Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
StumbleLetter to the Editor:
Affair, lobbying issue both reveal character
Monday, Oct. 12, 2009 | 2:04 a.m.
I find interesting the willingness of some people to separate the issues of Sen. John Ensign’s affair with Cynthia Hampton and his possibly illegal activity associated with Doug Hampton’s lobbying efforts. Such thinking says the affair is a personal matter that’s none of our business, but the other is a public matter that may be our business. While technically that may be true, in a larger sense both issues are a demonstration of Ensign’s true character.
He has a history of presenting himself as a staunch supporter of family values. He also has tried to project himself as a man of Christian values, morality and virtue even while betraying his best friend, his wife and his children with the spouse of his best friend, the woman who is also described as being the best friend of his wife. What does that say about him as a person?
If he’s that capable of deceit, lies and deception to those who supposedly are the dearest and most loved in his life, how can he ever expect the people of Nevada to trust him? How can he not expect voters like me to wonder what else he is capable of?
I don’t know what the outcome of the ethics charges concerning the lobbying activity will be, but I don’t care. Ensign has shown me enough. Let’s put it another way. Let’s say the minister, priest, rabbi or other clergyman in whatever church you attend were guilty of the exact same offense. Let’s say you, along with your family and the family of that clergyman, were the victims of the exact same activity perpetrated by Ensign and Mrs. Hampton.
Would you ever trust that clergyman again? Wouldn’t it make you a little nauseated to see him back in the pulpit telling the congregation how his only concern now is to further the best interests of the church? Would you believe him? My answer: I’m nauseated and I don’t believe him.
Discussion: comments so far…
Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy. Additionally, we now display comments from trusted commenters by default. Those wishing to become a trusted commenter need to verify their identity or sign in with Facebook Connect to tie their Facebook account to their Las Vegas Sun account. For more on this change, read our story about how it works and why we did it.
Only trusted comments are displayed on this page. Untrusted comments have expired from this story.
No trusted comments have been posted.
Post a comment
Most Popular
- Viewed
- Discussed
- E-mailed
- UNLV can move forward without the burden of losing streak to San Diego State
- A wife’s wisdom shows birth control issue needn’t be divisive
- Surprise links, negotiated deals addressed by commissioners
- Motorcycle accident claims life of man in northeast valley
- Hope and change and … what’s missing?
- New York mayor has the right idea
- We don’t need a CEO in charge
- Paying our own way
- Country has ‘given’ citizens a lot
- Jerry Tarkanian: Mike Moser impresses yet again on a day to remember former Rebel greats
Blogs
The Kats Report
Color from scene at Thomas & Mack: We have a wire job! Rebels win, and Louie Armstrong sings!
South Point owner Michael Gaughan's take on 'Vegas Stripped': 'I'll give it an 8' (4 Comments)
Author relishes writing the life story of ‘larger-than-life’ Oscar Goodman (3 Comments)
Elsewhere
Landowner: All roads could lead to Uxbridge casino
Revel reveals smoke-free casino opening
Cirque du Soleil show in Sands China casino to close this month
Meet the woman behind Sheldon Adelson
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
My minister tells me we should forgive, no man is infallable. I believe that if each and every congressman were scrutinized the way Senator Ensign was, there could be a lot sent packing. Senator Kennedy was admired by the left yet he murdered a young woman and had quite a reputation as a womanizer. Mr. Rangel has cheated on his taxes, illegally obtained a number of loans interest free. I hear no clamor for him to resign. Harry Reid has been in a number of shady land deals almost all his life and I hear no clamor for any investigation of him yet he has made millions since he got into politics. Yes Sen. Ensign did wrong but so have many other to varying degrees. Mr. Ensign has represented my views in Washington better than most. I certainly would rather see him remain in office than than this state's other poor excuse for a senator.
I find this agrument by Democrats to be so funny.
So Democrats can be scum because they claimed to be scum. Hmmmmm.....I would not shout that from the rooftops.
Just a FYI to the hypocrite Democrats, shortly after signing DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act)Clinton run for re-election in 1996. He had ads bragging about sign DOMA and at the end of ad its says, ""President Clinton has fought for our values and America is better for it."
