The real news is bad enough but this is positively bizarre. Politico just broke a story about a Congressional junket to Israel sponsored by an AIPAC offshoot. The “charitable organization affiliated with AIPAC” spent $10,000 a piece on a trip to Israel by Republican freshmen from the 112th Congress. They weren’t there long until they started acting out. At their stop at the Sea of Galilee, there are reports of lots of drinking and skinny dipping. It was bad enough to lead to an FBI investigation. Are these people crazy – nudity, alcohol, and disrespect for the Holy Land. That might lead a few folks to stay home on election day. (Yoder campaign image)
The FBI probed a late-night swim in the Sea of Galilee that involved drinking, numerous GOP freshmen lawmakers, top leadership staff – and one nude member of Congress, according to more than a dozen sources, including eyewitnesses.
During a fact-finding congressional trip to the Holy Land last summer, Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.) took off his clothes and jumped into the sea, joining a number of members, their families and GOP staff during a night out in Israel … More than 20 people took part in the late-night dip in the sea, according to sources who took part in the trip. Arizona Republic-Politico August 19
The strangeness by Yoder should come as no surprise. In the past, he’s been caught posing for campaign pictures with children and a dog. There was just one problem. The kids and dog belonged to someone else. What a creep!
but other than the entertainment value (admittedly high), I don’t know why it’s getting so much attention. These days the over-aged frat boys that the Republicans keep sending to Congress are just trying to put the Onion out of business.
All I can say is that I hope there’s a statute of limitations on that charge.
“Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you and you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use.” ~ Steve Jobs
It’s one thing to bare false witness, yet another to horse around in the fields of the lord.
(Now I remember where that admonishment comes from. Sopranos – Michael at his pizza place breaking up a fight by two toughs: “Show some respect for the pizza parlor.”)
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I have a feeling that the reason this doesn’t spark outrage is because the religious conservatives know it’s just all for show at some level.
Also the glass house house principle fully applies. It’s hard for the deceitful ones to call out their associates because it brings the spotlight too close to themselves.
So what if a bunch of Democrats did the same thing? It would be front page news for weeks and proof that liberals are sacrilegious.
But among the pious the response is a coverup. Call it the Catholic Priest principle: calling out your brethren eventually results in your own turn to walk the plank. So cover it up instead.
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Eff why eye:
thought this incident was the most positive thing we’d heard about Yoder.
…I best keep keeping one step ahead.
“Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you and you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use.” ~ Steve Jobs