Sanctity of Marriage

May 18, 2010 10:32 AM

"Indiana Republican Rep. Mark Souder acknowledged an affair with a staffer Tuesday and unexpectedly announced his resignation, giving Democrats a chance at capturing what many had thought was a safe Republican seat." He had previously recorded a pro-abstinence video, with the woman he had the affair with.
posted by furiousxgeorge (124 comments total)

Well, at least he actually succeeded in making a pretty convincing argument for abstinence. If he had never had sex, none of this would ever have happened.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:34 AM on May 18, 2010 [19 favorites]

Once again, I'm thunderstruck at how a guy in his fifties who looks like a pudgy wad of butter that fell of the counter, manages to have an affair with an attractive younger woman. The allure of power? It's not like Congressmen hold court weekly to play "Live or Die" with interns and tank full of sharks.
posted by fatbird at 10:37 AM on May 18, 2010 [21 favorites]

He had previously recorded a pro-abstinence video, with the woman he had the affair with.

Liberal or conservative, Republican or Democrat, that is easily the funniest fucking thing I've read all year.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:38 AM on May 18, 2010 [56 favorites]

That's my Representative we're talking about.

Needless to say, the news media in Fort Wayne, Indiana is going sort of nuts right now, complete with hastily-edited local news coverage.

Local news video.

This apparently wasn't just an every day affair either. There's suggestion that he could be brought up on House ethics charges, which takes real work these days.
posted by valkyryn at 10:40 AM on May 18, 2010 [3 favorites]

This is why he needed the defense of marriage act -- he wasn't going to defend marriage on his own.
posted by inigo2 at 10:40 AM on May 18, 2010 [13 favorites]

I fucking hate the state of American politics......
posted by HuronBob at 10:40 AM on May 18, 2010 [5 favorites]

I am literally sitting 20 feet from his office here in fort wayne. I cant help myself but laugh openly at his hypocracy, and mourn what little decency we had left in politics. You stay classy Washington.
posted by Heliochrome85 at 10:41 AM on May 18, 2010 [4 favorites]

Stay classy.
posted by leotrotsky at 10:41 AM on May 18, 2010

Had he stayed in Diane, he wouldn't have had this problem.

Meanwhile: this is sexy talk at its best:

"... a mutual relationship with a part-time member of my staff."
posted by chavenet at 10:41 AM on May 18, 2010

First video, second link: "This video has been removed by the user." Aaawwww.
posted by Xoebe at 10:41 AM on May 18, 2010

Well, at least this one's a Republican.
posted by Afroblanco at 10:42 AM on May 18, 2010 [2 favorites]

These are my favorite stories, in terms of raw irony/poetic justice, narrowly edging out when someone who doesn't believe in vaccinations gets whooping cough.
posted by Damn That Television at 10:42 AM on May 18, 2010 [2 favorites]

Souder voted to impeach Bill Clinton in '98, incidentally.
posted by EarBucket at 10:42 AM on May 18, 2010 [63 favorites]

giving Democrats a chance at capturing what many had thought was a safe Republican seat.

Ha! Says who? You ever been to Indiana's fightin' 3rd? There's a better chance the seat will go to the cuddly, old, washed-up local white supremacist (hey-a, Tommy M!) than to a Democrat.

Disagree with me and I'll cut you. Knives at noon at Glenbrook!
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 10:43 AM on May 18, 2010 [3 favorites]

So I guess this balances out the Democrat who pretended he served in Vietnam? I hate American horse-race politics, too.
posted by kozad at 10:44 AM on May 18, 2010

I'm thunderstruck at how a guy in his fifties who looks like a pudgy wad of butter that fell of the counter, manages to have an affair with an attractive younger woman.

