UPDATED: Tim Murphy resigns from Congress

[DonViejo]

Source: Politico


By RACHAEL BADE 10/05/2017 04:06 PM EDT

Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.), the embattled anti-abortion lawmaker who allegedly encouraged his lover to terminate a pregnancy, resigned from office Thursday just 24 hours after announcing his plan to retire after 2018.

This afternoon I received a letter of resignation from Congressman Tim Murphy, effective October 21," Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement. "It was Dr. Murphy's decision to move on to the next chapter of his life, and I support it."

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Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/05/tim-murphy-resigns-from-congress-243510

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UPDATE:

Tim Murphy resigns from Congress

By RACHAEL BADE 10/05/2017 04:06 PM EDT Updated 10/05/2017 04:14 PM EDT

Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.), the embattled anti-abortion lawmaker who allegedly encouraged his lover to terminate a pregnancy, on Thursday announced his plan to resign from office later this month just 24 hours after announcing his plan to retire after 2018.

This afternoon I received a letter of resignation from Congressman Tim Murphy, effective October 21," Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement. "It was Dr. Murphy's decision to move on to the next chapter of his life, and I support it."

The Pennsylvania Republicans about-face came after House GOP leaders and senior Republicans upped the pressure on Murphy to step down. GOP sources familiar with Murphys thinking said the married man initially believed he could weather the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story revealing he had encouraged an abortion in texts he sent to his girlfriend, a psychologist half his age. But many senior Republicans did not believe he could or should survive until the end of his term. Several top Republicans said Ryan, who met with Murphy Wednesday evening to discuss his future, also wanted him to step down.

GOP insiders were also worried other damaging stories could surface surrounding Murphy and his office. The Post-Gazette revealed that his staff was in turmoil for years, with the congressman yelling at aides and throwing folders. Indeed, five former Murphy employees contacted POLITICO to share stories of inappropriate behavior by both Murphy and his chief of staff Susan Mosychuk. Those included tales of staff being berated as worthless and stupid. Others told of being forced by Mosychuk to take the stairs instead of the elevators as punishments for underperforming.

full article
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/05/tim-murphy-resigns-from-congress-243510

[Solly Mack]

1. Snort

POS hypocrite. Both of them. (Ryan/Murphy)

[niyad]

2. buh bye, you hypocritical "pro-life" bastard.

[Eliot Rosewater]

26. He made a miscalculation. He could have done what Trump did.

Trump has obviously demanded and maybe even paid for an abortion or ten.

He simultaneously lies about his position, but it isnt lying in the traditional sense, Trump will gladly stop YOU from having one to appease his deplorables.

Murphy could have just come out and said "I know you dont like what I did but I still vow to vote against any and all abortion rights"

They would still vote for him especially if the alternative was a Democrat.

[JenniferJuniper]

27. Trump outright said he wanted his girlfriend to abort

probably Tiffany.

[Eliot Rosewater]

29. Exactly.

[Dustlawyer]

47. With Republicans, if I have said it once I have said it a thousand times,

they don't get it until it affects them. Over and over and over, they are the biggest hypocrites in the world. Anti-gays turn out to be gay, pro-lifers turn out to be pro-abortion when it is a child that is inconvenient for them, tort reformers turn out to have filed suits for their own personal injuries (Texas Governor Greg Abbott), and the list goes on.

They pretend to be Christians and behave like heartless criminals. Sadly, too many believe this shite!

[mpcamb]

50. Agree on all the above. So happy this pile of excretment is out of congress, too.

[TEB]

3. Good

[awesomerwb1]

4. F*ck him.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

5. Does this mean there will be a special election? NT

[diva77]

18. Vacancies in the House of Reps

How Vacancies in the US Congress are Filled
What Happens When Congress Members Leave Mid-Term?

https://www.thoughtco.com/how-vacancies-in-congress-are-filled-3322322

SNIP...Vacancies in the House

Vacancies in the House of Representatives typically take far longer to fill. The Constitution requires that member of the House be replaced only by an election held in the congressional district of the former representative.

"When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies." -- Article I, Section 2, Clause 4 of the U.S. Constitution

According to the U.S. Constitution and state law, the governor of the state calls for a special election to replace the vacant House seat. The full election cycle must be followed including political party nominating processes, primary elections and a general election, all held in the congressional district involved. The entire process often takes as long as from three to six months.

