Utah GOP leader resigns after hot tub confession

[jefferson_dem]

Source: AP

The Associated Press
Posted: 03/13/2010 10:41:52 AM PST
Updated: 03/13/2010 10:53:12 AM PST

SALT LAKE CITY—Utah's House majority leader has resigned from the Legislature, two days after his confession about sitting nude in a hot tub with a teenage girl 25 years ago stunned the conservative state.

Republican Rep. Kevin Garn said Saturday that stepping down is in the best interests of his family, his colleagues and the people of Utah.

In an e-mail message to House Speaker David Clark, Garn apologized for becoming a distraction.

The 55-year-old Garn acknowledged the indiscretion late Thursday immediately after the Legislature adjourned for the session.

He says he paid the woman, Cheryl Maher, $150,000 to keep quiet about the episode when he unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2002.

Maher was 15 and a legal minor when the hot tub incident occurred. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Garn was 30.



Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14670369?nclick_check=1

[louis-t]

1. Is MSM covering this?

This morning, The Alex Witt (whatever) was reporting how 'Democrats have the same amount of scandals as Repugs do'. This is definitely the week for Dem scandals, but now it will be back to the usual 3 to 1 repug scandals.

[saigon68]

4. A little "Hot Tub Encounter" with a 15 yr/old

[louis-t]

15. Jeez, it's not even Monday yet.

Gonna be a big week for repug sex scandals.

[Ian David]

18. I've done that. When I was 16. n/t

[MineralMan]

25. When I was 16, there were no hot tubs.

We had to settle for skinny-dipping. Or steaming up the windows of the family car. Both were excellent substitutes.

[DeSwiss]

31. I don't understand what all the fuss is about.....

...I'm sure the hot water temp killed any germs.

Chicks In A Hot Tub"

[Faygo Kid]

6. Yeah, believe it or not, in Utah. Guess what? Victim says there was sex. Surprise!

Love how the Utah Legislature applauded the creep. His story doesn't hold up.

Look for full analysis on Fox News (not).

(Go Wings!)

[SpiralHawk]

10. Hell, the Republicon members of the US Senate gave a Standing O to Diaper Dave Vitter

after his, ahem, Madame revealed that the evangelical so-claimed 'christian' married Republicon was into diaper sex with hookers.

So don't be shocked that the Utah republicons luved up their hot tub hanky pankster. It is typical republicon family values in action...

[louis-t]

16. Repugs always applaud cheaters.

If it's a Dem, they trip over each other trying to find a podium from which to preach about morals, he should step down, he should resign, he's a disgrace, blah, blah....when it's a repug, they have a luncheon and applaud him for being 'brave'.

[gristy]

9. Same "amount" of scandals? Sounds like Witt thinks we measure scandals like flour now.

[louis-t]

20. She had a woman on who had a 'count' on a graphic.

'27' for Dems and '26' for repugs in the last 10 years, I think. Only counted sex scandals, not money scandals, something like that.

Actually, her point was that on average, xx% of Americans admit to being unfaithful, and the sex scandals only affect 5% of political figures, so, you know, it's OK I guess.

[Moonwalk]

30. Shouldn't same-sex scandals get more points?

I mean, if you preach family values and use anti-gay rhetoric, shouldn't it count for more points if you have a gay sex scandal? I'm sure that'd put the Repubs ahead of the Dems :eyes:

[Mithreal]

39. Maybe we can let those ones remain point for point

but sex with children and animals, Republicans do that as well. I know too profane to even mention, but we need to be honest about their party.

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/neal-horsley-mule-loving-republican-can

[Mithreal]

38. I don't believe those numbers.

Came across a website with 100s of recent Republican sex scandals. Can't find it at the moment, maybe this one will do.

http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/Republican_Sex_Scandals

[panader0]

2. What is it with elected officials?

Ensign, Sanford, Massa, Garn, and so many more you'd need a running list to keep up with them. Candidates need to be vetted more closely.

[DURHAM D]

5. Having worked on the staff of the lowest level of elected official -

up to a U.S. senator I can tell you it is really simple. They just do not believe that they live by the same rules as the rest of us.

