Rep. Joe Barton: I will not seek re-election

[babylonsister]

Rep. Joe Barton: I will not seek re-election
Katie Leslie


WASHINGTON — Rep. Joe Barton, whose private life came under national scrutiny after sexual images he shared in an extramarital relationship were made public, won’t seek re-election.

The Ennis Republican announced his retirement in an interview with The Dallas Morning News on Thursday, three weeks after saying he would seek an 18th term.

"I’ve always listened to people in Texas and worked for them in Washington, and I’ve been listening to a lot of people the last week in Texas," he said. "...There are enough people who lost faith in me that it’s time to step aside and let there be a new voice for the 6th district in Washington, so I am not going to run for re-election."

The about-face ends a congressional career that spans more than three decades and — until last week — was most noted for his contentious relationship with environmentalists as former chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee.

He’s faced crushing pressure in recent days after lewd images and suggestive messages he exchanged during extramarital relationships surfaced online, an event that prompted a number of women with whom he was involved to speak publicly about their exchanges with Barton.

more...

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2017/11/30/rep-joe-barton-will-not-seek-re-election

[Me.]

1. Good Riddance To Bad Rubbish

[underthematrix]

2. I wondwer if he decided against re-election because

the text he sent to his sidepiece may have man parts instead of lady parts.

[Wwcd]

3. Yippeee! Worthless pos

Time to line up his strongest Dem replacements

[Gothmog]

4. Too bad

[Paladin]

5. The ugly pig bastard finally did something worthwhile.

One embarrassing Texas politico down, umpteen more to go.

[gratuitous]

6. I haven't seen anywhere near Franken levels of sensationalism for Rep. Barton

It's almost as if there's a coordinated media campaign to blow up anonymous and bogus accusations in one instance, but completely eliding photographic evidence in the other. But that's unpossible!

So long, Rep. Barton. You can always resign early if you're really sorry about your actions.

[PDittie]

7. It's consumed Texas media for a week

Some thought he might skate past it since it first broke right before Thanksgiving.

https://www.texasmonthly.com/burka-blog/joe-barton-avoided-becoming-texas-turkey/

[gratuitous]

8. As well it should, obviously

But I haven't seen or heard much from the national outlets about good old Joe and his dick pics. Can't imagine why a story with actual photos of distasteful activities by an elected official isn't getting nearly the play that a bunch of unsubstantiated and anonymous accusations are getting on CNN and other outlets.

[PDittie]

9. Damned liberal media

I guess.

https://www.vox.com/2017/11/30/16720730/joe-barton-retire-2018-congress-nude-photo-scandal