Stick around, there's a pretty good chance there will be an Ask Me question about this at 6:58 PM tomorrow.
posted by bondcliff at 10:44 AM on May 18, 2010 [98 favorites]

Souder is a staunch advocate of a federal prohibition of online poker
but poker in person is entirely different.
posted by lukemeister at 10:44 AM on May 18, 2010 [2 favorites]

I don't see why he would resign. The Democrats are so completely and totally inept they still wouldn't be able to get the seat from him.
posted by Xoebe at 10:44 AM on May 18, 2010 [4 favorites]

First video, second link: "This video has been removed by the user." Aaawwww.

Oh, I'm sure that will take care of that, we will never be seeing that video again!
posted by furiousxgeorge at 10:45 AM on May 18, 2010

So, it's abstinence until marriage and then all bets are off, right? Staffers, rent boys, guys in the next stall...
posted by JoanArkham at 10:45 AM on May 18, 2010 [6 favorites]

I don't see why he would resign. The Democrats are so completely and totally inept they still wouldn't be able to get the seat from him.

I don't see why he would resign because two sitting Republican senators are involved in massive sex scandals and the media literally doesn't give two shits. I bet some of you have to Google it just to know who I'm talking about.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 10:46 AM on May 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

heh... reading the comments on the "local coverage" link.. I came across this...

"BOTH REPUBS AND DEMS ARE FALLING PREY TO THE SECULAR PERVERTED SOCIETY PROMOTED BY LIBERALS!"

I knew, somehow, I would get blamed for this...
posted by HuronBob at 10:46 AM on May 18, 2010 [22 favorites]

Last month, I officiated at a wedding here in DC for two women who had to travel from Indiana to get married. I wonder if they're in this guy's district. The hypocrisy would be hilarious if it weren't so damned awful.
posted by MrMoonPie at 10:47 AM on May 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm thunderstruck at how a guy in his fifties who looks like a pudgy wad of butter that fell of the counter, manages to have an affair with an attractive younger woman.

I too am displeased that relationships are not always based entirely upon appearance.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:47 AM on May 18, 2010 [18 favorites]

Sorry, but this just isn't that interesting. Rekers has raised the bar for what counts as a conservative sex scandal. He's a hypocrite, and will likely have a tough time next election, but my humorous glands just aren't secreting lols.
posted by mccarty.tim at 10:48 AM on May 18, 2010

What, "I pledge to serve only 2 terms Souder"?

You know I wouldn't give a rat's ass what these politicians (or any other citizen for that matter) got up to in the private live as long as they didn't yammer on about the exact opposite of it in the public life. Yeah, I don't really expect any politician to extol the virtues of a poly-amorous relationship, but just shut the fuck up about relationship-morality in general and your ok. Sanctity of marriage, my ass.

But... at least he has the grace to resign when caught as a hypocrite, unlike many other who just brazen it out.
posted by edgeways at 10:49 AM on May 18, 2010 [3 favorites]

He's a hypocrite, and will likely have a tough time next election

Yeah, people sometimes don't like to reelect people who resigned in disgrace. :P
posted by furiousxgeorge at 10:51 AM on May 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

Huron Bob,

I often cite you as a particularly egregious example of the moral degradation that is sweeping our nation when I talk to my teenaged son.
posted by lukemeister at 10:51 AM on May 18, 2010 [12 favorites]

but my humorous glands just aren't secreting lols.

I will grant you that this lacks the panache of hiring someone from a website called rentboy.com. However, the hypocrisy that comes with filming an abstinence only video with your mistress has a flavor that, while more subtle, is equally delicious.
posted by Doublewhiskeycokenoice at 10:51 AM on May 18, 2010 [37 favorites]

Souder is a staunch advocate of a federal prohibition of online poker
but poker in person is entirely different.

Poker? I hardly know her!

sorry sorry
posted by edgeways at 10:52 AM on May 18, 2010 [3 favorites]

The media is going batshit insane for this in Central Indiana. I doubt this will help the democrats at all, though.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 10:52 AM on May 18, 2010

Am I the only one surprised that upon hearing another news story about a Republican elected official caught in an affair, that his affair was with a woman?
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:53 AM on May 18, 2010 [34 favorites]

Stick around, there's a pretty good chance there will be an Ask Me question about this at 6:58 PM tomorrow.

