Okla. congressman returning to DC after rehab

[ccharles000]

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — U.S. Rep. John Sullivan, who is returning to Washington after a 30-day stay in a treatment center for alcohol addiction, said Monday he plans to work harder than ever and will seek re-election next year.

The four-term Republican checked into the Betty Ford Center in California on May 28. In a phone interview with The Associated Press, Sullivan said no single incident led him to seek help for his alcoholism, a decision he made as his drinking began to escalate and cause problems in his family.

"The last couple of months, I was drinking more, mainly at home on weekends in front of my kids and my wife," said Sullivan, 44, who lives in Tulsa with his wife and four young children. "There wasn't anything like a DWI or something crazy that happened. It was just a personal choice — I wanted to eliminate alcohol in my life."

Sullivan planned to attend a fundraiser in Tulsa on Monday night and return to his Washington office on Tuesday.

He said his drinking did not interfere with his job as congressman and that his professional success actually prevented him from seeking help.

"I've done my job very well, and that's one of the ways I fooled myself into thinking I didn't have a problem," he said. "I never was drunk on the House floor and I never was drunk at work.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iDC0aNu4uG__MtCsumXDK8woOetAD9996E1G0

[opihimoimoi]

1. Pub or Dem, drunks are not allowed on the Hwy, Church, Business, etc

This dude needs more than rehab, he needs an AWAKENING

He needs to go SURFING.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nS_aR8XX_U

[PassingFair]

2. Lovely...he saved the wicked part of himself for his FAMILY.

Hale and well-met fellow!

:sarcasm:

[brendan120678]

3. Didn't Patrick Kennedy very recently return from rehab (again) as well?

I won't criticize anyone (D or R) who has an addiction, as long as the recognize that they have one and get treatment.

[Hippo_Tron]

4. I will criticize people who are hypocrites about it

Certain congressmen refuse to fund treatment for said addictions because they think addiction is just a lack of willpower and not a disease.

[Bicoastal]

5. I am loathe to call this guy out just for being a Republican...

...since we have a drunk-driving, gone-to-rehab congressman of our own.

Hopefully Rep. Sullivan has his life back together--for the sake of his constituents and especially his family.