So, you're a Freshman Republican House member facing your first re-election opportunity, in a seat that was held by a Democrat the last 12 years, and you make a major, major gaffe, one that not only causes questions about your history but also offends your base. Great news for the Democrats, right?
You see, Rep. Kevin Yoder, KS-03, went skinny dipping in the Sea of Galilee.
U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder of Kansas apologized to his constituents Sunday night after a published report revealed the freshman lawmaker swam nude in the Sea of Galilee during a private fact-finding trip to the Mideast last August.
And it's NATIONAL NEWS-
it was Letterman's Top 10 List...
More in extended...
So, there was a lapse of judgement where a sitting Rep. put into power by the Christian Right desecrates a holy site. And what could make a self-professed evangelical Christian do something like this?
You'd be right if you said "alcohol"-
But the revelation of the incident could prove embarrassing for Yoder. In its story, Politico said it was told privately that alcohol may have been involved in the incident, which took place the evening of Aug. 18, 2011. Smith said the congressman had wine at dinner but was not drunk.
Yoder, 36, admitted he dove into the sea "without a swimsuit."
Christians consider the Sea of Galilee a holy site; it is where the Bible says Jesus walked on water.
This is pretty bad, isn't it? But
I guess his explanation might pass muster-
"It was a spontaneous moment where other members of Congress were jumping in," he said. "I made the mistake of diving in. I was in for about 10 seconds and got back out."
EXCEPT that
Yoder has a history of problems with alcohol, including a 2009 drunk driving incident:
On Saturday, Yoder spokeswoman Alissa McCurley said the 3rd District nominee was convicted of speeding and refusing to take a preliminary breath test to determine whether his blood-alcohol content was higher than the legal limit of 0.08 percent. She modified that version Saturday night by indicating Yoder entered a guilty plea to driving his Lexus 80 mph in a 70-mph zone on K-10 highway and that the infraction for rejecting the alcohol test was dismissed.
For fun,
here he is running from the press after this incident.
And what do other Republicans say about Yoder's Sea of Galilee adventure?
Other lawmakers on the trip also went into the water at what's considered a holy site for many Christians, and Yoder said their actions earned them a rebuke from House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. But Politico reported Sunday that Yoder was the only one who wore no clothes.
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and his running mate, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, criticized Yoder's behavior during an interview with a New Hampshire television station.
"I think it's reprehensible," Romney told WMUR-TV. "I think it's another terrible mistake by individuals."
Wow... a guy with a history of alcohol issues (recent) goes on an international trip, desecrates a holy site, earns a rebuke from the Republican leadership and Presidential candidate, offends his religious base... his opponent must be rejoicing? Right?
Oh, right, because Rep. Kevin Yoder has no opponent.
There is a clamor from some Democrats for Akin and Yoder to resign; some Republicans want Akin to resign. Akin probably would do Republicans a favor if he did resign and take the issue away from the GOP presidential campaign. Yoder is unopposed by Democrats in this election.
This is why we run candidates in EVERY seat. If we had a Democrat running against him, even as a placeholder, there would be increased pressure for him to resign, there would be increased pressure for the Koch Bros. or whoever to pony up more money to save this seat. And every dollar there is a dollar not spent somewhere else.
A Kansas Democratic spokesman said he believes a special election would be called if Yoder stepped down.
“It is beyond inappropriate for a sitting Congressman, acting in his official capacity, to strip naked in the presence of other Congressmen and their families,” Kansas Democratic Party chairwoman Joan Wagnon stated in a news release, calling for him to resign.
Sorry, Joan Wagnon, I place the blame first on the Kansas Democratic party for letting a seat represented by Dennis Moore (a Democrat) for 6 terms until 2010, go this easily. There was not a single person in this 700,000 person district you could have filed an entry for? Really?
Maybe the first resignation should be Wagnon.
Second, I blame the national Democratic party for writing off Kansas. Yeah, Obama's not winning it. But you could have been 1 step close to a Speaker Pelosi. If there are 217 Democrats in the 2012 House, look to KS-03 as your great lost opportunity.
Anyway, its not often your unopposed Republican Congressman is featured as the single subject of Letterman's top 10 list... enjoy.
TOP TEN KEVIN YODER EXCUSES
10. "That's how we party in Kansas."
9. "I can't swim naked, but Barney Frank can walk around like this?" (Picture Frank in a blue sweater and jacket.)
8. "Putting the 'junk' in 'congressional junket.'"
7. "It's Obama's fault."
6. "It had been days since a congressman did something embarrassing."
5. "Trying to take the focus off Mitt Romney's taxes."
4. "In my defense, I had been drinking heavily."
3. "People in the Middle East are pretty easygoing about nudity."
2. "It was spring break; chill out."
1. "What's the big deal, I was naked the whole trip."