Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-KS)

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.

Many of the lawmakers who ventured into the lake said they did so because of the religious significance of the waters. Others said they were simply cooling off after a long day. Several privately admitted that alcohol may have played a role in why some of those present decided to jump in.

Please ... just stop. Just go away. I do not want to hear why congressional Republicans' deep love for Israel and/or Jesus resulted in a trip to the Holy Land that included drunken skinny dipping in the Sea of Galilee Some evidence for the existence of God may be found in the fact that there seem to be no pictures of this event, for which we are all very, very thankful.No. You think?

So a bunch of GOP congressman get drunk, jump into the Sea of Galilee in various states of undress, with more than one of them probably shouting "Lookee me, I'm Jesus!" while holding restaurant wine glasses in one or both hands. But it's all good, because Eric Cantor (also on the trip) made sure to yell at them the next morning. No word on why this did not cause a diplomatic incident at the time, but I choose to believe it is because Republican congressmen get drunk and naked so often, during their very important trips to Israel to discuss regional security and what the best vantage points might be to watch Jesus come back and level the place, that it doesn't even raise eyebrows anymore.

