JMS Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 I don't really know all the facts, but what I do know this seems to be pretty innocent... I remember reading about Jimmy Carter's first trip to Israel, he felt the need to jump into the Jordan river.. I don't know if he was naked or not, but he said it was very cold, and his guide and many watchers thought he was a nut... This seems like a similar religiously inspired event. Exclusive: FBI probed GOP trip with drinking, nudity in Israel 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, 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. A year ago, my wife, Brooke, and I joined colleagues for dinner at the Sea of Galilee in Israel. After dinner I followed some Members of Congress in a spontaneous and very brief dive into the sea and regrettably I jumped into the water without a swimsuit,” Yoder said in a statement to POLITICO. “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.” Travis Smith, Yoder’s chief of staff, told POLITICO “Neither Congressman Yoder, nor his staff, have been interviewed by the FBI.” These GOP sources confirmed the following freshmen lawmakers also went swimming that night: Rep. Steve Southerland (R-Fla.) and his daughter; Rep. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) and his wife; Reps. Ben Quayle (R-Ariz.), Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) and Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.). Many of the lawmakers who ventured into the lake said they did so because of the religious significance of the waters. Others said they were simply cooling off after a long day. Several privately admitted that alcohol may have played a role in why some of those present decided to jump in. (PHOTOS: When congressmen go wild) 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 House Republicans were a part of this trip. Neither Cantor nor McCarthy went swimming that night, the sources said. Some of their staff did. The account of that August 2011 night in Israel was pieced together for the first time by POLITICO based on interviews with more than a dozen sources, including eyewitnesses, as well as public records of the trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumbo Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 uhhh what is up with that title? and the OP formatting. you dropping acid? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS Posted August 20, 2012 Author Share Posted August 20, 2012 uhhh what is up with that title? and the OP formatting. you dropping acid? I'm working it.:rubeyes: Curses to you Politico, for corrupting my cut and paste ..!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumbo Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 It's getting better. A rare event in the tailgate. Someone or something getting better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckus Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Why an FBI probe? It is all weird. Really really weird, but I don't understand why it would be an issue for the FBI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botched Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 uhhh what is up with that title? and the OP formatting. you dropping acid? He had me at probed. As to the story, I don't see why it's a big deal. Sounds like everybody had fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS Posted August 20, 2012 Author Share Posted August 20, 2012 Why an FBI probe?It is all weird. Really really weird, but I don't understand why it would be an issue for the FBI. I think the FBI has a role to play if they hear reports of people getting naked on a political junket where drinking was involved. I just think the Jordan River, or Sea of Galilee would be two places where even the most religiously conservative people might excuse such activities. It would kind of be funny if Israel passed anti nudity laws and busted them though... I could imagine a lot of eye rolling on the part of domestics. Like, hey man, that's our drinking water!!.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 This is so........Odd? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AsburySkinsFan Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 How old is Rep. Sullivan's daughter? There are four and they all look to be in their Late teens or early twenties. http://www.southerlandforcongress.com/splash-page/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 https://twitter.com/CharlieKayeCBS A federal source tells @CBSNews Rep Kevin Yoder is NOT being probed for nude swimming in Israel but as part of a broader corruption case.12:14 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellis Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 For some strange reason... after reading the details of this story, I couldn't help but think of the scene in True Blood earlier this season... of all the vampires drunk and high on Lilith's blood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tulane Skins Fan Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 This is probably the coolest thing the GOP has done in 20 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AsburySkinsFan Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 This is probably the coolest thing the GOP has done in 20 years. Shrinkage ain't cool bro! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Genius Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Meh. This isn't really a scandal. It's just someone(s) doing something (having drunken(?) fun) that most of the GOP says and/or acts like is wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 It's just tea party freshman having a tea party. Long island iced tea that is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGoodBits Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 https://twitter.com/CharlieKayeCBS That's more like the GOP we know and love. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan T. Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 It's just tea party freshman having a tea party.Long island iced tea that is. If the Sea of Galilee was cold, it was not-so-Long Island iced tea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bang Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Meh.This isn't really a scandal. It's just someone(s) doing something (having drunken(?) fun) that most of the GOP says and/or acts like is wrong. I agree, and <gag> good on Cantor for playing Dad and coming down on them. It should end there. ~Bang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 If the Sea of Galilee was cold, it was not-so-Long Island iced tea. ---------- Post added August-20th-2012 at 11:27 AM ---------- I agree, and <gag> good on Cantor for playing Dad and coming down on them. It should end there.~Bang Cantor is probably thinking - "Good lord, I have all these conservative party guys in my back pocket when it comes to Israel - and that's great - but why do they have to be so dumb?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Cantor is probably thinking - "Good lord, I have all these conservative party guys in my back pocket when it comes to Israel - and that's great - but why do they have to be so dumb?" Have you looked at the GOP platform, last few years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riggo-toni Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 How is this even scandalous, let alone requiring the FBI? How friggin' idiotically puritan have we become when people spontaneously jumping into a lake is newsworthy/cause for an investigation? Boehner supposedly hushed up an inquiry a few years back when one of his colleagues was accused (correctly) of sending sexually suggestive texts to a teenage boy, but he Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AsburySkinsFan Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 How is this even scandalous, let alone requiring the FBI? How friggin' idiotically puritan have we become when people spontaneously jumping into a lake is newsworthy/cause for an investigation? Boehner supposedly hushed up an inquiry a few years back when one of his colleagues was accused (correctly) of sending sexually suggestive texts to a teenage boy, but he So we should ignore it when Congressmen go skinny dipping while other politicians and their families go for a drunken romp in the very Sea Jesus walked on? Come on man, this IS a story, especially considering that it concerns another Congressman's daughter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrong Direction Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 How old is Rep. Sullivan's daughter?There are four and they all look to be in their Late teens or early twenties. http://www.southerlandforcongress.com/splash-page/ Dang. With four daughers who look like that, this guy deserves whatever fun he can get. Less stress in Washington. [Edit: I guess it wasn't him.] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 How is this even scandalous, let alone requiring the FBI? How friggin' idiotically puritan have we become when people spontaneously jumping into a lake is newsworthy/cause for an investigation? Boehner supposedly hushed up an inquiry a few years back when one of his colleagues was accused (correctly) of sending sexually suggestive texts to a teenage boy, but he Ummm... according to post 10, the FBI is involved because of corruption allegations, not because anyone jumped into a lake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.