Jon Ralston on why the story is about Ensign — and his hypocrisy and lies

Friday, July 10, 2009 | 2:10 a.m.

Exclusive Interview, part 2

Let’s give Doug Hampton the worst of it:

Let’s say he was an unqualified crony hired by Sen. John Ensign solely based on friendship. Let’s say he should have punched out Ensign and never have been around him again after discovering his wife’s affair. And let’s say he looks like a desperate, vengeful greedy man, whom Ensign helped get two jobs and whose caring gaming mogul father forked over $96,000 to a the Hampton family to assuage the pain.

Even if all or some of that were true, this story is not about Doug Hampton; it is about John Ensign.

Even if you discount much or all of Hampton’s version of events – and I don’t – one player here is a broken man trying to rebuild his life, whether or not you agree with his methods, and the other is (or was) a powerful U.S. senator, a proven liar and serial hypocrite who drenched an evanescent apology to his then-lover in his Christianity, had his family pay off his former employees and then continued the affair for months.

Proportionality often is lost in the heat of these stories, especially in the 24/7 media world, where revelations come hourly if not faster and perspective is lost. So here is some: John Ensign not only has betrayed his wife, his best friend and his faith, he has embarrassed his party and disgraced the U.S. Senate. And he wants to stay -- he thinks he deserves to stay -- in office?

This story is not about Doug Hampton; it is about John Ensign.

Hampton’s shocking disclosures this week on “Face to Face” of how the affair began while the couples shared a home, of how the senator wrote a letter to Cindy Hampton expressing remorse and then continued pursuing her and of payments the Hamptons sought and received are a grotesquerie unmatched even in Nevada politics.

Some have blanched at Hampton’s willingness to come forward now, raising questions about his motives (yes, he wants money) and his credibility. But it is Ensign who has refused to answer any probing questions about the sordid affair. Indeed, Ensign has provided information not out of any Christian devotion to truth but because media outlets – first FOX News and then “Face to Face” – came into possession of damning information.

This story is not about Doug Hampton; it is about John Ensign.

Ensign only disclosed that his parents gave $96,000 to the Hampton family – conveniently at the limit for tax consequences– after Hampton’s assertion on the program that his wife was paid well over $25,000 in severance, which could result in criminal penalties for non-disclosure.

So Ensign had his lawyer put out a revolting “I didn’t do anything illegal” statement Thursday. “After the Senator told his parents about the affair, his parents decided to make the gifts out of concern for the well-being of long-time family friends during a difficult time,” the statement said. “ The gifts are consistent with a pattern of generosity by the Ensign family to the Hamptons and others.”

Well, that was mighty Christian of the Ensigns, wasn’t it?

Generosity? Oh, yes, John Ensign was quite generous to the family.

And gifts? Call it severance, call it a payoff, call it hush money. Even if it’s legal, I wonder if the moralizing John Ensign would call it moral. To most sentient beings, this looks like Daddy the casino boss helped buy his randy son out of a jackpot, lending a Vegas seaminess to this tale.

This story is not about Doug Hampton; it is about John Ensign.

Ensign seems to be acting as if this was nothing, as if this should all be papered over and he should be allowed to get back to doing the great work he has been doing for the great state of Nevada. It reminds me of Murray Hamilton’s line to Dustin Hoffman in “The Graduate” after Hoffman describes his affair with Mrs. Robinson as nothing, like they were shaking hands. “Excuse me if I don’t shake your hand.” Hamilton says as he leaves in disgust.

This story is not about Doug Hampton; it is about John Ensign.

I know there are those who believe Cindy Hampton is equally responsible, that she is not a victim. Maybe she embarked on the affair with ardor, maybe she pursued the senator, maybe it was love.

But even if that were true – and I doubt it -- this is not about Cindy Hampton, either; it is about John Ensign.

I actually don’t think I have to tell the senator who this story is about. If this proves anything, it is that he believes everything is about John Ensign.

Discussion: 17 comments so far…

By nevadafirst

7/10/09 at 9:50 a.m.

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Ensign is hunkered down today in the "C Street House" where the other members of the prayer group are telling him that not only should he stay in office but that he should boast of his bad deeds,i.e. Mark Sanford. He wants us to know he is a sinner but that God has chosen him to lead, like King David (see affair with Bathsheba), and the repented Senator is a stronger man for it all. Yes, it is about John Ensign...but not about is behavior. It is about John Ensign's sickness and the fact that we voters allow Ensign and his like to hold public office. If there were a recall provision for US Senators, they would probably have trouble getting a quorum for a vote.
By henderson

7/10/09 at 11:13 a.m.

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Jon,

You can keep saying it's not about Doug Hampton, but that won't make it true. This is about Hampton and Ensign. All Doug Hampton wants to talk about is how Ensign owes him money for effing his wife, and that the salaries, severence pay, the son's employment was all legitimate. If it's not about Doug Hampton, why do you keep giving him a platform to solicit legal help to get more of Ensign's money and pimp his wife out after the fact?

The governor is exposed. There will be investigations for sure. If you want Doug Hampton out of the equation, quit interviewing him and letting whine on tv.

You can't interview the guy 2 nights in a row, and then tell us it's got nothing to do with him. Come on!
By henderson

7/10/09 at 11:14 a.m.

