Rep. Vito Fossella answers Friday, May 2, 2008, in Staten Island questions about his arrest for driving while intoxicated arrest in Alexandria, Va. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
by Frank James
It's beginning to look like Rep. Vito Fossella, the only Republican in New York City's House delegation, may not have much of a future left in Congress.
Fossella, who's conservative and married, has admitted to having a three-year old love child.
This comes a week after Fossella was arrested in Northern Virginia on drunk driving charges.
There are some congressional districts where this kind of extracurricular behavior might not be fatal to a political career. His Staten Island district probably isn't one of them.
Here's a passage from the latest Almanac of American Politics describing part of Fossella's district:
Culturally, Staten Islanders are deeply conservative--more so than in most of New York's suburbs, and quite a contrast from Manhattanites who live a 20-minute ferry ride away. Taking a cue from Fresh Kills, their motto is apt: "Don't dump on us." Not many people here read the New York Times...
Here's a Bloomberg story on the latest revelation.
By Christopher Stern
May 8 (Bloomberg) - U.S. Representative Vito Fossella of New York admitted having an affair with a woman and fathering her 3-year-old daughter.
Fossella's relationship came to light after he was arrested in Virginia on May 1 for drunk driving.
"My personal failings and imperfections have caused enormous pain to the people I love and I am truly sorry," Fossella, 43, said in a statement released today by e-mail.
Fossella, who is married, is the only Republican member of Congress who represents New York City. His congressional district includes parts of Brooklyn and Staten Island.
"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," his statement said.
"Over the coming weeks and months, I will to continue to do my job and I will work hard to heal the deep wounds I have caused," Fossella said in the statement.
Fossella may not be ready to make decisions about his political future but, most assuredly, others are.
Here's the Staten Island Advance story on Fossella.
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Comments
At least he wasn't picking up teens at an airport restroom.
Posted by: justsayin | May 8, 2008 1:19 PM
I find it indicative of the political bias of the Tribune that they continually post the party affiliation in the headline when the perp is a republican, but "conveniently" leave it out when the perp is a democrat. I don't remember too many "Democrat Governor Spitzer" type headlines. If it happened once, you could say mistake, but it happens too often. Another example of left-leaning media trying to influence public opinion.
Posted by: TB | May 8, 2008 1:59 PM
The Family Values party strikes again! This guy should be a Republican hero, shouldn't he? He was so enthusiastic about families he started a second one!
Posted by: Tom O | May 8, 2008 2:12 PM
TB, at least when the Spitzer story went off the Democrats stood up and insisted he go. Where was the put upon GOP calling for Senator David Vitter's resignation for the SAME hypocricy?
Your complaint about bias rings truly hollow on this topic
Posted by: Witch King | May 8, 2008 2:30 PM
All this and the other Republican sex scandals show is that the Republican Party will forever be known as the party who dedicated it's time and resources to destroying one of the most popular, successful presidents in our lifetime because he cheated on his wife.
I wonder what would have happened if the Republican congress, instead of focusing on destroying President Clinton, had been focusing on something like, oh I don't know, destroying Osama bin Laden?
Posted by: Paul | May 8, 2008 3:01 PM
Excellent point Paul,
I still haven't come across a Declaration of War on Al-Qaeda or a Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of Force against Al-Qaeda. You would think John McCain would've penned such a thing they way he brags about his ability to understand and fight the war on terror.
Posted by: janet | May 8, 2008 4:17 PM
I guess the Loopy Censors at the Swamp want this to be for Loony and Loopy Lefties only. But, we'll try this again:
There are some signficant differences between the Spitzer and Vitter cases. Spitzer targeted for prosecution folks for exactly the same thing he was doing himself. Second, Spitzer apparently was sending money across state lines for prostitution, which makes it even more of a crime. And, he apparently was using either campaign or public funds to do so, again this makes the crime even worse. Spitzere also was a regular customer. None of that applied to Vitter.
And to justsayin, er John E., I like the reference to Larry Craig. Of course, Larry Craig was not soliciting teenage boys like you say. Gerry Studds, however, did solicit and actually sleep with teenage male House pages.
Posted by: John D | May 8, 2008 4:54 PM
Yeah Janet, once that paper work gets done it will be all down hill.
Paul, the president is known as the commander in chief of the military for a reason.
Posted by: whatnow | May 8, 2008 5:51 PM
Another so-called conservative Repugnantcan showing his true colors.
Posted by: Rick/Sneads Ferry, NC | May 8, 2008 8:16 PM
And to think this human wreck had his hands on the levers of power in America.
PS;
"I find it indicative of the political bias of the Tribune that they continually post the party affiliation in the headline when the perp is a republican, but "conveniently" leave it out when the perp is a democrat."
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TB,
you are out of your mind. That is really a blatant lie. Of course The Swamp identifies Dem. offenders.
Posted by: Anonymous | May 8, 2008 8:55 PM
"I guess the Loopy Censors at the Swamp want this to be for Loony and Loopy Lefties only. But, we'll try this again:"
John D'Mime,
You say that everytime, yet you always seem to get your tripe posted.
Posted by: C.Morris | May 8, 2008 9:19 PM
Sorry C Morris, but the morons who censor this thing have prevented at least a handful of posts a day from getting posted. Fact remains the Censors are not interested in posts they disagree with. Typical for the jerks on the Left.
Posted by: John D | May 8, 2008 11:32 PM