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Legislator e-dater
His JDate codename is jim2005ofDC. But by day he goes by Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.).
Sherman, who is 51 years old, single and never married, has joined the hip craze of the online dating world and has been on jdate.com as far back as May 2005.
According to a woman on JDate whom he tried to pursue, he wrote, “I regret my bio does not divulge much, but as it happens, I am a member of Congress. One of my colleagues posted a revealing bio on J-date only to see it published as a ‘news’ story in his hometown newspaper. In any case, I prefer phone to email. Perhaps you could email me your phone number or call me — or just email me a note if you prefer. — Brad Sherman hm 202/**&#***.”
The congressman Sherman was referring to was Rep. Steven Rothman (D-N.J.). Rothman was known on JDate as Steve3366. In August 2004, the North Jersey Media Group Inc. revealed Rothman’s JDate profile: “A divorced father of two, this nonsmoking 51-year-old Fair Lawn resident with a love for good food, wine and conversation writes that he is looking for a ‘special woman’ between the ages of 43 and 53.”
But back to Sherman. In a later e-mail, sent after the woman did not respond to his request to talk, Sherman wrote again, saying, “It would be good to chat. Perhaps you could email me your phone number, or give me a call. — Brad 202/**&#***.”
Mike Briggs, spokesman for Sherman, initially wondered whether this was in the same vein as a fake blog created a few weeks ago using Sherman’s name. But later, Briggs confirmed that Sherman has used JDate. He said Sherman laughed and said that “he tried JDate but the last time he was on it George Bush had a 50 percent approval rating.”
Feeney’s chief of staff roughing it in Liberia
Jason Roe, chief of staff for Rep. Tom Feeney (R-Fla.), is no pansy when it comes to Third World politics. He’s spending the week in Monrovia, Liberia, to monitor elections through the International Republican Institute. Conditions won’t be easy, he explained, before leaving last Thursday. So on the morning of his departure, his wife, fundraiser Patty Roe, who also happens to be a licensed massage therapist, gave him an hour-and-a-half massage in preparation for his trip.
Jason Roe says the couple has a deal — with every two massages that she gives him, he buys her a professional massage at a spa.
What will Roe likely face in Liberia?
He has heard from a friend who is already there that it rains everyday and that showers are taken by standing outside under the runoff of the roof. There is no electricity or running water. He has to take medication for malaria and has been told to coat himself in mosquito repellant constantly.
“I’m prepared to be very sticky and smelly,” he says.
All in all, Roe feels good about the trip, he says, but he isn’t completely fearless: “When I agreed to do it, I felt great about it and have woken up every morning since wondering why the hell I’m doing it. I have heard it is BYOM (bring your own machete).”
Roe has participated in these kinds of missions before. In 2001, he helped monitor the Bulgarian election; in 2003, he visited both Nigeria and Iraq.
“You come away understanding how bad the situation is in developing countries,” he says. “It also gives you much more of an appreciation of how lucky we are in the U.S.”
In preparation for the trip, Roe says, he packed a flask full of bourbon.
“You can’t trust these Third World airlines that they will have those mini-bottles on the plane.”
Sometimes a pinch is just a pinch
In the clubby chambers of the Senate, it can be hard to figure out who is close to whom. But last week Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) walked past a press throng surrounding Sen. Pat Leahy (D-Vt.), reached out his hand and in midinterview pinched the senator’s cheek. A few reporters on the scene burst into laughter. No one had really seen such a display of affection quite like that before between two senators. (Usually a good back slap will do.)
Leahy had no reaction to the pinch. He continued answering questions from reporters regarding Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito without so much as a glance up to see who had pinched him.
An Awkward, comical elevator ride in the Capitol
During a typical House vote, every elevator but one is reserved for members scrambling up from the subway. That one elevator, naturally, is packed with a motley crew of staffers, pages, reporters, lobbyists and the occasional lost child. But one day last week, the public elevator arrived before the members-only cars — and a gaggle of lawmakers crowded inside like sardines. The car climbed silently, each member locked in the upward, awkward stare common on elevators. Finally, Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), not usually a comedian, broke the silence.
“I feel safe in a padded elevator,” Lantos mused in his thick Hungarian accent, referring to the pillowed walls. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.), centimeters from Lantos, didn’t bat an eyelash. As the doors finally opened, however, Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) had her comeback.
“So we don’t have to beat our heads against the wall,” Slaughter cracked.
One question for Ryan: why announce your divorce?
The most difficult thing that Ryan Keating, press secretary to Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), is dealing with this week is fielding calls from reporters with queries about his boss’s impending divorce. Ryan put out a press release Friday announcing his intention to divorce his wife, Julie, of two years.
Both his hometown newspapers, the Youngstown Vindicator and the Tribune Chronicle ran weekend stories based on the congressman’s statement, which said, “With great sadness, I regret to announce that my wife Julie and I have decided to pursue the dissolution of our marriage. During this painful time, I respectfully request that our privacy is honored.”
Asked why the congressman decided to release a statement on the impending divorce, the ever-dutiful Keating replied, “I have to ask the congressman why. I just work here.”
The congressman met his wife while he was an Ohio state senator and she was working for another state senator. During Ryan’s race 2002 for Congress, she worked on his campaign but the pair was not officially an item until, perhaps, says Keating, the end of the campaign.
Mary Anne Walsh, Ryan’s chief of staff, says putting out a release on public matters such as a birth, a death and say, a divorce, is common: “Actually, it’s done quite a bit. I can think of lots of members who have done it.” But when asked to name some, she would not. “There are some things that are public,” she says. “The congressman wanted his constituents to know. … It was just a personal decision.”
Two recent high-profile congressional divorces — those of Rep. Mary Bono (R-Calif.) and Connie Mack (R-Fla.) — were not immediately announced to the national media. Mack’s was released to the local media only, and according to his office the congressman is no longer discussing his “divorce process.” Bono released a two-sentence statement in response to a local reporter’s request. That spiraled into a statement sent to various reporters who requested comment.
Announcements
On Nov. 19, the Capital Club will host its 25th anniversary party. The party, at the City Tavern Club in Georgetown, will include a reception for members and alumni only early in the evening to chronicle the past 25 years, roast a few people and share some funny stories. At 9 p.m., the doors will open to wives, dates and ticketed guests for an all-inclusive, open bar event with the band Burnt Sienna that will go until the wee hours of the morning.
Attire is “Hot. Period” for women and “Jacket, smart casual” for men.
“This event has been on my calendar for 14 months,” said club member Jeff Kimbell, a healthcare lobbyist.
Tickets may be purchased at www.capital-club.com. |
