Mike Duvall denies that he admitted to affair, concedes 'inappropriate story-telling' [Updated]

Former Orange County Assemblyman Michael Duvall, who resigned after inadvertently broadcasting explicit remarks about his sexual conquests over an open microphone,  this morning said that his resignation was not an admission that he had an affair.

"I want to make it clear that my decision to resign is in no way an admission that I had an affair or affairs," Duvall said in a statement in his website. "My offense was engaging in inappropriate story-telling and I regret my language and choice of words. The resulting media coverage was proving to be an unneeded distraction to my colleagues and I resigned in the hope that my decision would allow them to return to the business of the state."

Duvall stepped down after legislative leaders stripped him of his committee posts and launched an ethics probe of his actions.

[Updated at 10:52 a.m.: Duvall's statement left some questions unanswered. The headline of his statement says that he "denies reports" that he had an affair. But in the statement itself, he says his resignation should not be viewed as an admission that he had an affair.]

Duvall (R-Yorba Linda), whose remarks were videotaped in July during a lull in a Sacramento hearing, stepped down less than 24 hours after the tape spread online Tuesday night.

In the video, the married family-values crusader talks in graphic detail about women he said he slept with -- at least one of whom appeared to be a lobbyist with business before the utilities committee on which Duvall sat as vice chairman.

The sudden scandal was one more bruise for Sacramento as it lurches toward Friday, the end of a particularly unproductive legislative year, with unfinished work on such major issues as the prison crisis and the state's wobbly water infrastructure.

And the speed with which Duvall was pushed out the door was small comfort to Capitol watchers who say the case shows the persistence of anything-goes behavior in the Legislature.

"The use of sexual favors is just one more example of the tactics that energy companies and lobbyists have used to win favorable laws from lawmakers," said Kathay Feng, president of California Common Cause.

As TV camera crews chased lawmakers through Capitol corridors for comment on the scandal Wednesday, the place was abuzz with gossip: other lawmakers with lobbyist mistresses, inappropriate invitations to romantic dinners, married legislators and industry officials canoodling at fundraisers and after-hours mixers.

Duvall, some said, just happened to get caught.

His remarks were videotaped during a hearing of the Assembly Appropriations Committee and aired on a KCAL television news program Tuesday night. In the video, the socially conservative Duvall tells fellow Assemblyman Jeff Miller (R-Corona) in uninhibited detail about trysts with two women, neither his wife.

The KCAL report says one of the women is a lobbyist for a major utility with business before Duvall's committee. In the video, Duvall says her birthday is July 6. That matches the birth date of a Sacramento lobbyist for the San Diego-based energy firm Sempra.

Sempra issued a written statement saying that it is investigating the matter, but that its "employee has denied the speculative media reports."

On the tape, Duvall describes the "little eye-patch underwear" worn by one of the women. He refers to the age gap between her and him, after a recent birthday made them 18 years apart. "Now, you're getting old, man, I am going to have to trade you in," he said he told her.

And he mentions a second woman, in less detail.

"Cher, Shar, Shar -- oh, she is hot. I talked to her yesterday. She goes, 'So are we finished?' " Duvall says, adding that he replied no. He continues: "And I go, 'You know about the other one, but the other one doesn't know about you.' "

The Capitol Resource Institute, a conservative, self-described "pro-family" advocacy organization that had given Duvall a 100% score for his voting record on issues of concern to the group, denounced the lawmaker in a statement.

"It is always disappointing when a champion of traditional values does not practice the same in his private life," said Karen England, executive director of the institute.

Some GOP leaders were relieved by the resignation.

"Sticking around for a while would have just prolonged the agony, and he would have had the same result," said Scott Baugh, Orange County Republican Party chairman.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger now has 14 days to call a special election to fill Duvall's seat, which could be held as soon as the first week in November. Orange County officials say that election will cost taxpayers between $330,000 and $440,000.

Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) said the Legislature plans to aggressively investigate Duvall and any conflicts of interest that may have resulted from affairs he boasted about. One member of the legislative ethics panel that will oversee the inquiry said privately that there may be efforts to broaden it to include other lawmakers alleged to have intimate relations with lobbyists.

