The Cost of Infidelity
Tags: GOP Senators, Morality.
Click here to get Caucus of Corruption: The Truth About The New Democratic Majority by Matt Margolis and Mark Noonan.
Nevada’s junior Senator, John Ensign (R), has admitted to an affair:
Calling it “absolutely the worst thing that I’ve ever done in my life,” U.S. Sen. John Ensign admitted Tuesday he had an affair with a campaign staffer last year.
“If there was ever anything that I could take back in my life, this would be it,” Ensign, 51, said Tuesday afternoon in Las Vegas, reading from a prepared statement in a brief news conference at which he took no questions.
The Nevada Republican, a leading conservative voice in his party who has been listed as possible presidential material, indicated he plans to remain in office and that his wife of 21 years, Darlene, is standing by him.
The woman and her husband “were both close friends, and they both worked for me,” Ensign said.
Ensign had the affair, from December 2007 to August 2008, with a woman who worked for his Senate campaign and his political action committee. The woman’s husband, meanwhile, worked in Ensign’s Senate office, according to an aide who spoke on condition of anonymity.
I’ve never met John Ensign, but I have voted for him – a total of three times. In each of these votes, I was confident that I was voting for a man of integrity who could be relied upon to do the right thing. I didn’t expect perfection, but I did expect Ensign to be a man of wisdom, judgment and honor. And now I find out that I cast my vote for a man who didn’t just have sex with a subordinate, didn’t just cheat on his wife, didn’t just betray a good friend, but did all three of these things at once. “Lack of judgment” doesn’t even begin to cover what we have here.
John Ensign is 51 years old; he has been married for 22 years; he has three children; he has substantial wealth; he has the respect of his family, friends, fellow Nevadans and even his political opponents…he, in a word, has it all. Whatever a man can need for happiness, God has granted it to John Ensign. And what does John Ensign do with this great, good fortune? He decides that having sex with someone other than his wife who is married to one of his very best friends is more important than honorably discharging the duties incumbent upon a man who has achieved such a station in life.
As to what this will mean in Ensign’s personal life, I cannot say and would not say – that is between Mr and Mrs Ensign and my prayer is that Ensign will show proper humility and Mrs. Ensign will find it in her heart to forgive a horrid betrayal. A family break up is always a sad thing and no matter what pain Senator Ensign has caused, the best thing is for he and his family to remain united as he works through his failure and developes better moral sense and stronger wisdom to prevent a recurrence. Thing is, while Senator Ensign is doing this, he will not be able to properly discharge his duties as a United States Senator and senior leader of the Republican Party. Sad as I am about it, Senator Ensign has to take a sabbatical from public life and deal with his personal life – he should resign from the Senate forthwith and allow a Republican governor to select an honorable person who can devote themselves full time to the needs of the State of Nevada.
We all fail from time to time – and the larger the failure and the higher one’s station in life, the more serious is the failure. This is why we’re supposed to select men and women of strong judgment and character to be our leaders – a flighty youth all too easily falls for temptation. Its a pity that Senator Ensign decided to eschew his 51 years of life and all he’s learned in order that he might have sex with someone he knew full well – before, during and after – he should not have had sex with. Until Senator Ensign can demonstrate to the electorate of Nevada that the lack of judgment which led him to this failure has been corrected, he cannot be entrusted with the awesome responsibilities which come with the office of Senator. Ensign can still have a very bright future in politics – but not right now; maybe in a few years. We’ll have to see.
As a people, we’ve for too long allowed this sort of thing to pass without any consequences. Its all supposedly private and we’re supposed to step back and allow the erring politician time to revamp is life. Well, that is backwards – it is the fallen politician who is to step back and allow someone else to take the burden; hopefully someone who adheres to the basic rules about marital fidelity. The cost of infidelity must be a requirement to surrender office. A man who can betray his wife is not a man we can currently trust to carry out the people’s business – let such a man off the hook, and he’ll just keep doing it, arrogantly assuming he’s invincible. Senator Ensign is not invincible – he’s just a man, and he needs to work on things, as a man, not as a Senator.
Mark Noonan is co-author (with Matt Margolis) of Caucus of Corruption: The Truth About The New Democratic Majority. He also blogs at Nevada News and Views. Follow Mark on Twitter.
