OR-5: 2002 GOP candidate in big, big trouble

Craigschelske2
In 2002, Craig Schelske ran for Congress against Darlene Hooley, but lost in the primary to Brian Boquist. The GOP nominee, He ran a typical right-wing "family values" campaign. These days, he's been a Republican fundraiser, through his CraigPAC committee. He is, incidentally, married to country music star Sara Evans.

From today's Nashville Tennessean:

Sara Evans filed for divorce Thursday from her husband of 13 years, Craig Schelske, in Williamson County, alleging that he had committed adultery, verbally abused her and frequently watched pornography at home. On Thursday, Evans announced that she has dropped out of the ABC show “Dancing with the Stars” to give her family her full attention.

According to the document filed in chancery court, Schelske allegedly has on his computer at least 100 photographs of himself posing in an aroused state. There are several photographs of him having sex with other women, the filings stated. ...

On Sept. 28, one of the children confronted Schelske, 43, at the couple’s Franklin home when he was watching pornography on TV, the filing stated. The couple’s children are 2, 3 and 7 years old.

Evans, 35, requested a temporary restraining order prohibiting Schelske from physically and verbally abusing her, exposing their three young children to pornographic materials of any kind, consuming alcoholic beverages to excess in front of Evans or the children, and taking their children to Oregon, which would interfere with her temporary and pending custody.

Earlier this year, Tom Delay emailed Republicans asking them to vote for Sara Evans on the show Dancing with the Stars:

Sara Evans has been a strong supporter of the Republican Party and represents good American values in the media. ... One of her opponents on the show is ultra liberal talk show host Jerry Springer. We need to send a message to Hollywood and the media that smut has no place on television by supporting good people like Sara Evans.

Discuss.

  • Brian (unverified)
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    From Schelske's 2002 voters pamphlet statement:

    "President Bush: Great leadership: character, integrity, vision and fortitude. Like him I will extol our values..."

  • Garrett (unverified)
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    Tom Delay is such a tool. If she has such high moral character I wonder how long she put up with Craig watching porn all the time? I wonder how many photos there are of her on his computer? Why is Tom Delay lecturing anyone on morals. How many counts has he been indicted on now?

  • Sandra (unverified)
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    blech, I'm so tired of this stuff. Can't we just read about this crap when we google news for "republican + sleaze"? We all know where to find it. Let's talk about blue issues and leave this stuff for elsewhere, can we please?

  • Katy (unverified)
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    Kari, this is so funny - I was just about to e-mail you the link to this story.

  • PM (unverified)
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    Makes one wonder what's in the background of the current R candidate for the 5th District...

  • Sponge (unverified)
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    For the record, Schelske was not the GOP nominee to run against Hooley in 2002; he lost in the primary to Brian Boquist.

  • (Show?)

    There are some skeletons, PM. Nothing clear-cut, but let's just say he was a constant lightning rod of controversy during his time at PSU.

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    Sounds like she dumped him so fast she left the suds in the bucket and the clothes hanging out on the line.

    I found a couple of interesting nuggets in the 2002 Brainstorm NW profile of Schelske and Evans on Schelske's old campaign web site. It sounds like Sara Evans didn't much care for Oregon, which she called home for periods of time in the last 15 years.

    "What was Sara's reaction to being an Oregonian? Not happy with the weather. 'The rain made the biggest impression,' says Sara, 'and the gray. It took some getting used to. And the Oregon mentality also tooksome getting used to. I'm from Missouri, a religious state. It's very different here. People are afraid to spank their kids here.'"...

    "Sara for her part remains a little cautious of the Oregon media and the liberal nature of the state. 'I remember watching the press at a George W. fundraiser in October at the Rose Garden (Sara sang the national anthem). There were a lot of people there and a couple of times W. would say something and they (the press) would roll their eyes.'"

    D*mn lib'rul media! Of course, now, it's 2/3 of the country rolling their eyes...

  • (Show?)

    For the record, Schelske was not the GOP nominee to run against Hooley in 2002; he lost in the primary to Brian Boquist.

    Sponge, thank you. I've fixed the post.

  • Deep Purple (unverified)
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    Sara is a good friend. God bless her, and the kids. She packed up her Oregon Voter Registration and Registered Republican in Tennessee last April. This has been a long time coming.

  • frank carper (unverified)
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    There are some skeletons, PM. Nothing clear-cut, but let's just say he was a constant lightning rod of controversy during his time at PSU.

    keep looking people. there's more. after psu.

  • RepubsLieAgain (unverified)
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    He has his own statement now completely denying the porn thing. It is via Press Release:

    http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061013/dcf051.html?.v=34

    In other words, it's a 'he said, she said' thing. If the pics go public however, it will be another she said it!

  • Jeri (unverified)
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    Out of this whole story - I think it bothers me most that Delay would take time to send out an e-mail to support someone on a dance show. As if voting someone on, or off, sends a message about anything other than they can't dance. Ridiculous. The rest is just another start of an ugly divorce and I'd suggest rumors/gossip/ and going to the extemes to keep your kids on your side.......

  • Bride of Chucky (unverified)
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    Is Charlie Sheen a Democrat? Because his wife accused him of MANY OF THE SAME DESPICABLE PERVERSIONS THAT THOSE FILTY REPUBLICANS HAVE.

    Funny how nasty people are when they're getting a divorce. Good thing that only Republicans have those kinky skeletons in the closet.

  • ellie (unverified)
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    I'm a bit late picking up on this...

    Reading that excerpt from Tom DeLay's email is pretty freakin' hilarious though.

    Bride of Chucky might have a point... if Denise Richards runs for Congress.

  • Sid Leader (unverified)
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    Heya Bride.

    I'm a big fan of Charlie Sheen, and he would be OUTRAGED that you have compared his sex-drug-and-porn habits with the PROFESSIONAL PERVERTS in the Grand Old Party.

    Charlie's just a piker when compared with Schelske, Foley and Ney. And Charlie likes em legal, unlike Foley.

    And that's just THIS week in GOP politics!

    Come on, Bride, your Republican family values is KILLIN us!!!! With laughter.

  • IAmItIs (unverified)
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    <h2>This Craig dude is a total psycho. He belongs to some organization that wants to rewrite history and practically have Jesus signing the Declaration of Independence. What a nut.</h2>
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