While a House seat is vacant, the office of the former representative remains open, its staff operating under the supervision of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. The people of the affected congressional district do not have voting representation in the House during the vacancy period. They can, however, continue to contact former representative's interim office for assistance with a limited range of services as listed below by the Clerk of the House.

Legislative Information from Vacant Offices

Until a new representative is elected, the vacant congressional office cannot take or advocate positions of public policy. Constituents may choose to express opinions on legislation or issues to your elected Senators or wait until a new representative is elected. Mail received by the vacant office will be acknowledged. The staff of the vacant office can assist constituents with general information concerning the status of legislation, but cannot provide analysis of issues or render opinions...SNIP

[Pacifist Patriot]

30. Thank you!

[Amimnoch]

40. Thanks as well.

Was just going to ask the same question.

[DeminPennswoods]

53. Yes, there will be a special election

Gov Wolf has 10 days to decide a date, but that date must be at least 60 days in the future. My guess would be in conjunction with the May 2018 primary. Looks like there won't be enough time for both a primary and special election, meaning the two parties' committees will choose their candidates.

It will be interesting to see how Gov Wolf plays this. He could schedule the special election as a stand alone early in 2018 if he thinks Dems have an enthusiasm edge or wait until the May primary.

[Leghorn21]

6. From the link:

“Indeed, five former Murphy employees contacted POLITICO to share stories of inappropriate behavior by both Murphy and his chief of staff Susan Mosychuk. Those included tales of staff being berated as “worthless” and “stupid.” Others told of being forced by Mosychuk to take the stairs instead of the elevators as punishments for underperforming.”

Wtf

Also, why, mes amis, why would anyone be texting, emailing etc etc sensitive, highly personal info to anyone at any time here in late 2017?!

Yikes, if he’s this much fun at work, I bet he’s a laff a minute at home, eh?

[Achilleaze]

23. republican "family values" suck cesspool scum

And yet the freaking republicans keep pimping themselves as somehow morally superior. What utter claptrap.

Republicans need to abandon their gawdforsaken, degenerate "republican family values" and take up American values like honesty, integrity, compassion, and loyalty not to frikken russia, but to the USA.

For crying out loud.

[FakeNoose]

34. Yes the texts and emails were plain STUPID

...but it shows us the "privileged" world of Tim Murphy and other Republicans.

They can take away Americans rights & benefits in a heartbeat, but retain it all for themselves.
Why? Because they're Republicans!

I don't even feel sorry for this guy. Get him out of there.

[lunasun]

7. Adios ' hypigcrite'

Move on yes please out of congress . TY

[Tarheel_Dem]

8. K&R!

[tenderfoot]

9. GOOD!

Here's to hoping the door nailed him on the way out.

[Bengus81]

10. Goopers worried that other stories about this Repuke hypocrite could surface??

So when he resigns that's it??? Dream on Ryan and Turtle......

[bearsfootball516]

11. Any chance we can turn this blue?

Or is it a pretty solid red district?

[leon8822]

12. Don't think that's in the cards

The Republicans wouldn't have called for him to step down immediately if they didn't know this is a safe seat and district

[marcopolo63]

14. It's a red-swing district...

Murphy has held the seat since 2002, when the Dem who was in the seat got redistricted. It is a Dem district by voter enrollment, but conservative, as it has coal mines and is very blue collar. Dems can win with the right candidate!

[BumRushDaShow]

20. I suppose it will depend on who would run in a special election

and we have the general election coming up November 7th and scheduling a special election to fill out the term might barely be able to occur during the November general (assuming the state parties have candidates ready to appoint to run). Otherwise Wolf would leave it vacant until December/January when he would schedule the separate special election with enough time to get ballots up. http://www.politicspa.com/murphy-resigns-from-congress/84872/

The GOP here in PA gerrymandered PA-18 right into that SW corner of PA and curved it around Pittsburgh -



I expect there are quite a few Drumpf-humpers in there but turnout and candidates might be key.

[DeminPennswoods]

54. Can't be in Nov

Has to be at least 60 days out, Wolf has 10 days to pick a date. Parties will choose their respective nominees.

