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

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

By Jeralyn, Section Other Politics
Posted on Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 06:54:35 PM EST
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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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Republican Chris Lee Resigns After Exposure of Craig's List Dalliance | 69 comments (69 topical)

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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

Parent

: Worse: the Senate (none / 0) (#16)
by andgarden on Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 12:38:34 AM EST

Parent

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

Parent

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

Parent

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

Parent

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.

Republican Chris Lee Resigns After Exposure of Craig's List Dalliance | 69 comments (69 topical)

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