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Not a good day for Republican Congressmen

A

Anonymous

Guest
GOP lawmakers reprimanded after swim in Sea of Galilee

Posted by
CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash and CNN Senior Congressional Producer Deirdre Walsh
(CNN) – It was the end of a long, hot day in Israel when it happened: Republican lawmakers, along with a smattering of aides and family members, dived into the Sea of Galilee, a holy site for Christians where the Bible says Jesus walked on water.

Several GOP sources familiar with the events on August 4, 2011 said one of those Republicans, Rep. Kevin Yoder of Kansas, wasn't wearing any clothes. Others say they dived in for religious reasons.



The incident happened a year ago, but the repercussions are just now being felt in Washington after a report in Politico detailed the trip and an ensuing FBI investigation. A law enforcement official said the FBI looked at the incident in Israel, saying the late-night swimming was probed to determine if U.S. officials were putting themselves at risk, or if any information the lawmakers possessed could have been exposed by a night of drinking and partying. This official did not believe there was any damage.

A source said the group was prodded to jump into the water by waiters at the restaurant where they were eating, who told the crowd of lawmakers, aides and family members that patrons regularly jumped into the water on hot days. The waiters themselves jumped into the water first as a demonstration to the Americans.

"There's no question there was a sense of lightheartedness and there were those who were drinking alcohol," said Rep. David Schweikert of Arizona, who was at the dinner but did not swim.

After prodding from the waiters, some of the Americans dived in. Of the 30 members of Congress on the trip, a little more than half went swimming in the Sea of Galilee.

Yoder, who's serving his first term in Congress, was among the last to jump in, and was the only one who was completely nude. As he dived into the water naked, someone screamed that he was not wearing any clothes, according to the GOP sources.

Soon after that the swim came to an end.

As the trip began last August, several of the Republican members participating told GOP Whip Kevin McCarthy that they wanted to swim in the Sea of Galilee for religious reasons, and at least two congressmen on the trip say they swam, fully clothed, because of the spiritual significance of the body of water.

Rep. Steve Southerland of Florida jumped in holding his 21-year-old daughter's hand. She is now headed to be a missionary.

Rep. Tom Reed of New York swam with his wife Jean. Reed's spokesman Tim Kolpien said the pair "swam together with a large group – appropriately clothed. There was no impropriety and he is unaware of any investigation."

Sources said when McCarthy and Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor found out about the group swim, the two GOP leaders were furious. They called a members-only meeting the next morning to reprimand the group – both those who swam and those who abstained.

"Twelve months ago, [Cantor] dealt with this immediately and effectively to ensure such activities would not take place in the future," Cantor spokesman Doug Heye wrote in a statement Sunday after reports of the incident emerged.

Kevin Smith, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, wrote that" [Cantor] handled the situation swiftly and appropriately."

Rep. David Schweikert of Arizona, who was on the Israel trip but did not go swimming, described a "high level of annoyance" from Cantor and McCarthy, and characterized the meeting as a "scolding."

McCarthy and Cantor were afraid that news of the swim would leak, anticipating how bad it would look for members of Congress to be seen drinking and swimming late at night. They were mostly worried, however, because Yoder took off his clothes and jumped into the water in front of the whole group – including at least two female staffers.

Senior House Republicans were also concerned about the timing of the incident, which came right after a bitter fight over raising the federal debt limit and as the stock market was tumbling.

Rep. Schweikert framed the late night swim as an example of a lack of judgment, pointing particularly to Rep. Ben Quayle, who he will face in a GOP primary to represent Arizona's 8th Congressional district in a little more than a week.

Anna Haberlein, a spokeswoman for Ben Quayle's campaign, said their rivals were "opportunistically promoting the story," writing "They lie for convenience. They aren't real leaders and they will do and say anything to stay in office."

Quayle, himself, also weighed in with a statement: "The real question here is why is Dave Schweikert spreading these malicious falsehoods, a week before our primary, if he has known about inappropriate behavior for over a year? The mask is off and Dave Schweikert has revealed himself as exactly the low and dishonest career politician the public has come to loathe."

Quayle's wife – who was more than eight months pregnant during the trip to Israel - wrote in a statement to CNN that neither she nor her husband had any knowledge of the skinny dipping incident.

"Ben and I and our daughter Evie were there together that evening in the Holy Land, although I was eight and a half months pregnant with her," Tiffany Quayle wrote. "We were neither party nor witness to any of the inappropriate behavior described in the article, nor were we a part of, or aware of any inquiry. We did return to Arizona with some water from the Sea of Galilee to baptize Evie after she was born."

