ÿþ<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1"> <title>OnlineColumnist&reg;.com: Duke's Damage Control</title> <meta name="generator" content="Adobe GoLive 4"> <style type="text/css"> .style2 { width: 240px; } h2 {margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; } h1 {margin-bottom:.0001pt; page-break-after:avoid; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-weight:normal; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; } .style3 { text-decoration: underline; } .style4 { font-size: large; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; } .style5 { font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; } </style> </head> <body bgcolor="white" vlink="black"> <center> <table cool width="624" height="2719" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" gridx="16" showgridx gridy="16" showgridy> <tr height="79"> <td height="118" rowspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0" class="style2"><a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="110" width="62" src="images/discobolos.logo.transp.gif" border="0"></a></td> <td width="24" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td height="79" colspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="140"><img height="75" width="450" src="images/banner.GIF"></td> <td width="18" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" height="79"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="79"></td> </tr> <tr height="39"> <td width="182" height="39"></td> <td height="39" valign="top" align="left" xpos="322"><a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="14" width="267" src="images/divisionofNEW.GIF" border="0"></a></td> <td width="1" height="39"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="39"></td> </tr> <tr height="26"> <td width="624" height="26" colspan="6" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0"> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="black" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#99ffcc" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4"> <tr> <td align="center"> <div align="left"> <a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong>HOME</strong></font></a><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> &#149; <a href="articlesindex.html">ARTICLES</a> &#149; <a href="books.html">BOOKS</a> &#149; <a href="teflon.html">THE </a><a href="teflon.html">TEFLON</a><a href="teflon.html"> REPORT</a> &#149; <a href="mailto:letters@onlinecolumnist.com">REACTIONS</a> &#149; <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">ABOUT DISCOBOLOS</a></strong></font></div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr height="1"> <td height="2574" rowspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0" class="style2"><img height="172" width="111" src="images/johninframe3.jpg"></td> <td height="1" colspan="3"> <br /> <span class="style4">Ensign&#39;s Unholy Tryst</span><br /> </td> <td width="18" height="2574" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> <tr height="2573"> <td height="2573" colspan="3" align="left" xpos="116" content valign="top" csheight="2573"> &nbsp;<p><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><b>by John M. Curtis<br> (310) 204-8700</b><br> </font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><i>Copyright June 18, 2009<br> All Rights Reserved.</i></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="style5">I</span>n another blow the Republican Party, 51-year-old presidential hopeful Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) admitted to an affair with ex-campaign staffer and family friend, 46-year-old Cindy Hampton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> For the born-again Christian religious conservative, it wouldn t be that unusual except for the fact that Cindy s husband, Doug, Ensign s golfing partner, was also on the payroll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Federal officials indicated that Cindy received pay raises at two political entities controlled by Ensign during the affair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Last year I had an affair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> I violated the vows of my marriage, Ensign said at a brief Las Vegas new conference.  It is the worst thing I have ever done in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>If there was anything in my life that I could take back, this would be it, said Ensign in a scripted mea culpa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Ensign was vociferous moral critic of former President Bill Clinton s affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Ensign s mea rings hollow since more rumors swirled about an earlier affair in 2002.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Back in 2002, Ensign went incognito, dropping off the radar for two weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>An unnamed person knowledgeable about that situation indicated Ensign told a close colleague that he had an earlier affair, contradicting his recent public apology that  it was the worst thing I have ever don in my life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Were it not for Ensign s holier-than-though attitude and intolerance of his colleagues peccadilloes, his indiscretions would not seem that big of a deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Ensign went public Tuesday, June 16, inexplicably confessing his sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Rumors flew that he went public because Cindy s husband and golfing partner, Doug, tried to blackmail him for an undisclosed sum of cash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>No law enforcement agency, including the D.C. police or FBI, has considered that possibility, discounting the rumor and possible motive.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Resigning from his senate leadership position with the powerful Republican Policy Committee, Ensign indicated he would remain in the senate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Ensign had little patience for Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), urging him to resign after caught June 11, 2007 soliciting a gay sex act in public restroom at the Minneapolis International Airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While there s nothing illegal about having an affair, Ensign has a lot of explaining to do, especially about Cindy s curiously timed pay raises while working for his political action committee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> He accepted responsibility for his action and apologized to his family and constituents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>He offered, and I accept, his resignation as chairman of the Policy Committee, said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kt.), sidestepping some key questions, namely, why he was granting Cindy raises while his affair was active and ongoing.