Jackson Free Press

WAPT is reporting that the Republican U.S. congressman stepping down to spend more time with his family has filed for divorce from his wife, Leisha.

Previous Commentsshow

Sad. It seems Republicans are human, too, eh?

DonnaLadd

Jul 1 2008

I already knew that, Donna. ;)

Lady Havoc

Jul 2 2008

Whaat? I'm shocked!

Walt

Jul 2 2008

But what about protecting the sanctity of marriage???... You tell me I can't marry for this reason, yet you get divorced... How convenient... How myopic... How ridiculous... See ya in church, Chip!

bryanms

Jul 2 2008

He filed for divorce? O.K. I'm always wondering. I was shocked that he chose not to run for re-election, so now I'm wondering if there's something deeper here? I love conspiracy theories. Mmmm?

lanier77

Jul 2 2008

Whatever his reasons, it's really nobody's business.

Jeff Lucas

Jul 2 2008

Why it's none of our business considering he was our congressional representative and constantly made speeches about family values and honor. Isn't it the public business whether he held to those family values and the type of honor he asked us to strive toward achieving? Furthermore, considering he may run for public office again, doesn't that make it our business? Isn't the divorce the county's business, the court's business and public record?

Walt

Jul 2 2008

In a word, no.

Jeff Lucas

Jul 2 2008

No is so unconvincing and devoid of reason and teachability. I will look to see if this rule is applied in every case.

Walt

Jul 2 2008

Yeah, Walt. You do that.

Jeff Lucas

Jul 2 2008

In fact a little bird just told me a simple no is a bias answer that can't be supported by reason considering Pickering's status. Status does matter! I will do that Jeff, but I don't need too. My memory is selectively good.

Walt

Jul 2 2008

I'm sure it is, Walt. I've noticed that.

Jeff Lucas

Jul 2 2008

I'm just interested in why you think it's none of our business in this instance. I might agree if I knew why you felt this way. Other than the fact that most people consider marriage and divorce personal matters. I voted for him despite not liking him to keep from voting for that other nut.

Walt

Jul 2 2008

Fine. Because I'm consistent on this, Walt. I do think the details of a divorce are a personal and private matter and the public isn't entitled to know the reasons why unless the parties involved wish to disclose. Doesn't mean it won't leak out. I didn't think it was anyone's business what happened in Musgrove's divorce. And I still plan to vote for him in November. I didn't think it was anyone's business what happened in Fordice's divorce. I didn't think it was anyone's business what happened in Mabus's divorce, and its unfortunate that the leaks that did come out came out the way that they did. I didn't care about Bill Clinton's extramarital escapades either and I could have lived the rest of my life easily without knowing all of the sordid details, but its hard to ignore in this day and age when every news show and tabloid goes into overdrive reporting about it. The Republicons tried to use it to their political advantage, which I thought at the time was pretty low and would come back to bite them, as it has every time one of these sex scandals comes out with an 'R' at the center.

Jeff Lucas

Jul 2 2008

I am prone on principle to agree with Jeff, BUT public figures expose themselves to the inquiring minds when they market themselves as holier than thou champions of "marriage and family". That has been the "moral majority" (so laughable now) marketing mantra. I bleive Pickering even got an award from on of the "Focus on the Family" type groups as a "defender of marriage". I still feel sorry for anybody going through that and hope the details do stay private.

FreeClif

Jul 2 2008

And since he's not running for re-election, he doesn't have to answer to the electorate as far as I'm concerned.

Jeff Lucas

Jul 2 2008

Just as long as there is no scandal involving pages (male or female) or government employees.

FreeClif

Jul 2 2008

The only thing we know about Pickering's divorce is that he's getting one. To me, that doesn't hold a candle to some of the celebrity divorces I've heard about, but it's still early in the game. Hopefully the Pickerings will be more civil.

LatashaWillis

Jul 2 2008

Alright Jeff I'll buy consistency every time. Thanks.

Walt

Jul 2 2008

Just as long as there is no scandal involving pages (male or female) or government employees. I agree!

Jeff Lucas

Jul 2 2008

I should have said in Fordice's case that the details of his divorce wasn't anyone's business *except* he was so blatant about his affair and the hypocrisy in light of his comments about BJ that it couldn't be avoided. If it were to be revealed that the Chipster had done something illegal that precipitated his divorce it would be more relevant to know the details in my mind.

Jeff Lucas

Jul 2 2008

Well, Jeff, if I find out he did not live up to any of the honor, values or proclaimations he so-called fostered or pushed I will be on hs sorry butt like a pair of too little drawer. I won't be surprised though as hypocrisy or two faces is apparently the republican way these days.