Even if they arrive in office somewhat normal it is soon replaced. One of the things that used to amaze me is the number of women who wanted to sleep with any old, often very unattractive man, as long as he held office. They would try to get up with men old enough to be their grandfather. The elected officials, in turn, quickly came to expect this over the top attention and would soon being to take advantage of the offerings. Not always sexually but they were always inappropriately involved emotionally with someone.

[Tx4obama]

33. And....

Vitter, Larry Craig, Spitzer, John Edwards,
and even Gov. Paterson admitted to an affair days after taking the oath of office.

Can't think of any female politicians off the top of my head ;)

[Tx4obama]

35. Here's link to a LONG list of scandals and sex scandals

The sex scandals are grouped together two-thirds or so down the page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_scandals_of_the_United_States

[gristy]

43. wow - someone put a lot of time into that compilation

impressive

[cstanleytech]

3. No polical party has the market cornered on having these kind of

scandals popup but what makes the republicans worse imo is that they market themselves as the "moral" party and I find that two faced of them and less than honorable.

[LiberalLoner]

7. Glad another repug bit the dust.

[LiberalFighter]

8. I didn't know one could be a legal minor.

If I went to court and had my birthdate changed to 1996 or later that I could then be a legal minor? Beats me as to why anyone would want to do that.

Maybe if we got all the women that have had sex with Republicans to legally change their birthdate so that they would be jail-bait to any Republican elected official. Wouldn't that be fun?

[maxsolomon]

13. i think it means the legal age of consent in Utah was 15 in 1985.

if so, was there a crime? if so, why pay the 140K hush money she wanted in 02?

[Odin2005]

11. Lock this child rapist up for life

[helderheid]

12. This man was a bishop for the LDS church and when this came to light, he was APPLAUDED.

:mad:

[mod mom]

22. He was her Sunday School teacher when she was in 4th grade.

:mad: what a pervert!

[saigon68]

26. Saddling up on children

Nice

[City Lights]

32. Yes, applauded for his "honesty."

A 25-year secret including $150,000 in hush money, that he finally admitted to only because she was talking to the media, and the GOPers in the Utah legislature "thunderously applauded" him for his honesty. What. A. Joke.

[lunatica]

14. Sooner or later karma catches up with people

Which is why I think that the Bush administration is free on borrowed time.

[Ian David]

17. It was a Hot Tub Time Machine. The girl was 18 when she got in the tub but 15 when she left. n/t

[No Elephants]

19. Seems like only yesterday that he was being applauded for his --wait for it--

H O N E S T Y.

:rofl:

[tomm2thumbs]

21. an expensive dip - I would have preferred something with a garnish

No doubt there is more to this than is being said

[DefenseLawyer]

23. He was night putting

Just putting at night... with the 15 year old daughter of the dean.

[helderheid]

24. VIDEO

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=9992708

[Faygo Kid]

27. Another video, from an earlier time than the alleged incident.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/97800/saturday-night-live-james-browns-celebrity-hot-tub-party

[tomm2thumbs]

28. from that link - some interesting stuff

excerpted:

She said there was a lot Garn didn't admit. Of the hot tub incident, Maher told City Weekly, "Let's just say this: he really loves to massage."

In an e-mail, she said Garn was her Sunday school teacher when she was in fourth grade. Later, when she worked for him, Garn would stare at her, take her to lunch and shopping, and finally to a hot tub -- after stopping first for alcohol.

"So, this wasn't just one incident. This was a series of things that happened over months and months," Maher said.

[Critters2]

36. That can't be right. Mormons don't drink!

:evilgrin:

[helderheid]

40. He replaced the last majority leader, also Mormon, who was arrested for drunk driving. I kid you not

[JoeyTrib]

45. Wow.

Did not know that.

[tanyev]

29. Lawmaker in hot water after hot tub incident.

:evilgrin:

[3waygeek]

34. Anyone know if this guy's related to

Senator Barfin' Jake Garn?

[helderheid]

41. Maybe distantly

[northofdenali]

37. Your Family Values politicos at work. n/t

[Zambero]

42. He sounds like an excellent candidate for the C Street Family

Now that Stupak's checked out, there might be an opening for him in there.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

44. "a distraction" ????

blech

[LeftHander]

46. Conservatives are morally corrupt, ugly people. nt