Biggest Political Scandals & Gaffes of 2011 /
It’s been a whirlwind of a year in politics. Republicans have managed to almost ruin the country, not once but twice. Senators have looked for love on Craig’s List and congressmen have flashed us on Twitter. Here is L.A. Times’ list of the top nine political scandals and gaffes of 2011. And yes, our beloved Obama made the list.
Rep. Anthony Wiener
Ten days after confessing that he had sent sexually provocative online messages to several women, the New York Democrat bowed to pressure and resigned from Congress on June 16, 2011.
Rep. Christopher Lee
Rep. Christopher Lee, a second-term Republican lawmaker representing western New York, abruptly resigned in February after flirtatious e-mails, including a photo of him shirtless, were posted online by a gossip website.
Herman Cain
In October, the Republican presidential candidate faced allegations of sexual harassment by three woman while another alleged inappropriate sexual behavior. In November, an Atlanta woman claimed that she had a long-term affair with the candidate. Cain has denied any wrongdoing and suggested that he is a victim of an unidentified conspiracy that’s trying to keep him from the White House.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
The former governor of California admitted in May that he fathered a child with a household staff member 10 years ago. The woman was an employee of the Schwarzeneggers for 20 years who retired earlier this year. Maria Shriver filed for divorce in July.
Gov. Rick Perry
During the Nov. 9 Michigan GOP debate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry was talking about the three departments that he would cut to curb the size of the federal government. He named two -- Education and Commerce -- but for an excruciating period searched his mind for the third, as competitors tried to help him out. When a debate moderator asked him: "You can't name the third one?" Perry replied: "I can't. The third one, I can't. Sorry. Oops."
Sarkozy & Obama
In November, the French and American presidents were speaking in private about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, apparently unaware that their microphones were still on. The french president said, "I cant stand to see him anymore, he's a liar," Sarkozy told Obama, according to a French translation of the exchange. "You are fed up with him, but me, I have to deal with him every day," Obama replied.
Rep. Michelle Bachmann
Republican presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann, who received a lot of unfavorable media attention for comments that some claimed mixed up movie icon John Wayne with serial killer John Wayne Gacy, was campaigning in Spartanburg, S.C., on Aug. 16 when she urged her supporters to wish Elvis Presley happy birthday. Unfortunately, it was the 34th anniversary of Presley's death.
Mayor Mario Hernandez
San Fernando Mayor Mario Hernandez stunned the audience at the Nov. 21 council meeting when he said: "I'd like to put out there, to squash the rumors, that yes, I have been in a relationship with Councilwoman (Maribel) De La Torre." The mayor's wife was seated in the front row and disputed her husband's remark that they had been separated.
Rep. David Wu
The Oregon Democrat resigned from Congress in July, following allegations of sexual misconduct with a teenager. The Oregonian newspaper reported that the teenage daughter of a Wu associate called the congressman's office earlier this year to accuse him of an unwanted sexual encounter over Thanksgiving. Wu, 56, acknowledged the incident but said it was consensual, the paper reported.
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