40 Responses to “The Cost of Infidelity”
Caucus of Corruption
Honestly, what he does with his mants or lack thereof I could not care less. Between him and his family, and of course her family.
What I do care about, however, is the attitude this man had during the lewinsky affair, his opposition to gay marriage “because it would cheapen marriage” and his condemnation of Larry craig for the same reason.
These show he is a hypocrite, and that I cannot tolerate in a politician.
you cant?
why do ya live in france then? tell us frenchie…are your politicians with out hypocricy? maybe you should spend more time blogging about them…you know…the idiots in your own back yard…instead of mixing up your moral relativism in ours…
Well, at least he is man enough to come out and admit what he done was wrong, frenchstudent.
If some of the things came out on Barney Frank, and many others in the Democrat party it would show how truly corrupt and sick the Democrat party really is.
Yet, you can’t tolerate a man who tries his best to live a clean decent life.
The thing is, although Mr. Ensign had an extra-marital affair with a woman, at least it wasn’t an affair of perversion.
the only honest comment here so far was mark’s –
“And now I find out that I cast my vote for a man who didn’t just have sex with a subordinate, didn’t just cheat on his wife, didn’t just betray a good friend, but did all three of these things at once. “Lack of judgment” doesn’t even begin to cover what we have here.”
ohioorrin says: “the only honest comment here so far ”
you really are not the prima example of honesty though…think about it…oh…never mind…you thinking is the actual problem…to make a long thing short…you are not the kind of icon that folks should follow…not exactly a bright light in the darkness so to say…when it comes to figuring out what honest comments are…
Mark
I am heartened to see that you are condemning
Ensign’s infidelity as strongly as you would if he were a Democrat.
jeremiah says: June 17th, 2009 at 9:53 am
yea frank, foley, craig, haggard…
…show how “corrupt and sick the Democrat party really is.”
insightful u are, thx!
Mark, good for you in calling for Ensign to resign. I saw the headline here and really was kind of expecting some apologizing and twisting words and actions calling for him to remain. I do wonder if you would call on him to resign if it was a Democratic Governor that would be picking the replacement, but since we will never know, I will give you the benefit of the doubt and congratulate you on this.
What Ensign did is just wrong. I don’t like bringing in personal issues into politics, but there are times you just can’t avoid it.
What I do find curious is Ensign’s previous comments and actions with regards to other politicians sexual affairs.
Calling Clinton’s affair “an embarrassing moment for the country” and calling for him to resign because he “has no credibility left”.
Yes he called for Craig to resign, but that wasn’t necessarily about sexual affairs but the fact that Craig was actually arrested for it (plus no GOP-er likes anything gay! – see his vote on the Federal Marriage Ammendment).
However Ensign didn’t seem to care much about David Vitter saying “he has not admitted to anything. The Senate Ethics Committee would have no jurisdiction over him.”
So what will Ensign do now that it is himself in the crosshairs?
Js… funny how there have been 7 comments so far, 2 of them by you and neither of your comments actually discuss the topic. Instead, you just blast the poster. You are a funny and odd old man.
I don’t know about you all, but I’m getting a little p-o’d at the FBI and CIA. It seems to me that we have way to many Senators and Congressman that are putting themselves into positions where they can easily be blackmailed. These are the people running the country and making the laws. I would expect at some point that the FBI and CIA would come to the realization that they are working for the American people, rather than congress and just maybe put a stop to this.
Either they are doing their jobs and keeping tabs on our elected officials, or they are not. If they are doing their jobs, at what point do they excercise their responsibility to keep us secure, by making sure these buffoons aren’t selling out their constituents to various blackmailing, whether it’s cash, votes, or giving someone a job.
Careful now guys.
Mark is right about the call for Ensign to resign but only in order to heal his family. The Ensigns are also a tight Christian family, and even the smallest shred of faith can bring them back to Jesus, thus healing any and all wounds small or great.
Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection marked the END of the old covenant and the beginning of Life Everlasting. It is because of HIS fulfillment to the word that HIS people will not be remembered for their failures or what they could have been. Instead we will ALL OF US be remembered as the chosen people of God, saved by the Sacred Body and Blood of Christ. (Mt 26: 26-29)
If Ensigns wife can forgive him, then so should we.
Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, Pray for us.
unworthy says: June 17th, 2009 at 11:28 am
whoa – slow down there.
ensign’s family “forgiving” him is one thing.
The other victimized family is another.
and the voters at large are entirely diff fm either.
I agree, there are more sides here that need to heal. But in the great grand scheme, there are more important things to remember.
God willing, both families will survive this tragedy that Ensign and his Paramour heaped on them. We must pray and we MUST forgive. This is the commandment Our Lord gave us. This will strengthen their prayers and keep the enemy at bay.
Would I vote for Ensign again? Probably not. But he is just a man like you or I. And we have all committed adultery in our hearts, one way or another.
Mark,
I congratulate you on staying true to your convictions.
jeremiah says:
June 17th, 2009 at 9:53 am
Your comments are just as hypocritical as Ensign’s behavior
These show he is a hypocrite, and that I cannot tolerate in a politician.
I guess there are politicians on both sides of the aisle that you cannot tolerate, eh, French-fry?
So this was not “one slip” it was thirty or more trysts over a six month period.
And this makes a difference, how???
No one on either side of the political aisle should be casting stones or taking the moral high ground on infidelity. The last 3 years have brought one Dem scandal after another. And you can throw a few Republican ones in there also. Republicans admit them, Democrats tell the public it is none of their business.
As long as guys think with their dick, you are going to have scandal.
Lets not forget the women involved in these scandals too. Both have failed.
Admitting your sin and asking for penance sounds an awful lot like a celebrating a certain sacrament. The early Christians would do this publicly, much the same way that ensign is doing. Then the community would decide the adulterer’s penance.
Sound familiar?
RE: Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, Pray for us.
unworthy,
While I respect your Catholic views, and I agree with most of what you’ve written, I must disagree with you on this matter of praying to Mary. I believe you are in error there.
Mary was given grace, but is not the source of grace. She was born into sin, just we all are, but Jesus, whom she bore was born of the Spirit.
Some passages from God’s Word for you…
John 14:6 – ‘Jesus said to him, “Lord, we do not kow where you are going. How can we know the way? Jesus said to him, “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’
John 14:13-14 – ‘Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.’
Ephesians 6:18-20 – ‘praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly,as I ought to speak.’
1 John 2:1-2 – ‘My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.’
Hebrews 4:15-16 – ‘For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.’
Hebrews 7:24-25 -’but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.’
Hebrews 10:19-23 – ‘Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and lving way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts “sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.’
Scripture makes it clear, to ask someone to pray for your is different than praying to them. The only One you should pray to is Jesus. He is the only way.
God bless!
RE: We do not need an intercessor to the intercessor.
That’s right!
:)
How are you so sure Jeremiah? Maybe they had oral sex! With the lights on! Oh, the humanity!
We all fail from time to time – and the larger the failure and the higher one’s station in life, the more serious is the failure.
The worst failure anyone can ever make IMHO is to break a promise made before God. When I stood at the altar to make my promises of a lifelong commitment to the person who was becoming my husband, I had done so after many years of consideration. We didn’t rush into it, we’d known one another for nearly five years, and lived together for three months prior to deciding to get married.
To be forsworn before God is the worst thing one can do and I would rather go down the path of honorable separation and yes, even divorce, then cheat and then stay with a partner that I’d cheated on pretending everything was alright. Once you’ve cheated, even if your partner hasn’t found out, you’ll know – and nothing will ever be the same again.
We see it more openly in those in public life purely because most of their life is open to scrutiny, but it goes on a lot in private life too, and it’s the saddest thing in the world.
Jeremiah,
And all she was doing was asking Blessed Mary, ever virgin, to pray for us. It is quite usual for people to get upset because they think Catholics are doing something that Catholics never do.
If you wish to know the Catholic view of Mary, here are some places to go:
The Blessed Virgin Mary: Her Privileges and Relation to Christ and His Church
Mary’s Immaculate Conception
Mary’s Queenship
I know that many of my Protestant brothers and sisters have trouble over the Catholic view of Mary – but, for me, I don’t understand any longer how anyone can get through a day without saying
Or, at the end of the Rosary
Just gets me through the day.