Quayle's office said Monday that the Arizona Republican "proudly [swam] for religious reasons," but was not a part of the larger group.

Another Republican on the trip, Rep. Renee Ellmers, left the restaurant before the swimming incident and learned about it the next day, according to a senior GOP aide.

A spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which is charged with electing Democrats to the lower chamber, wrote in a statement Monday the Israel antics looked "more like a scene out of Animal House than a delegation of Members of Congress representing America in Israel – one of our most important security partners."

"Republican leaders knew that these House Republicans' behavior was inappropriate and wrong, but kept the FBI investigation under wraps for more than a year," DCCC communications director Jesse Ferguson wrote. "What other inappropriate, embarrassing behavior have Republican Members of Congress been engaged in that Republican Leaders are keeping under wraps? It's getting harder and harder to keep track of this House of Scandal given how many House Republicans face FBI investigations."

A GOP aide, however, maintained that the story would mostly play in Washington, rather than in the Republican lawmakers' districts. Yoder is running unopposed by a Democrat in his race for re-election.

The congressman apologized in a statement, writing "regrettably I jumped into the water without a swimsuit."

"It is my greatest honor to represent the people of Kansas in Congress and [for] any embarrassment I have caused for my colleagues and constituents, I apologize," Yoder added.

I wonder how many millions $ of taxpayer money it took for this drunken bunch of Congressmen to find out they really can't walk on water.. :???:

Senior House Republicans were also concerned about the timing of the incident, which came right after a bitter fight over raising the federal debt limit and as the stock market was tumbling.

They must not be very concerned about government spending or the budget if they can all take off- take family and staff and fly to Israel on a drunken junket and go skinny dipping...

The surprise to me is that my Congressman wasn't there- as this is the type drunken escapade he usually pulls on his government paid junkets...
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
How much does skinny dipping cost these days?

When I was youunger, it was still free.

But I guess if your Secret Service agents are off hiring hookers, when they should be watching US representatives, or the President, it might get more expensive.

But I bet OT wouldn't have too much problem with that...
 

Tam

Well-known member
Let's see what kind of week Obama has had to see why Oldtimer is digging up stories of a little known Congressman going skinny dipping shall we.

He is told to hit the road on the cover of the liberal rag Newsweek.

His gaffe master VP forgets what century it is, what State he is in and tells blacks the Republicans are going to put YOU ALL back in chains that set off a call for him to step aside due to his blatant RACIAL COMMENT.

The Military group releases a video blaming Obama for Top Secret leaks that are risking National Security and their lives. Telling Obama he did not kill Osama they did.

According to a new book out Obama was over rode in the decision on killing Osama. So him laying claims to KILLING OSAMA is in question by others than the Military.

According to another new book out his Campaign team are having BIG problems getting along. And that Obama is so obsessed over beating Romney he could careless about the anything else. The earlier rumors of him wanting to KILL ROMNEY or not to far off and that is why his campaign is filthy dirty and disrespectful towards his opponent.

His over two hundred fund raisers are not able to keep up with his campaigns spending habits, and his opponent is raking in the dough.
(Which should not surprise anyone after he spent 6 trillion dollars in four years as President.)

The Dems lost their lawsuit over Penn. Voter ID law as the Judge rules to uphold it.

Red flags are flying due to possible voter fraud that the Dems claims is not a problem in the US.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz the chairman of the DNC is being attacked by the media for her lieing.

He is sliced and diced over the soft ball interviews he is taking while avoiding the White House Press Core Questions. When he buckles and surprises the press core he winds up blatantly lieing to them about his campaigns behavior and the dirty campaign he is waging.

It is reported that Biden is editing press releases before they are allowed to leave his office.

He has to face I BUILT MY BUSINESS and Obama can kiss my azz signs and banners while out trying to get those pizzed off small business owners to support him.

A bakery owner turns down his VP's photo op. and the Secret Service detail guarding his VP rewards the bakery owner by buying a bunch of cookies for the road. After the news hits the air waves the bakers neighbors flood his place in support of what he did and he has to close as he ran out of food.


Romney declines the Democrats offer to stop bugging him about his taxes if he releases 5 more years of records, and suggests that maybe the Dems should get back to the important issues like the ECONOMY.

Paul Ryan is explaining Obama is robbing Medicare to pay for Obamacare and his plan doen't affect anyone older than 55 unlike Obama's claims that it does. And it looks as if the eldery are believing him as Obama is dropping in some polls in swing states.

Economic reports were again BAD which is getting to be the norm with Obama.

Obama's week was so bad he even missed his Golf game to go to church and pray for his job come Nov.

