February 12th, 2011
Yet another Congressman/politician has gone down in flames due to his seeking an extramarital affair. This time, Representative Christopher Lee of the Buffalo/Amherst, New York area, was exposed as a result of his own efforts of trolling the internet for prospective dates. Congressman Lee used his real name, normal email address, informed the woman that he worked on Capitol Hill, and forwarded pictures of himself to the prospective date, and additionally complained of dates that he had met in the past off-line of CraigsList (CraigsList.org). The woman searched his name and realized who he was and forwarded his shirtless picture to some other website that promptly posted the photo for the world to see.
But, I mean..., really…, the arrogance and stupidity shown by our would-be philandering politicians never ceases to boggle the mind. I may not really be one to judge and we all surely make mistakes, but to risk his career as well as his marriage and family just to ‘hook-up’ with a stranger on the internet would surely seem absurd – and, unfortunately, in keeping with so many other politicians that have gone down a similar road in the past.
Ironically, ex-Representative Lee had championed the Student Internet Safety Act and had previously “…warned kids of the dangers of the Internet… ‘Responding to what may seem like a friendly email …can have serious consequences,’ he wrote. ‘Private information and images can so easily be transmitted to friends and strangers alike;’” (according to the New York Post, Page 3, February 10, 2011).
Funny how we as humans can be so prophetic and quick to give good advice to others and yet, at the same time, we are just as quick to disregard and unable to apply the same good advice in our own dealings. (http://poetrybyadamvernontrotter.blogspot.com/2011/02/on-giving-advice.html)
The bottom line is: If any politician is unwilling to honor any sacred vow to a spouse while they are in office, what other vows might they decide not to honor? Adding to any unseemly disregard of vows is the level of trust with which any politician has been instilled by his supporters and constituents, well… I think we – as Americans – often still seem to be electing the wrong types of people – at least if this case is any indicator. (http://poetrybyadamvernontrotter.blogspot.com/2011/02/on-philanderingcheating-politicans.html)
At least ex-Rep. Lee had the decency to resign to spare us all the ensuing grief as well as sparing his constituents the humiliation – unlike many others of his lot of which I may or may not have blogged previously. I hope he is able to find peace with himself and his family in the years to come.
Adam Trotter / AVT
Amusing article that only hurts when you laugh about it:
Semi-Naked Came the Congressman
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/12/opinion/12collins.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
See also:
http://adamvernontrotter.blogspot.com/2009/06/whats-with-our-politicians.html
