Congressman skinny dips in Sea of Galilee

[jasenj]

http://politi.co/PxuxhS

"During a fact-finding congressional trip to the Holy Land last summer, Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.) took off his clothes and jumped into the sea, joining a number of members, their families and GOP staff during a night out in Israel, the sources told POLITICO. Other participants, including the daughter of another congressman, swam fully clothed, while some lawmakers partially disrobed. More than 20 people took part in the late-night dip in the sea, according to sources who were participants in the trip."

This was covered on the TODAY show this morning. Not sure if the other networks picked it up. They seemed to emphasize that these people went swimming - and skinny dipping! - in the holy body of water. i.e. These people were doing something wrong just by swimming in the Sea. A very brief Google search shows that the Sea of Galilee is a tourist destination with many beaches, resorts, etc.

[ibrahim]

http://politi.co/PxuxhS

"During a fact-finding congressional trip to the Holy Land last summer, Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.) took off his clothes and jumped into the sea, joining a number of members, their families and GOP staff during a night out in Israel, the sources told POLITICO. Other participants, including the daughter of another congressman, swam fully clothed, while some lawmakers partially disrobed. More than 20 people took part in the late-night dip in the sea, according to sources who were participants in the trip."

This was covered on the TODAY show this morning. Not sure if the other networks picked it up. They seemed to emphasize that these people went swimming - and skinny dipping! - in the holy body of water. i.e. These people were doing something wrong just by swimming in the Sea. A very brief Google search shows that the Sea of Galilee is a tourist destination with many beaches, resorts, etc.

It is particularly silly to swim fully clothed. Only people who are very drunk do so.

[nudeyooper]

John Quincy Adams used to skinny dip in the Potomac. The swimming part of the evening should be no big deal, the too much to drink in my opinion is a big deal. It certainly shows how alcohol will change a person's judgement. The savvy politician stays sober and acts as his constituents expect. That's all part of the game of being reelected.

[Naturist Mark]

This is a scandal? The congressman apologized? Why?

Never mind that skinny dipping is not all that uncommon among modern Israeli's (at least among the the non-ultra-orthodox majority), what I find hilarious is the notion that skinny dipping in the Sea of Galilee is offensive because it is 'holy water'.

The Sea of Galilee is a holy place among Christians because it is where Jesus recruited most of his Disciples as they fished in the nude - as was the custom in those days - in that sea. Seems to me that Christians should find it sacrilegious to NOT skinny dip when entering those sacred waters - unless you actually walk on the surface.

[sdson]

We were made in God's image and born naked so we should apologize and be ashamed of skinny dipping?

[Silverback]

I would hate to be a politician in this day and age. They can not let their hair down without the new media sticking to them, especially if you got Republican in your title.

[westernnude]

I'm a skinny dipper and I don't see that there is anything to be ashamed of.But then again,we are in the puritan USA and we are expected to be fully clothed at all times and live the life of the Virgin Mary and anything other than that is seen as atrocious or taboo which I don't agree with,but I guess that's how it is.Someone went skinny dipping.Big deal?So what?The textiled media needs to be worried about other things.

[78828892]

The most interesting part in the article, is that it seems that they all went on a drinking binge, and apparently spent more than they should. Nobody expects the others to apologize. Only the guy who went skinny dipping for the shameful act he committed, when representing America.

[jasenj]

Here's a thread discussing the article on another site. Fark is a site that is more about mocking the news and shooting your mouth off than careful reasoned commentary, but the prevailing opinion seems to be "so what?".

- Jasen.

[Naturist Mark]

Apparently having a congressman skinny dip at night is such a big deal that the FBI is now on the case ... Oh teh stupid it burns ...