Too Bad About Souder
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Gary [email protected]
While I fully disagreed with some of the things he voted for - No Child Left Behind, prescription drug benefit, TARP bailouts - I think overall he did a pretty good job for the district.
I talked to Souder many times over the years. He made a habit of stopping by the newspaper when he was in town. I liked that about him.
One thing I will always remember about him is that he was one of the wonkiest politicians I ever met. By that I mean he spent tons of time analyzing policy and its effect on the district. He took time to understand how what happened in Washington would affect the RV industry, the orthopedic industry or the auto industry and how that would translate back to his district.
That was a good thing and I hope his replacement is equally as wonky.
He is a very smart man, that Souder.
At the same time, he had the evangelical Christian vibe going on.
Let's face it, that's how he was able to keep getting re-elected here in the buckle of the Bible Belt.[[In-content Ad]]Constituents don't follow policy. They don't know that he helped kill a bill that would have cost jobs in the district or helped pass one that saved jobs in the district. They glaze over when politicians talk about that stuff.
But they know about things like abortion, abstinence and family values. And what Souder had to say on those issues resonated around here.
That's what made the announcement that he was resigning because of an affair with a female staffer on Tuesday surprising. Apparently, Souder didn't practice what he preached. The guy turned out to be quite the hypocrite.
But, when you think about it - and this is by no means meant to be taken as some sort of excuse for his behavior - you show me a politician who isn't a hypocrite and I'll show you a politician who isn't breathing.
When the Republicans run up the deficit, all the Democrats howl about how irresponsible it is.
Then, when the Democrats run up the deficit, the Republicans howl about how irresponsible it is.
It's patently absurd.
Not one of them is exempt or above the fray. And no issue is exempt. They'll demagogue anything that comes up.
Did you ever stop and wonder why, if everybody in Washington is in favor of fiscal responsibility - which they all say they are - we have huge deficits that threaten to ruin the financial security of our nation?
I'll tell you why. It's because they're all hypocrites.
They all say they're for fiscal responsibility. They all say they truly believe in this cause or that policy.
But then it comes time to vote and do a little quid pro quo for their campaign contributors or lobbyist buddies. Then it comes time to add this earmark or that earmark. Then comes election time, which means it's time to go out and say whatever it takes to get re-elected regardless of how you voted on the issues.
So, while I was surprised by Souder's antics, I wouldn't say I was shocked that he turned out to be a hypocrite.
It's the very nature of the occupation. It's what politicians do. I can see how living like that day in and day out could eventually slop over into your personal life. I mean, seriously, we've seen it how many times with these guys? Hart, Clinton, Edwards, Sanford, Vitter, Craig, Massa, Spitzer, McGreevy, Foley, et al.
I hope now that Souder is out of politics he can do some soul searching and return to those traditional family values he liked to talk about so much as a Congressman.
Of course, I have no idea who initiated the monkey business between Souder and his mistress, but it seems to me he was, after all, the Congressman.
Regardless of whose idea it was, or whether it was mutual, he should have showed a little restraint.
So I guess I don't really feel too bad for Souder.
But I do feel bad for everybody else involved, especially all the family members and loved ones who were hurt.
I mean, an affair is bad enough when it's among average folks in a small town.
But when a Congressman resigns over it?
Next thing you know you have Jay Leno cracking jokes about you on "The Tonight Show", tens of thousands of video views on YouTube, stories in every major media outlet in the nation and a column in the local newspaper.
Hopefully, time will heal these wounds and those involved can patch things up and move on with their lives. They're all good people who deserve to be happy. In the meantime, I think everybody just needs to give these people some privacy and some space.
I also feel bad for all the Congressman's staffers who feel betrayed and - as a much more practical matter - are unemployed.
But for all you voters out there who are feeling shocked, appalled and slighted because you trusted and believed in this guy I say this:
Shake it off.
I learned a long time ago you've got to be a little naive to let a politician disappoint you.
