As the Mahoney turns

Okay, it's true -- apparently Democrats have their little sexual peccadilloes as well. It's just a shame this one's hitting so close to home, and with a congressional seat that was pretty tenuous in the first place.

Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-Fla.), as you probably know, allegedly paid $121,000 in hush money to a former employee with whom he was having an affair. Allegedly. But then there's the rest of the story -- a second affair. Allegedly.

Current and former aides for Congressman Tim Mahoney (D-FL) say he was carrying on an affair with a county official from Florida at the same time he lobbied to help her county receive a $3.4 million federal grant.

One former top campaign aide says Mahoney acknowledged the woman had spent the week at his Washington apartment but shrugged off warnings such behavior could cause him political trouble. The aides said the woman was also seen with Mahoney at restaurants and at his Washington DC apartment late at night.

Based on interviews with a number of staffers, campaign workers and top Democratic officials in Congress, it appears Mahoney ignored warnings since last year about what now appears to have been multiple extra-marital relationships.

This Martin County official is a different woman than the former staffer whose $121,000 payout was confirmed by Mahoney himself.

Now, far be it from me to note that Democratic sexual scandals of late have been of the heterosexual variety, while most of the Republicans (Mark Foley, Larry Craig, Blowin' Bob Allen) similarly situated have been pursuing people of their own gender. Not that there's anything wrong with that ... provided you are open about it and don't vote or speak out against, say, every gay rights bill that comes up for debate. But, I digress ...

I'm not a huge Mahoney fan. He swept into office in the aftermath of the Mark Foley scandal two years ago, taking over what had been a safe Republican district, Florida's 16th. But once in office, Mahoney showed that he was anything but progressive, voting along with the Bush crime syndicate on numerous occasions and even refusing to endorse Barack Obama for president (the only statement I've heard him make on the subject was rather tepid support if you ask me). Still, he's in the process of punting a seat that didn't have to be punted, and that's disappointing from the Democratic perspective. Sounds like the Dems are going to throw him under the bus, too, since they can afford to lose him with the huge majorities they're going to win on Election Day ...

Here's where I stand: if Mahoney used his sexual liaisons for political gain, as he allegedly did with this thus-far-unnamed Martin County official, then he needs to resign. That's unacceptable from either side of the aisle. But if it turns out that he simply had affairs, outside the scope of his public service, then I believe that's a matter best left between him and his family, particularly his wife. The difference with Foley, Craig et al. is their hypocrisy -- behaving one way while voting (and saying) the opposite. I don't see hypocrisy (unless there's abuse of power) in the Mahoney situation -- I just see a complete dumbass.

(Speaking of dumbasses, what is it about wingnut protestors, like those pictured at left outside Mahoney's Stuart office today, that makes them so stupid? "Your Fired?" Reminds me of the "Morans" guy ... I guess right-wingers just are not very smart.)

So, congratulations to Florida's 16th Congressional District. Looks like you get to pick between a serial adulterer and a millionaire gambling fiend. Good luck with that.