U.S. Rep. Karen McCarthy [Kansas City] to seek treatment for a drinking problem

The Kansas City Star ^ | Saturday, March 22, 2003 | STEVE KRASKE and DAVID GOLDSTEIN

[TroutStalker]

U.S. Rep. Karen McCarthy admitted Friday that she had "hit bottom" with a drinking problem after she cut her forehead in an early morning incident in Washington.

McCarthy, a Democrat who has represented much of Kansas City in Congress since 1995, was treated and released Friday morning from a Washington hospital. She suffered the cut after slipping on an escalator in a House office building.

She missed a key vote early Friday on approval of the federal budget. The measure passed 215-212, with eight members not voting. McCarthy also was absent for a vote Friday on a resolution backing President Bush and U.S. troops in the war against Iraq.

By Friday afternoon, McCarthy was back in Kansas City, where she issued a statement saying she would seek immediate treatment.

"I deeply regret my behavior and, as difficult as it is, recognize that my drinking has hurt those who I am closest to, those I love and work with," McCarthy said. "I have hit bottom, and I realize I just take action to change."

Her top aide, Phil Scaglia, said he didn't know whether McCarthy would take a leave of absence to seek care. The congresswoman did not plan to resign her seat, he said.

McCarthy, 56, could not be reached for further comment. In her statement, she asked for support as she begins her recovery.

"I am truly sorry and apologize to those I have hurt, and I will do everything I can to regain your trust," she said.

State Rep. Marsha Campbell said she supports McCarthy in her efforts for recovery.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with her," said Campbell, a Kansas City Democrat whose districts overlaps McCarthy's old statehouse district.

Scaglia would not comment on Friday's incident but witnesses said it began about 10:30 p.m. Thursday in a room near the House floor where lawmakers gather between votes.

One witness told a reporter that McCarthy was incoherent and struggling to walk. The congresswoman made it clear she wanted to leave the Capitol rather than wait around for early morning votes.

Although several House members urged McCarthy to remain in place until she recovered, an aide walked her back to her office in the nearby Longworth House Office Building. A witness said McCarthy was waving her arms and bumping into obstacles along the way.

After she returned to Longworth, McCarthy eventually agreed to head home. At about 12:30 a.m. on an escalator between two House office buildings, McCarthy was yelling at an aide and throwing papers, her purse and a cell phone at her, witnesses said.

At one point, McCarthy struggled to go up a down escalator, slipped and struck her forehead. Capitol Police escorted McCarthy to George Washington University Hospital.

Aides and former staffers have complained about what they regarded as demeaning and abusive behavior from McCarthy. The behavior has included dressing down employees in front of staff members from other offices.

In one incident last May, two House colleagues had to pull McCarthy away from Scaglia on the Capitol steps at about 1 a.m. as McCarthy was unleashing what was described as a tirade.

Sources told Roll Call that McCarthy was yelling, "You don't care about me. My staff doesn't care about me. Nobody cares about me."

At the time, Scaglia attributed the incident to "long days, long nights voting" in the House.

Said McCarthy: "We had a disagreement. People do that with long and trusted friends." She also denied that she had to be pulled away.

"There is an awful lot of employee turnover in Ms. McCarthy's office," said Scott Stark, who worked as an aide for about a year until last April. "It's hard to be an effective legislator when your staff turns over so much that there's no institutional memory."

In 1996 after her first term, Roll Call said McCarthy had posted the second-highest staff turnover rate among freshmen. Thirteen staff members left her office during her fledgling term.

Scaglia attributed turnover to the quality of staff that McCarthy hires.

"We have been extremely fortunate in attracting a number of very talented and highly skilled individuals who have naturally progressed in their careers," he said.

The picture of a contentious and mean McCarthy clashes with the image many Kansas Citians have of her. A member of the Missouri House who represented a district in the Westport area from 1977-1995, McCarthy typically is viewed as a cheerful lawmaker, eager to help and solve problems.

Joe Carmichael, general chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party, said he was shocked to hear about McCarthy's troubles.

"I'm surprised because she is an able and effective representative for the Fifth District," he said.

For all the power and perks of office that come with serving in Congress, Capitol Hill is an extremely high-pressure world. And for members of the House, who serve only two years, the strain can be even more intense. The nonstop pace of campaigning and fund raising contributes to the harsh toll that a life in politics can exact.

Various past and present members of Congress have battled alcoholism, some more publicly than others.

Rep. Phil Crane, an Illinois Republican, never acted outlandishly. But after friends confronted him two years ago about his drinking, he acknowledged his problem, sought help and was re-elected last fall.