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>GOP officials were grooming Ensign for a possible run at the presidency in 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>His recent revelations destroy his political future, at least for a presidential run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> It is unfortunate the senator chose to air this very personal matter, especially after the Hamptons did everything to keep this matter private, said Hampton s Las Vegas lawyer David Albregis, begging the question of why Ensign went public.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>It s possible that Ensign thought if he went public and blamed Cindy s husband for blackmail, he d discredit the affair allegation and ascribe an evil motive to Cindy, soliciting sympathy and taking the offensive with his damage control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Ensign s love triangle became a dangerous high-wire act, where it was just a matter of time before he destroyed his career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Apart from his affair, Ensign violated very known ethical principle and rule about<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>conflicts of interest.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Excusing Ensign s behavior runs afoul with GOP senators, trying to pick up the pieces since the Nov. 4 election.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Fortunately, President Barack Obama handed the GOP a convenient diversion with health care reform, currently dominating the headlines on Capitol Hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Ensign s affair says less about promiscuity and more about continued nepotism and corruption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Paying Doug Hampton $13,385 a month on his political action committee, while, simultaneously, doubling Cindy s salary to $2,771, then, paying her son more another $500-$1,000 a month, shows egregious abuse of campaign finance laws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While tempting to point fingers at the affair, the financial entanglements pose far greater problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Simply stepping down from a committee assignment doesn t begin to address more serious legal and ethical breaches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Senate investigators must not get distracted by a garden-variety love triangle.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Ensign s conflicts of interest warrant his immediate resignation from the U.S. Senate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>His affair with his golfing partner s wife doesn t begin to itemize the venal and possibly criminal activity related to abusing campaign funds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Crying potential blackmail doesn t excuse Ensign<span style="mso-tab-count: 1">&nbsp; </span>from violating practically every known principle of conflicts of interest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>No U.S. senator, or any elected official for that matter, can abuse the public trust without consequences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Stepping down from the Republican Policy Committee doesn t restore Ensign s credibility or constitute a consequence for Ensign s behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Senate investigators need to thoroughly examine potentially career-ending campaign finance law abuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>When Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) got caught playing footsy, Ensign was the first asking for his resignation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Now that the shoe s on the other foot, Ensign must swallow his medicine and get out.</p> <p class="style3"> About the Author</p> <p><b>John M. Curtis</b> writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor OnlineColumnist.com and author of <a href="books.html">Dodging The Bullet</a> and <a href="books.html">Operation Charisma</a>.<br> </p> <p></p> </td> <td width="1" height="2573"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="2573"></td> </tr> <tr height="1" cntrlrow> <td height="1" class="style2"><spacer type="block" width="116" height="1"></td> <td width="24" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="24" height="1"></td> <td width="182" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="182" height="1"></td> <td height="1"><spacer type="block" width="283" height="1"></td> <td width="18" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="18" height="1"></td> <td width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" width="597"> <tr> <td><font size="1" face="Arial,Geneva,Helvetica"> <hr noshade size="1"> </font><a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong>Home</strong></font></a><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> || <a href="articlesindex.html">Articles</a> || <a href="books.html">Books</a> || <a href="teflon.html">The Teflon Report</a> || <a href="mailto:letters@onlinecolumnist.com">Reactions</a> || <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">About Discobolos</a></strong></font> <div align="left"> <p><font size="1" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">This site designed, developed and hosted by the experts at</font><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"> <a href="http://www.cmeonline.net" target="_blank"><img height="30" width="138" src="images/cmelogoANIM.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></a></font></p> </div> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">&copy;1999-2002 <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">Discobolos Consulting Services, Inc.</a><br> (310) 204-8300<br> All Rights Reserved. </font></td> </tr> </table> </center> </body> </html>