Yep I can see why Oldtimer is digging up stories to distract that fact that Obama had such a great week. :wink: :roll:



Oh and when the Republican congressman made the stupid rape comment Romney acted quickly and denounced the comment as something he did not support and the Republicans acrossed the country requested he step down and the RSC cut his funding. Unlike Obama, when Reid used an unknown source to claim Romney hasn't paid taxes in a decade when Romney's released tax forms prove otherwise, when his Super Pac claimed Romney was responsible for a woman's death, when Pelosi called Republicans the EColi party, when his Deputy Campaign manager claims Romney is a felon, when Biden told blacks Republicans are going to put them back in chains, when Maher a large Super Pac donor made disgusting comments about Conservative women. when the Black causus claimed a person was gunned down in the streets like a rabid dog because the shooter was RACIST when the FBI investigation proved he wasn't.

Say Oldtimer instead of digging up stories about little known Congressman skinny dipping why don't you dig up a story about why Obama is not man enough to live up to his promise to be a transparent, uniting, problem solving, bipartisan president verses the radically racist incompetent, record sealing twit that allows his supporters to get down in the dirt on his behalf and lies about the fact they are doing it, that he really is. :roll:
 

Tam

Well-known member
Sorry for the rant but I'm sick of listening to about how good the US is doing and how many jobs Obama has created when the facts don't back up any of their claims/lies. And when Obama and his supporters like Oldtimer can't defend his record in light of the facts the dirt digging starts.

This skinny dipping story would have never been printed if the Obama media had one good Obama story to report. But this week was nothing to brag about, in fact it proved the Dems are all lieing scumbags so the dirt digging to destroy a Republican ANY REPUBLICAN started and Oldtimer is more than happy to spread their crap to do as much damage as possible to distract from OBAMA'S RECORD. I would love to know if there is a Democrat out there that will stand up and hold Obama accountable for the $6 trillion more in debt in four years after they b*tched, moaned and groaned about how much Bush spent in 8 years, which wasn't nearly as much as Obama has spent. :mad:
 

hopalong

Well-known member
You mean you are not tired of oldtimer (((the drunk)) ranting and raving over folks drinking, when he spends most of his time in the local water hole himself???
 

Mike

Well-known member
Must be a slow news day when the Dems revert to sensationalizing someone going swimming in a public lake? :roll:

This has to be the most ridiculous & elementary post OT has ever made................ and believe me, there's been some doozies.....................

Plus alluding that going in the water was the reason for the trip.

How small-minded can you be? :roll:
 

Larrry

Well-known member
I can see the root of ot's terrible treatment of women. Because they always kick his a$$ when he gets out of line.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Soapweed said:
Great job, Tam. :tiphat: Great jab, too. :cboy:

So if I understand you right- all you folks think that its alright for a bunch of your Congressmen to use your tax money to fly around the world, with the wife and kids, get drunk, and go on midnite swims in Israel-- which included a Congressman stripping down to his birthday suit in front of his female aides (sexual harassment ?) :???:

And instead of chastising it- you seem to condone it by attacking the messenger instead!

Don't any of you Hypocrits ever bitch again about government spending, or waste of your tax dollar.....
 

hopalong

Well-known member
But it ok for you prez to and his wife use seperate plane to go to the same place for vacation,,to use the taxpayers money to go to NYC for a date night. by plane, fighter escorts and secret service protection too???

That is ok because they are demo craps eh oldtimer????
 

Larrry

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Soapweed said:
Great job, Tam. :tiphat: Great jab, too. :cboy:

So if I understand you right- all you folks think that its alright for a bunch of your Congressmen to use your tax money to fly around the world, with the wife and kids, get drunk, and go on midnite swims in Israel-- which included a Congressman stripping down to his birthday suit in front of his female aides (sexual harassment ?) :???:

And instead of chastising it- you seem to condone it by attacking the messenger instead!

Don't any of you Hypocrits ever bitch again about government spending, or waste of your tax dollar.....

No one said that.

It's just odd that the leftwingernuts find more wrong with this and then set idly by as pelosi spends the money she does, the obama regime has mired us in astronomical debt, michelle goes on lavish vacations. I could go on forver, but there is no use, You HAVE PROVEN that you a leftwingernut HYPOCRITE
 

TexasBred

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Soapweed said:
Great job, Tam. :tiphat: Great jab, too. :cboy:

So if I understand you right- all you folks think that its alright for a bunch of your Congressmen to use your tax money to fly around the world, with the wife and kids, get drunk, and go on midnite swims in Israel-- which included a Congressman stripping down to his birthday suit in front of his female aides (sexual harassment ?) :???:

And instead of chastising it- you seem to condone it by attacking the messenger instead!

