The government has always been a hotbed for sex scandals, maybe because, despite all their interests in “ethics” and “morals,” politicians get some pretty freaky urges too. Case in point Roy Ashburn ( above right)– the anti-gay Senator who opposed same sex marriage in California who recently got popped for a DUI — after leaving a gay bar. It’s not just repressed Republicans getting busted either. Rep. Eric Massa (above left) just stepped down after a male staffer complained of sexual harassment. Details on the flipside.
Rep. Eric Massa caved to Democratic Party pressure Friday, announcing in a message awash with self-reproach and shame that he’s quitting to avoid a sexual harassment investigation.
Massa, a western New York freshman, also insisted he’s stepping down because of cancer, but ethics officials are looking into a male staffer’s complaint he was made “uncomfortable” by Massa.
The 24-year Navy vet and Annapolis grad had planned to finish his term and maintained if he committed harassment, it was only inadvertent “salty” language.
“An ethics investigation would tear my family and my staff apart,” he said, alternately blaming himself and the “incredibly toxic atmosphere in Washington” for his predicament.
“This ethics issue is my fault and mine alone,” and “I own this reality,” he wrote on his House Web site.
“During long car rides, in the early hours of the evening, late at night and always in private, I know that my own language failed to meet the standards that I set,” he wrote.
“I am also aware that blogs and radio will have a field day with this in today’s destructive and unforgiving political environment.”
Party leaders certainly thought so, and a Capitol Hill Democrat confirmed they wanted Massa gone.
Their fear was his alleged tawdry behavior would taint the party the way Republicans suffered in 2006 after revelations that GOP Rep. Mark Foley allegedly carried on lurid text conversations with male House pages.
“This is what we’re going to talk about for eight months” if Democrats can’t dump Massa, the party member said, remembering how the Foley case helped trash the GOP.
That’s sad — the man has cancer and he can’t talk his sh*t… Can someone explain what he means by “salty” language though? Sounds a little spunky. Ew.
And here’s the rundown on Ashburn’s arrest:
An anti-gay California state senator was placed under arrest for drunk driving after leaving a gay bar. A male passenger was in the vehicle along with the lawmaker was not arrested, reported Sacramento CBS affiliate Channel 13.
State Sen. Roy Ashburn was pulled over by the California Highway Patrol at about 2:00 a.m. on March 3 when his state-issued vehicle was observed being driven erratically. The driver, identified as Ashburn, was taken in and charged for driving under the influence. Channel 13 reported that unidentified sources said the senator had been at Faces, a popular gay nightspot, prior to his arrest.
In a March 4 article, the online news site Talking Points Memo characterized Ashburn, who is married and has four children, as “a fierce opponent of gay rights” who had led anti-marriage equality rallies.
Ashburn issued a contrite apology, stating, “I am deeply sorry for my actions and offer no excuse for my poor judgment. I accept complete responsibility for my conduct and am prepared to accept the consequences for what I did.”
Since his arrest Ashburn has come all the way out the closet:
“I am gay,”Ashburn announced on KERN radio during an interview. The divorced father of four told KERN host Inga Barks that the incident led to “restless nights” and “soul searching.”
“Those are the words that have been so difficult for me for so long,” he said right after his big reveal. “But I am gay.”
SHOCKING!!! Guess he’s a prime example of “Methinks thou dost protest too much”…
Anyway looks like these guys are headed for retirement. How many politicians do you think will fall out the closet before the year is out?
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