It's not the arrest, affair, or lovechild, but the hypocrisy

U.S. Representative Vito Fossella -- the only Republican Congressman now representing New York City -- has had a monkey wrench thrown in his November 2008 reelection bid. It's not the fact that he has been arrested for DUI, or his disclosure of an extra-marital affair, or his confession to fathering a lovechild: it's the rank hypocrisy of another anti-choice, anti-gay "family values" Republican who has opposed women's reproductive freedom and attacked gay rights with smug talk of "the sanctity of marriage". It's the double standard of a conservative Congressman who voted to impeach President Bill Clinton for having an extra-marital affair. And in this hypocrisy, Mr. Fossella joins a long line of Republican double-talkers, including Senator John McCain.

Fossella's arrest for drunk driving in Alexandria, Virginia on May 1 has led to the disclosure that this "family values" conservative has a secret family tucked away on the side.

Fossella was bailed out of jail by his lover, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Laura Fay. Today he confessed that he had an extra-marital affair and fathered a now 3-year-old daughter with her, out-of-wedlock. This comes as a shock to voters who elected a staunch Catholic conservative family man, who has three other children with his wife of 17 years, Mary Pat.

Fossella was arrested with a blood alcohol level of 0.17 — over twice the legal limit in Virginia. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to five days in jail -- quite a photo op for a Congressman seeking reelection.

Fossella -- who ran on the Republican, Conservative, and Right-to-Life tickets -- has represented NY-13 since 1997. This district includes Staten Island and the Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst and Gravesend neighborhoods of Brooklyn.

In 2003, NARAL rated Fossella with a 0% voting record, indicating his steadfast opposition to reproductive freedom. (In this, Fossella is not alone; Senator John McCain -- another "family values" hypocrite, who has his own history of extramarital affairs -- likewise rated 0%.)

The Christian Coalition gave Fossella an 81% rating for his "pro-family" votes. For example, Fossella supported a constitutional amendment to prevent gays from destroying the sanctity of marriage. And he voted to impeach President Bill Clinton over an extra-marital affair.

Fossella is the latest "family values" hypocrite to emerge from the Republican side of the aisle. He joins a roster that includes Representative Mark Foley, known for the Congressional page scandal in 2006; Senator David Vitter, who had a prostitution problem; and Senator Larry Craig, who was arrested for soliciting sex in an airport men's bathroom in 2007.