California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown declined to comment on calls from consumer advocates that he launch a criminal investigation. Duvall's "votes on utility issues should be investigated to determine whether they were compromised," said Doug Heller, executive director of Consumer Watchdog in Santa Monica.

Duvall joined other Republicans in voting several times this year against renewable energy measures opposed by Sempra Energy. The measures would require utilities to derive significantly more electricity from solar, wind, geothermal and other renewable energy sources by 2020.

-- Shane Goldmacher and Patrick McGreevy

Comments

[james peck]

Duvall is a rat Bastard liar.

He got caught with his pants down and is unwilling to admit to it.

Hopefully there will be a criminal investigation and he will made held accountable for his sins of passion.

James Peck

[Doug Steponin]

Denials...oh if only we believed them! Affairs are exciting-until they are found out. Finding out via a NEWS broadcast is probably the worst way possible.

If only he had time to break it to the wife before it ended up on youtube!

For people struggling with infidelity, I recommend having a very steamy affair...with your spouse! Ever hear of role play? http://bit.ly/S51yT People can have the excitement of an affair without the collateral damage.

[sethook]

So is this the way the lobbying process works? You hire a whore who gets business done between the sheets. The track record of elected officials across the country has got to be of concern to every wife out there. Seems like it's not if anymore but when.....

[Baffled Observer]

"It is always disappointing when a champion of traditional values does not practice the same in his private life," said Karen England, executive director of the [Capitol Resource] institute.

She must spend an awful lot of time being disappointed. Actually, for a family values politician, this one was mild.

[DugoutNut]

So lemme see.............

He is now claiming to be a liar and braggart. The charge is infidelity. Multiple instances of infidelity. I would lie to my wife too, starting with "I did not do it" and moving to "She meant nothing, it was JUST sex". The difference is I would not put myself in a position to HAVE to lie to my wife and, in this jokers place, the general public.

So which is worse, cheating and cavorting around with much younger women (bet that went over huge at home the other night) or lying about cheating and cavorting (bet that went over just as well with the wife who know must deal with the reality that her husband, at the very least, fantasizes about much younger women. The guess here is that she is now searching her memory for all the "late night" meetings and sudden travel arrangements that would have provided the time and opportunity for her husband's illicit rendezvous')?

My bet is on the fact he is three things. A cheater and a liar and a hypocrite.

When will Republicans get it? We don't care that they fail at being perfect. What we care about is that they don't practice what they preach, lie when caught and (most) refuse to do do the right thing when caught.

[Rogue in LA]

The legislature has been selling votes for years for money and sex. This is old news, but everyone thinks it just happened! These prostitutes / lobbyists are screwing whoever it takes to get business for their companies---they pocket nice bonuses and everyone's rich! (except the taxpayers, who get hosed as usual)

[Liz]

Our family lives in San Diego, Sempra/SDG&E land. This is so laughable, the denials. Only too bad that a ratepayer files a complaint about spending lobbyist dollars this way, but Sempra did get what it wanted. Oh spank me, Sempra....

[likeattractlikes]

The fact that Duvall told his fellow Assemblyman Jeff Miller (R-Corona)suggests that Jeff Miller might be the same kind. Otherwise, why would Duvall boast about it if he thought Miller was straight and conservative?
Duvall is dragging his fellow Assemblymen down the sewer with him. Duvall is just one worm in a Can of Worm.

[Mike]

This is EXACTLY why lobbying and lobbyists should be outlawed.... The man is getting sexual favors to influence his vote AGAINST renewable energy sources.......I mean why else would she do this? Get rid of all lobbyists.

[Steve]

If his only offense was his talking about imaginary affairs, why would he resign? Just a self-sacrificing guy who didn't want to hurt the legislative process? We still have a U.S. Senator from Nevada who admits having an affair (and his parents gave money to the woman-- carefuly divided into portions below the federal reporting requirement) who hasn't resigned. And another U.S. Senator, from Louisiana, who dallied with prostitutes but stayed in office, saying God and his wife had forgiven him. And, of course, the Governor of South Carolina. Duvall is such a coward he resigned for off-color remarks? He really thinks we are all stupid enough to believe that?

