Yesha Callahan “Outed” NY Congressman Chris Lee in the Craigslist-Shirtless Photo Debacle

University of Maryland faculty member and single mom, Yesha Callahan, whose “women seeking men” ad last month sparked married New York Congressman Chris Lee to post his shirtless picture to Craigslist, is the woman who contacted Gawker, thus “outing” Lee.

When Lee asked her for a revealing pic in return, Callahan, who already had found out he was married,

contacted Gawker.

 

“I assumed that other people have probably come across him as well, and he had lied to them. I felt annoyance at just the audacity of people thinking that they’re not going to get found out when they are lying.” Callahan said.

(via PoliticsDaily)

Chris Lee, NY Republican Congressman Resigns After Shirtless Craigslist Surfaces

First-term New York Republican Congressman Chris Lee quit on Wednesday, when it was reported  that he sent a photo of himself shirtless to a woman on Craigslist.

Married and father to one, the 46-year-old stated his immediate resignation, and apologized for “the harm that my actions have caused my family, my staff and my constituents.

“I deeply and sincerely apologize to them all… I have made profound mistakes and I promise to work as hard as I can to seek their forgiveness.”

According to the website Gawker, which first posted the story, in the Craigslist personals’ “Women for Men” section, Lee replied to an ad asking “will someone prove to me not all CL men look like toads?” His reply was a shirtless photo, and a description of himself as a “very fit fun classy” 39-year-old lobbyist.

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow said, “He’s not been a family values guy, he doesn’t seem to be a hypocrite, he seems to be a guy who’s cheating on his marriage and that’s not a political offence.”

Lee was active in in issues pertaining to economic revitalization and was on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Please check out the video and more details over at NBCNewYork.

Former Mayor Harry Baals, the Clear Leader in an Online Vote, May Not Get His Name on a Building

Harry Baals, a former mayor of Fort Wayne, Indiana is vastly ahead in an online poll regarding naming of a new government center. Despite his popularity, city officials say they don’t want to humiliate the city.

Deputy Mayor Beth Malloy stated, “We love Fort Wayne, too. We’re not going to make any decisions that look bad.” (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette)

Jim Baals, Harry’s grand-nephew, is reported as saying, “Harry served four terms and was a wonderful mayor. I don’t know what the problem is… I understand people are going to poke fun at it. That’s OK. I’ve lived with that name for 51 years now and I’ve gotten through it. I think everybody else can, too.”

(via HuffingtonPost, image from WLSAM)

Jordan tribes criticise Queen Rania’s ‘political role’

Following riots and uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, 36 Jordanian tribal leaders questioned Queen Rania’s Palestinian origins, afraid that she was “building power centres for her own interests that go against what Jordanians and Hashemites have agreed on in governing and is a danger to the nation and the structure the state… and the institution of the throne“. Supportive of women’s rights and of Palestinian origin, Queen Rania is like the majority of Jordanians.

Under pressure by world events and chaos to make reforms, King Abdullah recently got rid of his cabinet and appointed a new Prime Minister. Jordan has also seen large protests demanding political and economic reforms though not asking for removal of the king.

The tribal leaders further stated, “We call for a modern electoral law based on consultations with all political forces in Jordan, enhancing freedoms and the formation of a national salvation government to oversee a transparent parliamentary election.” The statement came with a warning as well, “Disregard for the content of the statement will throw us into what happened in Tunis and Egypt and what will happen in other Arab countries.”

 

(via BBCNewsUK)

Legislator Julia Hurley Credits Hooters with Success

In her first run for public office, 29-year old Republican & Tennessee Legislator, Julia Hurley won a seat in November and is thanking Hooters for causing her to become “strong-willed and eager to become successful”.

In the latest issue of Hooters magazine, in the “Orange Pride Spotlight” success stories section, Hurley says she built networking and business skills while working at Hooters.

“I have taken quite a bit of flack from the public at large during my run for State House in Tennessee for being a Hooters Girl,” she said. “But I know that without that time in my life I would not be as strong-willed and eager to become successful.”

(via LongIslandPress)