Politics: So Your Boss Is Implicated in a Sex Scandal

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Politics So Your Boss Is Implicated in a Sex Scandal Pity the poor Senate staffers when chaos descends on Capitol Hill. By Paul D. Thacker Posted Wednesday, Feb 06, 2013, at 11:01 PM ET Democrat or Republican, all Capitol Hill staffers agree on one thing: It's terrifying to see your boss's name in the same sentence with the words "underage Dominican Republic prostitutes." There's just no upside there. In this case, we're talking about Sen. Robert Menendez, the senior Democrat from New Jersey. Menendez is no stranger to scandal. Like many single politicians, and even some who are married, rumors of sexual indiscretions have swirled for a while among his staff. In the media, most papers are now delicately mentioning that he is the former political boss of Hudson County, an area of Jersey known for its "rough and tumble" politics. (For those new to Jersey politics, "rough and tumble" is cocktail-hour code for corrupt.) So far the Menendez flap is following a well-trod path of politicians accused of shedding clothing and common sense: sex allegations that at first blush seem outrageous, followed by denials from the press secretary and other senior staff; outraged calls by "nonpartisan" government groups for punishment or resignation; and a growing media push for either an admission or categorical refutation. Forgotten in all the back and forth are the dozens of staffers working behind the scenes to prop up their boss and make him look politically viable during the storm. For these sorry souls, the experience—the crisis—is professionally and personally consuming. Congressional staffers are not like most of us. They become personally attached to their bosses in ways that few regular office workers ... To continue reading, click here. Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum What did you think of this article? POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES Also In Slate So Your Boss Is Implicated in a Sex Scandal Everything You Wanted To Know About Quokkas, Courtesy of a Quokka When Did God Get Into the Wedding Business?	Advertisement
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