[cheiranthus]

"I want to make it clear that my decision to resign is in no way an admission that I had an affair or affairs," Duvall said in a statement in his website. "My offense was engaging in inappropriate story-telling and I regret my language and choice of words. "

Of course! The Honourable Gentleman was just engaged in a little peer editing of his latest porn novel - why on earth would anyone jump to the clearly unwarranted conclusion that this staunch defender of 'family values' might actually be telling the truth??

[Sheila Bangs]

Well tee hee. Another "family values" nutball caught with his pants down and his lip unbuttoned. What a hoot - if it wasn't so serious. He was dinking around with two lobbyists, one of whom had business before his energy committee. So, while he was boinking her, he was boinking the state in return for sexual favors. And then bragging about it. Nothing more stupid than a fat, while male bragging about his conquests. Wonder how much Viagra he had to take in order to prove his prowress. Ah me, another repuke bites the dust.

[JayCeezy]

People are so disappointing. It shouldn't bother me, anymore. But it still does.

[wendy]

zero integrity

[Angel]

Wow...does Mr. Duvall really believe I am that gullible???

What I have to question most is, why is this just coming out now? This open mic episode happened two months ago...

[Ben]

Wait a minute! Yet another conservative Republican champion of "family values" gets caught bragging about fooling around, with distinct possibilities of conflict of interest, and this is news?

[watchdog]

who does this guy think he is....first he lies to his wife and constituents about his fidelity then he expects us to believe he did not have these affairs. wow...this is truely unbelievable...i hope the attorney general has the guts to go after this crook and all the other like him that live in the sacramento cesspool of lobbyists. there is a reason that these big corporations employ young women to do their bidding in front of our fat old men legislators...they seduce them and then turn them to the dark side for their corporate masters...like sempra energy. THROW THE RASCALS OUT!!!

[Oh dear]

He forgot the old political rule - Treat every mic as if it's live.

Congrats to KCAL for running this corrupt ol' goat into the ground. I hope after the electorate gets done with him, his wife clocks him up the head.

[Amanda]

A glimpse at the Bush years prove that Republicans on the whole are utterly useless when it comes to fiscal responsibility.

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq prove that the Republicans are also fairly useless at finishing the wars they start, which makes us weaker from a national security standpoint because our troops are stretched too thin.

And scandal after scandal shows that when it comes to family values, you're better off listening to a dead log than to a Republican.

So they fail at fiscal conservatism, they fail at national security, and they fail at family values. There is nothing this party (or any other) is good for, and anyone who is a member should be embarrassed and ashamed for voluntarily allowing these losers to speak for them.

You are not forced to register with any political party no matter what your views are, and the only reason for doing so despite the failures of the parties is your own weakness. Stop giving the Republicans and Democrats your power, they're not doing anything worthwhile with it. When it comes time to register again, decline to state your loyalty to any political party.

[boo boo]

Old perv gets laid, costs the taxpayers up to 440,00 for a special election to replace him and he has the nerve to deny this!
That should be cause for alarm because he not only lies and cheats he is going to ruin the environment by not allowing more renewable energy.
His renewable energy is coming from spanking a prostitute I mean Lobbyist.
Take this man down and don't pay him a pension.
Can you imagine you and I will now be paying this mans salary through our taxes as he sits home and gets even fatter and spanks more women.
Something isn't right about this!

[RobRBarron]

"Liar, liar pants on fire...."

Any child would know that this guy is one big fat idiotic liar.

[Joe Black]

"I did not have sex with that woman" is next folks! Now we're stuck with having to pay for a special election. I think the Republican Party should man-up, what with all their "moral/family" values and back up their rhetoric by paying for the election. Where are the "Tea Partiers" now-cowards!!!

[Tom]

Always fascinating how these "pro-family" fundie crazies try to ram their so-called morals down our throats through legislation, and then something like this happens so we can see the skeletons in the closet. Just stop pretending already.

All the same, I bet every last one of those guys in the legislature is taking some sort of payment under the table from a lobby, be it money, perks, or sex. Yeah, don't think the companies sending in those young female lobbyists don't know what's going on. I doubt that it's encouraged directly but if it greases the wheels a bit no one's going to complain. Something tells me there's going to be a mistress purge in Sacramento.