On Friday, several House colleagues and fellow Democrats wished McCarthy well.

"I just wish the best for her," said U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, a Republican from northwest Missouri.

Washington correspondent Matt Stearns contributed to this report.

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To reach Steve Kraske, political correspondent, call (816) 234-4312 or send e-mail to skraske@kcstar.com.

[TroutStalker]

FYI

[Aeronaut]

Let's not hit this one too hard. She has a problem, she has to deal with it, and we don't look too good if we savage her on this.

[Experiment 6-2-6]

Not that I would ever SAVAGE anyone on their drinking problem, but I find it curious this alcoholic is more willing to give up booze than her seat in Congress...

[Elle Bee]

Joe Carmichael, general chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party, said he was shocked to hear about McCarthy's troubles.

Gambling going on here? I'm Shocked! Shocked!

.

[concerned about politics]

She missed a key vote early Friday on approval of the federal budget. The measure passed 215-212, with eight members not voting. McCarthy also was absent for a vote Friday on a resolution backing President Bush and U.S. troops in the war against Iraq.

As a Democrat, maybe it's better she doesn't get involved in politics anyway.

[pollywog]

I say anyone that is willing to ADMIT they have a problem is beginning to heal. Praying that she will have success in conquering this foe.

[Bahbah]

I hope she is successful in her efforts to get this problem under control.

[Aeronaut]

...more willing to give up booze than her seat in Congress...

That can be fixed by her constituents.

[cardinal4]

Agreed. I have 6 years without a drink coming up next month. This woman will be in my prayers.

[southernnorthcarolina]

Her ACU ratings show her to be about as left-wing as they come. Now I guess she'll have an AA rating, too.

[Drango]

Let's not hit this one too hard. She has a problem, she has to deal with it

I'm cool with the drinking thing, but no way am I gonna forgive her being a Democrat.

[Teacher317]

The media will make relentless comparisons to the President, who hasn't imbibed in decades. Ironic, isn't it?

[BRL]

I am not going to get down on her for seeking help...but...

Is she really capable of fulfilling her duties?

A person of character would step down or never seek such a responsibility if they were not up to the task.

[Senator Pardek]

I know Ted Kennedy, and she is no Ted Kennedy.

[csvset]

I wish her all the luck in her effort to overcome her alcohol problem.

[concerned about politics]

I say anyone that is willing to ADMIT they have a problem is beginning to heal. Praying that she will have success in conquering this foe.

And sees the light and changes parties.

[Aeronaut]

Is she really capable of fulfilling her duties?

If she dries out and takes it serious, why not? (Except for thet democrat thing...)

[leadpenny]

C-SPAN bio here: http://capwiz.com/c-span/bio/?id=355&lvl=C

[krb]

Of course, since I had to read through the title and the first several lines to find out her political party, the result ended up being no surprise.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Statement: "Various past and present members of Congress have battled alcoholism, some more publicly than others."

Response:They then express amazement that there is a lack of respect felt by the American citizen.Eating, drinking(and drugs), copulation, evacuation and snoring all at taxpayers expense. The aforementioned is their life, it is what they are, it is what they do.

[KC Burke]

When I have met her a few times, I have always thought of her as a obsessive type, very much an over-controled person, so this doesn't suprise me at all. While a strident leftist, we can expect little else from her district and I hope she can turn loose of this demon.

[rface]

alcoholism are no stranger to liberals and conservatives alike.....but you have to get youself in order before you take on more responsibilities.

She should seek help, and a conservative should prepare to jump on this opportunity.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

Maybe if the lush sobers up, she'll think clearly & change parties.

[Elle Bee]

I know Ted Kennedy, and she is no Ted Kennedy.

ROTFLOL

.

[magellan]

In one incident last May, two House colleagues had to pull McCarthy away from Scaglia on the Capitol steps at about 1 a.m. as McCarthy was unleashing what was described as a tirade.

Sources told Roll Call that McCarthy was yelling, "You don't care about me. My staff doesn't care about me. Nobody cares about me."

At the time, Scaglia attributed the incident to "long days, long nights voting" in the House.

Scaglia attributed turnover to the quality of staff that McCarthy hires.

"We have been extremely fortunate in attracting a number of very talented and highly skilled individuals who have naturally progressed in their careers," he said.

Scaglia should be given the 2003 Hillary Clinton Enabler Award.

The Enabler Award, previously the Mary Jo Buttafuoco "Not My Joey" Award, was changed in 1998 to honor the biggest enabler the world has ever seen, Hillary Clinton.

[joesnuffy]

ditto...

