Washington State Politics » Political Scandals

John Edwards Affair Story: End of Veep Chance?

Wa State Pol — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:30:36 +0000

John Edwards, former candidate for President in both the 2004 and 2008 election campaigns, has, according to FOX News, been engaging in an affair with a woman named Rielle Hunter, and he was seen running and hiding from reporters in the Beverly Hills Hilton recently. Hunter was supposedly a guest in the hotel that night. FOX News quoted a hotel security guard, who said that he found the former presidential candidate trapped in a men’s room, with reporters outside shouting questions at Edwards about his relationship with Rielle Hunter.

Rumors of an Edwards affair with Hunter have surfaced before, but this, if confirmed, would be more than a rumor. Video is said to exist of Hunter entering a hotel room, and then of Edwards leaving the same room later.

John Edwards is married, and his wife, Elizabeth is battling an incurable form of cancer. Edwards suspended his presidential campaign in January, after defeats in the early primaries and caucuses. He has endorsed Barack Obama, and has been mentioned as a possible vice-presidential candidate, a role he played in the 2004 election. Any talk of Edwards running on a national ticket as the veep again, is now sure to end whether this hotel tyst story turns out to be true or not.

Guard Confirms Late-Night Hotel Encounter Between Ex-Sen. John Edwards, Tabloid Reporters–FOX News

John Edwards’ Concession (text and video) Speech–Jan. 30, 2008

The GOP’s Gay Problem–Craig, West, et. al.

Washington StatePolitics — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 22:08:47 +0000

The Idaho Statesman, in its Sunday edition (Dec. 2, 2007), continued a series of articles detailing the legal, political, and, if the newspaper is to be believed, sexual problems of Republican Idaho Senator Larry Craig. Craig of course, continues to deny that he is a homosexual, and at this point, is still planning to serve out his term, though he says he will not seek re-election.

Whether or not Craig is really gay or not is probably not provable beyond a shadow of a doubt, but it is clear that he did plead guilty to a public disturbance charge in Minnesota for allegedly seeking gay sex from an undercover police officer in an airport men’s room. Both nationally and in the Pacific Northwest, the Republican Party has suffered from several gay sex scandals recently.

Florida Republican Mark Foley resigned in 2006 after questionable communications with Congressional pages. Though he denied any illegal actions, (and none of his actions were proven illegal), Foley admitted he was gay and resigned from Congress.

In Washington, conservative Republican Jim West lost his Mayoral position in Spokane after a recall election in 2006. This recall followed his outing by the Spokesman-Review and details of how West offered internships to young men in exchange for sexual favors. Allegations also arose over possible sexual abuse of minor from his time as an elected Sheriff in the 1970s.

In 2007, conservative Republican State Representative from the 18th District, Richard Curtis, resigned after an incident where he admitted having sex with a man he met at a Spokane adult bookstore.

In each of these incidents, plus the ongoing Craig issue, the leadership of the Republican Party, whether at the state or federal levels, essentially casts the alleged sexual offender out to the wolves when gay sex is the basis of the scandal in question. Even Trent Lott, whose only public sin was to speak perhaps too honestly in public about how he truly would like America to look like, feels that the Republican Party is too quick to cast out its own to avoid the embarrassment of prolonged scandals.

So, what does all of this mean? To GOP officeholders, it means that you better not screw up in public, or your party leaders will offer to open the exit door for you. For the voting public, this means that the Republican Party is very skittish about any attempt to broaden the coverage of its "Big Tent," (which by the way is a term used by former Vice-Presidential candidate Jack Kemp, who himself was subtly smeared with claims of a non-hetero sex scandal–never proven) to try to pull away some of the diverse groups that make up the chaotic Democratic coalition. There are plenty of gays, blacks, Jews, Hispanics, and other groups who firmly believe in the GOP’s core values–fiscal conservatism, strong law-and-order, pro-life, gun rights, and strong national defense–who are otherwise turned off by the party’s straight, white, Evangelical, native-born appearance and attitude.

To become the true majority party, the GOP must learn to include a majority of voters, gay, straight, or otherwise.

Jane Hague

Wa State Pol — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 22:59:58 +0000

King County Councilmember
Jane Hague (R)

Jane Hague is currently the Vice-Chair of the Metro-King County Council.

Jane Hague, the Republican representing King County’s 6th Council District, is currently embroiled in several controversies which could adversely impact her re-election. She was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in June, 2007, and was abusive toward the arresting officer. Unlike many other office-holders who get into legal trouble, she did not reveal her arrest publicly, and when the news actually hit the media in August, 2007, she found herself in the middle of a public relations nightmare.

Then, in September, the public and the media realized that part of her long-standing resume was false. For years, newspapers and several "Who’s Who" publications stated that she was a graduate of Western Michigan University. It turns out that she never graduated, and her official biography on the MKCC website lists her as having attended that college for four years, and makes no mention of a degree.

Her opponent in the election is Democrat Richard Pope.

Below is a list of offices and positions she has held (taken from the Metro-King County Council website)

photo from MKCC website

News: King County councilwoman faces DUI charge: Hague pulled over, cited June 2 on state Route 520–Seattle PI, August 21, 2007

Political/Government Offices Held

Bellevue Planning Commission (1986-1989)

Bellevue City Council (1990-1993)

Metropolitan King County Council (1994-present)

King County Council representative to Sound Transit Board (1996 – 2002)

Manager, King County Records and Elections Division (1986-1993)

Community Service & Professional Activities

Board of Directors, King County Boys & Girls Club (1999 – present)

Board Member, Bellevue Community College Foundation (1991-1993)

Advisory Committee, Youth Eastside Services (1998 – present)

Board of Trustees, the Overlake School) 1994-2000)

Board Member, Eastside Sexual Assault Center for Children (1991-1992)