I am a betting man and I am very confident Thomas Hayden was one that would say, "It was only about sex." and then would say, "Clinton was the best President ever."
hey tom...
excellent letter...
just imagine how many lies this maggot told while he carried on his scum filled affair...
this wasn't just some bimbo off the street...
this was a close family friend...
this was his best friend's wife...
this was an employee...
lies, lies, lies...
to his wife...
to his family...
to his staff...
to his fellow cult members at "the family"...
to his fellow blowhards at "promise keepers"...
lies, lies, lies....
what a maggot...
maggots, maggots everywhere...
it's time to start squashing us some maggots!!!
"Senator Kennedy was admired by the left yet he murdered a young woman..."
That, of course, is a vile lie.
But then jlb goes on to say that Senator Ensign's conduct is excusable because other people have done bad things, too. If other people's immorality excuses my own, then nothing is wrong. Charles Rangel could point to Ensign and say that Ensign's conduct excuses his own.
It matters not to jlb that Ensign committed a felony; it only matters that Ensign's politics are what he wants them to be.
So it must be OK with jlb that the people of DC sent Marion Barry back to office. It must be OK with jlb that the people of Rangel's district keep sending him back to office. They, after all,represent their constitutent's views better than most.
What utter garbage. Either Ensign is a crook and deserves to go or he isn't. The available evidence suggests he's a crook, just as it does with Charles Rangel. Both should go.
It disgusts me that people scream about crooked government and how fed up they are with the culture in Washington, and then proudly vote to send people like Ensign and Rangel back.
Speaking of utter garbage, Mr. Hayden, Senator Ensign is not our minister, he's our Senator. Despite his own contentions to the contrary, Senator Ensign is not our spiritual guide. Anybody who would look to a politician for spiritual guidance has a screw loose. Ensign's philandering is a matter best left between him, his family, and the family of the people he wronged. His apparently criminal conduct in trying to cover up the affair, however, is our business. That does deserve our attention.
hey tom...
excellent letter...
just imagine how many lies this maggot told while he carried on his multiple scum filled affairs...
this wasn't just them were bimbos
this was an young intern at the white house...
he had the affair in the oval office...
this was an employee...
lies, lies, lies...
to his wife...
to his family...
to his staff...
to the whole country when he look into the camera and wagged his finger and lied,lied, lied
he also lied under oath in a court of law
lies, lies, lies....
his MO was to have an affair and if the lady started to talked about the affair then he would order his goons to destroy her in public
what a maggot...
maggots, maggots everywhere...
it's time to start squashing us some maggots!!!
Who is this wailer Tom Hayden?
Is this the same Tom Hayden who was married to Jane Fonda?
Is this the anti war Tom Hayden of the sixties?
Is this the Tom Hayden who is an avid Democrat and supporter of Barak Obama?
How soon they forget about Reverend Wright...
JohnF the problem is that Ensign is being investigated and Rangle is not. I think any possible serious crime commited by an elected official should should be investigated and properly punished. The problem lies in the fact that the conservative politcians are investigated and the liberal ones are not. How is it that Harry Reid has not done an honest days work since he pumped gas in Searchlight and now is a multi-millionaire. How is it that several of his family members are lobbiests making big bucks because he is a senator. You don't think that if their (Reid's family) name were Smith they would get a lobbiest job in Washington? This sounds very similar to Sen. Ensign trying to get lobbing work for Mr. Hampton. Harry Reid should be investigated too as I see no difference in the two men.
Actually, jlb, I don't see any evidence that either Rangel or Ensign is being investigated by anyone who has the authority to send them packing.
I do not take issue with anything you say about the character of the Democrats of whom you speak (except when you called Ted Kennedy a murderer; he was criminally negligent, but he was not a murderer). Neither party has a monopoly on graft or corruption. All I'm saying is that I've had enough of people turning a blind eye to this stuff because of partisan politics. If my guy gets caught he ought to go to jail. If your guy gets caught he should, too.
If we put enough of these sleazy politicians from both sides in jail perhaps all this stuff will stop.
Thomas Hayden is 100% correct.
Give this some serious thought.
If John Ensign behaved in this immature manner toward a "Friend" How do Nevadans think he would act on their behalf. You have to be deranged to think anyone like him would work for your interests,
Selfish people just think about themselves and clearly this is what has happened.
Period end of conversation.