[William McKinley]

Yah no kidding. She probably thinks this guy was 'protecting' her, when in reality what he was doing was trying to protect his path to greater power and money, without caring a rat's ass what happened to her.

People do care about her, but I can she why she would think no one does. The booze tells her no one does, and she has surrounding her quite a few people, it seems, who don't care about her. The other Congressional Democrats only had a problem with her because she wasn't showing up to close votes. This guy was covering her actions to protect his career.

I made a crass joke above, but the fact is she should get help and have our prayers during her recovery. Maybe it will cause her to rethink some of her core values-- or lack thereof.

[vnix]

Congratulations to you. I have a bit of knowledge concerning this matter. I was a stone cold drunk. I drank about 2 gallons of whiskey a week. I was so bad that I don't remember much of my drinking life. I sought help and have remained sober for 12 years coming in September. The only thing I have to say is the she really shouldn't be saying she hit rock bottom just yet. She has alot of work to do. Even after 12 years, I sometimes feel like I wanna drink. From this point on she really needs to watch every step she takes, at least for the next 2-3 years.

[bert]

.....Nobody cares about me......

Among the Rat rants there is a germ of truth.....

Life as a Rat in Congress must be tough.

[Free State Four]

I know Ted Kennedy, and she is no Ted Kennedy.

SNORT! SNORT!

But, hey, TS. A Democrat so drunk they can't make it to floor votes. Is this a bad thing? (Having been married to Arthur Benson is a good excuse for anyone to drink too much.)

[ricpic]

A Drunken Dems Advantage

She took a drink, then took another.
"Vote comin' up? It's too much bother.
Think I'll have one more, by golly.
The press'll cover up my folly."

[tomahawk]

She does have a problem. She is a DemonCrap.

[Shaka]

Ted has a new friend...she can always run for congress in Massachuzzettes.

[TroutStalker]

Congratulations! Dealing with alcholism is a very difficult thing to do. A member of my family just celebrated her 39th AA birthday, and remains very active there, having helped many others. At age 83 she still attends meetings at least three times a week. I credit it with helping her keep young and active. She has many young friends in the program.

[TroutStalker]

It was only recently I became aware that she is the former Ms. Benson. It may have been you who alerted me to that fact. More of the KC RAT pack.

[barker]

From her actions it looks like she is a good student of the Hillary Clinton school "How to Treat Your Staff" and the Ted Kennedy "School of Drinking.

Hope she can cure the drinking problem. See little chance of her getting voted out of office considering the district, which is mine, that she represents.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

No doubt, at least she's admitting it and seeking help. I'm not about to kick somebody in the teeth for that. It's the Ted Kennedy approach to drinking that I despise.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Rep. Karen McCarthy is a long-time democrat activist revered by the local media. I suspect her drinking problem and anger is from a nasty spat with her partner.

[Sender]

I agree, we should not criticize her for her drinking problem. We must rise above the level of the democrats. Look on DU or any other left-wing haven and you'll see them still calling President Bush a drunk and every other slur you can imagine, but you'll never hear a democrat say a bad word about one of their own. I'm going to take the high road on things like this, and let the democrats drag themselves deeper and deeper into the gutter with their politics of personal destruction.

[Lawgvr1955]

Ironically, the article describes that she once represented the FIFTH district in the Misourri legislature.

[Lawgvr1955]

Misourri=Missouri

[Landru]

"One doesn't drink because they're a Democrate, one's a Democrate because they drink."

...or somehting like that. {g}

[Exit148]

"Let's not hit this one too hard. She has a problem, she has to deal with it, and we don't look too good if we savage her on this."

I'm with you on this. I hope she can deal with her problem, and with whatever caused it in the first place.

[pttttt]

"I deeply regret my behavior and, as difficult as it is, recognize that my drinking has hurt those who I am closest to, those I love and work with," McCarthy said. "I have hit bottom, and I realize I just take action to change."

I sympathize, but part of recovery is accepting responsibility for her actions. Alcoholism is no excuse for her being a Democrat.

Nor for atrocious gag lines. Did she really say "hit bottom" after falling down an escalator?

[islander-11]

Best wishes to her. It works, if you work it.

When she sobers up, she might change parties. Sixteen years ago, after pulling my head out of my rectum by the grace of God, I became a Republican...

[Conservateacher]

"U.S. Rep. Karen McCarthy"

Where is the "D"?
Where is the "left wing, liberal democrat from Missouri"?

As in "U.S. Rep. Karen McCarthy (D), a left wing liberal democrat from Missouri"

Had it been a republican -- "US Rep.So and So (R), a biggoted right wing extremist conservative ..."