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Republican Chris Lee Resigns After Exposure of Craig's List Dalliance

Is it arrogance or stupidity that leads a Congressman to email a shirtless photo of himself to a woman who posts on a Craig's List dating forum, using his real name but lying about his age, occupation and his marital status?

After Gawker exposed Republican Congressman Christopher Lee today, he immediately resigned from Congress. Is anybody else wondering whether the Craig's List encounter isn't just the tip of the proverbial iceberg?

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    Nice just to have a purely amusing scandal again (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by ruffian on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 08:57:44 AM EST
    though I imagine his wife is not amused.

    Purley amusing? What of the "informant"? (none / 0) (#51)
    by 1980Ford on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 12:11:23 PM EST
    We don't know how many pieces of silver gawker paid this woman, nor do we know if she had profit in mind all along. We don't even have a word for such practice. Vigilant, virtuous, snitch, rat? What is it?

    If a dictator ever takes control of the U.S., the necessary and sufficient informants and infiltrators are already in place to support the secret police. While that appears to be exaggeration, it does perhaps dispel the myth that these things are only amusing. What is surprising is that these ___ (we don't even have a word for them) skate by anonymously and laugh all the way to the bank.

    Parent

    Thats called: Changing the subject (none / 0) (#52)
    by christinep on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 12:16:21 PM EST
    To 1980Ford: It is an "exaggeration" as even you suggest to question how he was exposed. Ho, ho. This is nothing new; just the age old hypocrisy motif at work again. He acted in a stupid manner; he was caught.

    Parent
    Obviously, but it is not changing the subject (none / 0) (#53)
    by 1980Ford on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 12:26:10 PM EST
    I went to gawker.com for the first time today because of this story. She sold them the story and they pay based on potential traffic. So she was probably paid well.

    What do you call this? Is there a word for it or do we need to coin one?

    I suggest silver tongues because they blab for silver and there is nothing eloquent about it.

    Parent

    By your comment (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by jbindc on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 01:02:44 PM EST
    "We don't know.... if she had profict in mind all along,"

    are you suggesting she planned to snare a Congressman in her craigslist post?

    Parent

    Uh, yeah, brilliant. (2.00 / 1) (#65)
    by 1980Ford on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 03:20:34 PM EST
    Everyone on CL who is trolling for cash must be trolling for a congress critter. Maybe not? Do you know when the cash* motive filtered in her (if it really was a her) head?

    * "profit" is too difficult to spell.

    Parent

    We can only take (none / 0) (#66)
    by jbindc on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 03:29:13 PM EST
    her word for it at this point

    She's a professional, single and successful, 34-year-old African American woman, dating and socializing in "the diamond district." Her weekends are spent sharing cocktails in posh spots and chatting about the latest news and gossip with friends. Having lived in the area for eight years now, she's a regular scenester in D.C. nightspots and didn't feel like getting her name dragged into the fray. After all, the leggy-glamazon works in government. No need to potentially freak out her employers.

    But truth is, she didn't know he was a congressman. After all, it had started out as a joke. She'd done the online dating scene. She'd done D.C.'s dating scene (which she described as abysmal) and lamented how so many men lied. About their height. About their jobs. About their age.

    And about their marital status.

    It seems Rep. Christopher Lee of New York had pulled three-out-of-four on her. At least his height seemed to match the media reports....



    Parent
    Uh, ok (none / 0) (#67)
    by christinep on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 07:32:28 PM EST
    Maybe, 1980Ford, she trapped him/she was horrible/she was out to get her money, etc. etc. But, y'know, who cares? The issue is the elected official who professed otherwise socially conservative values. At the least, he is a fool. At the other end, he is a hypocrite. (And--whatever she is, it doesn't matter; because the issue has to do with those elected to Congress, and all that.) To be more direct: What do you think of the now-former Congressman's behavior? How do you feel about him as a Congressman?

    Parent
    No one cares, That's the point. (none / 0) (#70)
    by 1980Ford on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 10:51:23 PM EST
    He resigned and is done. Put a fork in him. Speaking of arrogance isn't there a lot of arrogance in the sanctimonious comments?

    Parent
    I feel ignorant. I didn't even know (none / 0) (#56)
    by jeffinalabama on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 01:04:31 PM EST
    that Craigslist was a hookup site. I thought it was a place to find cheap stuff.

    Parent
    If you are bored sometime (none / 0) (#58)
    by jbindc on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 01:11:47 PM EST
    Venture on to the personals.

    I warn you, don't have children around for some of the pictures that pop up.

