What a disaster for the GOP Clown Show!
Politico Exclusive Story
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, the sources told POLITICO. Other participants, including the daughter of another congressman, swam fully clothed while some lawmakers partially disrobed. More than 20 people took part in the late-night dip in the sea, according to sources who were participants in the trip.
. . . The Sea of Galilee, a Christian holy site, is where Jesus is said in the Bible to have walked on water.
The FBI looked into whether any inappropriate behavior occurred, but the interviews do not appear to have resulted in any formal allegations of wrongdoing.
But Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), who was the senior most GOP lawmaker in Israel on the trip, was so upset about the antics that he rebuked the 30 lawmakers the morning after the Aug. 18, 2011, incident, saying they were distracting from the mission of the trip.
Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was also on the privately funded excursion, which means two of the three top Republicans were a part of this trip. Neither Cantor nor McCarthy went swimming that night, the sources said. Some of their staff did.
THE NAKED SEA
Report: Late-Night GOP Swim In Israel Involved Drinking, Nudity
~ Front Page Headline on Huffington Post
NUDES fLASH! Skinny-dipping pol in Sea of Galilee
~ New York Daily News Headline
The GOP party of religion and family values cavorting nakedly in drunken bacchanalia where Christ walked on water. On the heels of Todd Akins "legitimate rape". The hole is getting deeper and deeper, one shovelful at a time.
~ comment by Lynne CA on Politico
I am surprised that the Sea of Galilee didn't part like what happened for Moses. I know if I was a water molecule, I wouldn't want to go there.
~ comment by HailtoThee Osiris on Politico
It looks like those holier than thou bozos turned their Israel trip into a toga party doesn't it?
Phonies is as phonies do.
~ comment by rkerg on Politico
Here's why:
1. On official duty.
2. Official duty paid for by a private agency but still being paid a government salary.
3. Costs upwards of $10,000.00 per person.
4. If the trip/expenses were not reported on the yearly disclosure forms, expect a visit from the IRS as well.
Any questions?
Classed dismissed!
~ comment by What Ever Man on Politico
The Republicans were on a fact finding mission to find Sodom and Gomorrah.
~ comment by RailRoadMike on Politico
Swim naked and drunk for Jesus. Hallelujah!
~ comment on Daily Kos
As Jesus once said: Thou shall get drunk and swim nude with thy colleagues, their daughters and your staffers whilst representing your nation!
~ comment by LieparDestin on Daily Kos
Public nudity in front of a minor? I have a feeling that there were laws broken.
~ comment by captainlaser on Daily Kos
Kiss my ass...this is a holy site!
Show a little respect!
;)
~ comment by Brainwrap on Daily Kos
I feel incredibly remorseful that I have caused embarrassment to my constituents and I have caused folks who believe in me to be disappointed,” Yoder told The Star Sunday night.
The gravity of the situation and the actions I’ve taken are not lost on me, and I feel certainly regret at what has occurred, and I just want to apologize to my constituents for a momentary lapse in judgment.
~ Kansas Congressman Kevin Yoder
This could have implications at least for (Ben) Quayle, the son of the former vice president. Ben Quayle has significant primary opposition for his Arizona seat from Dave Schweikert, a tea party-backed candidate.
~ Atlanta Journal Constitution
Ben Quayle is still an embarrassment to AZ and our country. It's not bad enough he was a founder of an adult website disparaging women, but now mocking the Congressional seat. Who paid for this trip? I'm sure we did. How much did it cost us?
What else can he do? Hopefully he will not be elected this year and just fade into the sunset.
~ Tamara L on Politico
Show me in the Constitution where it says I shouldn't soak my taint in the Sea of Galilee on an official delegation! politico.com/news/stories/0…
— David Waldman (@KagroX) August 20, 2012
Jeeze. I thought what happened in the Sea of Galilee stayed in the Sea of Galilee.
— Christina Gomez (@stayupearly) August 20, 2012#GOP
BREAKING: Kansas GOP congressman claims "legitimate shrinkage" after late night skinny-dip in Sea of Galilee
— The Daily Edge (@TheDailyEdge) August 20, 2012
And yet who among us has not skinny-dipped in the Sea of Galilee? politi.co/TOockL
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) August 20, 2012
nothing spells christian like a community drunken urination in the sea of galilee
— mike fogelsanger (@whisper1111) August 20, 2012
I just realized the GOP Galilee party was a year ago, so they've been covering it up ever since.
— Grace Lidia Suarez (@gracels) August 20, 2012
Mrs. Quayle says they did return to AZ with some water from the Sea of Galilee to baptist their child.
— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) August 20, 2012
RT
— Chai Feldblum (@chaifeldblum) August 20, 2012@jeffreygoldberg: Come on, it's the Sea of Galilee. People have been jumping in naked for 2,000 years. Mostly not drunk, however....
Akin & skinny dipping republicans in the Sea of Galilee, but never fear Mitt, we haven't forgot about your taxes
— Kellie (@NewOrleansLives) August 20, 2012#whereareMittstaxes
FBI arrests Israeli fundraiser for NY GOP Rep Grimm 8/17. Day later, report emerges on FBI probing CODEL to Israel which included
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) August 20, 2012#Grimm...
ben quayle, when not calling obama "the worst president in history" likes to skinny dip while on fact-finding missions wapo.st/PxDVlz
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) August 20, 2012
You know what would really piss off the Left? Tell them the skinnydipping Congressmen in Israel was actually a mass baptism.
— Denise Russell (@DRussell76) August 20, 2012
Don't blame the rank and file congressmen who got drunk and skinny dipped in Israel.Boehner makes all the decisions.
— GOP Unplugged (@GOPunplugged) August 20, 2012
Inclination to mock skinny-dipping congressman outweighed by sympathy for anyone who gets lectured by Eric Cantor.
— Alec MacGillis (@AlecMacGillis) August 20, 2012
For those who skinny-dip in the Sea of Galilee on the taxpayer's dime, Lord, we pray.
— Heather Vance (@hwvance) August 20, 2012#UnvirtuousAbbey
Sea of Galilee- Kiss my a__- This is a holy site!
— Dom P. (@NYgrooveX) August 20, 2012
Kevin Yoder makes a holy site just a little holey-er. politi.co/Saq1IW
— David Waldman (@KagroX) August 20, 2012