[BumRushDaShow]

58. Okay. Did see your post after I had posted.

It will probably be December. And yup, I did know and post that the party picks the person. I know they sometimes try to save money by linking it to regular primary and GE elections (which was done for my congressional district in 2016 (PA-2)), but can't always do that. I recently had a special election off-cycle from the regular election dates in spring 2016 for my PA state rep (where the candidates were selected by the party).

[DeminPennswoods]

61. It'll be interesting what date Wolf picks

I'd think a Dec date might favor Dems given the likelihood they are more enthusiastic and interested in voting. That would get the new representative the longest tenure before he/she has to run again in in the May primary. Piggybacking on the May primary probably makes the most sense, but gives only 6 months before the winner has to run for a full term in Nov.

[BumRushDaShow]

62. I found an interesting analysis of the situation

<...>

Pennsylvania's 18th CD gave President Trump 58 percent of the vote last November and has a Cook PVI score of R+11 - making it slightly more Republican than GA-06 and SC-05, slightly less Republican than KS-04 and roughly on par with Montana. Of course, Democrats narrowly lost all of those races, but there are three reasons why a special election in PA-18 could hold more promise for Democrats than its recent statistics indicate.

First, despite its support for Trump, the southwestern corner of the state has a Democratic heritage: Democrats still hold a six point party registration advantage in the 18th CD, and plenty of local officeholders are still Democrats. In 2010, Democrats bucked the national pro-GOP mood and the area's pro-GOP trend and won a special election following the death of Rep. John Murtha in the 12th CD, which overlaps with much of the 18th CD's current territory.

Second, disturbing scandals like Murphy's can generate surprising backlash against the perpetrator's party in special elections - even if the replacement nominee is totally untarnished. Since 2010, only four of 35 House specials have produced a party change, and all four involved scandals. Two of the most shocking upsets came in 2011, when Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner (NY-09) and GOP Rep. Chris Lee (NY-26) resigned after compromising selfies surfaced.

Third, as we've seen in other races this year, a special election is likely to attract a smaller electorate that favors the more motivated party. Today, that's still Democrats.

<...>

https://cookpolitical.com/analysis/house/pennsylvania-house/murphy-resignation-creates-pa-18-special-election-headache-gop

The bolded part is something that should raise a huge red flag for the state/national party. If you continue to have a Democratic registration advantage in that district, then this is where $$$ needs to go. GOPers vote GOP regardless but Democrats tend to sit it out and this time, they can't do that. It's worse when you have a special election - particularly one that is held separately from a regular primary or general election because the turnouts at those that are separate, are even worse than at primaries.

Having it earlier would capitalize on the "scandal" but then it would be during the holidays and people just tune out so it would require a massive GOTV. However waiting until the 2018 primary might mean that all the talking points have been manufactured and atmosphere fully poisoned in the local news there & online, guaranteeing a GOP hold of the seat. It will definitely be a tough call for Wolf.

[BadgerMom]

37. My wish?

It’s that Dem leadership not only embrace a 50-state strategy, but that we develop viable candidates for every district, no matter how gerrymandered. I wish we had a group of qualified candidates clamoring for every seat.

[IronLionZion]

44. I wish

but a lot of those moderate red state Dems get hounded mercilessly by the liberal side as well as the other side. It's a thankless job. Many of them win or lose in nation-wide tidal wave elections where one side is energized and the other isn't

[Cosmocat]

42. Not likely

Was a JFK democrat type area that is openly pro trump now.

[DeminPennswoods]

55. It's possible

Murphy's been entrenched for awhile and hasn't had any serious opposition for the last 2-3 cycles. An open seat is different story, though.

[marcopolo63]

13. This seat can and should be in play for a Democratic pick up...

If my reading is right, the PA Governor has 10 days from the announced resignation date (today), in which to schedule a special election to fill the vacated seat. The special cannot be set for any less than 60 days from the announced resignation. It looks like the Special Election could take place soon as 12/28/17, or ore likely early in 2018! With a Democratic Governor I imagine he will schedule it ASAP!

[Cosmocat]

43. Going to be tough

It's a very openly trump area.

[DeminPennswoods]

56. It's primarily Allegheny county

a Democratic county. It's winnable.

