Wait … it was South Carolina Congressman Addison Graves “Joe” Wilson who yelled “You Lie” at President Barack Obama last year, correct?
And it was S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford who led his state to believe he was “hiking the Appalachian Trail” – when in reality he was shacking up in Buenos Aires with his Latin lover, Maria Belen Chapur, right?
Yeah … while it’s hard to keep track of the Palmetto State’s many national embarrassments … those two are clearly check and check, baby.
Of course along comes Congressman Wilson to jumble things up with an odd January 3, 2010 “Tweet” that reads as follows: “Great way to begin new year hiking through Panthertown national forest with expert hiker Maryanna Lynch despite 6 inches snow, 17 degrees!”
Here it is on his Twitter page, in case you missed it …
First of all, Panthertown is technically not a national forest, it’s a 6700-acre region of the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina that’s known for its, well, great hiking. It’s also referred to as the “Yosemite of the East” because of its breathtaking granite domes and high-altitude bogs.
But that’s not the point … the point is what in the hell was Wilson thinking when he sent out a “Tweet” that referenced being alone in the woods with a woman who isn’t his wife? Particularly after Sanford forever intertwined hiking with another sort of physical exertion.
It gets worse, though.
In addition to being an “expert hiker,” the aforementioned Maryanna Lynch is also one of the Congressman’s former interns … who happens to be a senior at Clemson University, in case you were wondering about how old she is.
And not that it (cough) matters, but here’s what she looks like …
Not bad … at least for a doofus S.C. Congressman, anyway.
Obviously, there’s nothing going on here, though, right? Right? Seriously, no politician in their right mind would ever tweet about being alone in the woods with a college-aged former female intern – would they?
Wait a second … would they?
Clearly Wilson is one of two things – “that stupid” or “that smart” – but which is it?
Honestly, as much as we’d love to give him major credit for being a) diabolically ingenious and b) a wilderness sex God, our guess is that he’s “that stupid,” even though he is paying big bucks to a Republican political consultant to run his Twitter page.
Still, though, what a moron! Opening this poor girl up to ridicule like this!
Cue the music, people …
Loading ...UPDATE: Looks like our “that stupid” theory was correct. A source close to the girl’s family has called FITS and informed us that her father was actually along for the hike with two other people. Obviously, Wilson omitted these additional hikers from his errant Tweet.
By Rick January 7, 2010 at 2:16 pm
I see nothing here that lowers or raises my respect for the man.
By GOPinsider January 7, 2010 at 2:38 pm
The Wilsons and Lynches have been close friends for many, many years. Mary Anna has always been a close friend of the Congressman. There is definitely nothing going on that should be considered suspicious considering they have mountain houses near each other and the two families apparently hang out quite often. Nothing here suspicious at all.
By jimbo January 7, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Panthertown? More like MANthertown!
By sclawboy January 7, 2010 at 2:49 pm
I’d “hike” with her…
By RedDeliciousMac January 7, 2010 at 3:12 pm
At least somebody’s gettin’ some.
By sclawboy January 7, 2010 at 3:25 pm
GOPinsider,
While the Wilsons and Lynch may be old friends, I think that for the Congressman to open the door to this sort of speculation is to invite trouble. Considering he is 30 years older than her, and considering the number of political sex scandals in the last year, perhaps he should avoid even the appearance of shagging young ladies to whom he is not married.
By BlatantReality January 7, 2010 at 3:31 pm
I clicked on her Facebook Page and its not a spoof “devoted to her newfound fame.” There are wall posts dated September 4, 2006, way before this little hike took place. Just thought I’d point that out.
By fitsnews January 7, 2010 at 3:46 pm
BR – True that. Good pt.
GOP Insider – Inneresting … if true, though, still stupid.
-FITS
By Ynotfirst January 7, 2010 at 4:09 pm
I’m not sure he ” likes and hikes” with women.
By Jonny D January 7, 2010 at 4:23 pm
I think we’ve found our second box of rocks.
By Matt January 7, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Posting that Tweet was dumb–guess David All and Wes Donehue need to have a talk with their boss.
I am *assuming* that the hiking trip included both the Wilson and Lynch families and not just Congressman Joe and intern Maryanna. At least I hope.
By Richard January 7, 2010 at 6:24 pm
You talk about Wilson exposing this young lady to ridicule and then add salt to the wound by showing her picture. Classy way to show respect to her and her family based on nothing more than your dirty mind!
By Stumpy January 7, 2010 at 6:50 pm
Rick,
Me either. I’ve didn’t respect him when he was just representing the locals in censuring Lexington. The private stories I’ve heard about him since then made me respect him even less.
By HMMM January 7, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Really. Really. Stupid.
By scooter January 7, 2010 at 9:06 pm
I figure nothing is going on. Have met “The Mrs.” Do Not think she would put up with any nonsense. Believe she calls the shots. And I am sure the young lady is a very nice person! But, I do not think the person who posted that Tweet is not the smartest person to be running anything for him. But then, I never thought Joe had much real sense anyway. Bless his heart. Just another reason I could not ever vote for him.
By clay January 7, 2010 at 9:34 pm
I think a new name is in order….”CONGO JOE”!!!!
By WorkingTommyC January 7, 2010 at 11:03 pm
“Above reproach” is the best goal a politician can work towards.
Also, perhaps the idea of chaperons should be brought back into practice.
The practice of propriety in their private lives should replace the practice of going along to get along in Congress. Restore the political battlefield and they won’t have have as much energy to pursue the wrong objectives in their lives.
By Commonman January 8, 2010 at 8:28 am
Joe Wilson has never been accused of being an intellectual giant. That stupid, he is. Wonder if he hugged a tree?
By Old Bike Dude January 8, 2010 at 10:23 am
When Rob Miller would go hiking, it was to kill terrorist and spread freedom.
By ProGunGuy January 8, 2010 at 12:07 pm
For Wilson to tweet thus, leads me to think he was most certainly NOT alone with the young lady on said hike. Seems to me that this “non story” has only served to give Wilson some added buzz, and as the facts now reveal, it reinforces the opinion that Wilson is the actual boy scout his image purports him to be, making this quite a PR coup. Color Wilson “that smart” after all…
By DC-SC January 8, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Where in the post does it say they were alone? I think you read what you wanted to read on this one. Maybe they were alone, but it does not say that. SC politicians are doing enough idiotic things that we don’t need to manufacture new ones. Facts people.
By GOPinsider January 8, 2010 at 3:11 pm
I will elaborate just a bit further….this “Hike” was not just the Congressman and Miss Lynch. The hiking party actually consisted of Miss Lynch, her father, the Congressman, an employee for another S.C. Congressman, and more. Wilson should have taken the other scandals into consideration before he posted this, absolutely. But there was and never will be anything going on between him and a college age girl, especially Mary Anna Lynch. Anyone that knows Joe or knows his wife, knows his impromptu decisions are occasionally questionable, but his personal integrity and the integrity of his family he holds to the highest standard. The story should end here.
By Todd January 8, 2010 at 3:19 pm
WorkingTommyC: I haven’t heard the “above reproach” remark since one of Jean Toal’s lieutenants (servants) blabbed about the Supreme Court being “Above reproach” and having the highest regard for honesty, integrity and character blah, blah, blah after the bar exam scandal a couple of years ago. Thanks for giving me a laugh today.
By Cola Native January 8, 2010 at 3:22 pm
FITS – I want the 45 seconds it took me to read this idiotic story back please.