Walt

Jul 3 2008

I'm not Republican, but I hardly think that hypocrisy or being two-faced is exclusively party based.

slugbug

Jul 3 2008

It's not exclusive, but the republican party of late is dominating both conditions, situations or state of beings like none other of recent years. Count the cases of national exposure in the last 8 years or so. There is more evidence in favor of exclsivity than against it. Don't try to tell me the record of republican is any where close to being equal to that of Democrats because I'm specifically notating, counting and reporting the missteps of both party. The count is like over a hundred or so to 2 at this point, over the last 7 years or so. There is absolutely no real comparison between the two party at this point.

Walt

Jul 3 2008

Point taken. I agree that the Republicans really do turn up the "family values" rhetoric many times. I just think it is a shame for his kids (and wife), who could probably care less about the political labels at this point, since daddy has decided to bail.

slugbug

Jul 3 2008

While a divorce technically is a personal matter, it does, however, become public record once the filing is made. But what I do take from this is that those who run on family values often can't live up to their own standards and may have a few skeletons in their own closets.

golden eagle

Jul 4 2008

I think it is wise to never blame a doctrine, denomination, religion, etc. because of the faults of a person. People are people, and they make mistakes. For example, don't discount Baptist doctrine because of the shortfalls of some of its members (I'm not Baptist). That's the person, not the doctrine. People will fall. Doesn't mean the doctrine is incorrect. I had the fortunate opportunity to intern for Chip years ago. This is a tragedy for the boys, Chip, and Leisha. I hope people will respect their privacy in this difficult time. I have the utmost respect for the family, and it breaks my heart to hear this news.

MAllen

Jul 4 2008

Of course the divorce filing of a public official is going to be of public record, GE, I don't think anyone's said that it's not. My issue is whether the public is entitled to know why they are divorcing if they've chosen not to go public with it, especially since he's not running for re-election. I personally don't think it is, and if he were a Democrat this would be a non-story.

Jeff Lucas

Jul 4 2008

Good commentary Matt. Glad to see you jump in more than usual. My opinion of a certain party isn't based on any one individual as you should know, but rather hundreds and thousands of individuals plus countless low level deeds that I'm personally aware of. And I think I can reasonably extrapolate further based on past party actions, party silence and acquiesce to known and obvious lies , and blatant falsehoods and claims made by the same group. Democrats have been type-casted, lied on, unfairly discredited, wrongly extrapolated about and demonized for decades by real demons, (republicans and phony independents who are actually weak-kneed republicans ashamed to admit it), in my opinion. Now that covers have come off of the republicans, I for one, am not in any mood to show any mercy or continue to look the other way. Look where looking the other way took us - Georeg Bush , Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, war, recession, corruption of religion and other things too numerous to keep repeating. There is absolutely no proof or truth, in my opinion, to the claim that this situation wouldn't have been mentioned had Chip not been a republican. Such a claim isn't worth any commentary from me.

Walt

Jul 5 2008

I'm also saddened for the family, especially the boys. My prayers will be with them. It's a painful time for a family, and while I do agree that there is a level of hypocrisy, I also respect their privacy on behalf of the children involved. What a sad situation, and as others have stated above, a statement of human imperfection.

emilyb

Jul 5 2008

I should add, Matt, that I hate to view all republicans as the same. I'm looking hard and carefully to find exceptions to my general opinion of them crystallized over nearly a thirty year period of time. I've seen very few exceptions and not enough to count. I'm always open to change but I need proof and not a mere claim to the contrary. Otherwise, I agree as to that wisdom you mentioned.

Walt

Jul 5 2008

While we're talking about politic or the lives of politicans, allow me to add that Senator Jessie Helms went home yesterday or thereabout to be with more of his kind. I wish him a hot final resting place for his political services rendered unto this country. However, I know the Lord is the final judge though, and I don't question the Lord's wrath or justice, as I'm a mere minion myself trying to make good deeds my purpose for being here and heaven my home. Despite my commentary, I judge not, lest I be judged, too. And I love and forgive because I need and desire the same.

Walt

Jul 5 2008

I've been following the Chip Pickering story with shock and fascination. The story is indeed sad but it is not private; family values (the sanctity of monogamous heterosexual marriage) is one of the Christian Rights' most public issues. A Democratic president was impeached for less serious moral transgressions than Congressman Pickering is accused of committing. Con. Pickering’s own congressional website declares: “Family, Faith and Freedom are the Engines that Drive Mississippi.” His entire political career is based on the premise that the sanctity of the family is the most urgent moral issue of the day. It strikes me as dishonest for his supporters to hide now behind the notion of personal privacy against which the Christian-Republican-movement has waged a decade’s long culture war.

dontbelievethehype

Jul 7 2008

So, will the stink from his divorce die down enough before Barbour's term ends for Cochran to retire and let Barbour appoint Pickering to fill out the rest of it?

C.W.

Jul 8 2008