Pro-Life Congressman And Doctor Pressured Mistress Patient To Get Abortion

[Don Vito Corleone]

From http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/...s-abortion-pro-life_n_1953136.html?1349878415 -

WASHINGTON -- A pro-life, family-values congressman who worked as a doctor before winning election as a Tea Party-backed Republican had an affair with a patient and later pressured her to get an abortion, according to a phone call transcript obtained by The Huffington Post.

The congressman, Rep. Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee, was trying to save his marriage at the time, according to his remarks on the call, made in September of 2000. And, according to three independent sources familiar with the call and the recording, he made the tape himself.

DesJarlais, who was provided a copy of the transcript by HuffPost, did not deny its contents, but in a statement released through his campaign characterized it as just another sordid detail dredged up by the opposition. "Desperate personal attacks do not solve our nation's problems, yet it appears my opponents are choosing to once again engage in the same gutter politics that CBS news called the dirtiest in the nation just 2 years ago."

That race featured charges culled from DesJarlais' divorce from Susan DesJarlais, which was finalized in 2001. The filing included allegations that he held a gun in his own mouth for hours in one instance and that he "dry fired" a gun outside his wife's bedroom in another.

* * *

"You told me you'd have an abortion, and now we're getting too far along without one," DesJarlais tells the woman at one point in the call while negotiating with her over whether he'll reveal her identity to his wife. They then discuss whether he will accompany her to a procedure to end the sort of life the congressman now describes as "sacred."

"You told me you would have time to go with me and everything," the woman complains.

"I said, if I could, I would, didn't I? And I will try," DesJarlais says. "If I can [find] time, you're saying you still will?"

"Yeah," the woman answers.

The two bicker over when they can meet to hash out a solution, and they make clear the nature of their relationship when DesJarlais says delaying a resolution isn't fair to his wife.

"This is not fair to me. I don't want you in my life," the woman says.

"Well, I didn't want to be in your life either, but you lied to me about something that caused us to be in this situation, and that's not my fault, that's yours," the doctor responds.

"Well, it's [your] fault for sleeping with your patient," the woman fires back.

After arguing for a bit about who came on to whom -- with the woman seeming incredulous at DesJarlais' interpretation that she made the first move -- he gets back to the abortion.

"If we need to go to Atlanta, or whatever, to get this solved and get it over with so we can get on with our lives, then let's do it," DesJarlais says.

“Well, we’ve got to do something soon. And you’ve even got to admit that because the clock is ticking right?” he says at another point.

* * *

DesJarlais is currently leading Democratic state Sen. Eric Stewart in the polls.

I love these stories of politicians' hypocrisy. I only wish I were in a position to vote against the good doctor . . .

 

[xBiffx]

Nothing like using the misfortunes of others for political gain. Bet that mistress is thrilled about this getting out.

As for the Congressman. Sleaze, slime, garbage just like the rest of the politicians.

 

[woolfe9999]

My favorite part is where he claims it is "dirty politics" to point out that not only did he have an affair - that alone is not news these days - but that he encouraged a woman to get an abortion even though he considers abortions to be highly immoral.

 

[woolfe9999]

Nothing like using the misfortunes of others for political gain. Bet that mistress is thrilled about this getting out.

As for the Congressman. Sleaze, slime, garbage just like the rest of the politicians.

It's definitely being used for political gain, but how is it not relevant to voters when an elected official engages in private behavior totally at odds with his publicly stated policy positions? This is really an area where private behavior overlaps one's functioning as a public servant. Maybe if this was just an affair, but the abortion angle makes it pretty much publicly relevant.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Nothing like using the misfortunes of others for political gain. Bet that mistress is thrilled about this getting out.

As for the Congressman. Sleaze, slime, garbage just like the rest of the politicians.

I don't really care about the affair; it's sordid, and Americans eat that shit up, but that's between him, his wife and his mistress. I don't think the public needs to be involved.

But the hypocrisy about abortion? That's extremely serious. I don't want someone who runs on a platform of "I will make that illegal" and then uses the service himself. It shouldn't be allowed for anyone... except me. I'm genetically different. Hypocrisy in politics sickens me.

 

[xBiffx]

It's definitely being used for political gain, but how is it not relevant to voters when an elected official engages in private behavior totally at odds with his publicly stated policy positions? This is really an area where private behavior overlaps one's functioning as a public servant. Maybe if this was just an affair, but the abortion angle makes it pretty much publicly relevant.

I don't see the abortion angle changing the relevance either way. He is lying scum, plain and simple. That is relevance enough. But apparently voters don't care that their elected officials lie. What's worse is I think they expect it.

 

[alzan]

I agree it's relevant, I just hope it's relevant to his supporters. Not only is he hypocritical as a politician he's kind of walking a thin line as far as his former occupation as a doctor.

That transcript reads like an episode script from (dating myself here) The Guiding Light, As The World Turns, etc.

And like DVC I too am sad I'm not in a position to vote against him.

 

[jackstar7]

As for the Congressman. Sleaze, slime, garbage just like the rest of the politicians.

Yeah! They're all terrible! Don't vote!

 

[Mursilis]

I don't really care about the affair; it's sordid, and Americans eat that shit up, but that's between him, his wife and his mistress. I don't think the public needs to be involved.

I don't understand this attitude. The fact that he had an affair shows he doesn't take his wedding vows seriously (unless he's in an open marriage, which is possible). If he'll break his wedding vows he made to his wife, then how can I expect him not to break a promise he made to me, a random stranger (and voter)? The fact a politician cheats on his/her spouse goes to character, and is entirely relevant in a campaign.