Mark,
Thank you for educating our friend Jeremiah.
Mary the mother of Jesus, actually wasnt born into sin at all. This is Catholicism fundamental. She was anointed in the womb of Ann, her mother, at the time of her conception. She lived her entire life without sin, or sinning. Thus, when the angel appeared to her and she gave her consent to be the mother of the “King Most High” that it could be done. The Catholic Church (and many other denominations that fall in line with it) has determined in its wisdom that the conception and birth of Jesus could not have come about any other way.
Would any mortal woman stay on the side and watch her son suffer and die the kind of death that Jesus did? There is not a real mother out there that would allow it. I guarantee it.
Many people get to Jesus many different ways Jeremiah. If you can get to him directly I applaud your faith. For many of us its easier to identify with other Blessed or Holy figures, mainly Mary or the Saints. It is the perfection that they receive from Jesus in heaven that gives them their Grace. It comes from nobody other than Him. Therefore, it is HIS glory and HIS grace that shines through them. Mary is the First and closest model of this grace.
Did you know she was received into heaven directly? Just in the same way that Jesus was assumed after his resurrection. Incredible to think about and meditate on in prayer.
If you are in the LV area I would invite you to our church to learn more if you are interested.
Thank you for the blessings, and may the peace of Our Lord be with you!
Let’s hope that jeremiah and unworthy are not going to start a ‘my religion is better than your religion’ tug of war.
Hah, never. We are all brothers and sisters to each other. Besides, it really doesnt matter what we say here. Its up all up to God. Even non believers are not beyond the reach of the redemption of Christ.
in resonse to unworthy on the virgin mary. its apparent you don’t read and study the holy scritures or that you fail to understand my friend. you want to educate Jeremiah, but you haven’t showed any scriptures to back up your statement on whether Mary sinned or not. The holy scriptures say this in regards to mankind from Adam to Jesus Christ. Romans 3:23, says “For ALL have sinned and come short of the Glory of God. It also says that Adam sinned and since Adam the lineage of Jesus Christ came through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob down to Mary who was in the lineage of the tribe of Judah. The birth of Mary was of human beings, (who came from Adam), who sinned and caused the Adamic nature to pass upon everyone, including Mary. It does not leave her out. BUT,… Jesus Christ was not born of the Flesh. He was born IN the flesh, but was conceived through the Holy Spirit of God Almighty, YAHWEH, and is the ONLY being ever born in the flesh who has not sinned. He came to “Do the will of His heavenly Father.” And in regards to getting to Jesus, let me warn you here dear friend, that Jesus and God are the SAME. There is only ONE way to God and that is through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus said, ‘NO MAN, (including women, because he’s speaking in the gender kind), cometh unto the father but by me.. John 14:6.
Gods word is the same yesterday, today and forever. God does not change, and Jesus Christ is the Only Son of God, and none other. Scriptures say this: “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. Matt 24:5.
So unworthy, I’d seek the God of Jesus and Ask the Holy Spirit to come into my life and turn from my own ideologies and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and You shall be saved.
Friend…….. there’s only one way. And you can not make it to heaven without going through Jesus Christ and You cannot come through Jesus unless HIS SPIRIT draws you. Gods Holy word says this: John 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who
… No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him,
and I will raise him to life on the last day. ..
I will pray that you be converted and turn from your ways and Accept Christ into your heart. Jesus is willing to forgive you of all unrighteousness, but you must ask. And He is the Only WAY.
Jesus said, “I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE, and that settles it. for ETERNITY.
WHERE WILL YOU SPEND ETERNITY FRIEND. EITHER HEAVEN through Jesus Christ or in hell with the father of lies, SATAN.
Oh, oh, jeremiah, you’re too late; here comes truthisright to tackle unworthy. Battle of bible thumpers to ensue.
WE BELIVE IN ONE GOD
THE FATHER THE ALMIGHTY
MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.
OF ALL THAT IS SEEN AND UNSEEN.
WE BELIEVE IN ONE LORD, JESUS CHRIST.
THE ONLY SON OF GOD.
ETERNALLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER.
GOD FROM GOD, LIGHT FROM LIGHT, TRUE GOD FROM TRUE GOD.
BEGOTTEN NOT MADE.
