'Kissing Congressman' McAllister Ducks Tea Party Rally for Counseling

‘Kissing Congressman’ McAllister Ducks Tea Party Rally for Counseling

Posted April 15, 2014 at 9:02am

Rep. Vance McAllister, R-La., right, talking with Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La., before McAllister's swear in ceremony last November. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo) — McAllister, right, has so far resisted calls for his resignation. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The governor, the chairman of his state party and a growing list of other Republicans (including, in all likelihood, the GOP leadership in the House — though they’ve yet to say so publicly) have asked him to step down, but Rep. Vance McAllister, for now, is trying to ride out the storm.

The “kissing congressman,” embroiled in an infidelity scandal, cancelled an appearance Monday at a tea party event in Ruston, La., according to rally organizers, who were told the congressman is spending this week in family counseling sessions, according to the Monroe News Star . McAllister has not been seen in Washington since the scandal broke early last week, when a video surfaced online of the married congressman in an extended kiss and embrace with a female staff member — also married.

McAllister has told the News Star that he has no intentions of stepping down, and many in Louisiana and elsewhere, comparing the calls for McAllister’s resignation to the less-fevered responses in 2007 to Sen. David Vitter’s D.C. madam scandal , have accused Republicans of hypocrisy.