Radio show host says he first called for Ensign to resign

By Lisa Mascaro

Friday, June 26, 2009 | 4:45 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- Conservative talk radio host Bill Manders wants to make it clear: He was the first to call for Republican Sen. John Ensign’s resignation.

Manders, at KOH-AM 780 in Reno, joins a few activists in Washington and Nevada who suggest the senator should step down after admitting an affair with a former campaign treasurer whose husband was one of the senator’s top aides at the time.

Manders can’t remember exactly which day last week he made his on-air comments. But he knows it was well before Fox News’ Sean Hannity and probably before Nevada’s Chuck Muth. He's likely right.

“Character matters,” Manders said by phone earlier this week. Manders points to Ensign’s long record of promoting Christian values, and voting accordingly.

Ensign called for the resignation of former President Bill Clinton after the Lewisnsky affair and former Republican Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho after his arrest in a men’s restroom.

“There’s no other choice but to resign,” Manders said. “For the benefit of the party, the benefit of Nevada.”

While Ensign stepped down from his party leadership position, he has said he plans to remain in office and will “work very, very hard” to restore his standing.

Ensign is not up for re-election until 2012, and opinions are mixed on his electoral chances, though many believe three years is a political lifetime and he will have a chance to recover.