Tulsa World: Scandals trigger spotlight on house

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Scandals trigger spotlight on house
Largent talks about a townhouse and its code of silence for residents.

Scandals involving Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., and Gov. Mark Sanford, R-S.C., have focused attention on the red-brick townhouse at 133 C Street SE. TOM ALEXANDER / For the Tulsa World

By JIM MYERS World Washington Bureau
Published: 7/19/2009 2:27 AM
Last Modified: 7/19/2009 3:43 AM

WASHINGTON — Former U.S. Rep. Steve Largent believes the media spotlight triggered by back-to-back scandals have left a number of misconceptions about a Capitol Hill townhouse that Sen. Tom Coburn and other lawmakers use as their home away from home.

Largent, who lived in the C Street townhouse for several years when he represented Oklahoma in Congress, conceded residents and those associated with the group that owns it could have been more forthcoming about what goes on there.

"That's what should happen,'' he said. "Some of it is our own fault. I admit that.''

Coburn, R-Okla., declined to comment.

And calls to those listed on a 990 form filed with the Internal Revenue Service by the group known as the Fellowship Foundation went unreturned.

The tax-exempt foundation is believed to be something of an umbrella group that covers the ownership of the C Street house.

Questions have been raised previously about what some see as a code of silence that residents at the townhouse observe, but the scandals involving Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., and Gov. Mark Sanford, R-S.C., have focused attention on the red-brick townhouse.

A recent front-page headline in the Washington Post described the townhouse as "The Political Enclave That Dare Not Speak Its Name.''

Robert Boston, senior policy analyst of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, said what sets the Fellowship Foundation apart from other groups is how it shuns attention.

"They aren't seeking publicity,'' Boston said.

The group maintains that approach even though its major event is the National Prayer Breakfast, which for years has drawn U.S. presidents and dignitaries from around the world.

Largent was chairman of the breakfast the year Yasser Arafat was invited. He also took a trip to Cuba sponsored by the group, which was unsuccessful in its attempt to meet with Fidel Castro.

Boston said it appears the group has influence not only with members of Congress from both parties but also Cabinet members and other influential Americans.

"They are very secretive about what they are doing with these people,'' Boston said. "Naturally that gives birth to all manner of conspiracy theories.''

'A respite': Largent believes too much is being made of both the secrecy and the religion themes and agreed to speak about the townhouse in hopes of dispelling some of those misconceptions.

"I know that particularly in Washington, D.C., as soon as you say something's secret and behind closed doors that it conjures up all these weird hallucinations and stuff,'' he said.

Although he moved out of the townhouse when he left Congress in 2002, Largent attends weekly dinners there.

"First of all, there is nothing secret about it at all,'' he said.

"It is merely an attempt to try to give guys who are in Congress a chance to have a respite, have a place where they can go and kind of let their hair down and not have to worry that everything they say and do would ever be repeated and get in the press.''

Largent said the bedrooms rented to the lawmakers were on the second floor, while the rooms on the first floor were used by the various groups for meetings.

According to Largent, there are no secret codes and the townhouse does not operate anything like a fraternity.

"But at the same time, we want it to feel like a place that guys can come and share their deepest needs and wants and desires and let people kind of appreciate the circumstances that they are in,'' he said.

Largent explained how residents at the townhouse have given each other license to confront each other when "there's something going on that shouldn't be going on.''

That led to a confrontation organized by Coburn to challenge Ensign about his affair with his campaign treasurer.

Doug Hampton, a former Ensign aide who is married to Ensign's former mistress, has described the confrontation at the C Street house as "an important marker in all of this.''

Sanford, meanwhile, created a media sensation when he tried to explain his extramarital activities, which included an unannounced trip to Argentina. Although he was never a resident, Sanford referenced his involvement with the C Street townhouse.

"It was a, believe it or not, a Christian Bible study,'' he said, "some folks that asked members of Congress hard questions that I think were very, very important.''

Largent participated in the Ensign confrontation and has been involved with counseling Sanford.

Other meetings: Despite the small prayer breakfasts held there and the Sanford reference to Bible study, Largent believes the religious element has drawn more focus than warranted.

Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., who does not live at the C Street townhouse, said he meets there for lunch several times a year with ambassadors from African countries.

