A New Defense for Antonio
Since "I cheat on my wife with a reporter who's covering me, but it's none of your business and I'm going to keep on doing it" doesn't seem to be working as a defense for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, he might want to take a cue from another philandering pol. Cosimo Mele, a Christian Democrat and member of the Italian Parliament, was caught in what the British press describes as "a scandal involving two prostitutes, a hotel room, and a large amount of cocaine." His defense:
"I did nothing other than go to dinner with a friend who introduced me to this girl. Since it was late, she came to bed with me. How many politicians go to bed with young girls?" ..."Of course, I recognize Christian values. But what has that got to do with going with a prostitute? It is a personal matter. This affair has nothing to do with family values. I cannot be branded a bad father and a bad husband simply because after five or six days away from home, an occasion presented itself."
Elsewhere, the secretary of Mele's political party even tries to play the victim card:
Lorenzo Cesa ... said that "Loneliness is a very serious thing, and the life of an MP can be a very hard life."
Hey, five days is a long time. Of course, the Financial Times is quick to note:
Mr Mele's night out, restaurant, hotel suite and ladies probably cost him between €2,000 and €3,000. More than enough for a few train or plane tickets for Mrs Mele.
Yet the best part is where Mele tries to make himself out as the hero in this sordid saga because, well, he didn't let his hooker die:
"I'm proud of myself. When I alerted the hotel reception and then asked them to call an ambulance, I realized that my name could get out," Mele, 50, told Corriere della Sera newspaper."Many other guys would have taken off," added Mele, who is married with three children.
If by "many other guys" he means Ted Kennedy, he may be right. Still, it's funny to see a pol claim that minimal standards of decency constitute heroic virtue.
Maybe Antonio should give this approach a try: "Hey, it gets lonely in Studio City at 4 am, and it's not like anyone died!"
What the Mayor needs is a lesson or two from President Bush and VP Cheney, who despite being crooks and liars offer NO APOLOGIES.
Our Muy Macho Mayor's approach is more "hands on." He goes out the next day to find some potholes that need fixing. Talk about a metaphor for his career!!
Coming from a right-wing Catholic arch-conservative like Weinkopf, his endless fascination with the Mayor's personal life has gotten kind of creepy. Recent post, the posters of the Garden of Love cartoon...
Sure, the guy fell for a woman "with a past" and who is apparently as ambitious as the politicians she's slept with -- but to Chris, the issue is not WHO she is at all, or why, but that AV didn't stay in a long-dead and sterile marriage because to him, all divorce is evil, always.
We don't live during the time of the Inquisition any more, the Catholic Church is supposed to be separate from state matters, or haven't you heard?
And Chris, next time you take a flight and drag on board your "three kids under the age of five" to kick the seats and keep everyone else from having any peace, let me know so I can be sure to take a different flight.
Since you don't believe in birth control, I assume you will be wearing out your wife and the public with lots more? I guess you're so obsessed with having to prove your righteousness and superiority by harping on the Mayor, because your own life is so dreary, with only the prospect of a wife who's fat, endlessly pregnant and in the kitchen. Church-repressed fantasies, Chris, maybe?
I'm curious to see if you'll censor this, after spending your "career" attacking public officials.
Wow. I know this is really old, but...wow.
I don't think I've ever read a more hate filled comment. I don't think I've ever read a more ignorant comment before. Good for you Chris for not retaliating. Perhaps 'susan' can learn something from your charity in silence compared to her vitriolic and spiteful hatred noise.