    But they are entertaining to read.  Some of them are so explicit in what they want, it makes me blush in the privacy of my own home!

    Parent

    Don't do it Jeff! (5.00 / 1) (#61)
    by kdog on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 01:24:14 PM EST
    It's like that Nic Cage movie "8mm"...they are some things you just can't unsee, and that you definitely do not want to know.

    Parent
    It's a giant flame war (none / 0) (#69)
    by 1980Ford on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 10:49:02 PM EST
    Mot of CL personals are flame wars with sock puppets and the whole nine yards. Half are tying to catch someone being stupid and the other half try to catch the catchers trying to catch someone being stupid. This woman may have innocently got caught in the cross fire but she was Internet savvy enough to contact gawker.  

    Parent
    Personals are still around... (none / 0) (#62)
    by kdog on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 01:28:27 PM EST
    you're thinking of the "Erotic Services" section, which they pulled due to legal pressure and the bad Craigslist Killer publicity.


    Parent
    I hear what you're saying... (none / 0) (#63)
    by kdog on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 01:33:39 PM EST
    and I would definitely call it an uncool thing to do, for lack of a better term...dropping a dime to a gossip rag for a quick buck, not exactly a classy move.

    That being said...these two should have hooked up after all...they appear to be cut from the same moral fabric!

    Parent

    Gawkers? (none / 0) (#71)
    by 1980Ford on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 10:54:35 PM EST
    Is that a good term for 'em? Silver tongues just doesn't ring right.

    You phrased the question better than I did. At this point the woman who sold her emails is far more interesting in a slowing down to look at a wreck kind of way.

    Parent

    Goldblower? (none / 0) (#72)
    by kdog on Fri Feb 11, 2011 at 08:04:15 AM EST
    Like a whistleblower, but for cash instead of the public good.

    Parent
    Goldblower is good and it might stick. (none / 0) (#74)
    by 1980Ford on Fri Feb 11, 2011 at 02:02:08 PM EST
    Would Linda Tripp qualify?

    Parent
    Question (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by mmc9431 on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 10:53:33 AM EST
    Will he get his lifetime pension and healthcare package?

    Also did he vote to repeal the healthcare bill?

    Chris Lee's votes (none / 0) (#64)
    by jbindc on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 01:44:31 PM EST
    Here

    All 242 Republicans in the House voted to repeal the health "care" bill.

    I don't think he gets a congressional pension, becuase members have to serve 5 years to get one, and he's only been there since 2008.

    Parent

    Yes, the ex-Congressman's (none / 0) (#1)
    by KeysDan on Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 07:01:41 PM EST
    transgression(s) registers, say, a three on the Vitter-Ensign-Craig scale.  But maybe he has pangs of guilt for lying to his Craig's List companion by saying that he did not look like a toad, when in fact his is one.

    If you're a Republican and like (5.00 / 3) (#3)
    by MKS on Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 07:18:12 PM EST
    to walk around on Craig's List--why on earth would you run for public office?

    The ego of these guys.....

    Parent

    Amphibians everywhere are offended, sir (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Dadler on Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 07:18:53 PM EST
    Worse than phlegm being called a frog in one's throat. Or toadstools even. I know that in the heat of passionate discourse sometimes we say things which, in retrospect, we regret.  Please try to be a little more sensitive in the future.  Thank you.

    Yours truly,
    Sal A. Mander

    P.S.) I just looked at a photo of that guy.  I can kinda see the toad thing.  But still...

    Parent

    Quick resignation (none / 0) (#2)
    by CoralGables on Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 07:11:34 PM EST
    May signal tip of iceberg

    Survey sez (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by andgarden on Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 07:32:43 PM EST
    prolly.

    For me, it's not the scandal, it's the hypocrisy.

    Parent

    Seriously...that's the part that (5.00 / 3) (#9)
    by Anne on Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 07:55:44 PM EST
    frosts my cupcakes; I don't give a rat's hind end what people choose to do in their personal lives, but don't lecture and hector and moralize and try to legislate that so-called morality for others.

    Is it guilt?  Denial?  Cover?

    I don't know, but it's gotten to be so predictable I don't for the life of me know why they aren't openly called on their hypocrisy at every appropriate opportunity.

    Parent

    Hypocrisy (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by Peter G on Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 08:08:37 PM EST
    re: others' private sex-related decisions & choices -- Rep. Lee voted for DADT and for federal restrictions on abortion funding.  Position on abortions for mistresses, if needed to protect married inseminator, is not yet known.

