‘Maybe That Wasn’t the Smartest Decision’: Skinny Dipping GOP Rep. Formally Apologizes
- Posted on August 20, 2012 at 4:59pm by
Becket Adams
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A Republican congressman representing Kansas has apologized for embarrassing his supporters by skinny dipping at the holy site of the Sea of Galilee while on a fact-finding mission to Israel.
Freshman U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder, 36, has not been charged in the Aug. 18, 2011, incident in which he and about 20 other lawmakers and staff members jumped into the water. Politico reported Sunday that he was the only one among them who wore no clothes.
(Related: FBI Investigates GOP Members After Nude Swim Incident in Israel)
“It’s an embarrassing situation, and I regret it,” Yoder said during an interview on public radio station KCUR-FM in Kansas City, Mo. “I know that many constituents out there are sort of scratching their heads, saying, `What is this guy up to? What was he doing? What was he thinking?’”
Yoder had been scheduled to participate Monday in a discussion on energy policy at an oil and natural gas industry convention in Wichita, but he did not attend. However, he did the radio interview at the station’s studio, accompanied by his wife, Brooke.
Swimming in the lake is permitted but public nudity is not allowed, according to Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.
“If someone walks around the beach naked, that’s an offense,” Rosenfeld said in Jerusalem. He said no official complaint had been made against Yoder, but it was possible he could still be charged even a year later.
“If that kind of incident takes place and someone makes an official compliant, we’ll investigate,” Rosenfeld said Monday.
Kansas Democratic Party Chairwoman Joan Wagnon called Yoder’s behavior “inexcusable” and said if the incident had occurred in Kansas, he would be forced to resign. She later issued a statement calling for him to step down.
“I’m astonished these people think they can go on these junkets like this and no one will know what they do,” Wagnon said.
The Aug. 13-21 trip was sponsored by the American Israel Education Foundation, a charity whose mission is to provide grants for educational programs and conferences, and to educate politicians and influential people about the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship.
“At the time, it seemed very spontaneous,” Yoder said. “Somewhat afterwards, maybe the next day, I started thinking that maybe that wasn’t the smartest decision.”
Yoder said it was dark and he was in the water for only about 10 seconds. He said his wife was with him but did not go into the water. He said members of the party jumped in individually, not as a group, and not everyone did.
FILE - In this Oct. 6, 2010 file photo, Kevin Yoder participates in a debate in Overland Park, Kan. The conservative Republican congressman, unopposed for re-election in Kansas' 3rd District, has apologized for any offense caused by his naked swim in the Sea of Galilee last summer. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
“I jumped in, was in for 10 seconds, jumped back out,” Yoder said during his radio interview. “Just in and out – just to have the experience, really.”
Yoder acknowledged that he and his wife had wine with dinner before the incident but added, “Alcohol really played no role in the decision to go in. It was really a spontaneous moment with members at the Sea of Galilee, which is obviously a special place.”
Yoder said in his radio interview that Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, the senior Republican on the trip, was “very frustrated and upset” over the swimming and scolded delegates for their behavior.
Yoder’s sole opponent in the upcoming general election is Libertarian Joel Balam, of Overland Park. Yoder served in the Kansas House from 2003 through 2010 and was chairman of its Appropriations Committee. He also is a former University of Kansas student body president.
In February 2009, Yoder, then the Appropriations Committee chairman, was cited by the Kansas Highway Patrol for speeding and refusing to take a breath-alcohol test following an early-morning traffic stop on a state highway in the Lawrence area. He later pleaded guilty to refusing to take the test and paid a $90 fine.
The traffic stop briefly caused ruffles during his successful 2010 run for Congress, but Yoder‘s campaign said he’d refused to take the breath test because he‘d passed another field sobriety test and wasn’t driving under the influence.
Wagnon promised that Democrats would field a strong candidate against Yoder in 2014 and would remind voters of the incident.
“I‘m just sorry I don’t have anyone running against him, and it isn’t for lack of trying,” Wagnon said.
Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Front page photo source: yoder.house.gov
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Comments (73)
HigherRoad
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 6:50pmCongressman Yoder was in a foreign country (Israel) on official business representing the United States of America. I am really tired of these stupid politicians who put themselves in embarrassing situations and discredit the people they represent. I am not as offended by Senate candidate Todd Akin who made the remark about “rape” because he was asked his opinion and he expressed it honestly. Unfortunately, this may cost him an election victory. Yoder, however, should know better. I hope his seat will go to a Tea Partier when he is forced to resign.
Report Post »HigherRoad
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:09pmTo clarify, I am not offended at all by Todd Akin’s comment; however, I am deeply concerned that it may cost him the election because of the radical abortion mentality in this country. Perhaps his best response to the question would have been to put the emphasis on the innocence of the unborn child whose welfare should be considered above all.