Damn, that time of week already? sheesh
posted by edgeways at 10:54 AM on May 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

I don't see why he would resign because two sitting Republican senators are involved in massive sex scandals and the media literally doesn't give two shits. I bet some of you have to Google it just to know who I'm talking about.

In fairness to the media, "Family Values Republican caught wearing two wetsuits" is pretty much a "dog bites man" story these days.
posted by fatbird at 10:54 AM on May 18, 2010

"In the poisonous environment of Washington, D.C., any personal failing is seized upon and twisted for political gain. I am resigning rather than put my family through a painful drawn out process."

He's practically a hero.
posted by notmydesk at 10:54 AM on May 18, 2010 [8 favorites]

At this point, it's impossible not to wonder who in the political/religious class and is part of our decades-old culture war has not (a) had an affair with or played footsie with a subordinate staffer, (b) asked a rent boy to pick up his luggage, or (c) engaged in some other activity that is the perfect example of what he generally denounces in public as the height of immorality. It's like some mass open-air Jungian shadow dance.

Or, on the other hand, it could be what Brazilian Archbishop (of Porto Alegre) Dadeus Grings says -- secular society forced all these people to do what they did, so it's not their fault!
posted by blucevalo at 10:54 AM on May 18, 2010 [3 favorites]

Thank god his opponent is pro-gun!
posted by Pollomacho at 10:54 AM on May 18, 2010

I'm thunderstruck at how a guy in his fifties who looks like a pudgy wad of butter that fell of the counter, manages to have an affair with an attractive younger woman.

There are an enormous amount of women who are attracted to perceived power. Wealth is perceived power, and that is why these women go after wealthy men. Being a celebrity or a congressman is perceived power, and that is why these women go after those men. Being a teacher or a coach is a position of perceived power. Hell, being a bartender in a restaurant is perceived power within the restaurant, and that is why these women will go after the bartender.

On the flip side, there are an enormous amount of men who are attracted to women based almost solely on physical appearance.

Of course, you can't make any observations like mine above here on Metafilter. People on Metafilter are or know women who are not attracted to perceived power, therefore they conclude such an observation is not valid.
posted by flarbuse at 10:55 AM on May 18, 2010 [9 favorites]

From his website.

"I believe that Congress must fight to uphold the traditional values that undergird the strength of our nation. The family plays a fundamental role in our society. Studies consistently demonstrate that it is best for a child to have a mother and father, and I am committed to preserving traditional marriage, the union of one man and one woman."

Buddy, that's one woman.
posted by ericb at 10:55 AM on May 18, 2010 [2 favorites]

Damn you, bondcliff, now I have to wipe coffee off of my screen.

Shakes fist, wipes coffee.
posted by mosk at 10:55 AM on May 18, 2010

FOX has confirmed that the aide Souder had an affair with is Tracy Jackson, a part-time aide who worked in his northern Indiana district office.

Jackson is still on staff.

Heh.
posted by DU at 10:56 AM on May 18, 2010 [25 favorites]

I don't see why he would resign because two sitting Republican senators are involved in massive sex scandals and the media literally doesn't give two shits. I bet some of you have to Google it just to know who I'm talking about.

I did and I'm still not sure.
posted by Caduceus at 11:01 AM on May 18, 2010

[...] I'm thunderstruck [...] The allure of power?

So you're not really thunderstruck, then.
posted by Crabby Appleton at 11:01 AM on May 18, 2010

> There are an enormous amount of women some people who are attracted to perceived power.

FTFY
posted by JoanArkham at 11:02 AM on May 18, 2010 [6 favorites]

I love seeing grown men cry and get all blubbery when confessing to their mistakes.
posted by wcfields at 11:03 AM on May 18, 2010

Ugh. I'm in his district too.

