Elective Decisions

West Palm Beach—In yet another West Palm Beach political scandal, Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-FL, has been caught with his pants down, forcing him to question the media’s bias and patriotism in reporting the story.

 

The affair between Mahoney and Allen allegedly began in 2006 when he was campaigning against Mark Foley, R-FL, on the promise of “a world that is safer, more moral.”  Mahoney, of course, slid into power after the Mark Foley scandal rocked Washington, D.C.

 

Mahoney first met Allen at a campaign stop and later arranged for her to work as a volunteer on the campaign, according to ABC. She also appeared in a Mahoney campaign television commercial, criticizing his opponent.

 

Reports indicate that early Monday Mahoney paid Allen $61,000, plus $60,000 in legal fees, after she threatened to sue him for “sexual harassment” and “intimidation.”

 

Mahoney had also apparently secured for the 50-year-old single mother a two-year, $50,000-per-year job at his campaign’s communications firm as part of the settlement.

 

According to ABC News, Friends of Allen said that she wanted to end the affair after she found out that Mahoney was involved in other extra-marital relationships at the time.  They also told ABC News that Mahoney threatened that ending the relationship could cost her the job.

 

“I just couldn’t take it anymore,” claimed Allen.  “I no longer wished to perform the other assigned duties in my job.  So, he canned me.”

 

“You work at my pleasure,” Mahoney told Allen on a January 20, 2008, telephone call that was recorded.

 

So, the story broke, including the above transcript of the January 20, 2008 phone call where Mahoney fired Allen, possibly ruining his chances for reelection in November.  Since then, Mahoney has been hammering away at the press, questioning their patriotism.

 

“This is an utter outrage,” fired Mahoney.  “I thought members of the media were true patriots, but now I have my doubts.  Everyone knows that you can only report stories of sex scandals, drug addiction and blackmail when it concerns Rush Limbaugh, Mark Foley and Newt Gingrich.  Do these people in the media want conservatives to run things?  I think they do.  They’ve sunk to an all new low!”

 

According to reports, a leg breaker that works for Pelosi, had been “working with Mahoney to keep the matter from hurting his reelection campaign.”

 

Congressman Emanuel reportedly confronted Mahoney about allegations of an affair in early 2007 and had never discussed the matter with him in the context of the 2008 reelection campaign.

 

“Upon hearing a rumor, Congressman Emanuel confronted Congressman Mahoney, told him he was in public life and had a responsibility to act accordingly and appropriately, and urged him to do so. They had no further conversations on this topic,” said an Emanuel spokeswoman.

 

Mahoney’s colleagues and aides have privately expressed concern at the congressman’s personal conduct for months, feeling that he might actually get caught. Those concerns reportedly grew after an anonymous comment to a March 2008 Palm Beach Post gossip item hinted at an affair.

 

Earlier this year, Van Hollen—now Emmanuel’s successor at the DCCC—pressured Mahoney to “come clean with constituents” after “a rumor surfaced on a blog about Mr. Mahoney’s affair,” noted Jennifer Crider, DCCC communications director.  “Even the DCCC has some standards.  We had to throw Mahoney under the bus.”

 

Mahoney’s aides stated that he has ruffled some feathers in his party since coming to Capitol Hill, often telling party leaders where to get off, and what they can do with themselves when they get there.

 

Federal Election Commission filings show that that the DCCC had already spent more than $430,000 to protect Mahoney this fall. But the committee is not expected to spend any more money on the race, noting that “even God couldn’t save Mahoney now.”

 

Mahoney staffers have suggested the race is now Republican Tom Rooney’s to lose—just as the race in 2006 was Mahoney’s to lose once the Foley scandal broke.

 

“Stick a fork in Mahoney,” claimed John Cordelinski, a former Mahoney staffer.  “He’s done.  I don’t think even the idiots in Florida could vote for him now.”

 

The National Republican Congressional Committee blasted copies of the Mahoney story Monday shortly after the story broke.  Rooney has reportedly planned a news conference on the story with NRCC Chairman Tom Cole in the district on Tuesday.

 

Pelosi said in an e-mail that she “had just learned today about the serious allegations” and called for the matter to be “immediately and thoroughly investigated by the House ethics committee.”

 

“This is rather embarrassing to have to attach my name to,” added Pelosi.  “I just didn’t have any other choice.  My thoughts and prayers are with Rep. Mahoney.  It’s a shame the media had to break the story on a fine Democrat doing good work.  I wish this would’ve happened to Senator John McCain, R-AZ, or Governor Sarah Palin, R-AK.  That would’ve been far better for the party.  This should be a private matter between Tim, his wife, his mistress, and possibly another girlfriend—if not two.”

 

As the November election approaches, Tim Mahoney’s reelection is uncertain.  One must wonder whether or not this October surprise will force Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-FL, to bend over and grab his ankles on Tuesday, November 4, 2008.

 

Either way, it is assured that Rush Limbaugh can now read this story with a satisfying smile.