Indiana Republican Congressman Mark Souder has resigned over an affair he was having with part time staffer Tracy Jackson. Ironically, Souder and Jackson made a video touting the virtues of abstinence for those other than conservative, family values Congressmen, I guess. The Republicans seem to outdo themselves to see who can be the most hypocritical. Not only was he bonking Tracy on the side, he had the nerve to make a video with her recommending abstinence for everybody else. This takes "don't do as I do, do as I say" to new heights or depths as the case may be. Souder is marrried with children.
While Souder goes on and on about the evils of condoms and how bad Democrats are, his mistress, Tracy, fingers her pen probably thinking about what they're going to do as soon as they're off camera. Souder in his owlish way expounds about how abstinence only education prevents teenagers from having sex. I guess it doesn't do much for married Congressmen though. In this sham interview, Souder and Jackson decry methods other than abstinence which they highly recommend for teenage prom goers.
Here's the video:
Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.) has told his Republican colleagues that he will resign from the House following an affair with an aide.
"I sinned against God, my wife and my family by having a mutual relationship with a part-time member of my staff," said Souder in a statement. "In the poisonous environment of Washington, D.C., any personal failing is seized upon, often twisted, for political gain. I am resigning rather than to put my family through that painful, drawn-out process... by stepping aside, my mistake cannot be used as a political football in a partisan attempt to undermine the cause for which I have labored all my adult life."
One of the causes Souder is talking about is, of course, abstinence education. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources when Republicans held the majority in Congress, Souder was a warrior for abstinence-only sex education and a critic of other forms of sex education, and he repeatedly intervened to make sure abstinence advocates were represented -- even to the inclusion [sic] of other experts -- on panels about sexual health. This is an embarrassing moment for the cause Souder spent 16 years advocating for.
What a setback for abstinence only sex education! Souder has set back the cause he's been working for his entire life by light years. When will another champion of abstinence only sex education arise to take his place, to fill his shoes? How will the republic survive without strong abstinence only sex education? How will anybody ever be able to believe anything that Souder advocates again? Just think - 16 years Souder has been advocating abstinence only sex education, and not only can't he be abstinent, he can't even confine his non-abstinence to just his wife. Just think how she must feel. Maybe he was practising abstinence with her while at the same time bonking his mistress. Oh, how the mind reels and what tangled webs we weave -- especially if you're a self-righteous, hypocritical Republican Congressman!