 

[xBiffx]

Yeah! They're all terrible! Don't vote!

That's one option, for sure.

 

[xBiffx]

I don't understand this attitude. The fact that he had an affair shows he doesn't take his wedding vows seriously (unless he's in an open marriage, which is possible). If he'll break his wedding vows he made to his wife, then how can I expect him not to break a promise he made to me, a random stranger (and voter)? The fact a politician cheats on his/her spouse goes to character, and is entirely relevant in a campaign.

Exactly.

+1

 

[jackstar7]

That's one option, for sure.

Do it! Forget the lesser of the evils! Don't participate!

 

[nehalem256]

I don't understand this attitude. The fact that he had an affair shows he doesn't take his wedding vows seriously (unless he's in an open marriage, which is possible). If he'll break his wedding vows he made to his wife, then how can I expect him not to break a promise he made to me, a random stranger (and voter)? The fact a politician cheats on his/her spouse goes to character, and is entirely relevant in a campaign.

Even if that were true, it means he is a liberal who does not respect marriage

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I don't understand this attitude. The fact that he had an affair shows he doesn't take his wedding vows seriously (unless he's in an open marriage, which is possible). If he'll break his wedding vows he made to his wife, then how can I expect him not to break a promise he made to me, a random stranger (and voter)? The fact a politician cheats on his/her spouse goes to character, and is entirely relevant in a campaign.

People make mistakes. We try to be a civilized race, but we're still primates, and we have some basic tendencies that other animals have, like desiring sex. I'm a bit more forgiving than most when it comes to sexual infidelity, not because I'm a cheater, but because I understand that it can be really, really hard to fight the basic impulses we naturally have. I don't think that being horny is going to affect one's ability to govern effectively; we don't have the same natural impulses when talking about school budgets or welfare reform. So I ignore that and move on.

But the blatant hypocrisy of vowing to end a service that you've personally taken advantage of? That's just appalling. "Yeah, it was good that it was legal, really helped me out of a jam. And no one should have access to it ever." What a jackass.

 

[Mursilis]

Even if that were true, it means he is a liberal who does not respect marriage

I would not go that far. People can define marriage for themselves however they prefer - it's not my business. If this guy was actually in an open marriage (unlikely, but possible), I wouldn't care as a voter that he had a mistress, because he never promised his wife that he'd be monogamous. I would not want an open marriage, but I'm not interested in making that choice for others.

 

[Mursilis]

People make mistakes. We try to be a civilized race, but we're still primates, and we have some basic tendencies that other animals have, like desiring sex. I'm a bit more forgiving than most when it comes to sexual infidelity, not because I'm a cheater, but because I understand that it can be really, really hard to fight the basic impulses we naturally have.

Lots of things are hard. I know people with serious temper issues, but I wouldn't give them a pass if they punched someone for looking at them funny in the mall.

But the blatant hypocrisy of vowing to end a service that you've personally taken advantage of? That's just appalling. "Yeah, it was good that it was legal, really helped me out of a jam. And no one should have access to it ever." What a jackass.

That's also despicable, and would disqualify him for office in my mind.

 

[nehalem256]

I would not go that far. People can define marriage for themselves however they prefer - it's not my business. If this guy was actually in an open marriage (unlikely, but possible), I wouldn't care as a voter that he had a mistress, because he never promised his wife that he'd be monogamous. I would not want an open marriage, but I'm not interested in making that choice for others.

That would be the liberal view, not the conservative view.

Going by his anti-abortion views it would be fair to say he was courting the conservative vote.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Lots of things are hard. I know people with serious temper issues, but I wouldn't give them a pass if they punched someone for looking at them funny in the mall.

Comparing assault and adultery doesn't really work. Assault is illegal and a non-consensual act. Adultery is morally wrong, but it's not illegal, and the act itself happens between consenting people. I think there's reason to fear an official who flies into a violent rage if they don't get their way more than someone who wants to put their penis into lots of things.

 

[dank69]

I'm sure there are plenty of people in TN that think being a liberal is worse than what this man has done.

 

[hal2kilo]

The right wing Christians will swallow all their ideals and still vote for the ass. Democrats are the devil.

 

[FerrelGeek]

It's definitely being used for political gain, but how is it not relevant to voters when an elected official engages in private behavior totally at odds with his publicly stated policy positions? This is really an area where private behavior overlaps one's functioning as a public servant. Maybe if this was just an affair, but the abortion angle makes it pretty much publicly relevant.

This.

 

[xBiffx]

The right wing Christians will swallow all their ideals and still vote for the ass. Democrats are the devil.

In their defense, at least the start out with ideals.

:whiste:

 

[kage69]

Hey look, another Ted Haggard-type getting caught being the posterchild for hypocrisy!

Repubs will address this with the same dismissal and apathy too.

And they wonder why few non-conservatives take them seriously.

 

[Moonbeam]

I don't see the abortion angle changing the relevance either way. He is lying scum, plain and simple. That is relevance enough. But apparently voters don't care that their elected officials lie. What's worse is I think they expect it.

You are no different. You expect all politicians to be sleaze, slime, and garbage

 

[Mursilis]

Comparing assault and adultery doesn't really work. Assault is illegal and a non-consensual act. Adultery is morally wrong, but it's not illegal, and the act itself happens between consenting people. I think there's reason to fear an official who flies into a violent rage if they don't get their way more than someone who wants to put their penis into lots of things.

I wasn't comparing adultery to assault, I was comparing sexual urges to violent urges. Both can be very difficult to control at times, but the typical person is expected to control them nonetheless.