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Politicians are no different than the average Joe, unless that Joe does some plumbing work on the side.
Nevada Sen. John Ensign wishes he had a plumber to stop the leak coming from his personal life after he revealed last week an extra-marital affair between a staffer and him.
Sex scandals rock the political arena about once every six months, so it is no surprise that another politician came forward to admit his sins and ask for forgiveness.
But we didn't expect the next politician to be coming from our own backyard.
From December 2007 to August 2008, the Silver State's junior senator entered into an affair with one of his campaign aides, Cindy Hampton. During that time, her salary rose, and the senator — so nice of him — found a job on his staff for her 19-year-old son. Furthermore, Doug Hampton, the odd man out of this romantic liaison, also worked for the senator.
The affair came to light after Doug Hampton's lawyer made an “exorbitant demand for cash and other financial benefits.”
It took this “request” to force the senator to come clean and tell his constituents that this was the worst mistake he had ever made. At least Ensign didn't drag his wife and three children in front of the news cameras when he saw the light.
Senator, we don't need to tell you that this is another black eye for Nevada. First, we have a governor who is still legally married seeing other women; now, you are forced to tell of your liaison. There is no excuse.
We are not calling for your resignation because you still have much to offer to Nevada's citizens. If you resigned, we would see the same media circus that descended upon former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer. The governor would appoint a replacement until 2010, and then we would have an election for your seat.
Of course, if sordid details ever came out that taxpayer money was used to give her a raise or hire a son to keep the Hampton family quiet, then we, along with 62 percent of those who still favor you, would need to reassess.
During the past week when this news first became public, we wondered what was worse: Having the affair or being a hypocrite. Before Cindy Hampton and you began your period of nocturnal delight, you chided fellow Senators David Vitter and Larry Craig for their indiscretions. Vitter, the married Louisiana senator, suffered from the Spitzer syndrome and patronized prostitutes. Meanwhile, Craig, Ensign's colleague from Idaho, was supposedly caught toe-tapping and trying to hold hands under a bathroom stall partition with an undercover agent. And former senator and presidential hopeful John Edwards cheated on his wife who is suffering from terminal cancer.
And 11 years ago Ensign had harsh words for President Bill Clinton and his indoctrination of the Oval Office for Monica Lewinsky.
Now, your words are coming back to haunt you. Senator, you have two relationships to mend: First and foremost, repair your marriage and save the relationship you have with your wife and children. Second, repair your trust and relationship with the citizens of Nevada who deserve a senator fighting for them.
We also expect your late-night sessions to be dedicated to the people you represent, not to other men's wives.
Editorials are written by the LVN Editorial Board.
Nevada Sen. John Ensign wishes he had a plumber to stop the leak coming from his personal life after he revealed last week an extra-marital affair between a staffer and him.
Sex scandals rock the political arena about once every six months, so it is no surprise that another politician came forward to admit his sins and ask for forgiveness.
But we didn't expect the next politician to be coming from our own backyard.
From December 2007 to August 2008, the Silver State's junior senator entered into an affair with one of his campaign aides, Cindy Hampton. During that time, her salary rose, and the senator — so nice of him — found a job on his staff for her 19-year-old son. Furthermore, Doug Hampton, the odd man out of this romantic liaison, also worked for the senator.
The affair came to light after Doug Hampton's lawyer made an “exorbitant demand for cash and other financial benefits.”
It took this “request” to force the senator to come clean and tell his constituents that this was the worst mistake he had ever made. At least Ensign didn't drag his wife and three children in front of the news cameras when he saw the light.
Senator, we don't need to tell you that this is another black eye for Nevada. First, we have a governor who is still legally married seeing other women; now, you are forced to tell of your liaison. There is no excuse.
We are not calling for your resignation because you still have much to offer to Nevada's citizens. If you resigned, we would see the same media circus that descended upon former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer. The governor would appoint a replacement until 2010, and then we would have an election for your seat.
Of course, if sordid details ever came out that taxpayer money was used to give her a raise or hire a son to keep the Hampton family quiet, then we, along with 62 percent of those who still favor you, would need to reassess.
During the past week when this news first became public, we wondered what was worse: Having the affair or being a hypocrite. Before Cindy Hampton and you began your period of nocturnal delight, you chided fellow Senators David Vitter and Larry Craig for their indiscretions. Vitter, the married Louisiana senator, suffered from the Spitzer syndrome and patronized prostitutes. Meanwhile, Craig, Ensign's colleague from Idaho, was supposedly caught toe-tapping and trying to hold hands under a bathroom stall partition with an undercover agent. And former senator and presidential hopeful John Edwards cheated on his wife who is suffering from terminal cancer.
And 11 years ago Ensign had harsh words for President Bill Clinton and his indoctrination of the Oval Office for Monica Lewinsky.
Now, your words are coming back to haunt you. Senator, you have two relationships to mend: First and foremost, repair your marriage and save the relationship you have with your wife and children. Second, repair your trust and relationship with the citizens of Nevada who deserve a senator fighting for them.
We also expect your late-night sessions to be dedicated to the people you represent, not to other men's wives.
Editorials are written by the LVN Editorial Board.