Excuse me but Kennedy was a murderer. Don't contradict the facts. If his last name was anything but Kennedy he would have been sent to prison. He ran the car off a bridge, probably in a drunken stupor. He ran off and talked to his lawyer, sobered up and the police were called the following morning. An autopsey was performed and Mary Jo did not drown. There was no water in her lungs. She lived for an hour or two by finding an air pocket in the car and used it to breath until the oxygen ran out. If that despicable coward would have called for help she could probably been saved. Don't tell me that subhuman piece of crap did not murder that girl. If that was me I would have stayed there and tried to save her if I drowned. Kennedy is a pathetic cowardly weasel who thought only of his fat worthless rear end. He is right now burning in the hottest part of Hell with the Devil laughing at him. He deserves it.
Janmara states that anyone is deranged to think anyone like Ensign would act on their behalf...
Anyone like Ensign would probably include most of Congress, most of the state's government and local officials. Maybe even you and me...
I guess Janmara does not trust anyone who has strayed from the path...
Atta Boy, JLB101,
Comparing Ensign's behavior to that of a dead Senator, who by the way, served his country admirably for many years, which is a heck of a lot more than Ensign has done.
You and sgt rockhead and his little brother Larry;
"Its OK! Others have done worse!" nice defense, kids.
You'd better take a look at a dictionary there, jlb.
Murder is defined as "the crime of unlawfully killing a person especially with malice aforethought."
Criminally negligent? Most likely. Murderer? Absolutely not. Deserved to be in jail? Most likely. Deserved the chair? Absolutely not.
As for where Ted Kennedy is right now, that's not for me to say. We can't know what was in his heart, whether he truly repented, or whether his repentance was enough. You see, judgement is not given to us.
How do you know who's in hell or whether hell even exists?
Talking about revealing character...
Calling Fox News "a wing of the Republican Party," the Obama administration on Sunday escalated its war of words against the channel, even as observers questioned the wisdom of a White House war on a news organization.
Fox News must be doing something right...
Birdiedreamin is "THAT" guy... Way to go...
ghostcommander,
Thank you for bringing us back to the subject.
Who needs G-d when we have jlb?
Laura Bush was not drunk. She was involved in an accident, which was in fact her fault, she ran a stopsign. She stopped and was subsequently given a drug and alcohol test both of which came back negative. He was not her boyfriend, simply a schoolmate. At the time of the accident she was just another kid, 17 as I recall. She had no connections, no high price attorney, nothing to give her any favoritism. She stopped at the scene and did not flee like the lowlife cowardly dirtbag Kennedy. Read the accounts before you accuse people of something you know nothing about. Yes she made a mistake, but she stood up to it and was many times the man Kennedy was. He ran and hid like the pathetic little coward he really was. The kid Laura hit was dead at the scene. Mary Jo lived two or so hours of sheer hell hoping someone would rescue her but Teddy was with his lawyer trying to save his pathetic little ass. He was a disgusting pathetic cowardly excuse for a human. Yes I believe in hell and I know he is there. This country would have been well served if he would have drowned there too.
No, jlb, tell us what you really think.
It must be nice to be perfect. You give "sancitmonious" a whole new meaning.
"My minister tells me we should forgive, no man is infallable."
Unless they're Democrats, huh, jlb?
Good job JohnF.
You know what I don't get? Christians protesting for lowering taxes or no Taxes.
"Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"
21 "Caesar's," they replied.
Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. "
Matthew 22:17-22.
I know Christians too well. They'll support a Republican President, but not a Democrat when they are under obligation with God. Funny thing.
Larry:
The White House was correct in it's statement
about Fox. They are educating the populace.
Watch and learn.
Calling Fox News "a wing of the Republican Party," the Obama administration on Sunday escalated its war of words against the channel, even as observers questioned the wisdom of a White House war on a news organization.
Fox News must be doing something right...
Hey teamster... Maybe you should take another look at FOX NEWS.
You might consider that FOX NEWS channel is similar to a newspaper with separate sections on straight news and commentary. The commentary being similar to the editorial section of a newspaper.
I regularly watch the straight news part because I have learned that one will get more unbiased news on FOX then other networks.
As far as the commentators, I can take them or leave them. I would further state that probably most commentators lean to the right versus the left. No surprises there.
FOX is not my only source of news. I compare news stories and make a decision for myself as to the accurately of the reporting.
Why I give an applaud to you, Larry.
There's no doubt that Fox is right wing. Their "Fair and Balanced" is out of doubt as it has attacked Obama the whole time. Please post a video where Fox praises him, please do so.
While I like that Fox presses his buttons, it's constant and nothing else but attacks.
I'm glad it's not your other source and it's there to confront MSNBC..gosh. They're the opposite.
catbrain: Rupert Murdoch is getting ready to buy NBC and throw Olbermeister out with the rest of the garbage.
mr meow... You might consider that FOX NEWS channel is similar to a newspaper with separate sections on straight news and commentary.