    Parent
    Fewer and fewer candidates (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by andgarden on Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 08:12:14 PM EST
    are bothering to fill out the Vote Smart survey. That said, we already know enough of his record to know his deep hypocrisy, as you indicate.

    Parent
    Hypocrisy (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by mmc9431 on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 10:33:12 AM EST
    Seems to be a required trait to qualify as a true Republican.

    The same Republicans that are screeming about the deficit were the ones that said "deficits don't matter". They then proceeded to loot the treasury by being the first Congress in history to enact a tax cut at a time of war! To hide their plundering even better, they financed the wars with supplimental funding so they could side step a budget battle.

    I remember being told to go shopping and not to worry about it.

    Parent

    Exactly my thought (none / 0) (#6)
    by Lil on Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 07:33:35 PM EST
    There are criminal things these guys do and they never resign. One picture with his shirt off and that's it? No way. He wants the story killed. IMO of course. Fastest scandal resignation I ever saw.

    He did lie about his age (none / 0) (#7)
    by jameslove on Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 07:52:48 PM EST
    And, he probably also does not relish dealing with the rest of the GOP over this.  But I'm surprised he would give up his job as a member of congress.  The next election is long ways away.

    possibly (none / 0) (#48)
    by cal1942 on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 11:17:51 AM EST
    because, as Jeralyn suggests, this is only the tip of the iceberg.

    Parent
    It has to be (none / 0) (#49)
    by jbindc on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 11:21:54 AM EST
    Someone doesn't decide to cheat for the first time by going on craigslist, posting shirtless pictures of themselves, and then using their real name.

    Someone also wouldn't resign within hours over this.  Compared to the "sex scandals" of times past, this is pretty mild.  

    My guess is there are more women to come out of the woodwork on this.  Or conversely, someone in power told him that they don't want something like this to distract from their agenda and he needed to go and make this a one day story.

    Parent

    I vote: Stupidity... (none / 0) (#8)
    by rhbrandon on Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 07:55:00 PM EST
    Enough of that and Arrogance takes care of itself.

    You can't (none / 0) (#12)
    by kmblue on Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 10:18:01 PM EST
    fix stupid.

    He suffers from low self esteem, me thinks. (none / 0) (#13)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 10:50:11 PM EST
    Would expect a half-way decent looking member of Congress to be able to pick up partners w/o resorting to Craig's List.  Have you no pride, sir?

    Arrogant, stupid, desperate.... (5.00 / 2) (#20)
    by kdog on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 08:33:36 AM EST
    and lazy...probably didn't wanna put in the effort for a more traditional affair in the brick and mortar world, Spitzer probably scared him off a pro, that leaves internet trolling for some action.

    I just wish we could get them to resign when they embarass the nation, instead of just themselves...this ain't no scandal, just a little personally embarassing.

    Parent

    A good Democrat like John Edwards would have (none / 0) (#14)
    by beefeater on Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 11:00:39 PM EST
    the gonads to hang on by his nails until he absolutely had to bail.

    Repukes are sooo spineless.

    Aren't Vitter and Ensign still in the House? (none / 0) (#15)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 11:32:02 PM EST
    Worse: the Senate (none / 0) (#16)
    by andgarden on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 12:38:34 AM EST
    Personally.... (none / 0) (#41)
    by lentinel on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 10:33:53 AM EST
    I prefer immediate resignation.

    Parent
    That's him alright. (none / 0) (#68)
    by christinep on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 07:34:23 PM EST
    that was (none / 0) (#18)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 08:22:37 AM EST
    unbelievable.  but the good news for them, at least it was hetero.


    But on craigslist (5.00 / 0) (#26)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 09:00:23 AM EST
    Nobody knows that they are really trying to hook up with a dog :)  The possibilities are endless :)

    Parent
    Some people are into that (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by inclusiveheart on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 10:59:37 AM EST
    high risk sexual trolling.  Clearly, he's one of them.

    Parent
    This Is Just Speculation (none / 0) (#22)
    by The Maven on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 08:51:36 AM EST
    on my part, but the first thing that ran through my head yesterday was that the rest of the iceberg may include some non-hetero dalliances as well.  We shall see.  Or not, if the traditional media declares that due to the resignation, it's already become a non-story.

    Parent
    Indeed: (none / 0) (#73)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Feb 11, 2011 at 12:33:02 PM EST
    The resignation has brought the scandal toll to 50 percent among the four western New York House members elected in 2008, reports the Buffalo News.

    Democratic Rep. Eric Massa quit last March amid allegations he'd groped a male staffer.



