Scandal-Plagued N.Y. Rep. Won't Run Again

Republican Vito Fossella Was Politically Crippled By News Of DUI Arrest And Secret Affair

(AP)  New York Rep. Vito Fossella will not seek re-election after a series of damaging revelations about a child from an extramarital affair, two people familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.

Both people spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to make the announcement public. Fossella was expected to make the announcement Tuesday.

Fossella, 43, has admitted to fathering a daughter with a Virginia woman.

The congressman's secret relationship with the woman, Laura Fay, was revealed after he was arrested for drunken driving May 1. Fossella was stopped after running a red light, and he told officers he was going to see his sick daughter, according to police.

Fossella is married with three children. The family lives on Staten Island.

He has served in Congress since 1997, representing Staten Island and part of Brooklyn. He is the only Republican member of Congress from New York City.

It was Fay who got him out of jail after the arrest. She is a former Air Force lieutenant colonel and worked for a time as a liaison to Congress.

After his arrest, police said Fossella's blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit, and he could face a mandatory five days in jail if convicted. A court appearance on the drunken driving arrest is scheduled for next month.

After the relationship was revealed, Fossella said he had no immediate plans to resign, but the disclosures were considered by many as a crippling blow to the career of a lawmaker once viewed a potential candidate for mayor of New York City.

He faced a surprisingly tough re-election challenge in 2006, and Democrats have been hoping to unseat him this year. After the admissions, Fossella got little public support to remain from leaders of his own party.

Fossella was elected to Congress in 1997 in a special election to replace Rep. Susan Molinari, who resigned. His socially conservative positions squared nicely with his largely Catholic district. He serves as a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

His work in Congress shifted dramatically following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. Hundreds of Staten Island residents died in the attacks, and Fossella became a prominent advocate for families of those killed.

As more recovery and rescue workers got sick after toiling at the ground zero site, Fossella pushed for Washington to pay for their health care - an effort that met with short-term success, but no long-term program.

[hober_mallow]

For a minute or so there, I thought this guy had to be a Democrat. Finally, in the 6th paragraph he was identified as a Republican.

Folks, we''ve got to realize that if these politicos get caught (e.g.,the Senator from Idaho or the Congressman from Louisiana) it''s US who is getting screwed.

Whether you''re a Repub or a Dem, all politicians are in cahoots with the sole object of *** the average citizen, the little guy. And protecting the wealthy.

Frack ''em all.

[neobrian-2009]

maybe a VP ?
A Typical GOP Sect member

[neobrian-2009]

read The Sub -Title
For a minute or so there, I thought this guy had to be a Democrat. Finally, in the 6th paragraph he was identified as a Republican.
Republican Vito Fossella Was Politically Crippled

[samrensho]

Typical GOP behavior.

[nothappyatall]

"his socially conservative positions squared nicely with his largely Catholic district."

LOL yeah typical rePUBIC-CON catholic, hypocrit to the CORE.

" and Democrats have been hoping to unseat him this year."


Looks like he unsat his own azz pretty easy LOL, drunk driving, adultry, out of wedlock CHILD when he had a wife and 3 LOL this is too funny!


" After the admissions, Fossella got little public support to remain from leaders of his own party. "

They''s running SCARED now brother! they want some distance between themselves and this OWNED rePUBIC-CON/drunk/homewrecker/adulterer.

His fellow cathoholics should stone him to death like their buybull ORDERS them to do.

[ms38654ob]

Another "family values" republican bites the dust.

I guess this type of publicity is why a democrat wins an election in a district that''s 95 percent republican (DeSoto County area in Mississippi) because Cheney shows up to "help" campaign.

We''re in for a bumpy ride come November...

[haoli25]

I was amazed that a male republican was involved with a WOMAN of all things. The party is slipping.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by MJHS1967

Hopefully not just goodbye, but also let us hope for the appropriate legal sanctions for their respective crimes.

[moneymcbush]

I thought republicans only liked boys in the bathroom?

[irliberal]

Oh, so good to hear that. Seems I have seen he at an interracial dating club blackcentury.com or somewhere just like that. Not sure whether it is true or not.

Posted by jessie251 at 02:40 AM

Oh yes, jessie you''re SO clever, we''re all going to flock to your web site now and drive up your hit counters.

NOT.

[sistatee-2009]

Banging an Air Force LtCol? Vito, you dirty little boy.

[stn_sage]

I''d sort of like to see him run for re-election just to see what happens!