I find the "straight news" not to be lacking in reporting the news. If you watch regularly, you will find that FOX does a good job of reporting the news.
The commentary being similar to the editorial section of a newspaper leans to the Right. But on most of these programs, both sides are presented. I am not a religious viewer of many of these programs, because I get tired of the political spin on both sides of the political spectrum.
Barak Obama was the guest on Bill O'Reilly last fall and I thought he was treated fairly. I have heard O'Reilly praise him and other Democrats several times.
Now as for me posting videos. I don't do that. If you are sincerely interested in checking out FOX do so yourself and you don't have to tell anyone.
I had heard that 30 some percent of FOX viewers are Democrats, but I have not been able to confirm that.
I did find some other information that you might be interested in because the ratings tell the story: In September, according to Nielson, the top thirteen cable news shows were on Fox, led by the network's conservative pundits: The O'Reilly Factor (2.6 million households), Sean Hannity (2.1 million), Glenn Beck (2.2 million), and the less political Greta Van Susteren (1.8 million). The top non-Fox shows are CNN's Larry King (921,000), Countdown with Keith Olbermann (881,000) and Rachel Maddow (827,000). At 17th spot, Anderson Cooper make a showing, with 746,000 households in the 10 p.m. hour.
It is amazing how you lunatic liberals throw stones in the glass house. What Ensign has done does not compare or come close to what you lunatics practice and promote.
You liberals are the sickest group; you promote male to male sex -- female to female sex, drugs, illegal immigration to the USA, and all other vile aspects one could imagine. Not to mention what about your past leader, just proves how sick you are, uses a Havana on Monica while in the Oval Office and married, John Kennedy is no different with Marylyn Monroe, John Edwards and his baby making adventure, Ted Kennedy and his moments, and let's not forget about Obama's appointment of openly gay men to cabinet positions, and now his removal of don't ask don't tell policy, and lets not leave out your gay mayors and leaders in your party. You liberals are liars and sick pathetic people that are desecrating America from within from your socialist policies, freebies, affirmative action, welfare, illegal immigrants, and all other issues why America is become a human cesspool of blood sucking freeloaders.
You and your followers can move into a community that is peaceful, low crime, and clean and within bleep of an eye the community is ruined and has become a safe haven for gang bangers, murderers, rapists, drugs, and any person who chooses to suck off the system. If it is sick and vile your Democratic party supports and promotes it.
Keep lying to yourselves as you've done for since inception of your party, America is being woke up with what Obama and clan are doing and your days are numbered. Look in the mirror and I'm so proud of myself, I promote sickness and I want everything for nothing. I'm owed and the working class is going to give it to me, if not we're taking from them.
And you all have the audacity to call Ensign on the carpet when his behavior doesn't compare or come close to the evil spastic ways your party promotes and supports.
When you and your party begins to practice what they preach and move to grass huts, stop driving cars, work for free and give your money to the system, stop same sex support, from the court house to the chamber, and enabling sick sadistic behaviors, stop blaming the present for events that occurred way before my time then you'd be taken serious. Until this time occurs, you are worthless and have no use to America.
its2hot...
You are so far out of touch I beleive you are on pluto. Or ur-anus.
Your hate-filled rants are sick.
spoken like true americans; dont let facts get in the way just bulldoze your sick and twisted agenda into the culture.
Gmag39:
No hate here for anyone, I just call it like it see it and what is smacking America upside the head.
I have to deal with you liberals daily in my line of work and your liberal party policies and your party polices stink. From the use of my tax money on their affirmative action, local hiring, environmental, and all other polices enacted by you party is just proves how slow, dumb, and lazy they are and expect everything for nothing.
When your party begins to practice what they preach and hold themselves to the same standard of law and moral character Americans are held too then just maybe they could be seen a viable party, until then this time occurs they are liars and have no use to me any many others I know.
I am sick of my hard earned tax dollars being used for the Democrat gene pool enabling them to rob, rape, steal, kill, not work, male -- male, female -- female - and everything else you can think of that is subhuman that your party promotes and practices. Don't tell me you have no clue what is being said here, it is a proven fact that your party is the sickest of them all and has the lowest standard of moral character and quality of people and they love it.