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:49pmWtf!
Report Post »Patrick Henry II
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 11:00pmHe is from Kansas. It’s common for us rednecks to go skinny dipping. I find it hard to believe that the entire Sea of Galalee is “holy”. it is a sea not a pond. That’s probably a load of crap. Bad taste though.
Report Post »KURT1010
Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:37amWho cares ? I have been unemployed over three years and would like a job….its just a shell game with the liberals and MSM to take our focus off the REAL issues going in in AMERICA !
Report Post »Mil-Dot
Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:51amThese goons don’t fight like hell to get elected so they can serve their country, they do it so they can chase female interns around the desk and take bribes like there is no tomorrow. I hate politicians. All of them. They are low-lifes.
Report Post »progoyim
Posted on August 21, 2012 at 8:43amI wonder how many shekels he picked up for his reelection ?He sits on the committee that decides how much money Israel gets to leech off of the American tax payer,while the elderly and social service’s are being cut
Report Post »PATTY HENRY
Posted on August 21, 2012 at 5:31pmI agree. I want the TEA PARTY to be the standard. We’ve had enough of these spoiled brats…WHAT ON EARTH would make this person think 1) he could go Naked in Israel and 2) defile the precious Sea of Galilee. Throw him out, We don’t tolerate these insane actions by these dopes. The Mn. politician having sex with 17 year old in rest stop; This dope and the misspeak of Akin which showed his lack of judgement. Throw OBAMA AND BIDEN OUT, THROW THESE DOPES OUT TOO !!
Report Post »IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 6:48pmWe aren’t the one he needs to apologize too I do not understand it was obscene
Report Post »Bobaz
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 6:42pmNo wonder Republicans get hammered by the Democrats and their butt-licking media water-carriers.
In this election year, going up against the most corrupt presidential administration in American history, this buffoon gives the Democrats all the ammunition they need to mock, embarrass and ridicule Republicans.
Christ Almighty, when will these people ever learn?
Report Post »68Patriot
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:18pmBOBAZ…Take a deep breath.
Skinny Dipping vs. Obama
If the American public can‘t see which side of the scale tilts to destruction we’re $crew&d anyway.
68
Report Post »PATTY HENRY
Posted on August 21, 2012 at 5:33pmBOBAZ: do not ever use the name of our Lord Jesus Christ as a swear word again.
Report Post »Female
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 6:16pmI see No crime!
He doesn’t look too old, fat, bald, or out of shape. He had his wife with him. And it is a lot more tasteful to be entirely naked, than wearing on of those skimpy european mensbathing suits!
He/she who has never gone swimming naked…go ahead and cast the first stone!
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 6:42pmAs long as it wasn’t Pelosi , I got no problem with it…….yikes.
Report Post »Verceofreason
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 6:43pmI say “Let’s see what ya got”. then we‘ll decide if it’s embarrassing.
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 6:51pmI see no harm either. Skinning dipping isn’t any where near as horrendous as what the GSA has done, in fact, its rather mild and hurt no one. What about all the Secret Service and what they did? In comparison to what this administration is doing to America, it is nothing to even apologize for.
Report Post »swamp_donkey
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 9:42pmit was on the taxpayers dime sherlock but the teaparty motto iokiyar
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on August 21, 2012 at 12:44amHe could have said that he was over-whelmed by a religious urge to do it.
Report Post »It was a religious experience.
That would be a more palatable plll to swallow.
Female
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 6:08pmSkinny dipping w/wife sounds like a moral standing, I could appreciate. At the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus walked on water: objection it is a holy place right? So does that mean the fish no longer poop? Come-on people a bigger miracle and more appreciated would be, when Jesus had Peter go get the tax money from the fishes mouth….hey…..
Maybe, I ‘ve got something here…those GOPrs weren‘t really SD they were getting God’s contributions to the Romney/Ryan Campaign…It is true, just ask Reid….And I am sure that is the real reason for Romney’s visit to Israel, too!
Please enough with the ridiculous distractions and such international crisis. I hope his state votes more for him.
Report Post »pissantno.10
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 6:02pmanother thing you stop apolagizeing cuzz you may have passed gas some time in your life jeezz
Report Post »pissantno.10
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:54pmyepper more republicans doing evil stuff by haveing a swim. not like the libs doing gods work like murder and robbery rape steeling bribes , ya nasty republicans swimming how dare they evil people
Report Post »scudster
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 11:22pmHA HA HA now that was Funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »Mapache
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:54pmWhats the big deal? In the New Testament Peter is written to have thrown off all his clothes and jumped in the Sea of Galilee. It is not uncommon in many cultures in the world. What will people dig up next to make a story about? Uh, exactly what was the FBI investigating?
