Rep. Souder hung up on Amy Goodman in 1998 when she asked if he had ever had an affair.

[sabrina 1]

It was during the time when every Family Values Republican was rushing to any available microphone to condemn President Clinton for his affair with Monica Lewinsky.

On September 17th, (Constitution Day btw) 1998 Amy Goodman was interviewing Republican Reps. Souder and Bill McCollum about a bill on combating drugs that was before the House at the time.

Since Souder had recently called for Clinton's resignation as a result of the affair, she felt it was legitimate to ask both of them whether or not either had ever engaged in an extra-marital affair themselves.

Rep. McCollum, who is currently running for Governor of Florida responded:

Audio From 1998: Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) Hangs Up On Amy Goodman When Asked If He Has Ever Had An Affair

Partial Transcript from Sept. 17. 1998

AMY GOODMAN: Well can I ask you, Congressmember McCollum, in the spirit of peep-hole politics that we all seem to be engaged in right now, are you now or have you ever been involved in an extramarital sexual affair?

REP. BILL McCOLLUM: No mam. I am... I am not, and, uh.. in, at this present time involved in anything whatsoever, have not been and I’m not going to get involved in that kind of discussion. You know I think this is really crazy, what they did with Henry Hyde yesterday.

AMY GOODMAN: Revealing that he had had a sexual affair? But isn’t this what we have come to?

REP. BILL McCOLLUM: well...

AMY GOODMAN: I mean isn’t this the question now that everyone will ask every person who gets involved with public life.

REP. BILL McCOLLUM: Unfortunately that is true, but that’s not what this issue’s about, the issue in the case of President Clinton is not about sex, it’s not about a sexual affair it’s about lying under oath in a court proceeding...

Clinton did not commit perjury. The court proceeding that McCollum is referring to was a deposition taken for a case that was eventually dismissed on its merit. To commit perjury, the lie has to be 'material to the outcome of the case'. But that detail has always been ignored even by some democrats. He's right though, it wasn't about the sex, it was about a an attempted Coup by Republicans of a Democratic president.

McCollum's response as to his own sexual behavior sounded a bit defensive. Since he's now running for Governor, maybe someone should ask him again!

But it was Souder's reaction to the question that was the funniest, especially knowing what we now know:

AMY GOODMAN: Congressmember McCollum we are also joined by Republican Congressmember Mark Souder of Indiana, and while we do want to go back to the issue of the Drug Act that was passed yesterday, let me ask you if you think that’s a fair question now to ask each public official? Is to start off by saying are you now or have you ever been involved in an extramarital sexual affair?

REP. BILL McCOLLUM: Are you asking me that or are you asking Souder that?

AMY GOODMAN: I’m asking Congressmember Souder that...Congressmember Souder?

REP. MARK SOUDER: (silence)

AMY GOODMAN: Are you there?

REP. MARK SOUDER: (silence)

AMY GOODMAN: I think he’s just dropped off the line.

At which point McCollum hurried off the line also, apparently he had important business to conduct and Amy never got a chance to discuss the main topic they were there for in the first place! :rofl:

Those Republican Family Values guys! Funny to see McCollum's outrage over 'what they did to Hyde' while completely ignoring why Hyde's 'youthful indiscretions' became an issue in the first place!

Aside from the sheer hypocrisy that is being uncovered practically on a daily basis, there is the incredible stupidity of most of these men who write emails, make videos, hang up the phone, or leave text messages for their mistresses. Morons, hypocritical, childish, morons are in charge of this country. It explains a lot about the state the country is in.

There is audio of Amy's interview at the link.