Pro-Life Congressman Who Urged Mistress To Have An Abortion; Announces His Future Retirement

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Ever wonder why Americans hate politicians? Regrettably, Pennsylvania Rep. Tim Murphy is now a lesson in civics and morality. CNN reports:

In early September, the Republican House member admitted to an extramarital affair with a “personal friend” following the unsealing of divorce records that showed he had been involved in a relationship with Shannon Edwards, a forensic psychologist.

“This is nobody’s fault but my own, and I offer no excuses,” Murphy said in a statement issued through his attorney, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. “To the extent that there should be any blame in this matter, it falls solely upon me.”

It got much, much worse on Tuesday when the Post-Gazette reported on a text message exchange between Edwards and Murphy in which she alleges he urged her to have an abortion.

His lover was reportedly unhappy with this suggestion, considering the Congressman’s political views. “You have zero issue posting your pro-life stance all over the place when you had no issue asking me to abort our unborn child just last week when we thought that was one of the options,” she wrote, according to the Post Gazette. His texted response was just unbelievable.

“I get what you say about my March for life messages. I’ve never written them. Staff does them. I read them and winced. I told staff don’t write any more. I will.”

CNN explains how this doesn’t quite fit into his personal persona:

Murphy was a co-sponsor of legislation — passed in the House on Tuesday night — that would make it illegal for women to abort a baby after the 20-week mark. He has a perfect 100% score with National Right to Life, having voted with the organization on five key pieces of legislation, including the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortions Act.” As my former Washington Post colleague Aaron Blake expertly documents here, Murphy was also touting his anti-abortion stance even as he was reportedly urging his mistress to seek an abortion.

Oh, and by the way, his mistress turned out not to be pregnant.

After a public outcry, he announced he’s going to retire:

Republican Congressman Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania has announced plans to retire at the end of this term — amid tawdry revelations of an extramarital affair.

Murphy, who is in his eighth term, says in a statement Wednesday that he will “take personal time to seek help as my family and I continue to work through our personal difficulties.”

Good riddance. He ought to resign today instead of retiring at the end of his term. How can he look in the mirror? How can he go to work and face his staff and co-workers?

Of course, we all make mistakes and I hope that Murphy — and his mistress — can make peace with God and their families. But I do find the gleeful high-fiving over this by the media to be a bit much. This tweet summed it up, pretty much, for me: