The congressional skinnydipping story continues to get a lot of attention for all the wrong reasons. Kansas Rep. Kevin Yoder took his nude swim in the Galilee last year at a time when 20 percent of the House of Representatives was going to Israel at the behest of an American lobby group. But the media don’t care about that.
Last night Chris Matthews teased a segment about Yoder’s swim by saying that in sharp contrast to the “legitimate rape” story surrounding numbskull Missouri Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin, which exposes sexism inside the Republican Party, this was a funny story, not serious. In the actual segment Matthews played Letterman’s top ten.
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CNN is also making light of the incident, getting the comments of nudists.
While Politico’s Jake Sherman was on NPR explaining why it’s a very important story that a congressman was naked. Note that the NPR anchor seeks to make it about the religious right:
SHERMAN: [A]fter this incident happened, Mr. [Eric] Cantor told the lawmakers that they were straying from the original mission of the trip, which was to meet very high level Israeli officials, very high level Palestinian officials and they thought that this was inappropriate, Mr. Cantor and his staff.
[Melissa] BLOCK: And did any of them say there was some religious component to why they immersed in the Sea of Galilee.
SHERMAN: People’s staff did say that to us. They made that point, that this is a religiously significant place. People wanted to cool off. Someone said they wanted to get water for a baptism. So I mean, this is – not everybody appeared to be in the same position as Mr. Yoder.
BLOCK: And beyond the wacky factor of, hey, a member of Congress going skinny dipping in the Sea of Galilee, why should we care? There was a comment posted on your website from an associate professor of public policy at George Mason, Jeremy Mayer, who says this, “This is the biggest nothing burger I’ve seen Washington lunching on in quite a while.”
SHERMAN: Well, we appreciate his feedback, but I think the many people who have read the story have been off put by it. I think when members of Congress go overseas and are representing the country, folks in Washington and across the country don’t expect that they would dive into water nude.
Block is right, this is a religious story: it is about Zionism in American public life, and the degree to which our politicians have swallowed a biblical narrative that justifies a landgrab.
Medea Benjamin warned us about this. She anticipated the skinnydipping in the Sea of Galilee in a post she did for us about the political junket here. “Does your congressperson represent you or Israel?”:
But instead of opening their doors to their constituents, 81 members of Congress will be getting briefings from Israeli government officials, touring historic religious sites, and perhaps “seeking a salty dip in the Dead Sea.” Representative Steny Hoyer, who is leading the Democratic delegation, said he is pleased members of Congress have this opportunity “to gain a deeper understanding of the issues involved in increasing stability in the region.”
I think that in the US folks tend to be way too hung up on nudity – either in favor (as in lewd pornography) or against (as in out of control Puritanism). In Europe and Israel they have a more relaxed attitude, the human body is neither dirty nor a a dirty joke!
The crux: “it is about Zionism in American public life, and the degree to which our politicians have swallowed a biblical narrative that justifies a landgrab.”
”it is about Zionism in American public life, and the degree to which our politicians have swallowed a biblical narrative that justifies a landgrab.”
I don’t think so. Zionism for politicians is about $$$ and the lobby.
When they use the religious mumbo jumbo it’s only for the christian zios.
The skinny dipping I would bet was inspired by how much Yoder had to drink.
BTW, Yoder is the same politician who posed with his wife and three children for a campaign picture…..but the children weren’t his, he borrowed them for the picture. LOL…..He and his wife don’t have any children.
Gawd!…our country is run by clowns.
And who’s paying for the borrowed kids’ therapy?
i still think the ‘rite of passage’ line in the original politico article is the clincher. why are our congresspeople having a rite of passage ritual in israel?
The clincher is that this type of pay to play hanky panky is still going on unquestioned after that Abramoff/Ney scandal. Why did NY Congressman Owen have to pay back the money spent on Taiwanese lobbyist for he and his wife’s trip to Taiwan and these Congress critters and their staff are not required to do so. We should all be outraged. This pay to play hooey has got to come to a halt. American Israel Education Foundation needs to be investigated and called out for what they are.. LOBBYIST.
Enough!
Now I finally know what the definition of liberal zionist is:
Butt-naked israeli-firster.
Not completely. Note Jodi Rudoren’s report:
Skinny-Dipping in Israel Casts Unwanted Spotlight on Congressional Travel
The trip was much like any of the hundreds hosted in recent years by a nonprofit offshoot of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a powerful Washington lobby, and the purpose was much the same: to solidify the support of American lawmakers for Israel at a time of Middle East tumult.
For eight expense-paid days, House Republicans visited Israel’s holiest sites, talked foreign policy with its highest officials and dined at its most famous restaurants, including Decks, known for its grilled beef, stunning views of the Sea of Galilee, and now, for an impromptu swim party.
With hundreds of Washington lawmakers having gone to Israel courtesy of the program, the trips have a reputation as being the standard-bearer for foreign Congressional travel. “We call it the Jewish Disneyland trip,” said one pro-Israel advocate in Washington.
Fabulous…someone picked it up. Let’s hope Chris Hayes takes it further this weekend. Chris Matthews balls are buttered and toasted by the I lobby. He will not be going deeper except on the naked swimming. He loves that superficial stuff
Great piece…they go into detail. Let’s hope another MSMer picks it up…Maybe Chris Hayes. This hanky panky needs to stop. Lobbyist should not be able to pay for Congress persons trips to foreign nations.
Nothing but ha ha. Been over at Chris Matthews blogs challenging him to go deeper but we all know his balls are tied up by Comcast. and his paycheck. In fact the first night (I think it was Monday eve think that is when I brought up this whole thing on an Annies thread) Chris Matthews mentioned that the trips were probably paid for by an Aipac affiliate which we know is the case but Chris went onto say he had a similar trip to Israel paid for. But he did not say by who. I think this is an interesting tidbit. We can be sure Chris having trips
to Israel by the I lobby does not influence his non reporting about the I/P issue. And if he mentions anything he talks about what good friends the U.S. and Israel are. Yes Chris you would know about those kinds of friendships while having your balls buttered on your free trip to Israel. Chris Matthews is a total sell out.
Trying to get the Chris Hayes team to pick up this story and go deeper. If folks feel moved go on over to the Chris Hayes Up blogs and ask them to pick this story up . Why did a NY congressman Owen have to pay back the money the Taiwanese lobbyist sprung for his trip and these Congress folks and staff would not be required to play by the same rules.
“Block is right, this is a religious story: it is about Zionism in American public life, and the degree to which our politicians have swallowed a biblical narrative that justifies a landgrab.” ~ Weiss
A LITTLE BACKGROND: “Grace Halsell: De-bunker of Christian Zionist Doctrine”, by Stuart Littlewood, Palestine Chronicle, 8/11/12
ENTIRE ARTICLE – link to palestinechronicle.com
P.S. MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT: THE HOLY CITY (Adams/Weatherly) with Herbert Dawson as the Organist / Orchestra conducted by Sir John Barbirolli / Recorded London, Oct 3, 1935
• The Holy City – Richard Crooks [VIDEO, 05:00] – link to youtube.com