[Amanda]

Also, if Jeff Miller knew that Duvall was sleeping with a lobbyist, why didn't he report it? The ethical concerns are clear to anyone who isn't looking to protect their sleezy friends.

[tw]

of course he didn't have an affair...he just had sex with two woman other than his wife....and then was dumb enough to brag about it....

[Anonymous]

1st, LULZ OF TEH HIGHEST ORDER!
lets recap, a man who stands for "Family values" has an affair with TWO women!
who are also LOBBYISTS! and he brags to another lawmaker, which is overhead by a LIVE MIKE! And now, being the good conservative he is, he denies it!

and GOP wonders why they lose elections. XD

[Mr Salty]

Family Values? Yeah Right.
Typical NEOCON FATCAT HYPOCRITE.
How many of our tax dollars will this dimwit be getting for retirement?

[Doug]

Another one gets caught. It is truly astounding to me that this kind of representation permeates itself within the confines of these power mongers. We the people sure has limited meaning these days, and Miller should watch his back now. I say throw Duv out , take away any benefits from government he received or will receive. God Bless America

[Timola]

What Duvall did has NOTHING to do with his political party affiliation. This is what they do in Sacramento and Washington. Who doesn't know this by now. And what these two women did is also par for the course. This is what attractive female (and yes married) lobbyists do. They're all guilty as sin and using your tax dollars like it's their personal credit card. The smoke will clear, everyone (including Sempra) will deny, lie and it will go back to business as usual.
Democracy at work.

[hapa]

HAHAHA...
This is a great a.m. read. Reading everyone's comments sure puts a smile on my face.

I'm surprised there aren't more comments on this. Why is that? Is it that this really isn't anything new as some have suggested? That this is just business as usual in Sacramento/Washington/everywhere? Where are all of the staunch hardcore Republicans trying to shove 'family values' down everyone's throat?

GOP members, where are you? GOP? GOP? GOP?

[basementfrog]

Typical Republican, lie, lie, lie, deny, deny, deny. Has he been taking lessons from DICK cheney?

Represent yourself as the pillar of moral values, family values, christian values, et al, to get into office.

Nothing but dirt.

OOps. I forgot Bill Clinton.. OK typical politician, lie, lie, lie.....

[Sean]

So was he lying then or is he lying now? I'm thinking (and everyone else is too) that he's lying now!

[Jamie Browning]

**This disgusting man was bragging about his conquests, and one of his peers was eating it up. So good to know how hard our representatives work while they are in chambers. THIS IS HOW BUSINESS IS DONE BY REPUBLICANS. No wonder they treat governing like it's a side job.

[Schigolch]

Why are you concealing the identities of the two women?

[SP]

Come on now, we can be shocked by this. This is what these "crooks" do. They have sex with lobbyists and than screw hard working Americans. Nothings going to come of this. These people lookout for themselves and each other. This is a criminal act...the worlds oldest trade in our state's capital and nation's capital as well.

We must CLEAN house NOW!

[lfdow]

A previous poster asked for pictures of the ladies. While being this graphic may not be the best of journalistic practices, the implication does raise serious questions: are the lobbyists here really nothing more than prostitutes? Was sex the primary purpose for their hiring and if so, is this either a common or the general industry practice? I think this is a question worthy of serious journalism.

[John]

Typical Republican!

[mateo]

I'm about as far from being a Republican as one can get, but I agree with Timola, this isn't a (D) or (R) thing, this is a power and politics thing standard for all parties, plain and simple - - though there is a higher sense of schadenfreude when it's a "family values" type caught with his (or her) pants down, that's for sure.

For those asking for pix of the lobbyists (and therefore possible lawbreakers) involved, a google search will pretty easily bring up other sites that have found at least one of the (surprise: younger! fairly attractive!) women.

Oh, and Gus Levy of New Orleans: well played, sir, well played...

[theresa99]

Duvall, man up and admit what you did, you pig. If you are ashamed and embarrassed to admit to what you did, why did you do it in the first place? I hope your wife doesn't buy this lame story you're trying to sell now.