Note how the ad for his democratic challenger mentions he (the democrat) is pro-life and pro-gun.
posted by ropeladder at 11:08 AM on May 18, 2010

I wonder what her feet were doing under the table while she interviewed him?
posted by mareli at 11:08 AM on May 18, 2010

I'm thunderstruck at how a guy in his fifties who looks like a pudgy wad of butter that fell of the counter, manages to have an affair with an attractive younger woman.

lol this really surprises you?

He's got money, connections, and influence.

But don't worry, I'm sure you're a nice guy too.
posted by hamida2242 at 11:10 AM on May 18, 2010

The eight-term congressman apologized for his actions: "I'm sorry, Mrs. Jackson," he said at a news conference in Fort Wayne. "I am for real. I never meant to make your husband cry. I apologize a trillion times."
posted by benzenedream at 11:19 AM on May 18, 2010 [68 favorites]

The eight-term congressman apologized for his actions

Gonna break my favorite button on that.
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 11:20 AM on May 18, 2010

People, people! Slow down or Jon Stewart will have nothing left!
posted by Theta States at 11:21 AM on May 18, 2010 [4 favorites]

Sweet. One less staunch advocate for the war on drugs.
posted by Brak at 11:22 AM on May 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm afraid at this point all I can say is..meh. I assume that all politicians are aldulterors, and frankly I could give a shit. Of course, I do delight when one of them is caught, and it turns out that he or she is someone who would dictate morality to we, lesser folk.

Why is it that people who get up to all kinds of egregious, morally bankrupt stuff behind closed-doors are the very same people who get up on their high horses about those of us who enjoy that stuff out in the open?

1. If you are gay and in the closet, best not to try and prevent other gays from basic, human and civil rights.

2. If you are in an adulterous relationship, perhaps you ought not draw attention to yourself with abstinance videos and what-not.

You get the gist.

Or how about this one:

3. Don't be a douchebag.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:22 AM on May 18, 2010 [5 favorites]

I'm ok with these guys staying in office, but whenever they're shown on TV and their name is listed (eg: Mark Souder (R)) there should also be a little [adulterer] beside it.

Mark Souder (R) [adulterer]

posted by blue_beetle at 11:22 AM on May 18, 2010 [24 favorites]

I fucking hate the state of American politics......

It's distressing to have to say this so often isn't it?
posted by wabbittwax at 11:23 AM on May 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

Who doesn't get all turned on talking about abstinence, it is a pretty awesome form of flirtatious foreplay like one peg lower than oral sex. Cos the spirit's strong, but the flesh is weak, praise Jesus! Praise Jesus! Now baby...c'mere and tell me who's your favorite pudgy GOP Representative Daddy is, uh huh, uh huh...that's just what I thought... Hallelujah and pass over the K-Y.

ewwww......
posted by Skygazer at 11:25 AM on May 18, 2010

The comment will be made by some that the devil tries hardest to tempt those whom he sees as the biggest threats to his agenda.

That comment will be made by my parents.
posted by jefficator at 11:25 AM on May 18, 2010 [4 favorites]

Why do all the best news stories always happen when Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are taking a week off?
posted by pecknpah at 11:25 AM on May 18, 2010 [12 favorites]

I did and I'm still not sure.

John Ensign and David Vitter
posted by empath at 11:25 AM on May 18, 2010

My rule of thumb is this: If a politician is at all concerned with what I'm doing with my dick, then he's probably not acting real classy with his.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 11:25 AM on May 18, 2010 [17 favorites]

Sweet. One less staunch advocate for the war on drugs.

...who is going to be replaced with another one.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 11:25 AM on May 18, 2010

Fuck this guy, and every other gay, whoring, cheating, gambling hypocritical-family-values-bucket-of-cocks out there. I really can't wait til this culture war is over.