Before the 2001 terrorist attacks, Inhofe said his involvement was a "Jesus type of thing,'' but today those meetings have more to do with building relationships with African leaders and discussing military matters.

Inhofe conceded he did not know specific details about the Fellowship.

'Broader landscape': Largent said residents are invited to move into C Street by other residents and by those involved with the Fellowship.

"Guys who live there give him a thumbs up or a thumbs down,'' he said. "Rarely is it a thumbs down.''

Largent said they try to invite those they believe are trying to follow the teachings of Jesus but explained calling the townhouse a Christian-oriented house makes the circle too small.

No one, he said, would be excluded because of their denomination as long as they "try to discover what the message of Jesus was about.''

"So it is kind of a broader landscape than just talking about Christian or religious type of activity,'' Largent said.

Jim Myers (202) 484-1424
jim.myers@tulsaworld.com By JIM MYERS World Washington Bureau

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "SUNDAY: Largent says townhouse misunderstood," which was published on 7/18/2009.

	Report Comment 2ndjoyce, BA (7/18/2009 4:25:49 PM) I'm looking forward to the full story on Sunday. Thank you Tulsa World for following up on the questions we have concerning this residence, including its inhabitants.
	Report Comment Check It out, Tulsa (7/18/2009 4:27:27 PM) How does a non-profit religious organization get away with housing politicians? Isn't that an infringement of IRS against partisan backing of candidates?
	Report Comment Golden Sluricane, (7/18/2009 4:28:44 PM) My house in general has a lot of shady affairs, over consumption of alcohol, and a lot people talking hot air... when do I get my story told?!
	Report Comment Bullhead, Nicut (7/18/2009 4:35:35 PM) I can't wait to read this story tomorrow as well, joyce. I wonder just what all has gone on there..
	Report Comment Check It out, Tulsa (7/18/2009 4:42:37 PM) I am guessing that these guys all stay there in order to keep themselves from situations with the temptations of being powerful men in Washington. They can stay together and be accountable to one another. It is a wonderful concept but alas...only as effective as the level of commitment of each member to their code of moral conduct. I can't stand these guys but I applaud the idea.
	Report Comment insider9909, Cushing (7/18/2009 5:21:35 PM) google "christian group the family" and be prepared to be shocked. If the truth is ever exposed, Coburn will not be able to run for dog-catcher.
	Report Comment heynow, (7/18/2009 5:31:39 PM) Quit asking Tom Coburn questions you liberal rag, he's a church deacon!
	Report Comment Ayo, T-Town (7/18/2009 5:55:36 PM) Thanks for the tease, TW. This should be good. From Wikipedia: A few other members of "The Family", a 501(c)3 organization: Mark Sanford, (yep same one who had the affair), Chip Pickering, Mississippi Rep who had......you guessed it, an affair while living a the 'C' Street house. The Moral Majority Republicans are sinking faster than the Titanic. As my mom has always told me, "Don't lie. The truth will always come out in the end".
	Report Comment Four Sixteen Rigby, (7/18/2009 6:10:38 PM) I am in favor of more sunlight regarding the Washington, D.C. activities of all elected and appointed officials, regardless of whether those officials are Republican, Democrat, or Independent. The cozy, but usually silent, relationships and associations that are standard operating procedure in that town should all be exposed whenever and wherever possible.
	Report Comment notyourfriend, (7/18/2009 6:40:43 PM) I saw animal house years ago.
	Report Comment Thunder196, Tulsa (7/18/2009 6:42:16 PM) I guess birds of a feather do tend to flock together.
	Report Comment Four Sixteen Rigby, (7/18/2009 6:43:26 PM) Ayo: If you're going to quote Wikipedia, be complete and bi-partisan. The Wiki entry on the Fellowship Foundation says that both Democrat and Republican Senators and Representatives are members, and reside or have resided at the C Street Townhouse.
	Report Comment Ayo, T-Town (7/18/2009 6:49:49 PM) There's too many members to quote all of them. Plus, I want to wait and see what the TW article has to say, so I only mentioned the two who had affairs. (we already know about Ensign since it was his mistress' payoff that Coburn suggested that brought all this 'C' Street house and The Fellowship into the light). Google the name Jeff Sharlet. Interesting. Don't know if it's true, but it's interesting.
