One more blow to the class of '94

Democrats, who are still dealing with the aftermath of Rep. Eric Massa's (D-N.Y.) scandals and subsequent resignation, are breathing a little easier today. They point out that the fall of Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.) notches up another disappointment from the GOP's "Class of '94," the members swept in on the last Republican landslide. The rundown:
Rep. Jim Bunn (R-Ore.) divorced his wife and married his chief of staff in 1995; he lost reelection in 1996.
Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) resigned in 2006 after pleading guilty to corruption charges.
Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) resigned in 2006 after former pages accused him of sexually harassing them.
Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) admitted an affair with a former campaign aide in 2009 -- he lost a leadership post but stayed in the Senate.
Gov. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.), elected to the House in 1994, admitted an affair with an Argentine journalist in 2009 but retained his job.
And now, Souder. One small irony is that Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), also a member of the class of 1994, retired from the House in 2000 but later appeared as an expert on sexual health on at least one of Souder's subcommittee hearings. Coburn, of course, is now the most credible Republican figure who can be expected to come out in front on abstinence issues.
But the class can redeem itself this year, somewhat. Former represenative Mark Neumann (R-Wis.) and Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.) are trying to join Sanford in the move up to a governor's office, while Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) try to join the Senate.

By David Weigel  |  May 18, 2010; 11:51 AM E