I don't hate anyone or anybody, I have even forgiven all of you democrats, I just don't care about them and I am sick what your party has done and the direction they are taking America. We're becoming a country of welfare crime ridden crack drug head lazy no good for nothing people who are going to expect us hard working people who opted a better life style to support their pathetic lifestyle lazy choices they made for their family. They aren't my problem and I could care a less about any of them or what occurs in their life. I would rather see them take care of their own and the last one standing, we'll see then.
On the other hand, if the person is really in need and just down for reasons that occurred or not in their control then I have heart of gold. It is my choice who to support and help, not the government cramming it down my throat.
Tell your political party and the rest of the lunatics to give their wealth to the system, live in grass huts, ride around in horse and buggies, wash your cloths with a wash rack and hang dry, pay taxes timely and without cheating, live by the same laws we do then just maybe they'd have merit, until I'll say again, they are worthless pathetic people.
My best guess is that "its2hot" is either a corrections officer or a psychiatrist. I'd say he hit the proverbial nail right on the head.
Neither.
Ensign is a sexual predator.
Republicans dont care about honesty or values.
These religous righters are all liars...
Nick is a man of few words... and ideas... and values...
But Nick does have a lot of hate to spread around...
Larry is a low IQ red state retard.
Why support scum like John Ensign and other sexual predators and molesters?
"you promote male to male sex -- female to female sex, drugs, illegal immigration to the USA, and all other vile aspects one could imagine. Not to mention what about your past leader, just proves how sick you are, uses a Havana on Monica while in the Oval Office and married, John Kennedy is no different with Marylyn Monroe, John Edwards and his baby making adventure, Ted Kennedy and his moments"
John Ensign? Mark Sanford? Oh, there was a megachurch pastor too! How about him? While you're at it, why don't you mention them? Oh wait, God can forgive them but not democrats, huh? Nice one lad!
"let's not forget about Obama's appointment of openly gay men to cabinet positions, and now his removal of don't ask don't tell policy, and lets not leave out your gay mayors and leaders in your party."
So what if they're appointed? You have a problem? You as a Christian should respect your government mate. Didn't Jesus command you to and to pay your taxes and shut your mouth? Nice one old sport!
"You liberals are liars and sick pathetic people that are desecrating America from within from your socialist policies, freebies, affirmative action, welfare, illegal immigrants, and all other issues why America is become a human cesspool of blood sucking freeloaders."
So lets just continue white people running, that will make you happy, right? It's called having morals.
What socialistic policies? You do realize that the free things you get are all socialist (library, police, firefighters, medicare, etc). Blood sucking freeloaders, what about corporations who take advantage of our free market economy that we used to have? Oh wait, they always have!
"I'm owed and the working class is going to give it to me, if not we're taking from them."
Thanks for your help, you're just a little pawn and slave. Thanks for working for the rich, you're just the working class. You might like Karl Marx, I urge you to read his works.
"And you all have the audacity to call Ensign on the carpet when his behavior doesn't compare or come close to the evil spastic ways your party promotes and supports.
"When you and your party begins to practice what they preach and move to grass huts, stop driving cars, work for free and give your money to the system, stop same sex support, from the court house to the chamber, and enabling sick sadistic behaviors, stop blaming the present for events that occurred way before my time then you'd be taken serious. Until this time occurs, you are worthless and have no use to America."
Aren't a lot of republicans "preaching" family values? Ensign isn't practicing what he preaches with his organization, now is he?
You obviously have no idea what you're talking about.
Hey Nick... I never voted for Obama...
and I am done.
I am so done with supporting EITHER side in our seriously messed-up Gov't. :banghead:
the more that is reported, the more it proves that NEITHER side deserves to serve us, regardless of any sexual indiscretions.....they care not about you and I, they only care about power, money, and their own betterment. I would seriously like to wipe the board clean and start over.....our Gov't has become corrupt at all levels.
I weep for the future.
More discouraging news - On October 8, Ensign voted against Senate Amendment 2688 to HR 3326 which would forbid any federal contractor (read KBR, Halliburton) from allowing wording in employment contracts that prevents the employee from taking legal action against the employer or perpetrator in case of rape. The vote was 69 aye, Senator Ensign and 29 others, nay.
There are currently approximately 30 cases wherein female employees of KBR and Halliburton in Iraq and Afghanistan have alleged rape against co-workers. So far they have been unable to initiate remedial criminal or tort action because of references in their employment contracts preventing them from bringing suit against either the company or other employees.
With his penchant for seduction, does Ensign now support rape?