[willythekorn]

Let's give credit where credit is due. The ex-Assemblyman has accomplished what was previously thought to be a physically impossible feat. He's stuck both feet in his mouth while simultaneously shoving his head where the sun doesn't shine.

Got to love those "family values" conservatives. Are there ANY of them that aren't hypocrites?

[hb]

He resigned so quickly, I seriously wonder what else he's hiding. If he had refused to quit, investigations into all facets of his life would have quickly multiplied.

What other connection to lobbyists did he not want investigated?

[Debbie]

1. Got caught pure and simple.
2. Having sex outside of marriage (once, twice or more) is an affair.
3. If "only telling stories" why were our tax dollars wasted in this manner.
4. Why does Miller R-Corona ask questions to continue the conversation? Is this behavior common?
5. How many lobby are providing sex as a pay to play?

I hope the media doesn't sweep this under the carpet and a full investigation is made.

[Miguel de la Salle]

You believe him? I don't either.

[Josh]

The AG MUST investigate this. This is disgusting. I don't care that he had an affair. I care that these affairs apparently influenced his vote on matters of great public importance. This isn't a sex scandal. It's a corruption scandal, and it sure looks like many people involved here, pimps, johns, and whores, should go to prison.

[Mike]

"Duvall joined other Republicans in voting several times this year against renewable energy measures opposed by Sempra Energy. The measures would require utilities to derive significantly more electricity from solar, wind, geothermal and other renewable energy sources by 2020."

It's a shame that our renewable energy future has to suffer in part to ideologues who are literally "in bed" with utility lobbyists.

[Mike]

What could I say that hasn't already been said....

Bwaahahahahahahahaha!

What an idiot.

[Grandpa]

I wouldn't doubt that the affairs are a lie a la locker room chatter with the boys. That just makes Duvall a pervert. The fact he didn't know the mike was on makes him an idiot. So, Mr. Duvall is a perverted idiot.

[Grandpa]

If the Legislature went part-time, there'd be more time for intensive "lobbying" (wink, wink).

[mufasah]

liar, liar pants on fire...

[Ted]

Hope he did not tell his wife "God made me do it".

[Stiv Bator]

Mike Duvall's sex life, as is his political career, is over.

Without the power, no woman (especially those 20 years younger), is going to look twice at him.

[calicoedcat]

Well, he's either a low-down dirty hound dog or a world-class sleazy liar.
If he's lying, then the lobbyist should sue for defamation of character. Since he's already on record as to what he said and that he was lying, her case is sort of open and shut.

[William Smallshaw]

While a large number of citizens struggle in this state our legislature continues to party hardy. They appear to be concerned more about their own personal needs and desires than the lowly needs of the ordinary citizen. We also have to wonder about their decision making capabilities when sex buys votes. One can only wonder what a little money does in Sacramento. Our state government is corrupt to the core.

Bill Smallshaw
Huntington Beach

[maria]

Was Duvall voting for Sempra's interests? Duh! This guy had to know that the only way this woman would sleep with him was if he was granting her employer political favors. Take a look at the guy! Ughh.

Thanks, Yorba Linda for electing a real Class Act.

[JAM]

This is why the GOP is losing ground in CA. Let's focus on economic interest and not on "family values",because let's face it, the party doesn't practice what they preach.

[Andre, Los Angeles, California]

What I resent is that this politician sold his influence for so cheap.

Come on Duvall, where's the stash of 100's in the freezer, the summer home in Tahoe or the offshore bank account?

You sold your influence for something any bloke with two 20's can get in Tijuana?

[ken]

Here's a toast to another politician trying to force their ideals down our throats while hiding behind morals they don't adhere to. i would rather have a gay representative; at least they have the courage to be up front about their status; not that there's anything wrong with it. Bring my nephew home from Afghanistan. ken

[Newsherd]

So wait - He didn't spank the girl?

I guess he's just a liar, not an adulterer.

Either way he needed to resign.

[Michal Brody]

Ah, OK, Mr. Duvall, now I understand. You *are* a liar; you*are* a hypocrite, but you are *not* an adulterer. I am SO relieved to know that!

