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Representative Vito Fossella, who was arrested for a DWI outside of DC on Thursday, said, "This was an error in judgment. This mistake will not happen again."
The Republican congressman held a press conference yesterday, to face the media and apologize again for his arrest. While he did not go into the details of his arrest, the Alexandria, VA arrest warrant indicated his blood alcohol was 0.17--twice the legal limit--and the police charged him with "DWI as a first offense."
And per WNBC.com, a law enforcement source said Fossella was pulled over for running a red light. Additionally, per the Advance, Fossella apparently told the cop he was rushing to pick up his daughter to take her to the hospital, had initial trouble reciting the alphabet between D and T as requested, and swayed and stumbled when asked to walk.
Fossella explained (you can see a video here) he had been at a dinner for the Staten Islanders who attended the White House event honoring the NY Giants. He said he would not consider resigning, "The message that I have right now is the fact that even having one drink and getting behind the wheel is a mistake. Politics right now is the last thing on my mind. It's the embarrassment I have caused my family, my friends and the people of this community." Fossella did not answer a question about whether he would enter alcohol rehab. He may face at least 5 days in jail for a mandatory sentence.
Fossella is running for re-election this year, and one of his potential opponents, Democrat Steve Harrison, wasted no time criticizing Fossella's arrest, "Lawmakers cannot expect the people to follow the laws if they themselves disregard them." In the meantime, Fossella's Republican colleagues are supporting him; City Councilman James Oddo told the Advance, "He is my friend ... and I stand with him during the good times and I stand with him during the difficult times."
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Fossella's seat is perfectly safe, anyway -- he's a good ol' boy in the Deep South of Staten Island, where, being a conservative Republican incumbent with an Italian name, he's got a lifetime job. Even being "caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy" probably would not pry him out. They may not know much down there, but they know what they like.
Fossella should be thanking his lucky stars that he was pulled over before he killed someone. Running a red light? Unable to recite the alphabet? That's not DUI; that's drunk off one's ass. Rehab, counseling, blah blah blah. What's the cure for being a dangerous moron?
The crime Fossella is charged with is far more serious than what Spitzer has been accused of. Spitzer was hounded out of office by the corporate media, while those same media outlets happily accept Fossella's refusal to step down.
The rightist bias and GOP partisanship of the corporate media are so blatant now. They don't even bother trying to disguise their lack of professionalism.
"...even having one drink..."
Come on buddy, you blew a .17 just admit you had a ton of drinks and were blasted.
Staten Island's seat in the House of Representatives. There, he'll do what he's told and stay out of trouble, drunk off his ass or not. Just don't let him into a motor vehicle.
libhomo has the key point. As far as endangerment of the general citizenry, Fossella wins the prize for stupidity and deserves to pay dearly for this. Fossella is a law maker and he can't even follow existing ones. I heard one idiot claim he is human, he made a mistake, lets forgive him. Yea, right. And if he struck your kid while playing and crushed her head, how forgiving would you be then? Idiot. THe mere fact that nothing bad came of this save for his being apprehended in the act is irrelevant. The intent is still there-to drive while knowingly under the influence. That alone is a crime, a damn serious one and he deserves to pay. This is an outrage and no one should sit idly by while he gets a pass. SHAME ON YOU FOSSELLA. Man up and and do the time, prick!
[4] Exactly. " . . . even having one drink . . ." is actually legal, and not necessarily dangerous. It's people like Fossella, who can't differentiate between getting behind the wheel after a beer or two and getting behind the wheel when they are completely shitfaced that are dangerous.
I don't blame him for having a couple of drinks and thinking he's ok to drive - I blame him for being a moron.
What kind of idiot takes a breathalyzer?! Refuse everything and ask for an attorney.
funny how if you get a dui or dwi your might get fired from a private sector job,
thus when the revolution starts and the unwashed masses rise up, then the hypocrite politicians will be thrown from rooftops, but he will deserve a special place in the mass public executions..
Fossella doesn't only represent Staten Island. He also represents southern Brooklyn.
The Democratic congress members in NYC don't have anything to worry about their jobs neither. They play both sides. They make certain the poor in their districts get the welfare, public housing and Section 8. Then they also suck up to Wall St and other business interests. Great system.
He should use his power to make the traffic lights turn more slowly.
starrygordon equals no clue on politics. Fossella reps SI and southern Brooklyn. Staten Island has more registered Democrats than Republicans. Bigger problem on SI is the lack of Democrats who actually vote.