Is Congressman David Wu cracking up?

[Mr. Moto]

Word from the Pacific Northwest is that Congressman Wu of Oregon's 1st District is feeling better and is in a "good place now." This is after a rough few years - during the 2010 election he treated his staff so abominably that many of them left. He has apologized for this.

He has also apologized for emailing to his staff a picture of himself in a tiger costume. He also apologized for his medication getting out of whack in 2008, causing him to disappear for a time and to eventually check himself into a hospital for observation.

Back in 2004, Wu denied attacking his ex girlfriend in college before eventually apologizing to her and to his constituents for inexcusable behavior. There have been other strange incidents over the years as well - leading one to wonder how temporary Wu's good place is.

He is likely to seek reelection in 2012, according to this. I think his behavior is getting worse, and the only thing crazier than the Congressman would be his constituents should they choose to send him back.

Thoughts?

[Capitaine Zombie]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moto

He has also apologized for emailing to his staff a picture of himself in a tiger costume.

Lol, had never heard of him. The picture thing seems like something straight out of the Simpsons.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

I'd never heard of him either. Sounds like he might have some mental health issues.

[Vinyl Turnip]

Also not familiar with the Senator, who apparently also publicly admitted to taking two oxycodone tablets from a campaign donor.

Hardly a Limbaugh-level offense, but nonetheless illegal, and--- I'm struggling to understand why he would confess that at all, unless as damage control for something more egregious / embarrassing?

[Ludovic]

Is he crazy, is he high, or just an ordinary guy?

[Invisible Chimp]

During a 2008 Obama rally, I met a man named Will Hobbs. Will was one of several running against Wu in the Dem primary that year. Wu isn't popular even among other Dems. The 1st is mostly Dem after being swing in the 90s. If it was still more of a swing district, I think he would been voted out already.

[Frank]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moto

Thoughts?

I would not vote for him in either a primary or general election if I lived in his district. It's more important that he take care of himself than that he remain in Congress.

[Steve MB]

Originally Posted by Invisible Chimp

During a 2008 Obama rally, I met a man named Will Hobbs.

He should have been the one in the tiger costume.

[Boyo Jim]

He's insane, and he's a Congressman. But I repeat myself.

[blue infinity]

Rowr!

[Muffin]

Originally Posted by blue infinity

Rowr!

And here I had thought that "congress-critter" was just an expression.

[Rhythmdvl]

I almost didn't take the OP seriously. A quick glance at the linked tab's favicon looked like it was an Onion article. Opening it still looks a bit Onionesque, and reading it confirmed it.



Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What Congressional hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful campaign lie?

[Chefguy]

It's all too real, and all over the local news lately. Most of his staff has resigned since the campaign. My beef with all this is why nobody alerted the public that the guy was off his meds or off his rocker, so Oregon could have put somebody else into that office.

[Chronos]

My beef with all this is why nobody alerted the public that the guy was off his meds or off his rocker, so Oregon could have put somebody else into that office.

Isn't that kind of the responsibility of those running against him (in both the primary and the general)?

[Mr. Moto]

Well, he's filing for reelection now. If the Democrats want to deny him the nomination in that district they know what they need to do.

As for the Republicans, they face a 50,000-vote deficit in the district among registered voters. This is a pretty safe Democratic seat.

I'm not saying for certain that Democrats will vote for a lunatic over a Republican - just that if Wu survives a primary fight this might get answered one way or another.

[Chefguy]

Originally Posted by Chronos

Isn't that kind of the responsibility of those running against him (in both the primary and the general)?

Not in my opinion, no. That smacks of mudslinging and could backfire on whomever makes that sort of accusation. His staffers, once things spiraled out of control, should have alerted the electorate, rather than remaining silent and allowing voters to return someone to office who is arguably not able to handle the stress. If that meant that the Republican candidate was elected, then that's the way the chips fall. It's not like the staffers were fearing for their jobs, since they were busy packing up their cheese and heading for the liferafts.