Don't any of you Hypocrits ever bitch again about government spending, or waste of your tax dollar.....

Sexual harassment?? It was midnight OT....and that is also "after hours" on your own time. You know...sort of like you dropping in at the watering hole (hopefully after work) for a drink or eight.
 

Tam

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Don't any of you Hypocrits ever bitch again about government spending, or waste of your tax dollar.....

Gee seems the only time spending in the US warrented b*tching is when a Republican does it right Oldtimer.

Where is your outrage over the lavish vacations the Obama's take?

Where was your outrage when Michelle put her daughters on the tax payer payroll during a foreign trip so the US tax payer had to pay for their airfare and accomodations.

Where is your outrage when Obama uses Air Force One to attend DNC fund raisers and go on Late Night TV to yuk it up with his celeb. buddies?

Where is your outrage at the $6 Trillion debt that Obama has tacked on your Grandchildren?

Where is your outrage that Obama and the Leftwing media are using you to spread their lies by using this story to distract from Obama's HORRIBLE TRACK RECORD AS PRESIDENT OF THE ONCE UNITED STATES.

BTW have you dug up the article about why Obama will not MAN UP? didn't think so. :wink:
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Tam said:
Oldtimer said:
Don't any of you Hypocrits ever bitch again about government spending, or waste of your tax dollar.....

Gee seems the only time spending in the US warrented b*tching is when a Republican does it right Oldtimer.

Where is your outrage over the lavish vacations the Obama's take?

Where was your outrage when Michelle put her daughters on the tax payer payroll during a foreign trip so the US tax payer had to pay for their airfare and accomodations.

Where is your outrage when Obama uses Air Force One to attend DNC fund raisers and go on Late Night TV to yuk it up with his celeb. buddies?

Where is your outrage at the $6 Trillion debt that Obama has tacked on your Grandchildren?

Where is your outrage that Obama and the Leftwing media are using you to spread their lies by using this story to distract from Obama's HORRIBLE TRACK RECORD AS PRESIDENT OF THE ONCE UNITED STATES.

BTW have you dug up the article about why Obama will not MAN UP? didn't think so. :wink:

I don't need any outrage against Obama- you do enough ranting and raging..

And I knew you or any of you wingnut buddies wouldn't see it unless I posted it- because you live and die only off the radical websites/media and even if you did you wouldn't post something blasphemous against your cult...

But I didn't want you to miss the fact that those heroes of yours blow money as fast as Obama or many Dems-- in fact just a few years ago they did it faster...

And I'm loving all you guys excuses to justify this ! :p :lol:
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
those heroes of yours blow money as fast as Obama or many Dems
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gee, OT, have you been paying attention? Nobody spends or has
spent money as fast and as much as Obama.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Faster horses said:
those heroes of yours blow money as fast as Obama or many Dems
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gee, OT, have you been paying attention? Nobody spends or has
spent money as fast and as much as Obama.

You must forget GW and the $ Trillions spent on a trumped up war- and then to rebuild the sand pit we blew apart for no reason..
At least Obama spent a major share in the US and with US citizens...
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Faster horses said:
those heroes of yours blow money as fast as Obama or many Dems
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gee, OT, have you been paying attention? Nobody spends or has
spent money as fast and as much as Obama.

You must forget GW and the $ Trillions spent on a trumped up war- and then to rebuild the sand pit we blew apart for no reason..
At least Obama spent a major share in the US and with US citizens...

You are joking, right? ("a major share in the US and with US citizens")...
like the stimulous where he paid off his buddies at the taxpayers expense?
Bush had the Dems on his side after 9-11 so that wasn't his deal alone...
and even with the war, Obama has surpassed what Bush spent. I'm
surprised I know this and you don't. Seriously.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Faster horses said:
Oldtimer said:
Faster horses said:
those heroes of yours blow money as fast as Obama or many Dems
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gee, OT, have you been paying attention? Nobody spends or has
spent money as fast and as much as Obama.

You must forget GW and the $ Trillions spent on a trumped up war- and then to rebuild the sand pit we blew apart for no reason..
At least Obama spent a major share in the US and with US citizens...

You are joking, right? ("a major share in the US and with US citizens")...
like the stimulous where he paid off his buddies at the taxpayers expense?
Bush had the Dems on his side after 9-11 so that wasn't his deal alone...
and even with the war, Obama has surpassed what Bush spent. I'm
surprised I know this and you don't
. Seriously.

Obama had to and is still fighting the Bush wars that GW couldn't get handled- and still killing the terrorists (like Osama Bin Laden) that Bush couldn't get done...
Come to think of it- what did Bush do besides spend money like a drunken sailor?
 
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