GOP Candidate: I Had An Affair Two Weeks Ago, Am Quitting My Campaign

[CTyankee]

New York state Senate candidate Gia Arnold, a 24-year-old Republican, halted her campaign on Wednesday because she said she had engaged in an extramarital affair within the past two weeks.

The New York Daily News reported that Arnold announced the suspension of her campaign with an email sent to supporters and the media early Wednesday morning. She spoke to the Daily News by phone and explained the "personal decision" that prompted the suspension.

"I had an affair on August 1st and four days later I left my husband," Arnold said. "I wanted to go public with the information, just because it was heavy on my conscience and I am strong for honesty and integrity and always telling the truth and I felt it was important as a public figure that the public was aware of what was going on.”

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/gia-arnold-suspends-campaign-affair

Sounds to me like she had a one night stand...but sometimes I just don't understand people doing this kind of stupid...

[Rex]

1. You don't understand, because you are not that stupid or impulsive.

Same here, makes no sense but I would never cheat on my SO.

[Agschmid]

2. Weird.

[rurallib]

3. almost can't believe a Republican would quit over something like this

they never have before.
Maybe it is because she's a woman.

[CTyankee]

13. I'm thinking photos were about to go public...

[PowerToThePeople]

4. Whatever. Your body your choice Ms. Arnold.

At least thats what the tolerant left would say.

Re-evaluate your life...

[bigwillq]

5. Good call.

The affair probably would've been a distraction. This candidate needs to focus on her personal life, not politics, at the moments.


On a side note: People are human. They make mistakes. That's really all you have to understand.

[Ilsa]

31. ITA. She needs to step back and reconsider

Her life. Divorcing during a campaign or while holding office can be detrimental to constituents. I think it's a good move on her part.

[malaise]

6. I smell BS

It was probably about to go public

[SunSeeker]

9. Yep. There has got to be more to this. nt

[CTyankee]

11. Of course, but she sure as hell was heavy handed about it...

Her explanation made her sound just silly. She could have said she "made a mistake" in her life for which she "deeply regrets." This sounds more like "I had a roll in the hay and now it's gonna come out."

[immoderate]

7. Strategic move. She keeps herself open to fight another day.

This news will cost her this election no matter what. By doing the "honorable" thing, she maximizes her freedom to act in the future, after this blows over.

--imm

[Gidney N Cloyd]

8. Yeah, I'm thinking long-term affair but got *caught* on August 1st.

[monmouth3]

10. I think you are our winner. She got caught and was threatened with exposure.....n/t

[CTyankee]

12. Photos about to be made public?

[Brother Buzz]

14. Did she have an ammosexual affair?

Tell me that is not an ammunition magazine hanging from her neck

http://a1.img.talkingpointsmemo.com/image/upload/c_fill,fl_keep_iptc,g_faces,h_365,w_652/ud7bywxgcrpxlgy9nwjq.jpg

[CTyankee]

20. I ws wondering what that odd looking thing was...NRA endorsement?

[Brother Buzz]

23. She was going to wear camo pants to seal the endorsement

But she had to sent them to the cleaners to get the stain out.

[IronLionZion]

15. Why is David Vitter still in office?

Sounds like she's heading for a divorce too. Maybe she has too much going on to focus on the campaign this close to the election.



I'm surprised she didn't try to spin this towards winning some feminist votes. After all, she's nobody's property and was just rebelling against the oppression of patriarchy.

[CTyankee]

17. That'll be the day. This is upstate NY not uptown Manhattan.

She's caught between a rock and a hard place.

[dixiegrrrrl]

27. Ohh..I just love it when you talk dirty......ohhhhhhhhh

[IronLionZion]

28. 50 shades of DU...

[TlalocW]

24. Because she apparently still has some scruples

That she's unwilling to take the, "God and my spouse have both forgiven me," tactic.

And, yes, I'm probably being too nice and giving her too much of the benefit of the doubt.

TlalocW

[unblock]

16. might be tough to continue campaigning as a republican if the affair was with a woman....

not likely "just a one night stand" if she left her husband.

[CTyankee]

18. well, it was her phrasing that caught my eye...she made it "sound" like a one night

stand. Which is even worse sounding. Geez. Talk about "tone."

[Shrike47]

19. I question her knowledge of English, or her veracity. 'Affair' means more than a quick poke.

Did she find out the other person's name, at least?

And why so specific about the date? That's just odd.

[CTyankee]

21. probably she misspoke and meant to say "it was found out" on that date but

maybe she just couldn't bring herself to say that.

"Affair" sounds so much nicer than "quick poke," but at least the latter is more entertaining...

[tanyev]

22. No, no, no, Gia. You are a Republican!

You give a press conference, shed a few tears, say you've asked God and your husband to forgive you, and you declare that this will make you an even better candidate.

Frankly, your resignation is making me wonder what else you are hiding.

[Chellee]

25. I see.

The person who lied and cheated and snuck around is strong for honesty and integrity and always telling the truth.

Of course.

How hard is it to have the courage and the decency to say to your spouse, whom you purportedly loved enough at some point to marry, that you don't want to be married any more? You don't want counseling, you don't want to work on it, you just want out. THEN, go sleep with whoever you want.

[CTyankee]

26. My philosophy entirely. Don't end your sex life. Just make sure you end a loveless

marriage first, get a separation, then go to "Parents Without Partners" and begin to find suitable individuals with whom to have a relationship. I did that when my marriage fell apart. Met my current husband at a PWP brunch!

[oldandhappy]

29. I believe in honesty and integrity

Glad you worked to hard to keep your marriage vows!! Another family values candidate.