NY congressman admits child from affair (Vito Fosella: family values enough to 2 families!)

[Bucky]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Vito Fossella of New York ran a red light, and wrecked his life. A drunk-driving arrest last week led to talk of an extramarital affair, and then finally Thursday, an admission of a child from that affair. :rofl:

"My personal failings and imperfections :rofl: have caused enormous pain to the people I love and I am truly sorry," said Fossella, a Republican, who lives in his Staten Island, N.Y., district with his wife and their three children.

Fossella is the only Republican member of Congress from New York City, and the paternity revelation could :rofl: lead to the loss of a seat in Congress at a time when the House GOP faces the possibility of a second grim November of election setbacks.

House Minority Leader John Boehner said he expected Fossella to make decisions about his future in a matter of days, not months.

"I think Mr. Fossella is going to have some decisions to make over the weekend. And I would hope that, and frankly, expect that this is a decision between he, his family, and his constituents," Boehner said.

Fossella's private life came under scrutiny after he was arrested in the Virginia suburbs of Washington for allegedly driving drunk. Police said they stopped him after he drove through a red light.

When Fossella was pulled over, police said he told officers that he was going to see his daughter in the area. That prompted questions about who the daughter was.

"I have had a relationship with Laura Fay, with whom I have a 3-year-old daughter," Fossella said in his statement. It was Fay who got him out of jail after the arrest. She is a former Air Force lieutenant colonel and worked for a time as a liaison :rofl: to Congress.

Police said Fossella's blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit, :rofl: and he could face a mandatory five days in jail if convicted. A court appearance on the drunken driving arrest that had been planned for next week was canceled, and he is now not expected back in court until June.

Fossella said he had no immediate plans to resign. The disclosures are a crushing blow to the career of a lawmaker once seen as a potential candidate for mayor of New York City. :rofl: He faced a surprisingly tough re-election challenge in 2006, and Democrats have been hoping to unseat him this year.

"While I understand that there will be many questions, including those about my political future, making any political decisions right now are furthest from my mind. Over the coming weeks and months, I will continue to do my job and I will work hard to heal the deep wounds I have caused," he said.

There was little support from leaders of his party for him to remain.

A spokeswoman for the House GOP campaign committee said only that they expect the district to continue to elect conservative-minded lawmakers. A spokeswoman for the Democratic campaign committee declined to comment.

"He's politically dead. The only thing that hasn't happened is the autopsy report hasn't been written," said Doug Muzzio, a professor of politics at Baruch College in New York. "He can say he's going to stay all he wants, but come on ..."

Fossella, 43, was elected to Congress in 1997 in a special election to replace Rep. Susan Molinari, who resigned. His socially conservative positions squared nicely with his largely Catholic district. He serves as a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

[Chef]

1. Lower Standards

You know, we need to take a page from the military recruiting play book. Clearly, our standards for the behavior of our public officials are too high so, we need to lower the bar and make this kind of behavior acceptable. What a relief it would be if Republicans and some Democrats wouldn't have to run as if they had some moral standards. Then they would be free to diddle staff members, interns and the like. They could proposition others in airport restrooms, wear diapers with prostitutes and take campaign contributions for their votes in congress.

They would not have to stand next to their tearful spouse and make embarrassing admissions and blame stress, booze, pills or the devil for their indiscretions. It seems that this is the only way to put this sort of thing behind us. Just decriminalize behavior that would normally get you on the Jerry Springer Show. What do you think?

[rurallib]

2. Largely catholic district?

as a one time catholic, the church I was a part of would have reacted very negatively to such a story. But that church was mostly democratic and concerned about people. Today's catholic church seems to have much different values.
I suppose Fossella will get a pass because his sexual indiscretion was with a woman and in republic circles these days that is OK.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

3. This is Staten Island and Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. It's a heavy Italian American Republican area.