Nevada Sen. John Ensign to admit affair; sources say blackmail involved

Politico ^ | 6/16/09 | Manu Raju

[microgood]

If having an affair as a Congress critter is the criteria to lose your security clearance, half of them wouldn't be allowed to enter the chambers

It may not apply to Congress because they are elected. It certainly does not apply to the President. But when I had a clearance, it did apply to me.

[SeaHawkFan]

Can we really be sure that he won’t do it again, and open himself up once again to blackmail? His word means nothing, based on him breaking the biggest promise he made in his life. Why take the chance?

In the Bible, David did far worse and yet he was called a man after God's own heart. If he had a history of numerous affairs, that would be a different matter.

[LucyJo]

Before Conservatives get into the purge mode, perhaps consideration of whether or not there is a pattern of this type of behavior in his life would be worthwhile.

There is no question that he did wrong, but, the evidence that he also repented and did right should be taken into account, imo.

[microgood]

Why?

Anything that might allow someone to blackmail you for information to not disclose something about you is considered grounds for losing a security clearance. We even had cases where we could not hire someone because they had too much debt.

[Deb]

Um, they tried to blackmail him and he went public. It was something that happened while he was separated and when he and his wife went back together, he ended it. I really don’t see where he did anything but the right thing.

[jveritas]

Some fools on our side will never learn.

[LucyJo]

First thought that popped into my mind, since both the husband and wife worked for him.

I’d like to know a bit more about the background of the story.

[jveritas]

Not at all, I am the biggest of all sinners but I admit my sins and not judge others because they are committing the same sin that I am committing such as fornication. For certain I am not a hypocrite as some people on this thread. I do not look for lessons in sexual behavior in a politician I look if they want to cut my taxes, fight socialism, and keep our national security strong.

[redreno]

Is this his first affair or the first time that he’s been caught?

[dfwgator]

Is this his first affair or the first time that he’s been caught?

I suspect the answers are "no" and "yes".

[microgood]

It was something that happened while he was separated and when he and his wife went back together, he ended it. I really don’t see where he did anything but the right thing.

He had an affair while married. That is all it takes. The government would take the stand that it could happen again.

I am not saying the policy is necessarily correct, but that is the policy.

In any case, he could still serve as a Senator, but not on any of the Intelligence or military related committees that requires such a clearance.

[XenaLee]

I always wondered why he didn’t run for President. He’s a staunch conservative with ‘supposedly’ Christian values and his stances on pretty much every issue agree with mine completely. I always thought he would make a rather Reagan-esque President.

Now I know ‘the why’. It makes perfect sense.

Crap.

[jveritas]

The only question is, did he do wrong (yes) and if so how should Conservatives respond?

According to the Bible yes he did, as I do five or six time a week, how about this for a confession, I am a fornicator and a sinner. However I do not look for sexual moral behavior ideals in a politician I look for them to cut my taxes, fight socialism, keep our national security strong, and preserve the life of the unborn.

The conservatives should read the Bible if they want to learn about moral sexual behavior but they should not look to learn this from a politician. We will judge our politicians based on the stuff that I mentioned in the previous paragraph.

[MilspecRob]

So, if it were a female dog that would be OK too “nothing queer about old John”

[MilspecRob]

but he was still involved in a sexual relationship with another woman while he was still married. That constitutes an affair. .

My dad died when I was rather young but he did tell me "Don't F@ck the help"

[KevLibertarian]

But she wasn’t separated from her husband, who was his friend. Make excuses all you want, but I’m not going to believe any ‘family values’ lectures from some arsehole who bangs his friend’s wife.

[haircutter]

and how many affairs did President John F. Kennedy have during his life time, and let include brothers, Robert, and Teddy, dang I think teddy even was responsible for a young woman's life, and now we have a man wanting to name him as the great leader of health care, unions, the poor....yeah let punish this politician from NV.

[Pudding Biafra]

Exactly.