# Another candidate is lowering the bar \[TN pro-life Republican\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 10, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350 "2012-10-10T20:16:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350/21 "2012-10-11T19:08:23Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > They often seem to be the same people. Plenty of hypocrites are very, very zealous about applying their “morality” to other people. Precisely. I don’t actually see the position as being deviant from pro-life. Everyone knows what that actually means is “no abortions for anyone apart from me”. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350/22 "2012-10-11T19:10:55Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > His Church is the Episcopalian Church, I am surprised to see. Where did you see that? It’s not in the HuffPo story. I don’t disbelive you, I’m just hoping he’s not in my diocese… ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350/23 "2012-10-11T19:11:21Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Wait wait wait… exactly **how** did a guy who threatened a murder-suicide as the solution to a divorce get elected in the first place?! :eek: I’m guessing it was his stance on gun rights. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350/24 "2012-10-11T19:27:57Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Where did you see that? It’s not in the HuffPo story. I don’t disbelive you, I’m just hoping he’s not in my diocese… Wikipedia, although no citations it seems, so grain of salt. “Epiphany Episcopal Church in Sherwood, Tennessee.” ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350/25 "2012-10-11T21:00:37Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Wait wait wait… exactly **how** did a guy who threatened a murder-suicide as the solution to a divorce get elected in the first place?! :eek: > [@Enkel](#): > > I’m guessing it was his stance on gun rights. Nah. He was just making a stand, supporting the sanctity of marriage. She was destroying that sacred bond over a mere four affairs and an abortion. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350/26 "2012-10-12T17:32:01Z")
Congressman DesJarlais had made a public statement that explains everything. No…wait…what’s that other word? The one that’s the opposite of explains. [Anti-choice Tea Party Congressman: My mistress wasn’t pregnant when I insisted she have an abortion](http://boingboing.net/2012/10/12/anti-choice-tea-party-congress-2.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+boingboing/iBag+(Boing+Boing)) ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350/27 "2012-10-12T17:35:17Z")
Well, I’m glad he cleared that up. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350/28 "2012-10-12T17:36:21Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > Nah. He was just making a stand, supporting the sanctity of marriage. She was destroying that sacred bond over a mere four affairs and an abortion. … and a death threat. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350/29 "2012-10-12T17:42:15Z")
Tomorrow’s headline: “I don’t mind telling people this. When I threatened to kill my wife, I didn’t mean to kill her, I didn’t in fact kill her, and she’s still alive. There was some difficult times, for sure.” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350/30 "2012-10-12T17:44:21Z")
I guess he’s saying he thought she was pregnant and she wasn’t. As defenses go, it’s sort of similar to Homer Simpson’s “I want to set the record straight: I thought the cop was a prostitute.” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350/31 "2012-10-12T18:01:33Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Congressman DesJarlais had made a public statement that explains everything. > > No…wait…what’s that other word? The one that’s the opposite of explains. > > [Anti-choice Tea Party Congressman: My mistress wasn’t pregnant when I insisted she have an abortion](http://boingboing.net/2012/10/12/anti-choice-tea-party-congress-2.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+boingboing/iBag+(Boing+Boing)) It’s like the old joke about the guy who went to the hardware store to buy a shovel: _“How much?”_ He asks Joe the Hardware Guy. “Ten bucks,” says Joe. _“Are you kidding? At Bill’s Hardware across town, their price is FIVE bucks!”_ “Then go buy a shovel from Bill” says Joe. _“I can’t. He’s all out.”_ “Tell ya what then. Next time I’m out of shovels, I’ll price them at FOUR bucks.” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350/32 "2012-10-12T18:27:54Z")
Maybe this has all been a clever ruse by DesJarlais to broaden his base. “See, I tell people I’m pro-life. But then I let it out that I want women who aren’t even pregnant to have abortions. How pro-choice is that? It’s like my clever plan to uphold the sanctity of marriage while committing adultery - I’m a candidate who has something for everyone.” ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350/33 "2012-10-12T18:38:00Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Congressman DesJarlais had made a public statement that explains everything. > > No…wait…what’s that other word? The one that’s the opposite of explains. > > [Anti-choice Tea Party Congressman: My mistress wasn’t pregnant when I insisted she have an abortion](http://boingboing.net/2012/10/12/anti-choice-tea-party-congress-2.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+boingboing/iBag+(Boing+Boing)) Is boingboing a humor site? Is this the same congressperson who thought that many women have abortions even if they’re not pregnant? If this is real life, it’s the HUGEST example of Poe’s Law ever. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350/34 "2012-10-12T18:55:30Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Is boingboing a humor site? Is this the same congressperson who thought that many women have abortions even if they’re not pregnant? > > If this is real life, it’s the HUGEST example of Poe’s Law ever. Boingboing is a humor site but sometimes reality is funnier than anything you could make up. Here’s an article from New York magazine: [Pro-Life Congressman: Mistress Wasn’t Actually Pregnant When I Insisted on Abortion](http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/10/scott-desjarlais-mistress-wasnt-pregnant-during-abortion-call.html) I’m starting to wonder if the candidates have started a betting pool to see who can say the stupidest thing during this campaign. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350/35 "2012-10-12T21:10:51Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#): > > Only if you’re of a certain age. IIRC, Fess Parker died fairly recently. (OK, per Wiki it was 2010) I actually know it independent of the TV show, I had it on a Disney record of some sort when I was a kid, long after the TV show was gone. It’s not **Ludovic’s** fault, it’s a fault of my brain. I won’t remember your face, or your name. But if I heard a song you did once, I probably know it well enough to get it stuck in my head. I never knew who recorded the version I knew, so thankya. Getting back to the subject at hand: According to the article, this genius recorded this phone call himself in an attempt to save his first marriage. I’m not sure how that was supposed to work out, and it appears that it didn’t. So it’s really his own petard he’s potentially being hoisted on here. I’m glad he’s not on any sensitive committees if this is how he secures his own damaging info. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350/36 "2012-12-03T01:48:36Z")
In an update, Scott DesJarlais was re-elected to Congress. But it’s all cool. In a public statement this week, DesJarlais informed people that God has forgiven him. This causes me to question the judgement of both God and 57% of the voters in Tennessee’s 4th Congressional District. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350/37 "2012-12-03T04:10:00Z")
word ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350/38 "2012-12-03T05:19:45Z")
The bar was high? I must have missed that. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350/39 "2012-12-03T05:29:38Z")
And apparently [“his ex-wife terminated **two** pregnancies with his blessing.”](http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/11/desjarlais-would-do-things-differently-today.html) ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350/40 "2012-12-03T05:43:16Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > The bar was high? I must have missed that. The bar was low and it got lower. And this ain’t a limbo dance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-is-lowering-the-bar-tn-pro-life-republican/637350.md?page=3)