[Chris]

He must think that his constituents are really stupid to stick to this lame story. Good luck selling it to the wife! Sex with a lobbyist who's industry you regulate? Can you say "criminal conflict of interest"?

[Jolie]

Shame on this man, and those who live their lives like him. His gross sense of entitlement makes me sick. He is a hypocritical, self-serving, self-righteous homophobe and and basically, an old prick. What a disgrace and mockery he makes of America's leadership. I'm sick of this kind of immoral republican ethic.

[Alfred H.]

Sickening.

If this story wasn't sickening enough, now this horrible wretch of a man doesn't even have the nads to admit it??? What a pathetic excuse for a man.

Earth to Duvall: once you're caught the very, very least you can do is be honest from that point on.

He probably thinks he can talk his wife and kids into believing it was all talk. Yeah right. I hope that wife slaps him into next week.

And isn't is ALWAYS the ones who claim to be in favor of 'family values' all the while voting against gay Americans at every turn. This is just another one to throw on the pile. Typical.

[Willard]

OMG!!! A liar, cheat, braggart, adulterer, hypocrite and a Republican? What a shock! Ha ha ha ha ha! You can't make this stuff up.

[Michael]

So he was just lying about the whole thing....I see. What "family value" is that?

Has a Republican ever accepted responsibility for anything?

[inewsmaster]

As one of your comentors said; "what else is new?" Lobbying by any other word is "prostitution" in some form. Crawling into to be is probably one of the least morally offensive. Who are the culprits in this corrupt system of government? All we need to do is just look in the mirror. This is what we, the voters, pass off as a democratic system of government, when all-in-all it's the furthest thing from it.

[Wade]

Mike Duvall = Malignant narcissist. One of a long line of sleazy political officials to come out of the OC.

On the other hand, the people dumb enough to buy his "family values" schtick might just believe his explanation.

I hope the State AG opens an investigation.

[Sick of the whole thing]

Did anyone notice that one of the women he allegedly had an affair with is totally denying it ever happened? So do his latest comments being made to coincide with that?

[pat o]

It is not his fault. It is not the Republicans' faults. It is Bob Dole's fault, for having promoted Viagra.

[Steph W]

This guy is just pathetic.

[dzzrtRatt]

Coming soon, a very special episode of Dr. Phil. "I can't stop talking about sex I never had!" Our guest, former assemblyman Mike Duvall, who is here with his doctor to talk about methods to treat this not-so-silent plague. Mr. Duvall, what did you do when you first realized you were a victim of this compulsion? Is it like Tourette's, only more arousing?

[Dennis Madden]

I was wondered why my SDGE bill went up 25% over last year. Have to pay for the whores in Sacramento. My bill at my business also went up 25% percent. Called and they told me to call Utilities Commission in Sacramento. Guess they also are busy with the same thing as The message I left was never returned. Throw all these RATS out. This state is going to hell and we watch this kind of thing go on. We must watch our Country as it is headed for the DUMP.
THROW THEM OUT THROUGH THEM OUT THROUGH THEM OUT.

[Tannim]

Well, now Duvall can position himself (pun intended) to replace Ken Calvert in Congress since Calvert was caught with a hooker years ago.

It's really too bad that America has such a prude streak when it comes to sex. On one hand, he betrayed the trust of his wife and family, but on the other hand, since he's no GQ material, to score with two other women at his age (and the Sempra chick ain't bad looking, either), maybe he deserves a high-five.

But since he was a pro-family religious right crusading nutcase, that makes him a hypocrite, and the resignation over sex-for--influence is justified.

Just once I want to see one of these guys get caught and have his wife stand up there with the mistress and the politician and say, "I knew about it, I approved it in advance, and I even joined in, and I LIKED IT and I'd do it again!" and then kiss the mistress. That would defuse all of this in a large hurry. It would also shock the establishment prudes in a way that would change politics for the positive forever.

[Amanda]

You know, we can't ban lobbyists because of obvious 1st amendment issues, but surely we can require that all lobbyists be old and ugly, right? It'd cut out the sex issues at least (probably).

[Cindy]

How I love it--"I didn't have an affair!" No, no, assemblyman, you just "let" these professionals service you in the name of good politics, right? So, what did these lobbyists purchase with their services?

