Senate Maj. Leader Amy Koch Resigned Over Alleged 'Inappropriate Relationship' Read more: Amy Koch

[clarice_01]

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch resigned Thursday and said she wouldn’t seek re-election in 2012, while on Friday her fellow Republicans dealt with shocking allegations that led to her decision.

Comments

[beoweasel]

Why do I get the feeling she resigned because American society judges women much more harshly than men when it comes to affairs?

[clarice_01]

It isn't really clear in this article, but she is keeping her seat, just stepping down from being speaker. She will also not seek reelection in 2012 I believe according to the MN public television show the Almanac. But I do agree if this had been a man he probably would have run again in the next 2012

[liret]

Yeah. As bad as Koch's politics might be, I hate seeing any female politician in a situation like this, because she won't have a chance.

I think it's fair to point out that she shouldn't be so focused on preventing other people's marriages, but they're both adults and there doesn't appear to be a real abuse of power on her part. (Since apparently the staffer is her spokesman, who until very recently was also deputy chair of the state's Republican party.) If she was a man, this wouldn't be a career ender or national news.

[txvoodoo]

Why is this tagged w/ glbt, homophobia, etc? This doesn't appear to be a gay scandal. If it's because the GOP is anti-gay, well, that's a given, but doesn't seem to be pertinent to this.

[clarice_01]

Sorry, first time tagging. Did it because she was one of the senators that worked very hard to get the marriage amendment on the 2012 ballot. I will take them off.

[clarice_01]

...or maybe not. It's not letting me get rid of the tags, I just tried three times. Sorry!

[lilenth]

"Koch said she didn’t want to be a "lame duck" in the 2012 legislative session", so she's disabilist as well.

[gloraelin]

That's a term used by the entire election process. Describes, I think, someone who is on their leaving term and can't be reelected? I think?

So, it's a general term. Not arguing that it's not a gross term, but it's not just her.

WOW.

[mhael]

Lame duck is a term to describe a politician finishing up a term, after term limits, retirement, or lack of re-election prevents a new one, and the expression has been used for, oh, over 200 years by the entire American electorate.

Also, "disabilist?" Really? *eye roll*

[screamingintune]

well this is all incredibly vague.