(Which of course, will be hundreds of years after I die, because the right just keeps falling for it over, and over, and over, and over, and over......)
posted by nevercalm at 11:26 AM on May 18, 2010

I'm thunderstruck at how a guy in his fifties who looks like a pudgy wad of butter that fell of the counter, manages to have an affair with an attractive younger woman

Yeah, that doesn't really surprise me either, but I'm really curious what their mating ritual is like.
posted by jabberjaw at 11:27 AM on May 18, 2010

Why do all the best news stories always happen when Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are taking a week off?

My new theory is that Republicans time their scandals for Daily Show vacations to minimize damages.

Actually that's my old theory. My new theory is that Stewart and Colbert know my old theory and take vacations anytime they want some Republicans to resign.
posted by shakespeherian at 11:27 AM on May 18, 2010 [27 favorites]

I wonder what could've forced him to resign, cuz he sure as shit didn't do it on his own volition. An ethics investigation into why your mistress was on the payroll for New Year's Day '05 - '08 would seem a little timid to me.
posted by jsavimbi at 11:28 AM on May 18, 2010

Ha ha!
posted by govtdrone at 11:30 AM on May 18, 2010

I think he was actually asked to resign. Apparently party leadership wanted no truck with this. As has been mentioned above, he wasn't exactly winning many friends there, as he would occasionally break ranks with the party line.

Still. The local news is gonna be interesting for the next few weeks. There's already talk of a special election to fill the seat for the next few months.
posted by valkyryn at 11:30 AM on May 18, 2010

I came to make the Outcast joke, but benzenedream did a splendid job of it. So I'll just show myself out.
posted by Kwine at 11:32 AM on May 18, 2010 [2 favorites]

Actually abstinence talk is a form of aural sex and I really wish the Jesus-y right would cut it out with the aural sex. Freaks.
posted by Skygazer at 11:35 AM on May 18, 2010

Yeah, that doesn't really surprise me either, but I'm really curious what their mating ritual is like.

Did you happen to catch this post yesterday?
posted by Pollomacho at 11:40 AM on May 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

MetaFilter: It's like some mass open-air Jungian shadow dance.
posted by hippybear at 11:44 AM on May 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

This idiot's from where I grew up. I remember his campaign commercials, but hadn't seen a photo of him in years. Looks better than I remember, but I'm still pointing and laughing really hard right now.
posted by sparkletone at 11:46 AM on May 18, 2010

Yeah, that doesn't really surprise me either, but I'm really curious what their mating ritual is like.

Ahem.
posted by Thorzdad at 11:47 AM on May 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

Oops. Must remember to read ALL posts first....
posted by Thorzdad at 11:48 AM on May 18, 2010

Personally I cant wait for the Bachmann scandal.
posted by wheelieman at 11:54 AM on May 18, 2010 [6 favorites]

Huron Bob,

I often cite you as a particularly egregious example of the moral degradation that is sweeping our nation when I talk to my teenaged son.

well, crap... this actually made me smile 'til I saw it got three favorites...
posted by HuronBob at 11:54 AM on May 18, 2010

well, crap... this actually made me smile 'til I saw it got three favorites...

Oh don't worry, that's just other people trying to remember that you're to blame for everything.
posted by shakespeherian at 11:58 AM on May 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

You stay classy Washington.

Hey now, don't blame us! You're the guys that keep sending us your sleezebags!
posted by Pollomacho at 12:02 PM on May 18, 2010 [10 favorites]

nevercalm: "Fuck this guy, and every other gay, whoring, cheating, gambling hypocritical-family-values-bucket-of-cocks out there"

I know, homophobes are totally queer, right?
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 12:03 PM on May 18, 2010

Why won't HuronBob put his location on his profile. What does he have to hide?
HuronBob is wrong on families. Wrong for America.
I'm Babblesort and I approved this message.
posted by Babblesort at 12:03 PM on May 18, 2010 [6 favorites]

What I find interesting about this is that Democrats get caught having affairs. Republicans seem to get caught using the office credit card at S&M themed strip joints, soliciting anonymous bathroom sex (two cases), showing up at airports in the company of young men with profiles on rentboy.com, coming back from Haiti with a suitcase of illegal drugs and viagra, non-consensually going down on staff members, and apparently having an affair with an abstinence-video co-star.