Would this ''family values'' Republican get re-elected? Or, would he go down in one of the largest, lop-sided defeats in Congressional history?! You know, it might be kind of entertaining to watch?!!

I guess he figured out he couldn''t blame this one on the Dems! I bet his wife wouldn''t even accept that!

Vito probably has Bill Clinton feeling pretty good about himself, too! At least, he''s resigning unlike fellow sleazebags Mr. Vitter or Mr. Craig!

[jjp735i]

Sing the Democratic theme song: Another one the dust...oh those "family value Republicans"...another one gone.....

The Right really needs to clean it''s own house before telling the rest of us how to live.

[Gary Kempf]

Fossella will drag his resignation out till July so the Republicans won''t lose another seat to a Democrat,
like in Mississippi.

[bobnjersey]

[His work in Congress shifted dramatically following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. Hundreds of Staten Island residents died in the attacks, and Fossella became a prominent advocate for families of those killed. As more recovery and rescue workers got sick after toiling at the ground zero site, Fossella pushed for Washington to pay for their health care - an effort that met with short-term success, but no long-term program.]

an advocate for the little guy ... lobbying for health care?

so ... why was he a republican?

[trishab4]

Even though he''s a Repukons ( and God knows I don''t like them), I would let him get back into politics, this is only an affair gone wrong. So what???? he has responsibility of a child and he''s taking it!

[trishab4]

Fossella pushed for Washington to pay for their health care - an effort that met with short-term success, but no long-term program.]

an advocate for the little guy ... lobbying for health care?

so ... why was he a republican?


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Posted by bobnjersey at 06:00 AM : May 20, 2008

-I ould not agree more! Obama should help him cross the room to Democratic party!

[mcvet]

-I ould not agree more! Obama should help him cross the room to Democratic party!


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Posted by trishab4 at 06:07 AM : May 20, 2008
+ report abuse

Why in the world would the Democrat Party, who have always been the party of the People, want someone as narrow minded as this fascist. He could join but I doubt any Democrat would vote for him... After all THEY kicked Strom Thurmond and his band of Klan out.

[blondbeotch]

jjp735i 5:03----so, I''m curious--how is the right telling you how to live? I don''t know what you are talking about!! And by the way, don''t act so pompous, your side has plenty of their own problems with men and their sexual appetites--You people never seem to get it--you take no responsibility for anything--blame, blame, blame is all you do
LOL you people never seem to see that---

[singingrick]

Another "family values" Republicon bites the dust.

Bye bye.....

[truthyness]

CBS/AP) Barack Obama was poised to reach a major milestone Tuesday in the Kentucky and Oregon primaries - a majority of the pledged delegates offered in the Democratic presidential contest". YOU MEAN THIS IS "MAYBE", "ONLY THE FIRST TIME" HE HAS HAD a majority of the pledged delegates offered in the Democratic presidential contest???

ONLY THE FIRST TIME????

MAYBE????????!

In other words, *HILLARY IS WINNING* !!!!!

[trishab4]

Why in the world would the Democrat Party, who have always been the party of the People, want someone as narrow minded as this fascist. He could join but I doubt any Democrat would vote for him... After all THEY kicked Strom Thurmond and his band of Klan out.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by MCVet at 06:56 AM : May 20, 2008

-MCVet, I wouldn''t even dare compare the two cases here. Come on! One segregationist and the latest procreating a child!

[hhroams]

JUST A GOOD FAMILY VALUE REPUBLICAN POLITICIAN!

[bobnjersey]

[You people never seem to get it--you take no responsibility for anything--blame, blame, blame is all you do. LOL you people never seem to see that]
[Posted by blondbeotch at 07:39 AM : May 20, 2008]

has gwb actually acknowleged responsibility for anything in seven years? seems to always be someone elses fault ... even when everyone knows he''s a screw-up in everything he''s ever done ... before ... during ... and likely after his playing president.

looks like you''re suffering a bit of the very condition you describe.

[trishab4]

The most telling thing about Vito...is that he is resigning in part to heal his family...his married family...but what about his other family...the mistress and her child...I guess they are expendable in the eyes of the GOP
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by ozilot at 08:05 AM : May 20, 2008

-In the eyes of Bibull-GOPpys they are illegal, baastard!

-Now what if we brought back all the people who were born out of marriage, given into adoption and who gave advancemnt to Humanity through Human and Natural Sciences? Would the world be the same? Sure not. The world would be fighting like in tribal times.

