can draw from when challenging Obama. The West was one of the few areas they likely could have mounted a serious challenge to the President’s electoral chances.
This could also impact his 2012 re-election chances. Nevada is no Louisiana, and voters there aren’t so partisanly Republican as to automatically forgive Ensign for his actions (although, this is the state that’s home to Sin City so maybe folks there won’t care). As a Democrat, I only laugh again at a GOP’er who couldn’t keep his pants on, but it seems this has been a trend for both sides (Edwards, anyone?)
Seriously, what the hell possess guys who have a chance at becoming the most powerful elected leader in the world to throw it away over something so trivial? Any thoughts on any of this? I’m especially interested to see what our Nevadans think.
Damn. So very true. I don’t think it makes much news beyond Nevada and he was never a viable national candidate anyway. He should be the top DSCC target in 2012 though I suspect he might not even run for re-election.
Im certainly not defending Ensign and he deserves any fall out he gets from this, but I think the newsstories out there bringing the Larry Craig situation up with this are totally off the mark. While both were being total losers, Craig was breaking laws with what he did. Ensign has not.
is that kind of state that would hang him out to dry for this.
You mentioned that no non-Southerner was considerign a serious bid, what about Mitt Romney? He’s basically the only potential 2012 GOP Presidential candidate who hasn’t attracted negative media attention this year.
It will hurt his chances in 2012 for re-election. Im not saying Nevadans approve or are dismissive of his actions but they may think its irrelevant to the job at hand. This is, after all, the only state in the country with legalized brothels. So the voters may not care all that much. If he were a pastor im sure theyd think otherwise.
First, I don’t like it when a politician gets caught up in infidelity. My heart goes out to all the victims. I don’t like a lot of press coverage because of the victims have to live with it on a daily basis.
Just like David Vitter, Tim Mahoney, Larry Craig, John Edwards, et. al, John Ensign has a moral/ethical dilemma. However, it is possible to engage in immoral behavior and still be a solid politician. Bill Clinton proved it to me that it is possible. Certain guys like Clinton seemed to thrive when pushed against the wall. I don’t condone his actions, but looking back I think he handled his job as well as could be expected. Just because Engign had an affair doesn’t mean he can’t do his job.
That being said, Ensign has demonstrated a certain level of hypocrisy. He has cried out when Vitter, Clinton, and Craig had their moral lapses. If Ensign asks for anyone’s resignation for having immoral behavior, and then he engages in immoral behavior, confesses, and then doesn’t resign, I have to question if he’s not a hypocrite. I cannot stand a self-righteous hypocrite..it annoys me to no end. Based on Ensign’s own prior actions, he should resign because he could not meet his own expectations of moral behavior.
had exactly the same scandal – and look, he’s running for Governor!
Making this announcement this far out means it’s unlikely to have much effect in 2012.
I think it may hurt the GOP brand in Nevada in 2010 when they are trying to hold onto the Governorship and go after Harry Reid. Harry Reid is the one comes out best from this.