Following Arrest, Fossella Won’t Run Again
Susan Davis reports on Congress.
Scandal-tainted New York Republican Rep. Vito Fossella announced today that he will not seek reelection to his Staten Island-area district following his recent arrest for drunk driving and subsequent revelation that he has a child from an extramarital affair.
The announcement brings some relief for embattled House Republicans, who have lost three straight special elections in recent months. Fossella will serve out his term, rather than resign early, to avoid a fourth special election in which Democrats could again vie to make it a competitive race.
Fossella is the only Republican who represents the New York City area. Democrats will likely target this seat in November.
“The choice was an extremely difficult one, balanced between my dedication to service to our great nation and the need to concentrate on healing the wounds that I have caused to my wife and family,” he said in a statement posted on his congressional Web site.
Fossella was arrested on May 1 in suburban Virginia for drunk-driving, the scrutiny surrounding the arrest revealed his extramarital affair and other child. Republican leaders, including Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio, had encouraged Fossella to leave the House following his arrest.
Oh, and I also robbed some people and shot a guy.
That a Repubican has an extramarital affair, has a kid with his lover (none of this is illegal) and drives drunk (ok — that’s illegal) isn’t different from what Democrats do all the time.
Its just that Democrats don’t moralize to the country about how pure they are.
Thanks a lot for your family values.
Now, can someone give me a party that actually cares about the real issues that face Americans like economic competitiveness, a high quality education system, a well-functioning healthcare system, and a tough (not cowboy) stance against terrorists?
The GOP does show its family values by drumming those types out of the party, while the Dems lionize them. Witness the treatment of the Senior Senator from Massachusetts, may he enjoy a speedy recovery. And Vito Fossella didn’t even kill anyone.
Vito should definately run again and remain a part of the permenent republican majority along with guys like Larry Craig. The party needs guys like these.
Let’s see: harangue and crow about “family values,” get caught [fill in the blank], get “drummed out of the party,” everything’s fine with the Republicans. Multiply by 1,000. Oh, no, there’s no problem here.
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