-A good solution for this child to be proteceted, would be an alimony to her mother or an adoption by the main family.

[whatithink-2009]

Posted by bobnjersey at 08:21 AM : May 20, 2008

Good post, but they also don''t want to see it. The Party of Personal Responsibility means other people''s responsibilities, not their own.

[byeneocons]

Another anti-choice family values compassionate conservative christian republican bites the dust.

[trishab4]

CBS: Fossella, 43, has admitted to fathering a daughter with a virgin woman.

-Was her name Mary?

[cjs1231]

I wish people would stop making this story about the man''s political affiliations. As many remember there, have been several Democratic governors (NY) and presidents (Clinton, Kennedy) who have had affairs, mistresses, and been caught for engaging in prostitution. So, his Republican party ties, do not demonstrate his propensity to have an affair.

[jjp735i]

Posted by blondbeotch at 07:39 AM: How are they telling you how to live?

Come on blondbeotch, the Republican Right has been shoving the Bible down everyones throat, playing the morals police, carrying on about gay marriage like it would end the world, blaming 911 on just about anyone they hate at home, letting Bush lie and backing his lie even after it was proven there were no WMD and so on. Yes the Republican Right has been telling people how to live a moral life. Only they themsleves do not live it.

As to pompous, yes Democrats get caught doing the same thing, but the difference is they are not out trying to force people to live the same way the Republican Right does.

I''m sorry if you are offended, but I am offended too, by people who are false preachers, stealing money from those that give to their church, think Jim Baker, chasing underage Senate Pages, a radio talk show host who is a proven drug user, a mega-church leader using drugs and having gay ***, a Texas house leader caught in a lobbist scandal and all the while using God as an excuse to keep other people down by calling them sinners or un-patriotic because some one does not agree with them. False Preachers. How many of the Republican Right has given up all wordly goods and gone fourth to preach about Christ? Not a one. They want the cash and lie and preach lies to get it.

[jegibbons]

WHAT''S the difference between "socially conservative positions" and "socially conservative values"?

ANS: One is expected to live up to
a "socially conservative value".

Politicians are becoming use to shifting their positions as often as clouds in the sky. We shouldn''t stand for it.

It is we ''The Electorate'' who MUST VOTE for people who have a long history of saying and doing the same thing!

DELIVER ME FROM PHONIES!

[quetzalcrist]

Taking a Wider Stance on Family Values,
G grand
O old
P perverts.

[faith_in_w]

Yet another liberal democrat goes down in flames! I shall rejoice in the demise of the liberal congress!

[jn122736]

Even though he''''s a Repukons ( and God knows I don''''t like them), I would let him get back into politics, this is only an affair gone wrong. So what???? he has responsibility of a child and he''''s taking it!

Posted by trishab4 at 06:04 AM : May 20, 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Very good point.

[singingrick]

faith_in_w


I hate to break this to you sparky but this guy is a "family values" Republicon.

lol!

[l8c6]

Yet another liberal democrat goes down in flames! I shall rejoice in the demise of the liberal congress!

Posted by faith_in_w

a liberal republican? Whatever, demise of whatever it is you have a problem with ain''t what''s happenin'' sweet pee. The right wing neo con rhetoric is being exposed for what it really means. Privatized government, end of public government, end of citizen participation, wall street rule. So you and your treasonous unpatriotic right wing neo cons can go back to the country of your origin or be kicked out of this one for being traitors to your country of origin and its people.

[irliberal]

Yet another liberal democrat goes down in flames! I shall rejoice in the demise of the liberal congress!

Posted by faith_in_w at 08:53 AM

Sweetie, this article is about Vito Fossella resigning and he is a Republican. He is the only Republican member of Congress from New York City. So pick up that bible and pray for some intelligence. Pray really, really hard.

[faith_in_w]

Its obvious a misprint in the article because we all know republicans would never do such things.

[irliberal]

Its obvious a misprint in the article because we all know republicans would never do such things.

Posted by faith_in_w at 09:06 AM

You''re not praying hard enough honey. Try again.