	Report Comment Four Sixteen Rigby, (7/18/2009 7:11:19 PM) GOP: Both sides do it. The scandal is not what is illegal or "unethical." The scandal is what is actually legal and "ethical." Meanwhile, they have us little people bamboozled into bickering with each other over which side is worse. Both parties are in it for whatever they can get from us sheep.
	Report Comment Four Sixteen Rigby, (7/18/2009 7:28:23 PM) twoidhd: Well, before you get all high and mighty, remember that it was Barney Frank (D-MA) who had a guy living with him who was running a male prostitution ring out of Frank's house. OK?
	Report Comment desert fox, (7/18/2009 8:04:56 PM) Remember Elmer Gantry or Peyton Place?
	Report Comment anita22, Waco (7/18/2009 8:18:38 PM) Day-before teasers...what a great idea! I'll be sure to come back to the site tomorrow.
	Report Comment Ol City Boy, (7/18/2009 9:06:59 PM) Man alive !! This article has really brought out the double-wide folks I see.... If folks wanna get upset about something, get upset about their money that's being spent in Washington that they/we can't afford.
	Report Comment insider9909, Cushing (7/18/2009 10:14:21 PM) This bunch on C street is a cult and largent, coburn, sanford, ensign, and a whole bunch of others are up to their neck in it, including Hillary Clinton. They believe that God has given them power and money to rule over the poor. All I can say is "finally..JUSTICE!!". For too long in this country the rich and powerful have manipulated the system in their favor. Maybe Americans will finally wake up and push these monsters out.
	Report Comment heynow, (7/19/2009 2:24:42 AM) Corruption is one thing, a religious takeover of government is another.
	Report Comment Mr. Left, Tulsa (7/19/2009 2:31:36 AM) Gary Richardson showed us your true colors!! He showed how you lost it filming a spot then you said it never happen!! But Gary had the film spot and showed it!! Your are A lier!! Sounds like the Republicans need to come out of the Closet!! I can't wait til Coburn starts up his Dr. Office again I want everybody to take a Gun with them..If you don't have one e-mail me and i will get you one to the office for you to care in his Dr.'s office!!
	Report Comment Thunder196, Tulsa (7/19/2009 4:44:39 AM) I don't buy this for one minute. It is nothing but a "good ole boy house" out having some fun. Plain and simple. I remember the day Coburn made the comment if we knew what really went on in Washington we would throw them all out. Well it must not bother him too much. He has his "holier then thou deacon rear end" planted right square in the middle of it. If he continues to stay there, then he is condoning their actions. If I were Coburn, I would decline to make a statement too.
	Report Comment Loki, Broken Arrow (7/19/2009 5:45:30 AM) I'm glad Jim Myers is on this story. It does affect one of our sitting U.S. Senators. Conservatives are missing the point again. What riles people up is the rank hypocrisy. If I recall the rhetorical structure the republicans used in the presidential campaign: Tom Coburn is palin' around with fornicators.
	Report Comment ol feller, Small Town (7/19/2009 7:21:13 AM) Or since Coburn is a conservative and running for reelection, maybe it's our wonderful, main streeam media looking to distract the attention of the "lemmings" tward something that doesn't exist while covering up something for the left. The media knows the lemmings love titillation and garbage it distracts them every time. I think I would look byond the T&G for what's hiding in the shadows.
	Report Comment Ayo, T-Town (7/19/2009 8:44:30 AM) Coburn needs to come clean. From the interview I read yesterday with Jeff Sharlet, author of the book, "The Family" this so called religious group goes deep, and wide. Jeff Sharlet lived amoung people who are members of this organization to gather his information. Just the interview alone gave me chills. People should do their own investigation into this so called 'religious' group. Freaky IMO. It looks like maybe there needs to be a full scale investigation into both this 'Family', and into the free tax, low rent, and goings on at 'C' house. If there's nothing to hide then just speak up, and tell the public what it's all about. If Coburn did nothing wrong by coming up with the idea to pay off the mistress then by all means, Seanator. Speak up. (isn't that what you wingers always say? "If you didn't break the law then you have nothing to hide") You guys say it all the time on here. These right-wing, 'Christian' moral majority crowd are questionable. I doubt there's much Christian about them other than their prayer meetings. It's all a game to keep the general population of Christian conservatives following them. It's all about power. Their power. Not the people's power, but their power.

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