Vance McAllister campaigning with Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson
If Louisiana U.S. Congressman Vance McAllister didn’t mention his “family values” and religion in every campaign ad he ran, and if he didn’t claim, “I am running for U.S. Congress to ensure our conservative and Louisiana values are protected” on the front page of his campaign website, perhaps this story would be buried.
But the newly-elected U.S. Republican Congressman was caught on video two days before Christmas kissing a high-level staffer — not his wife — by The Ouachita Citizen, a local Louisiana newspaper.
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The Southern Baptist businessman and Army veteran — that’s how he ran for office — was endorsed by Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson and son Willie Robertson. Rep. McAllister invited Willie Robertson to President Obama’s State of the Union Address, after his father’s damning Esquire article came out loaded with anti-gay and racist comments.
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“Born and raised in West Carroll Parish, Vance was taught at a young age the importance of faith, family, and hard work,” his campaign website reads. “Vance and his wife Kelly have been married for sixteen years. They live in Monroe with their five children and are members of North Monroe Baptist Church. As a father, Vance is worried about the type of future President Obama and career politicians are leaving for the next generation.”
The woman McAllister is believed to have been kissing — in his office suite — is his scheduler, the person who says who can and cannot get the Congressman’s time. She was seen at campaign events before the election, and happens to be the wife of his former business associate of 16 years. They both donated to his campaign.
The Ouachita Citizen, which notes that McAllister “campaigned for office last fall as a devout Christian and devoted husband and father,” reported the story and subsequently the Congressman’s apology:
“There’s no doubt I’ve fallen short and I’m asking for forgiveness,” McAllister said in a statement. “I’m asking for forgiveness from God, my wife, my kids, my staff, and my constituents who elected me to serve. Trust is something I know has to be earned whether your a husband, a father, or a congressman. I promise to do everything I can to earn back the trust of everyone I’ve disappointed.”
“From day one, I’ve always tried to be an honest man. I ran for congress to make a difference and not to just be another politician. I don’t want to make a political statement on this, I would just simply like to say that I’m very sorry for what I’ve done.”
“While I realize I serve the public, I would appreciate the privacy given to my children as we get through this.
The Ouachita Citizen added:
Throughout last fall’s congressional campaign, McAllister, a Republican from Swartz, touted his Christian faith and in one television commercial, he asked voters to pray for him. At least two other campaign television commercials featured McAllister walking hand in hand with his wife, Kelly, while their five children walked along. One television commercial captured the McAllister family in the kitchen of their home preparing breakfast before attending church.
McAllister and his wife have been married for 16 years.
McAllister told The Ouachita Citizen during last fall’s campaign that he would not shy from stressing his Christian faith. McAllister and his family are members at North Monroe Baptist Church. That faith prepared him for public service, he said during an interview.
“You don’t achieve goals by compromising your integrity but by building relationships on respect,†McAllister said.
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