[Simplicio]

He sent his staff pictures of himself in a Halloween costume? I do stuff thats crazier then that several times a week. I don't really get why that merits an apology.

Dunno if he has serious mental health problems, but the article in the OP isn't really convincing.

[Mr. Moto]

According to this (which is a pro-Wu editorial) the tiger photo email came after his staff held an intervention confronting him for his erratic behavior. It was also accompanied by other emails that were also a bit strange.

Again, all of this is a pattern of behavior for Wu. One or two of these things would be a small issue or a bit concerning. All of them together seem a bit alarming. All the more so if he was representing you.

[Chefguy]

Originally Posted by Simplicio

He sent his staff pictures of himself in a Halloween costume? I do stuff thats crazier then that several times a week. I don't really get why that merits an apology.

Dunno if he has serious mental health problems, but the article in the OP isn't really convincing.

The costume was not an issue for me. It just looked like he was having fun. But his rants, gloomy and unresponsive funks, nonsensical outbursts, etc. have been fairly alarming and indicate either drug reactions, instability, or substance abuse.

[foolsguinea]

Originally Posted by Ludovic

Is he crazy, is he high, or just an ordinary guy?

Win.

So some guy in the House is a bit kooky & moody, & has done things he regrets. Well, I can't blame him too much. Whatever he did before is in the past, & the job he's in looks like a deep well of frustration.

[Boyo Jim]

Maybe he's the guy supplying Charlie Sheen with Tiger Blood.

[jayjay]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moto

I'm not saying for certain that Democrats will vote for a lunatic over a Republican

Get a Republican who isn't a tea-bagging lunatic (or doesn't cater to them) in the race against Wu and you might actually take the seat. Good luck with that.

[Shodan]

I've heard of yellow dog Democrats, but orange tiger Democrats is a new one.

Regards,
Shodan

[SecondJudith]

Originally Posted by Simplicio

He sent his staff pictures of himself in a Halloween costume? I do stuff thats crazier then that several times a week. I don't really get why that merits an apology.

Dunno if he has serious mental health problems, but the article in the OP isn't really convincing.

I agree - I'm assuming there's something going on behind the scenes the article hasn't mentioned, or that someone is trying to do a hatchet job.

[Agent Foxtrot]

I wouldn't vote for him. A guy with issues like that need not be handling sensitive national information.

[Pleonast]

Originally Posted by Chefguy

Not in my opinion, no. That smacks of mudslinging and could backfire on whomever makes that sort of accusation. His staffers, once things spiraled out of control, should have alerted the electorate, rather than remaining silent and allowing voters to return someone to office who is arguably not able to handle the stress. If that meant that the Republican candidate was elected, then that's the way the chips fall. It's not like the staffers were fearing for their jobs, since they were busy packing up their cheese and heading for the liferafts.

Unfortunately, a staffer who wants another job as a staffer will not bad-mouth their previous employer on the way out. At least publicly. Perhaps anonymous tips to a few respectable journalists is the best option.

[Really Not All That Bright]

He still seems to have more of a grip on reality than, say, Louie Gohmert.

[Mr. Moto]

Breaking news - seems Congressman Wu has been accused of an "unwanted sexual encounter" with the teenage daughter of a campaign donor. He is no longer running for reelection, is under pressure to resign and Nancy Pelosi just referred this allegation to the Ethics Committee.

From here.

I don't think Mr. Wu is getting any better.

[BobLibDem]

Do you understand what cracking up is? A 35 year old sexual assault accusation isn't exactly present tense. Nor is a year old medical crisis that required treatment. He might well be a horndog but that hardly makes him unique in Congress.

[Mr. Moto]

Originally Posted by BobLibDem

Do you understand what cracking up is? A 35 year old sexual assault accusation isn't exactly present tense. Nor is a year old medical crisis that required treatment. He might well be a horndog but that hardly makes him unique in Congress.