All of this makes the cigar and blue dress associated with Clinton look positively mundane.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 12:07 PM on May 18, 2010 [10 favorites]

Don't republican/conservative sex scandals usually involve closeted gay sex? What's going on here?

/confused
posted by Hairy Lobster at 12:10 PM on May 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

2006:
Souder: "Hey, wanna spend New Year's with me? I'll pay you $44.45!"
Jackson: "Sure, big fella!"
2007
Souder: "Hey, wanna spend New Year's with me again? Last year was so much fun I'll double what I paid you then!"
Jackson: "Of course, hot stuff!"
2008
Souder: "Hey, wanna spend New Year's with me again? Last year was so much fun I'll give you an extra couple of bucks more!"
Jackson: "You bet!"
2009
Souder: "Hey, wanna spend New Year's with me again? Last year was so much fun I'll give you another 13 bucks!"
Jackson: "Sure!"
2010
Souder: "Hey, wanna spend New Year's with me again? Last year was so much fun I'll give you a little bit more, how's 20 bucks sound?"
Jackson: "Uhm, I don't know. I've been thinking a lot about abstinence lately...."
posted by Floydd at 12:10 PM on May 18, 2010 [3 favorites]

I know, homophobes are totally queer, right?

Judging by the Republican party, it sure seems like it. I think they're doing a decent job of making the Jesus freaks see that gay people aren't the bug-eyed monsters trying to abduct their children but rather the normal, red-blooded, gay-bashin homophobe they sit next to in church on Sunday and with whom they attend rallies to hate on the homos. They must be scared shitless, constantly clutching the backs of their pants and whirling in circles, never knowing where the next Big Bad Gay might be.

Nothing I love better than a Bible thumpin, homo-hatin, gay man-lover. It makes me smile every time I hear about it. And if they paid for him, so much the better.
posted by nevercalm at 12:26 PM on May 18, 2010 [3 favorites]

It's people who give humanity a bad name.
posted by Daddy-O at 12:35 PM on May 18, 2010 [2 favorites]

MetaFilter: THE SECULAR PERVERTED SOCIETY PROMOTED BY LIBERALS

with thanks and apologies to HuronBob
posted by marienbad at 12:38 PM on May 18, 2010

I know, homophobes are totally queer, right?

My favorite bit of research on this was that study where they asked men their views on sexuality, and later put measuring devices on their genitals and showed them various kinds of porn. To a single man, the homophobic respondents who were shown male-on-male gay porn became aroused by the gay porn, while the non-homophobic straight men exposed to the same porn showed varying levels of arousal.

Homophobia is so gay.
posted by Pope Guilty at 12:38 PM on May 18, 2010 [2 favorites]

Metafilter: constantly clutching the backs of their pants and whirling in circles
posted by benzenedream at 12:41 PM on May 18, 2010

This is pretty damn funny, but for me, nothing beats Larry Wide Stance Craig

'cause hypocrisy is even more hilarious when there's an appearance of pooping
posted by angrycat at 12:41 PM on May 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

"Uhm, I don't know. I've been thinking a lot about abstinence lately...."

Floydd, there's something wrong with both of us for having those little dates on a part-timers timesheet stand out like that.
posted by jsavimbi at 12:45 PM on May 18, 2010

I fucking hate the state of American politics......

