A Den Of Mistaken Morality

During the George W. Bush administration, lobbying and the influence on how our government operates was a topic of concern. The fickle finger of accusation pointed to an address known as K-Street. But today, another street looms on the horizon of Republican scandal and deceit. 133 C Street SE, simply known as C-Street, has become the new den where bad behavior is the new signature for the battle weary GOP.

Residents of this address such as Republican Senator John Ensign of Nevada, former resident, Republican Congressman Chip Pickering of Mississippi and frequent visitor Republican Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina have made this residence the new focus involving adultery and sexual liaisons. All of this from a party that has wooed the religious right with Bible quotes and themes of country and family values. The following is a sample of the scandals coming from a residence that is listed as a Church; http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/2009/jul/14/house_c_street/
The house on C Street
By Patrick Kelley (Contact)
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
SEN. SAM BROWNBACK will be leaving Washington next year to come back to Kansas to run for governor. He’s picked a good time to get out of town.
Scandals have drawn unwelcome attention to the senator’s home in the nation’s capital — the house at 133 C St. SE. Brownback lives there with five other members of Congress, including Sen. John Ensign of Nevada. Ensign has admitted an affair with a member of his staff and news reports have alleged questionable payments made to that staff member.
Other residents of the house apparently counseled Ensign about the affair and at one point supervised his writing of a letter breaking off the relationship. Ensign apparently called his lover soon after the letter was sent and told her to ignore it.
Ensign is not the only politician who has sought advice at C Street. South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, a former member of Congress, recently told a reporter that he went to the house for advice about his affair with a woman in Argentina.
So the house on C Street and its residents, like it or not, are now in the spotlight — connected, at least peripherally, with two current sex scandals in U.S. politics.
The resulting scrutiny has extended to the house itself and its role in politics.
U.S. News & World Report reported that the house is owned by a “secretive religious organization” alternately known as the “Fellowship” or the “Foundation.” The bottom two floors of the building are registered in tax records as a church. The members of Congress live on the third floor. Each pays $600 a month rent, an extremely low rate for housing within walking distance of the Capitol.
Commentators have begun to ask what role the group that owns the house plays in the careers of its tenants and what influence it may wield in matters of government.
Brownback has not been connected to the Ensign or Sanford scandals beyond mention that he is a resident of the house. But the scandals have directed attention to the house, its owners and the people who live there.
That is the sort of attention that a candidate for Kansas governor can do without. Perhaps it is time for the senator to find more expensive quarters for the rest of his time in Washington.
Patrick S. Kelley
Editorial Page Editor

To me, this residence is nothing more than a Legislative Frat house. The Republican members of Congress and the Senate that live there do nothing more than, try to relive their college years and present nothing less than a “Boys behaving badly” attitude. This is in direct contradiction to the Christian beliefs the GOP tout as their mantra to gain the American public support. If you find this behavior acceptable for your public representatives then, rest well knowing that, while K-Street keeps the GOP wallets fat with lobbying and bribes, C-Street will keep their loins well greased so no Republican Politician has to feel overstressed. Between the past Democratic shenanigans and the present Republican implosion, I will remain Independent. Well, at least for now.

That’s How I See It.

Websites of reference;
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/06/revealed_the_sanfordensign_connection.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Coburn#Personal_life
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25067.html
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/another_c_street_vet_falls_to_an_extramarital_affa.php
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/25/AR2009062504480.html
http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/2009/jul/14/house_c_street/