This Is Good News For Republicans

Rep. Vito Fossella has a kid out of wedlock.

Representative Vito J. Fossella, a Staten Island Republican who was arrested on May 1 in Alexandria, Va., and charged with drunken driving, issued a statement on Thursday acknowledging that he had had an extramarital affair with Laura Fay, a former Air Force lieutenant colonel, and that the two of them had a 3-year-old daughter together.

The prospect that Mr. Fossella could face a mandatory jail sentence if convicted had already threatened to bring to an end his decade-long career in the House, where Mr. Fossella is the only Republican representing New York City. The Daily News has reported that Mr. Fossella called Ms. Fay for help after his arrest and told officers that he was on his way to visit a sick daughter. As speculation swirled over Mr. Fossella’s relationship with Ms. Fay in recent days, his aides said only that they were good friends.

The drunk driving is actually worse that some personal relationship. In the old days, they actually had an orphanage for children of Congressmen born out of wedlock, so that part is nothing new. The prospect of jail time is going to force him out of Congress. The rest is just salacious. And what should actually force him out of Congress is his reactionary voting record.

UPDATE: Steve Benen checks in to note that Fossella's rating from the Christian Coalition is 81%, and he supported the Constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. Because marriage, you see, is sacred.

UPDATE II: From Beer To Paternity is hysterical.