I hate the state of politics of American fucking......
posted by papercake at 1:01 PM on May 18, 2010 [6 favorites]

Souder apparently decided not to drag his family up to the podium with him:

"My family is more than willing to stand here with me, we are a committed family. But the error is mine and I should bear the responsibility. And quite frankly I'm sick of politicians who drag their spouses up in front of the cameras, rather than confronting the problem that they have caused."
posted by blucevalo at 1:06 PM on May 18, 2010

What he meant was you be abstinent.
Because it's the only way he can get laid.
posted by Smedleyman at 1:13 PM on May 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

I know, homophobes are totally queer, right?

A lot of them are, at least secretly.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:28 PM on May 18, 2010 [2 favorites]

...there's something wrong with both of us for having those little dates on a part-timers timesheet stand out like that.
In his defense, he's a fiscal conservative.
In her defense, she's, uhm, well, cheap.
posted by Floydd at 1:33 PM on May 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

Makes me shudder to think of what we don't find out about.
posted by Daddy-O at 1:33 PM on May 18, 2010 [2 favorites]

The case by the movie Outrage is that many closeted anti-gay Republicans are not particularly repressed or self-hating. They're riding the coattails of a popular movement to create nice and cozy closets for themselves.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 1:53 PM on May 18, 2010

Once again, I'm thunderstruck at how a guy in his fifties who looks like a pudgy wad of butter that fell of the counter, manages to have an affair with an attractive younger woman. The allure of power?

Yes.
posted by krinklyfig at 2:15 PM on May 18, 2010

I've seen enough relationships with a significant age difference to be cautious about jumping to conclusions when it comes to why people are in them.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 2:24 PM on May 18, 2010

I've seen enough relationships with a significant age difference to be cautious about jumping to conclusions when it comes to why people are in them.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that's why in this case. I don't have any reason to try to spare them their feelings, so why would they care what I think?
posted by krinklyfig at 2:31 PM on May 18, 2010

I'm ok with these guys staying in office, but whenever they're shown on TV and their name is listed (eg: Mark Souder (R)) there should also be a little [adulterer] beside it.

Mark Souder (R) [adulterer]

I like this idea. But I say we go further with it; make it like scouting badges:

Mark Souder (R) [adulterer] [hypocrite] [embarrassment] [quitter]

posted by quin at 2:37 PM on May 18, 2010 [6 favorites]

For me, it's not a matter of Souder and Jackson's feelings, as a long-standing dislike of how age differences in relationships are stereotyped, starting with my own. But I've raised my concern and I'm happy to let it rest at that.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 2:40 PM on May 18, 2010

OK, I promise not to bring up your relationship.
posted by krinklyfig at 2:53 PM on May 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

I have no problem with this dude sticking his shriveled willie into any orifice of any consenting person. Don't think he needs to resign over it.

That said, I do have a problem with the "do as I say, not as I do" thing. Folks who build power based on their alleged morality need to be absolutely 100% consistent in maintaining that morality or they basically destroy that power.

This is why its better to base your power on your extreme wealth than your extreme morality. You don't lose your money-based power when you fuck an intern. Indeed, when your power is money-based, intern fucking is considered a perk.
posted by Joey Michaels at 3:14 PM on May 18, 2010

ricochet biscuit: "Am I the only one surprised that upon hearing another news story about a Republican elected official caught in an affair, that his affair was with a woman?"

I like the way the Drudge Report (grudgingly) covered it:

Republican Congressman Resigns After Affair w/ Staffer [Female]...
posted by Rhaomi at 3:27 PM on May 18, 2010 [11 favorites]

Come on, admit it. The idea of taping a pro-abstinence video with someone you're banging is totally hot.
posted by Bookhouse at 3:58 PM on May 18, 2010 [3 favorites]

"...And quite frankly I'm sick of politicians who drag their spouses up in front of the cameras, rather than confronting the problem that they have caused."

Translation: "My wife told me to go fuck myself with a wire brush and that I should get a good lawyer."
posted by Thorzdad at 3:59 PM on May 18, 2010 [7 favorites]

God's Underpants! I am laughing like a crazed hyena overdosed on sugar bombs cereal.