[parrot123-2009]

jjp735i 5:03----so, I''''m curious--how is the right telling you how to live? I don''''t know what you are talking about!! And by the way, don''''t act so pompous, your side has plenty of their own problems with men and their sexual appetites--You people never seem to get it--you take no responsibility for anything--blame, blame, blame is all you do
LOL you people never seem to see that---
Posted by blondbeotch at 07:39 AM : May 20, 2008

This coming from a Repug - from the party that gave us Allen, Ney, Cunningham, Delay, Ravenel, Doolittle, Miller, Lewis, Renzi, Kott, Kohring, Vitter, Stevens, Foley, Libby, Norton, Foggo, Ted Haggard, Craig, Rosenthal, Richard Curtis, Bernard Kerik, Fred Thompson, Phillip Martin, Billy O''Reilly, Rush L, Newt G, Mark Sijander, Murkowski, Jim Clark, Goeglein, Sixto, A Jackson, Zirkle, C J Ward, Ullman and now Vito Fossella. You really should be ashamed of yourself. Cheers!

[fuzzybear9]

continued
why of course I will do everything in my power to make Russia an Advanced Preemptive Stike Force in the World and hopefully they will be able to launch lightning fast sorties at the despots.
kind of a Devine Justice.

you know this would actually make a best seller.

The Rise and Fall of The United States.

sincerely helping the good people of Russia Bear
Fuzzy

[fuzzybear9]

Hello Concerned Citizens

I think Socialist Liberals are just so funny !

we don`t like this guys politics because he`s a republican. but he is an immoral philaderer with illegimate children so that makes him a welcome member of the Socialist Democratic party.
why he was a hidden kindred democrat all along !
the only question is how did the Socialist Kindred spirit end up on the republican ticket?
well we can see that the republican party is no longer, actually they never where the party of American Family values, it was all a fascade,

well Fuzzy is there no party that can represent me and my family for traditional American values?

I`m afraid not. corruption plain and simple all there is are Socialist Liberal Elietist to choose from, much like the last days of Pompey or Rome, so you need to except the realization that America as a civilized nation, is no longer to be.
no more science, no more progress, no more prosperity,
just despotism, and with Barrack Obama in the Whitehouse you can look forward to complete and total moral decay, supported by the Socialist Liberal Elietist caccus from washington d.c.

Fuzzy will you make any attempt to change the situation ?

[jsl45]

Just another hypocritical Repulican who says one thing to get elected and then lives the life which he condems in others....they just don''t get it!!!

[faith_in_w]

FuzzyBear9, yes I see it now, it was all a plot to make President Bush and the republican party look bad.

[fuzzybear9]

Hello Concerned Citizen

``
FuzzyBear9, yes I see it now, it was all a plot to make President Bush and the republican party look bad.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by faith_in_w at 09:33 AM : May 20, 2008
``
what did you think they meant by a right wing conspiracy?

a right wing conspiracy is actually a closet
Liberal Democrat hidden in the Republican party.

now this is going to get confusing but what we actually have is a closet Liberal conspirator in the Republican Party so its actually a Left right Wing conspiracy.

I told you it would be confusing.

sincerely Fuzzy Bear

[veteran72]

"He has served in Congress since 1997, representing Staten Island and part of Brooklyn. He is the only Republican member of Congress from New York City."


And he''ll be the last,....LOL...

[missingamerica]

If this man were a Democrat, the comments here would read something like this: "He is just a man like any other man" or "You cast your stones from your glass house," or "Leave this family man alone hasn''t he and his loved ones suffered enough?"

But not when it is a Republican -"It''s all George W. Bush''''s fault."

Rave on.

Posted by tuffone3 at 09:48 AM : May 20, 2008

lolll...I rarely see such self-contradicting comments.

Are we to assume that - were this man a Democrat - all ya''ll neocons wouldn''t "throw stones"?

Fat chance.

[faith_in_w]

FuzzyBear9, yes the liberals take us as simple minded stooges but they underestimate how intelligent we repuiblicans are.

[bobnjersey]

[... the liberals take us as simple minded stooges but they underestimate how intelligent we repuiblicans are.]
[Posted by faith_in_w at 09:54 AM : May 20, 2008]

so when are you going start using it? or are you saving it for a rainy day?

[fuzzybear9]

``
FuzzyBear9, yes the liberals take us as simple minded stooges but they underestimate how intelligent we repuiblicans are.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by faith_in_w at 09:54 AM : May 20, 2008
``

we are ?


wait I`m not even Republican
I`m what is called the brightest so I`m an
Independent !

drat you Faith
you almost confused me

I`m an Independent Scholar that doesn`t get caught up in the usual political jargon of the parties.

sincerely your Independent Bear
Fuzzy