[Ernie]

What do you expect of a man who uses "I go" and "She goes" instead of "I said and "She said" like a witless teenager?

[ocman]

he almost sounds as good as clinton did. but the BIG difference is he wasnt doing a PAID LOBBYIST. Whats the difference between and hooker and some lobbyists? about 10 roses.

[COMM114]

Oooooooooooh boy!! What a story! Maybe the State of California should establish a Department of Yum-Yum. We can then have a clearing house for the special needs of our legislators, congressmen and public servants. I am sure that there are a great many citizens that want to get a piece of this action as well!

Our new state moto can be "Mummm-mmmm. Yum-yum for everyone!" Sounds a lot better than Eureka!

[Richard Hode]

A real class act, that Duvall, bragging about his women. He is just another family-values hypocrite republican whose mental age is 16, a fitting member of the Sanford-Ensign club.

[Denise C.]

Are you kidding me? This is absolutely rich! This guy is beyond creepy.

[Carlos]

Maybe, just maybe, Duvall may be telling the truth in the sense that his remarks were glorified storytelling.
Perhaps the "hot mike" didn't start recording from the beginning of his conversation which probably began with, "Once upon a time.."

[Andy]

If he really didn't have sex with those women as he now claims, why would a "family values" guy even get onto that topic - that's the last thing he'd want anyone, even in locker room banter, to associate with him. Besides, it wouldn't even enter his consciousness. Maybe he should have made up stories about his golf score.

[Solex]

I think the main issue with these so-called "family values" republicans is that while there are several democrats who behave badly (Yes, including Bill Clinton)they do not portray themselvesas being pious or religous. It is the hypocrisy that is beyond belief.

I just wish the republicans would just admit that they are all about enriching themselves as much as possible and leave god out of it. It is obvious they do so to legitimize themselves, but as much as I know there are true believers out there, I also know that republican politicians aren't.

[JD]

So, now the ball is tossed to his wife.
She gets to simultaneously weigh her commitment to her vows (God himself, if this is her belief system), console her children- which means finding some way to come to his defense and remind them that he is a "good" father who just made a "mistake", her own aging and changing appearance- which our worldly society puts a greater value on then all of the care and self sacrificing she has done to raise a family, work and care for her hubby for however many years she has done so, and deal with the firestorm of media who now view her horrible heartbreak, shame and embarrassment as a juicy tidbit for the evening news. Surely her hubbys conquests will be splashed on the air as soon as they get some good photos of them. She is left with what? The prospect of losing her life as she has known it for the majority of her adult life and eventually dating again and starting over? Staying married and being the wife of the lying, cheating braggert that disgraced himself and his entire family publicly, in an attempt to impress a fellow public servant during business hours? Whatever she decides she is in my prayers. As much as I despise the selfishness of this man, he is too. Nothing is bigger than God's grace and love. I have received it myself and not one of us is worthy. I hope this story becomes a tale of redemption.

[Maureen Meyer]

You know, the last couple of days, I can't help wondering if California assemblyman Mike Duvall wasn't lying about having affairs with two female lobbyists. I'm wondering if we've all been too eager to assume that these female lobbyists were sleeping with a powerful man to get ahead?

How many of us who entered the workforce in the 70s and 80s either experienced such slander or saw men in power spreading lies about which women in the office they were sleeping with? Really, the one lobbyist I saw is gorgeous, married, and much younger, and she's denied sleeping with him.

Duvall is old, slimy, and not appealing physically. Maybe, as he said, he WAS telling stories, as opposed to the truth. His sexual fantasies may be ruining the careers of a couple of innocent women. Really, can you imagine a mature businesswoman with a high power job making jokes with Duvall about his semen running down her legs? That just reeks of a emotionally arrested adult male's fantasy life.

I'm not naive. Maybe the lobbyists were sleeping with Duvall to get ahead, but then again, maybe they weren't. Maybe they were just smart enough and educated enough to get to where they are under their own steam. Maybe we're all victimizing them by rushing to judgment.

If the lobbyists are able to prove him wrong, I hope they sue him for everything he's got.