Do you understand what "last Thanksgiving" means? Or the meaning of the word unwanted? Read a little more carefully and get back to the thread.

And yes, I know these are just allegations right now. All the usual caveats apply.

[Fenris]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moto

Breaking news - seems Congressman Wu has been accused of an "unwanted sexual encounter" with the teenage daughter of a campaign donor. He is no longer running for reelection, is under pressure to resign and Nancy Pelosi just referred this allegation to the Ethics Committee.

From here.

I don't think Mr. Wu is getting any better.

Ah-HA! I knew I'd heard of him before. I couldn't connect him though. Thanks for bumping this.

[BobLibDem]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moto

Do you understand what "last Thanksgiving" means? Or the meaning of the word unwanted? Read a little more carefully and get back to the thread.

And yes, I know these are just allegations right now. All the usual caveats apply.

A sexual assault accusation is not a sign of "cracking up". FYI, I was merely responding in kind to your gratuitous post in my GQ thread about the succession in the monarchy. I responded to a post but failed to use the quote feature. You misinterpreted my response in such a manner as to cause you to question whether I knew what kings and queens were and that the monarch could be a queen. It was both rude and uncalled for.

[Marley23]

Originally Posted by BobLibDem

FYI, I was merely responding in kind to your gratuitous post in my GQ thread about the succession in the monarchy. I responded to a post but failed to use the quote feature. You misinterpreted my response in such a manner as to cause you to question whether I knew what kings and queens were and that the monarch could be a queen. It was both rude and uncalled for.

If the two of you have a personal issue, please work it out in The BBQ Pit or by private message. Don't bring it into other threads.

[Chefguy]

As mentioned in my Pit thread, Wu says he will not resign his position, but will not run again next time up. Seeing is believing, of course. Politicians seem to have this delusion that nobody will remember any of this by next election. Funding is going to be a problem, though.

[Mr. Moto]

Originally Posted by Chefguy

Funding is going to be a problem, though.

This problem could be compounded if he attacks the teenaged daughters of his donors.

[Marley23]

Reports say Wu is going to resign from the House.

[Merneith]

I missed this thread when it started and couldn't resist looking up a photo of Wu in a tiger suit. Here it is, for posterity:
http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/daily...ressman_we.php

I was disappointed. That costume wouldn't get him a second look at Comic Con. There's nothing particularly wonderful about that Tigger.

Glad he's unemployed, though.

[StusBlues]

Originally Posted by Marley23

Reports say Wu is going to resign from the House.

Ah, yes, for "unwanted sexual contact with a teenager".

Or, as they say at my house, "Thursday."

I am a little surprised Kitzhaber will be calling a special election, though. I'd think he'd just appoint someone to hold the seat until 2012.

[eddiec3434]

What, Now he's smoking crack? Did he ever get the percocet adjusted?

[Captain Amazing]

Originally Posted by StusBlues

I am a little surprised Kitzhaber will be calling a special election, though. I'd think he'd just appoint someone to hold the seat until 2012.

It's a House seat. It stays vacant until there's an election.

[gonzomax]

He is a DEm. They remove those who go crazy or have strange sex predilections.Unlike Vitter, a Repub who stays and stays. Can you imagine a Dem who went to hookers and wore a diaper keeping his spot. Ask Elliot Spitzer who was guilty of less.

[Bryan Ekers]

Face it, tiger. You just hit the shit-pot.

[handsomeharry]

Originally Posted by Simplicio

He sent his staff pictures of himself in a Halloween costume? I do stuff thats crazier then that several times a week. I don't really get why that merits an apology.

Dunno if he has serious mental health problems, but the article in the OP isn't really convincing.

I'm pretty sure that the reason that he is suspected of being nuts is because: he never sent the pictures to begin with!


It's pretty pleased with myself, I am.

[Marley23]

So this year, is Wu going to be a zombie for Halloween?