Vito Fossella, Out and About But Still Mum on Future

Just as last week ended, this week begins on a note of silence from Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.), who is still wrestling with whether to run for reelection as a scandal-tainted philanderer.

Fossella hasn't said a word publicly about his drunken-driving and infidelity debacle since his statement on May 8, in which he admitted to having an extramarital affair with a retired Air Force officer -- who he romanced on the taxpayer's dime -- and fathering her 3-year-old daughter.

Though he didn't speak of his current troubles, Fossella, 43, a social conservative who has three children with his wife, Mary Pat, did march in a pre-Memorial Day parade in his district over the weekend and attended a Conservative Party dinner.

The big question on Capitol Hill, one that is causing Republican leaders a considerable amount of anxiety, is whether Fossella packs it in and retires, or stays and risks losing yet another GOP-controlled seat to Democrats in an election year that is quickly shaping up to be a potential wipe-out for Republicans.

His public appearances over the weekend certainly indicate Fossella is at least seriously flirting with the idea of running for a sixth term.

Senior Republicans such as former New York congressman Guy Molinari and Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) have been tacitly encouraging Fossella to hang on and fight. King told the Sleuth last week he thinks Fossella could actually win reelection despite his problems.

But political strategists in both parties are waiting for Fossella to officially declare his intentions about his political future.

If he decides to run for a sixth term, Republicans, of course, face this embarrassing prospect: Fossella will have to go to jail for five days if he's convicted of drunken driving. His trial is set for June 27 in Alexandria.

And if he is convicted, Fossella shouldn't expect any special treatment in jail, according to a report in today's New York Daily News.

The paper quotes Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawborne saying, "There is no special treatment. There are no bonus points or upgrades because you're a congressman."

Comments

From knee-walk to perp-walk. Run, Vito, Run!

Posted by: Beowulf Shaeffer | May 19, 2008 12:09 PM | Report abuse

All of these social conservatives think with their little heads. Grow up Vito.

Posted by: jeffp | May 19, 2008 12:54 PM | Report abuse

All these episodes wouldn't be so funny or sad (depending on your politics)if the Republicans in Congress didn't act so holy. They are so uptight and upright that it just tickles the people to see them embarrassed, and it happens all the time it seems. This man should resign if only to keep his republican buddies from having to apologize for him, and keep them from having to assure their constituitents that indeed they will never do such a thing!

Posted by: beccajo | May 19, 2008 1:45 PM | Report abuse

The Democrat Party waits to welcome him with open arms

Posted by: William Jefferson | May 19, 2008 4:39 PM | Report abuse

Here's an idea for an ad campaign.
First you show any Republican saying "Support the Troops", then you show any story out of Iraq such as electrocuted while taking a shower, contaminated water, issued humvees to our troops that had plastic doors, inferior body armor and helmets, female troops being raped and held captive so they couldn't talk about it and then having NO punishment for the perps, KBR stealing the bullets and other ammunition from troops, selling it to the highest bidder and issuing outdated and un-usable bullets and other ammunitions to our troops, Blackwater thugs pointing their weapons at our troops and threatening them while the thugs murder Iraqi civilians in cold blood.
Support the troops - stop loss.
Support the troops - demand they return their pay for joining if they get wounded or killed before their terms are up.
Support the troops by forgetting to take care of the wounded.
Support the troops by shipping them home in cargo planes and making their families bury them in secret.
You could have thousands of these ads in a day.

Posted by: Laura Nason | May 20, 2008 11:25 AM | Report abuse

This is one of several articles I've seen today that uses "who" for "whom." In this case it's "who he's romancing." The Washington Post has some really good columnists; how about hiring some really good proofreaders too?

Posted by: Barbara Lance | May 20, 2008 11:29 AM | Report abuse

You expect these stupid intern writers to proofread? They can't even come up with newsworthy stories.