[Cosmocat]

57. No, it isnt

It's gerrymandered to hell, as all Pa districts are, and the core of it is Westmoreland county, 30 years ago a solid JFK Democrat area. Which has trended conservative as it has aged, which is why the district got this theocratic jackass to begin with.

I am from the area and go back that way, it STILL has a lot of Trump signs up, and was one of the most flooded areas in the state during the election.

[Fullduplexxx]

15. Well he's gonna be tied up in divorce court

[Ccarmona]

16. Another Repug Hypocrite Bites the Dust

So when is America going to wake up to the fact that Repugs are Hypocrites and can NEVER be believed.

[Achilleaze]

17. If all the republican liars & hypocrites resigned

Washington would empty out, and America would be far better off...

[old guy]

19. I'm shocked!!

Oh, no I'm not. They're just run of the mill repubs. 'nuff said.

[Orrex]

21. Not soon enough

Good riddance, fucker.

[SpankMe]

22. Un-goddamned-believable!

Family values, anti-abortion Christian - tells his mistress to get an abortion to terminate an unwanted pregnancy...caused by him!!!

Infuriating.

[diva77]

46. Only sensible people are outraged. The wingnuts love to forgive their own. There will be no

outrage from their corner.

They pride themselves in their holy forgiveness by forgiving their own trespasses while seeking ways, at the drop of a hat, to damn anyone who is progressive.

[sinkingfeeling]

24. Great!

[iluvtennis]

25. Hit the road Jack, and don't cha come back, no more, no more, no more. Hit the road jack!

[Bradshaw3]

28. Shocking! An anti-abortion Christian repub who doesn't practice what he preaches

And he is an asshole to his underlings. Who da thunk it?

[ffr]

51. +1

But I'm half impressed he resigned. Must have some dignity after all. Doesn't he know the Republiturd playbook calls for him being promoted to SoS?

[weissmam]

31. makes you wonder how many others were faking it - probably all of them

[rurallib]

32. Did that fucker vote to limit abortion and that gawdawful budget?

SOB

He's a fucking doctor?

Republican doctors are sure making a case that doctors ain't as smart as they claim - Carson and Price to start with.

[femmocrat]

36. He was a child psychologist.

Not a medical doctor.

Yes, he voted for that 20-weeks limit. He always voted straight-party line. Voted for every rotten cabinet nominee.

[jmowreader]

48. How could he have voted for "every rotten cabinet nominee"?

Cabinet members are confirmed by the Senate, which he wasn't part of.

[femmocrat]

59. You're right! Thanks for the correction.

Well, he would have if he could have!

[jmowreader]

60. He would have rejected them all for not being evil enough

“I said Joe Arpaio for Secretary of Homeland Security, dammit! Now get out of here and don’t come back til you get it right,”

[DK504]

33. This afternoon I received a letter of resignation from Congressman Tim Murphy, effective October 21,

..... " Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement. "It was Dr. Murphy's decision to move on to the next chapter of his life, and I support it."


OMG!!!!!! That is hilarious... Are you find kidding me? What a douche.

[femmocrat]

35. A call for democrats to find a great candidate!!

Tom Perez, are you paying attention? Find us one of those "Fresh Faces (who) Win Races" and we can take back this seat. It is not impossible.

[BadgerMom]

38. +1000

[bucolic_frolic]

39. "allegedly" usually used in reference to a crime

here used for ... protection against libel?

[CatWoman]

41. ....

[DeminPennswoods]

45. That was fast

Just a few weeks ago he was running for re-election, then two days ago he was finishing his term and not running for re-election and now he's resigning effective next Sat!

We have municipal and statewide judicial elections coming up in Nov. I wonder if that will be enough time to hold a special election for Murphy's seat? Dems have 3 good candidates who were challenging Murphy for this district.

[jmowreader]

49. It's not enough time

They need at least 60 days. Since there's no "at most" they'll probably hold the Special Election in January.

[ellie]

52. Hmmmm

[hole2th]

63. special election for Murphy's seat

The special election for the open seat in the 18th will be held in March, which is as late as they feel they can go without getting too close to the May primary. Better chance of fair weather, too, which favors Ds. The D party will vote for its candidate for the special election in mid-November.