ONE IN BEING WITH THE FATHER.
FROM HIM ALL THINGS WERE MADE.
FOR US MEN AND OUR SALVATION, HE CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN.
BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT HE WAS BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY AND BECAME MAN.
FOR OUR SAKE HE WAS CRUCIFIED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE.
HE SUFFERED DIED AND WAS BURIED.
ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN.
IN FULFILLMENT OF THE SCRIPTURES.
HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN AND IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER.
HE WILL COME AGAIN IN GLORY TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD AND HIS KINGDOM WILL HAVE NO END.
WE BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
THE LORD THE GIVER OF LIFE
WHO PROCEEDS FROM THE FATHER AND THE SON.
WITH THE FATHER AND SON HE IS WORSHIPPED AND GLORIFIED.
HE HAS SPOKEN THROUGH THE PROFITS.
WE BELIEVE IN ONE HOLY CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE ONE BAPTISM FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
WE LOOK FOR THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD AND THE LIFE OF THE WORLD TO COME. AMEN.
Your turn, truthisright.
Well unworthy, you’ve spoken quite well in your statment above, but glad you agree with the statment i’ve made in regards to Gods holy scriptures and the virgin Mary. And let me remind you that the virgin mary was a virgin, but was not sinless as so many believe.
The important thing here is that you have asked Jesus Christ into your Heart and confessed your sin and turn from you sin and living a holy life through Jesus Christ the Lord and Saviour he forgives and redeems, through the Blood that was shed on Calvary.
Thanks for your reply. Yes truly he has spoken through the Prophets of Old and will return some day soon to judge the world (mankind) for every idle word which we have spoken and we MUST all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.
God bless you abundantly. AMEN
Truth,
That was the Nicene Creed. Look it up, it was written about 1700 years ago.
Thanks for warning me to practice the faith of the Catholic Church, but its ok, I am covered.
You see, Jesus Christ is my God, my saviour, my redeemer, my light. He will be the judge of you and I on the last day.
If you want to debate theology, that would be best left for another blog page. You are obviously not Catholic and disagree with the Church. Thats not my problem, and that difference is so very small. If you are interested in learning the Catholic way I would be happy to share the ways of the church with you. This Sunday, as I stand before the table of Our Lord, I will go to receive and be sacrificed for you in Eucharist. Do not be offended; this is an act of goodwill.
We can still agree to be friends, brothers in Christ, regardless of our differing points of view. I wish you the peace and the goodwill of Our Lord.
Thank you unworthy, and I am a part of the church, because the church is comprised of “all the redeemed who have been washed and forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ. and Jesus Christ adds to the church daily such as should be saved.”, I don’t agree with catholicism, but I respect the belief of those who wish to practice such teachings. And I’m glad you’re redeemed thru the blood of Jesus. “Praise the Lord for all those who have chosen this pathway, through Jesus Christ. Amen
Good. It looks as if peace has been achieved and a religious was has been averted.
Diplomacy works!!!
was = war
oh one more thought unworthy, there’s a film I could highly recommend to you regarding scriptures and how many have died in the faith thru the ages, (including the dark ages when many christians died in the faith for their belief to sprread scriptures, including Martin Luther), the film can be purchased thru “www.NewLibertyVideos.Com”
It will tell of the Dark ages, when superstition controlled the minds of the masses. A few brave obeyed God including Wycliff, Martin Luther and William Tyndale, and will open your eyes of who actually tried to bring to desolation the very sacred scriptures that would spread throughout the World. And yes I agree we can differ in views, yet be friends. So I will call you friend, but let every man ask for forgivenness through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
truth,
It is important to remember that the Church antedates the Scriptures by about 40 years…
was = war
CO=uninformed troll puke moron
RE: I don’t understand any longer how anyone can get through a day without saying
Well, I pray to Jesus, who answers prayer. Now, it’s ok to ask other brothers and sisters to pray for us, but the Bible doesn’t instruct us anywhere to pray to those brothers and sisters who’ve gone on before us. Jesus is the only One. As He is interceding on our behalf.
God bless you, Mark. I still pray for you, that you might someday come to understand it. Just keep and open heart and allow the Holy Spirit to work with you as you go and Jesus will help you. Guaranteed.
Yeah, right.