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I'm sorry, I meant Senator. my bad
By bluegirlredstate

7/10/09 at 3:12 p.m.

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You are spot on Jon!
By PaulRupp

7/10/09 at 5:16 p.m.

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Senator Ensign, You can start by fulfilling your pledge made to help Paul Rupp from Silver Peak NV with the cover-up By MSHA (Boulder NV Office) and NV Mine Safety and Training Section(Ed Tomany & Jeff Bixler) for unlawful safety violations and wrongful termination. Or perhaps you are still convinced that a cab fire in a moving mining haul truck and falsification of safety records covered-up by regulators is ok and not a problem? Or am I yet another poor unfortunate casualty of your broken promises? If you intend to stay on the job. . . then by all means. . . do the job you pledged to do. If you do not honor your pledges stop wasting your constituents time and do all Nevada a favor and RESIGN! Paul W Rupp B125 Silver Peak NV 89047
By hooloogoo

7/10/09 at 6:33 p.m.

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.
..
...I don't think I would want Doug Hampton to pack my parachute..?
..
.
By jmbradley

7/10/09 at 7:36 p.m.

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Look in the mirror Senator Ensign! To blame your wife for your infidelity is not only demeaning to the mother of your children, but even more pitifully violates one of your primary Christian beliefs. As is sadly the case with most spokesmen for extreme beliefs, the reality of living by the "word" seems nearly impossible. Please apologize to your loyal wife, first, then your children, and then gracefully resign while apologizing to the citizens that believed in those same words which we once believed.
By cnev

7/11/09 at 4:15 a.m.

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Yes -it is about Ensign and his abuse of power.
Have you noticed nothing seems to come of these stories anymore? Long term investigations citizens forget about until the next scandal, early responsive moral outrage , then..nothing!
Ensign knows this. He just has to sit tight and keep his mouth shut.
Is Ensign a liar? (Yes) Is he a cheater? (Yes!)
Has he shown us he has little or no scruples? (Yes)

On behalf of the American people, let me comment
"ho hum" "yawn"
Bring on the next Jerry Springer guest, please...
By geezelouise

7/11/09 at 8:01 a.m.

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Senator Ensign, Resign please. Show those that you serve that you have at least a shred of decency. You can no longer speak for your constitutents, you have forgotten the face of your father.
By NVCitizen

7/11/09 at 8:46 a.m.

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Do the christian folks who hunker down in the C Street House talk about ways to get into someone's panties and then have a big giggle about it? Ensign, Sanford and Craig have all stayed in C Street House so that they can be around other christian fellows and pray the bible while boinking their mistresses. (Well, Larry Craig excepted, as he was practicing his "wide stance"!)
By Optimistic

7/11/09 at 9:19 a.m.

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It's an interesting point, jmbradley.

If Ensign chooses to stay in office, is he also choosing then to drag his family through a very public, very ugly, very humiliating experience? And if so, to what end?

Apologizing to his wife and children is a place to start. (Their forgiveness may be a bit harder to come by) But how can they believe that he is authentically sorry for what he's done when he is choosing to keep this issue alive in the public by staying in office? If he leaves office, the issue doesn't go away. But it does leave the media spotlight.

I don't know if his children are in school or grown and out of the house, but is he at all considering what they have to go through every time ABC Nightly News or Fox News or Face-to-Face profiles the problem?

I doubt that the kids are saying, "I can endure repeated public humiliation so my dad can continue to be a Senator."
By skerlahdee

7/11/09 at 6 p.m.

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Henderson: I'll cover this thread for you so you can go on doing whatever it is you do.

Mrs. Hampton is a tramp! - Henderson
It takes two to tango! - Henderson
Mr. Hampton is tickling my gay-dar! - Henderson
I'm good at this! - Henderson
Mrs. Hampton is a tramp! - Henderson
It takes two to tango! - Henderson
Mr. Hampton is tickling my gay-dar! - Henderson
I'm good at this! - Henderson
Mrs. Hampton is a tramp! - Henderson
It takes two to tango! - Henderson
Mr. Hampton is tickling my gay-dar! - Henderson
I'm good at this! - Henderson
Mrs. Hampton is a tramp! - Henderson
It takes two to tango! - Henderson
Mr. Hampton is tickling my gay-dar! - Henderson
I'm good at this! - Henderson
By afveteran

7/11/09 at 9:45 p.m.

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This story isn't about Ensign, it's about Ralston. After all, only Ralston can turn facts into personal conjecture as quick as the drop of Cindy's drawers.
By Mia_Kulper

7/12/09 at 11:17 a.m.

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Yeah, this story is about Cindy's drawers, not Senator Ensign (R-NV).
By henderson

7/13/09 at 10:26 a.m.

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Clearly I don't have your kind of time on my hands to be posting for others. Is that your contribution to the thread? Posting on other people's behalf?

I take it you don't like my posts? Well, I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but so far this is still not a communist country yet so you'll just have to suffer through them for however much longer freedom of speech exists.

K? K.
By larry5

7/14/09 at 10:46 p.m.

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I must applaud John Ensign - he has accomplished the impossible.

According to Ralston: John Ensign has disgraced the U.S. Senate.
By averagejoe

7/15/09 at 5:25 p.m.

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Larry5- That was sadly true! roflmao!