Congress critter has affair.......boring
Congress critter has affair but legislates about your sex life.....par for the course
Congress critter has affair and makes a video with his mistress about the virtue of teaching abstinence...Jesus H. Bob, you can't make this stuff up.

So he writes laws, reads laws, and votes about who should be having sex with whom and then goes off to bang his mistress in the back of his car. Doe he feel guilt? Does he pray in church on Sunday, "Oh dear Lord please, please don't let Diane find out and I'll promise to stop messing around....real soon." Or is it simply "YeeHaw, look at me! I'm Mr. Smoking Ass!"
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:26 PM on May 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

This is why its better to base your power on your extreme wealth than your extreme morality. You don't lose your money-based power when you fuck an intern. Indeed, when your power is money-based, intern fucking is considered a perk.

I don't think that's a good precedent. Fucking your boss is problematic for a lot of reasons.

I don't really care about someone else's personal life, but the idea that entrenched power should necessarily include fucking an underling as a perk is not all that defensible when it comes down to it.
posted by krinklyfig at 4:37 PM on May 18, 2010

but my humorous glands just aren't secreting lols.

This is good motivation for me to finally learn Sony Vegas and do a mashup of their video w/ some slo-mo & some Marvin Gaye. We'll get those lolglands working...
posted by Lukenlogs at 5:05 PM on May 18, 2010

I feel like I should be way too jaded for something like this to truly piss me off, yet it managed.
posted by SNWidget at 5:05 PM on May 18, 2010

"YeeHaw, look at me! I'm Mr. Smoking Ass!"

Would anybody like to join my new band, called "Mr. Smoking Ass?"
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:27 PM on May 18, 2010

This guy was personally responsible for the idiotic law that took student loan eligibility away from kids who had taken drugs-- keeping something like 200,000 of those who were dumb enough to be honest about having been caught (or just plain dumb enough to be honest) from getting student aid.

Murder someone? No problem, you get student aid. Rape? Cool. Child molestation? No worries. But smoke a joint...

Glad to see him go.
posted by Maias at 5:38 PM on May 18, 2010 [9 favorites]

But smoke a joint...

Heh.

Guess his staffer friend won't be getting student aid any time soon.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 6:17 PM on May 18, 2010

It's just a big ol' misunderstanding:

We thought he was running for office, when in fact he was running for orifice.
posted by storybored at 6:48 PM on May 18, 2010

LOLREPUBLI ... hmm. LOLXIA ... hmm. LOLWINGNU ... Meh. Nothing new here.
posted by scblackman at 7:14 PM on May 18, 2010

LOLHYPOCRISY never gets old.
posted by EarBucket at 7:39 PM on May 18, 2010

It's not the act it's the hypocrisy that gets me - they can all do what they (legally) want as long as they're not telling other people they shouldn't do it.
posted by sstapley at 8:47 PM on May 18, 2010

Souder had an affair with is Tracy Jackson
Miss Jackson if you're nasty.
posted by blueberry at 1:12 AM on May 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

In a further news, the head of the Allen County Republican party says he knew about Souder's affair six months ago.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:23 AM on May 19, 2010

In a further news, the head of the Allen County Republican party says he knew about Souder's affair six months ago.

You know, it's been a decade and a half since I've lived in Fort Wayne, but all I can ask is: did IQs drop sharply while I was away? Why would you admit to this?
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:28 AM on May 19, 2010

IQs dropped sharply because you are away. Get back their and shoulder your load of the average.
posted by DU at 6:51 AM on May 19, 2010

Get back their and shoulder your load of the average.

Outliers are generally discarded as statistical noise.
posted by Devils Rancher at 7:37 AM on May 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

Heliocracy85: hypocracy

Rule by the hypocritical?
posted by WalterMitty at 4:30 PM on May 19, 2010 [1 favorite]