Why won't 'kissing congressman' quit?
| WASHINGTON
Rep. Vance McAllister (R) of Louisiana, the 鈥渒issing congressman鈥� caught on video snuggling with a staffer who is not his wife, has announced that he won鈥檛 run for reelection this fall. Let鈥檚 make that clear up top. He said Monday that he takes full responsibility for his personal failure and is truly sorry for his actions, and he will end his congressional career in November after a short 14 months in office.
鈥淚 have taken this time to reconcile with my wife and kids and I鈥檓 forever grateful for their support and forgiveness,鈥� said Representative McAllister in a statement.
But McAllister added that he won鈥檛 quit right now, this week, which is what the Republican House leadership wants him to do. House majority leader Eric Cantor said Tuesday that he鈥檇 met with McAllister and urged him to resign immediately.
鈥淲hen we took the majority, I had said that I believe we ought to hold ourselves to a higher standard. And I think what has happened in this instance doesn鈥檛 meet that standard,鈥� Mr. Cantor said聽.
That鈥檚 interesting. Why is McAllister defying his party鈥檚 top officials? After all, he鈥檚 leaving D.C. anyway. The question is timing, not the final result.
The short answer is that the Louisiana soon-to-be-ex-member has different incentives and goals than his party at large. Presumably, he鈥檒l be moving back to Louisiana full-time to resume his business career. If he quits now, he won鈥檛 get paid while he plans the transition. Plus, if he resigns, his constituents won鈥檛 have a federal representative. That鈥檚 the reason he鈥檚 given for staying in office.
鈥淚 do not feel it鈥檚 in my constituents鈥� best interest to leave them without representation for the second time in less than a year,鈥� he told
In contrast, Republican leaders want him gone as soon as possible because there鈥檚 a midterm election coming up. They don鈥檛 want any symbols of scandal hanging around, packing their offices, while they鈥檙e trying to hold the House and recapture control of the Senate. Message control 鈥� it鈥檚 a foundation of modern political campaigns.
Whether they can get McAllister to change his mind is an open question. He has been more of a GOP outsider than a committed member of the ranks. After all, he beat an establishment Republican candidate in a primary before winning a special election in 2013. He鈥檚 said he supports Medicaid expansion in his state, as provided for by the president's Affordable Care Act. That鈥檚 anathema to many GOP lawmakers.
If McAllister has any thoughts of continuing in politics at any level, at any point in the future, he might bow to Cantor鈥檚 wishes. But if he figures he鈥檚 done with all that, he might just stay in office, bank his paycheck, and smile broadly every time he passes a GOP leadership aide on his way into the chamber to vote.