Report Post »princessnutsack
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 6:00pmnot only that but david danced before the Lord in just his underware. he was excoriated for that.
Report Post »trinklefinder
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:52pmthis man should resign! how can he win re-election when he clearly did something stupid. resign now so we can find a more suitable candidate. OR maybe we shouldnt let democrats define the conversation!
Report Post »jungle J
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:45pmdrunks and dopers dominate America….that is why we fail at so much…..
Report Post »teebubba
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:40pmI don’t believe I would “skinny dip” but perhaps the opportunity to take a swim in the lake where Jesus walked on the water ought to be on every Christian’s bucket list..
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:36pmWatch this story get more press than Fast and Furious!
Report Post »BuzzardSays
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:46pmFast and Furious…
Report Post »Do not look at the crime behind the curtain….says the Great and Powerful OZ.
crazyrightwingmom
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:36pmGood grief! Give him a million dollar a year gig on CNN!
Report Post »Expatjames
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:34pmI would love to speak my mind but for some reason the blaze never posts what I say, can someone at the blaze let me know why I can never post anything? you have my email etc. let me know?
Report Post »BuzzardSays
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:42pmI see your post…Jack-Wagon! There is a time delay you know.
Now on to my thoughts…
I have one single thought on swimming. Wear a swim suit, and a shirt. I don’t need to see you man-boobs or your “junk”. [to use a youthful jargon]
Keep your nakid-ity between you and your wife and God. If you were all by your lonesome then naked is OK. But, we live on a planet with 7-billion other people and alone is not alone. Someone is bound to see your dingle-berries and ‘fecal-matter’ rolls down hill once the press finds out you are GOP.
My opinion! Tell the press to piss off.
Report Post »Verceofreason
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 6:46pmIt’s almost impossible to criticize Paul Ryan.
Report Post »CO author of the “redefining Rape Bill’ with Todd Akin.
Like the dems are EVER going to let that go away by November.
variable51
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:28pmI live in Kansas, in Yoder‘s district and I just can’t believe that he did this. He is an em bare ass ment (pun intended), but seriously, I don’t think he should resign. He just needs to show more sense. Skinny dip at your pool, not the Sea of Galillee while on an official trip.
Report Post »suz
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:19pmi hope the leftist fbi is not trying to compare this to the secret service debacle ’cause it can’t. that was a true mess.
Report Post »suz
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:18pmso what. the first thing i’m doing when i get to israel is skinny dip in the dead sea. sue me.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:16pmHe should be charged. He is a selfish wimp who thinks he is better than he is.
Report Post »Too_Far_Gone
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:26pmCharged with what ? Just curious ..
Report Post »Expatjames
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:33pmLol! You must be kidding? yes what a bad man, very bad lol? you kidding me, so what the guy swam with out closes ooooooww, sooo bad lol? the hypocracy!!!
Report Post »Verceofreason
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 6:47pm*******? WetFRONT?
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:16pmApologizing does not erase your stupidity. You do not deserve to represent any people in this country.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:15pmIf a man has no more respect for others than that, he certainly has no respect for who he is supposed to be representing in this country. What he has done was not necessary and this man seems to have no feelings for others. Get him out.
Report Post »crazyrightwingmom
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:18pmBill Clinton having sex in the Oval Office is fine…Stealing other people’s money is fine!!
Report Post »Whoops…he’s a Republican!
crazyrightwingmom
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:13pmThis skinny dipping thing is hard for women and metrosexuals to understand, I believe. I remember when the doors at the YMCA were closed so the men could all swim “nekked.” Boys used to always swim that way in the swimming holes….my hubby likes to do it in our pool.
Report Post »You know, it was dark, he probably didn’t give it a thought. (Do you ever see girls grab their crotches…it’s a guy thing!) lol
blackyb
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:13pmThis man has no respect for anyone or anything. He needs to go. He is who he is and he is not who America needs.
Report Post »crazyrightwingmom
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:27pmBlackyB: I smell a troll…you have repeated yourself enough.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on August 21, 2012 at 12:53amLighten up, Francis.
Report Post »eyestoseeearstohear
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:08pmMAYBE? REALLY?
And, he THOUGHT about it BEFORE OR AFTER?
Judgement just seems to either have left them all OR
Report Post »there is an empty slot in their heads for it.
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:06pmCome on, when I lived in kansas, that was fun, going down to a cow pond and skinny dipping, and of course, alchohol was usually involved, but we didn’t cow tip.
In other news, Jon Corazine stole over a billion dollars, but that’s not news, move along people, nothing to see here, move along.
Report Post »justangry
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:05pmI don’t think it was a big deal to begin with. I’m more embarrassed by the apology.
Report Post »Too_Far_Gone
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:19pm“I’m more embarrassed by the apology”
Most people won’t understand that but I do and agree ..
Report Post »