    Parent
    Pretty good guns for a congressman. (none / 0) (#19)
    by jeffinalabama on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 08:27:09 AM EST
    I bet he didn't get those lifting copies of bills to read.

    I wonder, will his next career move be personal trainer?

    Oh the hypocrisy.

    BagNewsNotes (none / 0) (#21)
    by lilburro on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 08:37:30 AM EST
    has the very amusing full picture.

    That is so funny (none / 0) (#24)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 08:58:24 AM EST
    Did this guy really take that snap meaning for the faucet to be his peenie stand in?  I'm not certain.  That would indicate to me a bit of sophisticated thinking tethered to incomprehensible stupidity.  My husband says that I'm naive about some men's true inclinations and capabilities though sometimes :)

    Parent
    MT, I think you give him (none / 0) (#28)
    by jeffinalabama on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 09:01:14 AM EST
    too much credit for 'deep thoughts.'

    Parent
    I suspected as much (none / 0) (#32)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 09:04:56 AM EST
    I could literally already hear my husband saying, "Oh honey, a guy only needs an I.Q. of 90 to come up with phallic symbols to add into his personal photos of himself :)".

    Parent
    But What is the IQ... (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by ScottW714 on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 09:16:28 AM EST
    ... of a politician using Craigslist to have an affair, approaching zero I would think.

    Parent
    I thought his first responses were (none / 0) (#46)
    by inclusiveheart on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 11:05:19 AM EST
    comical.  Before the self portrait surfaced, he claimed that someone had hacked his email account.  lol  But the photo file contains time, date and location information that supports the woman's story that he himself was emailing her a picture of himself.

    Parent
    I think he would have worn spandex (none / 0) (#35)
    by jeffinalabama on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 09:06:57 AM EST
     if that was his desire. What a maroon.

    Parent
    I don't know (none / 0) (#37)
    by lilburro on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 09:20:02 AM EST
    if it's necessarily conscious...but you would think he would look at it and say, "hey, I look ridiculous.  Oh, and that looks like a penis."  But no.

    Parent
    Heh, he's a guy... (none / 0) (#38)
    by jeffinalabama on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 09:23:26 AM EST
    he didn't notice the faucet. He was admiring his own build.

    Narcissus, anyone?

    Parent

    I can't figure out why he is holding the phone (none / 0) (#25)
    by ruffian on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 08:59:35 AM EST
    Oh wait, I guess I just did - he is  taking a picture of himself in the mirror. LOL - even funnier than I first thought. Invest in a timer and a tripod next time, bozo.

    Parent
    This is how you sext (none / 0) (#27)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 09:01:08 AM EST
    I am not meant for modern life (5.00 / 4) (#29)
    by ruffian on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 09:02:28 AM EST
    My standards for production values are way too high!

    Parent
    Remember the Seinfeld (none / 0) (#31)
    by jeffinalabama on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 09:03:56 AM EST
    movie pirate episode? the question now is, "does he dance like he's in pain?"

    Parent
    or not! (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by jeffinalabama on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 09:02:54 AM EST
    Geez, if this is sexting, I'm glad I don't have a phone with a bug screen.

    Parent
    OT... (none / 0) (#33)
    by jeffinalabama on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 09:06:02 AM EST
    MT, I posted a new email addy contact. The old one got big-time hacked. Check my info now.

    Parent
    Thanks for the heads up Jeff (none / 0) (#34)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 09:06:33 AM EST
    And where was he when he did? (none / 0) (#39)
    by Towanda on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 09:34:53 AM EST
    In his office?  Ew.  What else has he been doing in the people's palladium?

    In his home, with his kids in the next room?  Ugh.

    Perhaps the environment behind him in the photo has been identified, and I would find the answer if I read more on this.  But I really don't want to do so.  I know enough now about yet another example of the incredible hypocrisy of politicians.

    Parent

    O/T (none / 0) (#42)
    by lilburro on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 10:42:50 AM EST
    sounds like Mubarak may step down tonight.  He is supposed to appear on TV, I assume within a few hours.

    Don't tell me... (5.00 / 2) (#43)
    by kdog on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 10:46:49 AM EST
    Hosni got caught trying to get laid via Craigslist too!  

    "Public Service" profiteering/skimming is ok, just don't getting internet freaky...tis the rule of thumb, no?

    Parent

    stupid + horny + hypocritical (none / 0) (#47)
    by Dadler on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 11:08:57 AM EST
    = one very pitiful former congressman.

    without the horny, the stupid doesn't get a date.

    Jeralyn (ot) (none / 0) (#50)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 11:55:32 AM EST
    please check for an email from me.