This week, U.S. Rep. Vance McAllister was faced with the scandalous release of a security video to his kissing his married aide, Melissa Anne Hixon Peacock, at his office in Louisiana. That would normally be the stuff of scandal, but it is even worse when you are married and ran as a religious conservative. McAllister went public with an apology to everyone (except personally to Peacock’s husband who is now divorcing his wife). He asked forgiveness but is now demanding an investigation to potentially jail whoever revealed his conduct: a curious path for a self-proclaimed redemptive sinner.
Many members may be quietly supportive of the effort to prosecute the staffer as a warning to their own staff that what happens in Congress stays in Congress.
McAllister knew both the aide and her husband (shown right) for years. Mr. Peacock said that McAllister had turned to religion as a card to play in the election and never was religious when they were growing up together:
“I know his beliefs. When he ran one of his commercials, he said ‘I need your prayers,’ and I asked, ‘When did you get religious?’ He said, ‘When I needed votes.’ He broke out the religious card and he’s about the most non-religious person I know.”
Here is McAllister promising to defend “the values of faith” and “defend our Christian way of life.” He appears as bad an actor as he is a husband:
McAllister released a statement that “There’s no doubt I’ve fallen short and I’m asking for forgiveness. I’m asking for forgiveness from God, my wife, my kids, my staff, and my constituents who elected me to serve.”
That contrition apparently does not extend to whomever is responsible for revealing his misconduct. McAllister had an aide (presumably a platonic aide) announce that he will request that House Speaker John Boehner demand a FBI investigation concerning the leak of a video from a security camera in McAllister’s Monroe District Office.
Adam Terry, McAllister’s chief of staff expressed outrage and said “It’s a serious breach.” Just to be clear, he is taking about the person who exposed his boss’s misconduct not his boss.
Adding to this bizarre scandal is the statement of West Monroe Minister Danny Chance of the Christian Life Church that it was McAllister’s Monroe District Office manager, Leah Gordon, who leaked the video. So much for leaving your fate in the hands of Chance.
Chance appears equally upset with the disclosure as opposed to the congressman: “I’m not taking up for the congressman; what he did was wrong. But I just feel like there is a conspiracy to bring Vance down and destroy him. For someone on his staff to do that is wrong.” Wow. I expect moral outrage but not quite this form of moral outrage.
McAllister secured his seat by running on Christian values and releasing a political ad featuring a star from Duck Dynasty. His campaign site promised that he was a man who was “taught at a young age the importance of faith, family, and hard work.” That included a promise to fight for “traditional marriage.” Of course, McAllister is in a state that reelected another family values politician, David Vitter, despite his frequenting prostitutes in Washington.
McAllister stated “I’m asking for forgiveness from God, my wife, my kids, my staff, and my constituents who elected me to serve. Trust is something I know has to be earned whether your a husband, a father, or a congressman. I promise to do everything I can to earn back the trust of everyone I’ve disappointed.” I expect that will take a bit of work with Mr. Peacock.
Source: News Star
“Must be Satan”
Republicans are such hypocrites. Dems are hardworking, caring, honest, politicians. It doesn’t take long for the robotic boilerplate comments from duopolists. BOTH PARTIES HAVE MANY HYPOCRITES, it’s a push.
Another glass of cool-aid,please!
This congressman is dirty and no public dollars should go to confirm who outed him. Me thinks he doth protest too much!
Chuckling .. the only person that hasn’t been blamed yet is Pres. Obama. Imagine that will come.
Paul
Liberals do not expect perfection. To do so would not be liberal. And we’re not talking about the political liberal/conservative struggle here. This issue is about the hypocrisy of this politician and of similar instances where the politician has made their Christianity the primary feature of their political life only to be found out he’s willing to cheat on his wife despite his alleged adherence to principles which would prevent such lapses. If he’s willing to compromise that promise, that commitment, what else is he willing to compromise to further his personal and political ambitions?
The fact is believers expect non-believers to be perfect and set themselves up as the examples of that perfection. They glorify themselves as superior, they demand our secular nation and it’s laws, particularly regarding women’s and gays’ civil rights, bend to their narrow view, they demand the right to openly and unconstitutionally discriminate against their fellow Americans. And you wonder why the charge of blatant hypocrisy arises when there is blatant hypocrisy in front of us? Are Christians held to a higher standard? Perhaps so, but that’s a place they’ve demanded.
It was obviously Satan who outed him.
He should be executed. This country needs more public executions. There is nothing like a good stoning or crucifixion on a Saturday afternoon.
Charlatan
I’m curious why there has been not one mention of the Whore Court’s McCutcheon decision on this blog.
Did I miss it?
Maybe someone can help me understand?
If its not infidelity and hypocrisy from McAllister, it’s cocaine use from Rep.Trey Radel, who proposed drug testing for wefare recipients.
After Monica Lewinsky and now this, let’s ban aides
Or is that just a band-aid
For those of you unfamiliar with Christianity, I refer you to the Confessional of Catholicism. The Roman Catholics expect imperfection. Not sure why liberals expect perfection?
I have to assume that blhlls finds mendaciousness offensive to him for a religious person more than a non-professed person. But here we are talking about politicians seeking to make laws benefitting friends (cronies). You are interest in making your point of view attractive. When it comes to behavior & we look at an incident here & an incident there – have your will but do not try to make me believe that your champion is any different when reached by an opportunity. If you believe so – state it & I’ll observe.
Devout Christianity is a real vote getter, but nowhere more so than the Bible Belt.
Buckaroo, it is not a matter of sinning as to disclosure of facts which raise legitimate questions regarding whether a particular politician misrepresented himself to those who elected him, or is trustworthy as these matters go to his qualifications for the office he holds. The fact that he fooled around on his wife with a married woman suggests that he does not particularly value “traditional” marriage regardless of his campaign statements.
The good news is that ubiquitous surveillance so far has informed the public of numerous cases of misconduct by politicians and govt officials – this guy, Christie and his staff, Manning and Snowdon revelations and several others so far. It is looking like the best answer to finding competent honest and humane public officials IS ubiquitous surveillance of their lives – available to the public.
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/04/mcallister_gawker_leak_affair_staffer.html Looks like it might have been a former staffer that outed him.
Another scumbag outed.
No wonder Congress’s approval rating is in the teens – they just keep confirming that their poor reputation is deserved.
I am mystified by all the attention given to sinners. Is this something new ? Some people act like progressives are known sinners – therefore accepted. While Christians should never sin – therefore unaccepted. Once I entered the world of science I learned & accepted that what was not understood or known was know by some one way out there in space referred to as God. But that was for those of us trying to untangle the where & what-nots of time & space. However other money making professionals live & make money finding fault with the way others look at life.. Indians worshiped the sun & stars. Pioneers worshiped the soil & open spaces. We all have our own kind of attraction. Let it be folks – knowledge is out there for all – seek it & be happy – but for sake of humanity – make your own life worthwhile & quit looking for other human sin rather than your own !!!
Ugh, another ‘Christian’ who is all contrite when he is caught. Now he wants an FBI investigation to find who outed him?! Taxpayers should PAY to find out who outed him? Why should Congressmen/women have such investigative powers a their fingertips? Let him pay for a private dick. Then the minister outs the suspected outer, hahaha, you can’t make this stuff up. I say the suspected outer should sue the minister. McAllister should marry the woman whose marriage he helped destroy so he can prove he is still a Family value/ traditional marriage proponent. Never mind the hypocrisy.