UPDATED: Some readers have questioned why this episode is even newsworthy. Yoder apparently did noting illegal, after all. All of which is true. I believe it's newsworthy is because Yoder represents a far right district filled with constituents how disapprove of drinking, not to mention full nudity in mixed company. They also condemn many other things that aren't illegal not the least of which is homosexuality. It's not about the legality of what Yoder did. It's all about the hypocrisy of folks like Yoder who put on one face for their bigoted constituents yet act differently when they think they are out of public view.
Why is it almost always the Republican elected officials that get caught doing this type thing? I guess Congressman Kevin Yoder (pictured at left) can say in his defense he wasn't doing any toe tapping in a rest room stall and that apparently no minors were on the excursion where the nude swimming took place. Unfortunately, Yoder is running unopposed for his Kansas congressional seat so no opponent can have fun with this bit of naughty behavior (at least naught in the minds of the Christianist who seem to control Kansas). Interestingly, Virginia's prince of darkness, Eric Cantor, was apparently part of the group although he seems to have refrained from the nude swimming. Here are highlights from the Kansas City Star:
Why is it almost always the Republican elected officials that get caught doing this type thing? I guess Congressman Kevin Yoder (pictured at left) can say in his defense he wasn't doing any toe tapping in a rest room stall and that apparently no minors were on the excursion where the nude swimming took place. Unfortunately, Yoder is running unopposed for his Kansas congressional seat so no opponent can have fun with this bit of naughty behavior (at least naught in the minds of the Christianist who seem to control Kansas). Interestingly, Virginia's prince of darkness, Eric Cantor, was apparently part of the group although he seems to have refrained from the nude swimming. Here are highlights from the Kansas City Star:
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.
Politico reported the incident in a story on its website Sunday. The website said the FBI investigated the trip, which included other lawmakers and their spouses, as well as staff members.
It was not immediately clear what the FBI might have examined in relation to the trip. Yoder and his chief of staff, Travis Smith, said neither the Republican congressman nor any members of his staff had talked to the FBI.
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."
Politico said Yoder was the only person to remove all his clothes. His wife, Brooke, accompanied him on the trip, but she did not swim.
The trip, said to have been open only to those 18 and over, was sponsored by the American Israel Education Foundation, according to a database of travel records maintained by Legistorm.com. The trip lasted from Aug. 13 to Aug. 21 last year, the record show, and cost the foundation $20,087 for Yoder and his wife's travel, lodging, meals and other expenses.
In its story, Politico said 20 lawmakers and staff members were believed to have jumped in the waters of the Sea of Galilee, out of roughly 30 on the trip. It reported that Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, the senior Republican on the trip, scolded members for their behavior after the incident. Cantor did not swim that evening, the story said.
Citing sources, the website said other freshmen swam in the sea, including Rep. Steve Southerland of Florida and his daughter, Rep. Tom Reed of New York and his wife, and Reps. Ben Quayle of Arizona, Jeff Denham of California and Michael Grimm of New York. All the lawmakers are Republicans.
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