I'm Still Doing the Happy Dance

Several hours later and my joy has not dimmed.

Overheard at a school visit I was doing this afternoon:

Woman 1 - Did you hear about Souder?
Woman 2 - I laughed so hard I nearly pee'd my pants!

So I am not the only one feeling the joy.

I have an article from the Washington Post. I have indicated my favorite parts:

Indiana congressman Mark Souder (R) decided to resign his seat after anonymous tipsters began calling aides in his office and his opponents in a Republican primary, claiming he was having an affair with a part-time staffer, according to three sources familiar with the calls.

Last week, after he won the primary, Souder admitted the allegations to his chief of staff, Renee Howell, who confronted the conservative Christian congressman about the rumors that he was having an extra-marital affair with Tracey Meadows Jackson, according to a source in the office. ...

The affair began after Jackson was hired in a part-time role in 2004, according to a source knowledgeable about the relationship. Jackson, who is married, was hired to play guest host with Souder for a daily radio spot he recorded for WFCV, a Christian radio station in Ft. Wayne. The spots were taped once a week and aired daily. Jackson played host, asking Souder questions about what he was working on in Washington for his constituents. ...

Jackson was also hired to play host for a local cable access show Souder had at one point. The show served as a platform for Souder to discuss conservative issues dear to him. Jackson has also helped produce numerous videos of Souder's speeches and positions, including one in which they discussed his strong support for teen abstinence.

Less than a week before the Republican primary election, anonymous callers phoned some of the Republican candidates running against Souder, with allegations that he was regularly meeting a girlfriend for romantic trysts in state parks. One alleged that he and a staffer went together late at night to the remote and heavily-forested Robinson Lake boat launch in Whitley County. ...

The public revelations about Souder come two weeks after he survived a serious primary challenge from car dealer Bob Thomas, who spent considerable sums of his own money on the race. Souder won the primary with less than 50 percent of the vote. Thomas and another candidates trailed far behind.

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Okay. I love that he was nearly beaten by a "car dealer." Not to offend any car dealers out there. It just strikes me as funny.

I love that he was having romantic trysts in state parks. For one thing, could he not have found a state park outside his own district? Like somewhere in Pennsylvania where no one would have recognized him? The second thought I had was, how cheap is this guy? He won't even spring for a hotel room? I don't think that is sending a good message to the teens he wants to remain abstinent. Or maybe he got the idea while on a school visit? The mind boggles.