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While I fully disagreed with some of the things he voted for - No Child Left Behind, prescription drug benefit, TARP bailouts - I think overall he did a pretty good job for the district.
I talked to Souder many times over the years. He made a habit of stopping by the newspaper when he was in town. I liked that about him.
One thing I will always remember about him is that he was one of the wonkiest politicians I ever met. By that I mean he spent tons of time analyzing policy and its effect on the district. He took time to understand how what happened in Washington would affect the RV industry, the orthopedic industry or the auto industry and how that would translate back to his district.
That was a good thing and I hope his replacement is equally as wonky.
He is a very smart man, that Souder.
At the same time, he had the evangelical Christian vibe going on.
Let's face it, that's how he was able to keep getting re-elected here in the buckle of the Bible Belt.[[In-content Ad]]Constituents don't follow policy. They don't know that he helped kill a bill that would have cost jobs in the district or helped pass one that saved jobs in the district. They glaze over when politicians talk about that stuff.
But they know about things like abortion, abstinence and family values. And what Souder had to say on those issues resonated around here.
That's what made the announcement that he was resigning because of an affair with a female staffer on Tuesday surprising. Apparently, Souder didn't practice what he preached. The guy turned out to be quite the hypocrite.
But, when you think about it - and this is by no means meant to be taken as some sort of excuse for his behavior - you show me a politician who isn't a hypocrite and I'll show you a politician who isn't breathing.
When the Republicans run up the deficit, all the Democrats howl about how irresponsible it is.
Then, when the Democrats run up the deficit, the Republicans howl about how irresponsible it is.
It's patently absurd.
Not one of them is exempt or above the fray. And no issue is exempt. They'll demagogue anything that comes up.
Did you ever stop and wonder why, if everybody in Washington is in favor of fiscal responsibility - which they all say they are - we have huge deficits that threaten to ruin the financial security of our nation?
I'll tell you why. It's because they're all hypocrites.
They all say they're for fiscal responsibility. They all say they truly believe in this cause or that policy.
But then it comes time to vote and do a little quid pro quo for their campaign contributors or lobbyist buddies. Then it comes time to add this earmark or that earmark. Then comes election time, which means it's time to go out and say whatever it takes to get re-elected regardless of how you voted on the issues.
So, while I was surprised by Souder's antics, I wouldn't say I was shocked that he turned out to be a hypocrite.
It's the very nature of the occupation. It's what politicians do. I can see how living like that day in and day out could eventually slop over into your personal life. I mean, seriously, we've seen it how many times with these guys? Hart, Clinton, Edwards, Sanford, Vitter, Craig, Massa, Spitzer, McGreevy, Foley, et al.
I hope now that Souder is out of politics he can do some soul searching and return to those traditional family values he liked to talk about so much as a Congressman.
Of course, I have no idea who initiated the monkey business between Souder and his mistress, but it seems to me he was, after all, the Congressman.
Regardless of whose idea it was, or whether it was mutual, he should have showed a little restraint.
So I guess I don't really feel too bad for Souder.
But I do feel bad for everybody else involved, especially all the family members and loved ones who were hurt.
I mean, an affair is bad enough when it's among average folks in a small town.
But when a Congressman resigns over it?
Next thing you know you have Jay Leno cracking jokes about you on "The Tonight Show", tens of thousands of video views on YouTube, stories in every major media outlet in the nation and a column in the local newspaper.
Hopefully, time will heal these wounds and those involved can patch things up and move on with their lives. They're all good people who deserve to be happy. In the meantime, I think everybody just needs to give these people some privacy and some space.
I also feel bad for all the Congressman's staffers who feel betrayed and - as a much more practical matter - are unemployed.
But for all you voters out there who are feeling shocked, appalled and slighted because you trusted and believed in this guy I say this:
Shake it off.
I learned a long time ago you've got to be a little naive to let a politician disappoint you.
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