WASHINGTON – To the direct question whether he’d been drinking when he tried to evict teen-age Senate pages from the U.S, Capitol rotunda late one night last week, western Wisconsin Congressman Derick Van Orden has acknowledged that he had. How much? The teens, celebrating the end of their stint as pages, chronicled the unpleasant event, including a tirade of back-alley vulgarities, but there were no witnesses at that hour and the young pages left as told. Nobody called Capitol police, who in any event don’t carry breath-a-lyzers in their standard gear. What is known? Onesource, Van Orden and his staff were partying loudly in his office in the Longworth Office Building before he cursed out the pages in the rotunda. Indeed he keeps a colorful stock of alcohol on display in his office He also is known to uncork a beer with office visitors. Van Orden’s spokesperson, Anna Kelly, explained that the liquor and also beer cans were gifts from visiting constituents. Making light of images appearing online after the rotunda incident,, Kelly said: “As the Congressman says, once you cross the threshold to our office, you are in Wisconsin.” She ended her online response with a beer mug emoji. The rotunda incident was a block away from the Longworth building.
Earlier: Fellow Wisconsin solon to Van Orden: Own up to deed
Earlier: Van Orden challenger: He’s unfit for office
Earlier: His side on cussing out pages: Faults news media
Earlier: Democrats question WI-3’s Van Orden character
Earlier: House GOP chief rails against GOP Congressman
Earlier: Senate leader rebukes Van Orden behavior
Earlier: Van Orden attacks teen-age Capitol pages as jackasses
Through the doors. The suggestion in a Twitter post: “Come on in, friend. Let me pour.” At Van Orden’s suite at 1513 in the Longworth House Office Building.
Kelly. Van Orden’s communications director.
Rotunda. The awing dome where Senate pages gathered for group photos in thel ate night quietude of July 26. Unclear why VanOrden was wandering there. a block away from his Congressional office.
His lessons on manhood. Between paperback covers. Published 2012.
Van Orden’s “mansplains” to young men
When he was 40, recently retired from a military career and prideful of his war record, Van Orden, decided to share what he knew about manhood with a new generation who in his macho view had gone sissy. His book, “A Navy SEAL’s Guide to the Lost Art of Manhood,” never sold well but was favorably reviewed. One reviewer called Van Orden’s avuncular counseling “entertaining and amusing.”
Among Uncle Derrick’s tips were how to:
> Change a tire.
> Catch a fish and clean it.
> Throw a punch (when necessary).
> Drive a car fast.
> Tie a necktie.
> Build an emergency fire.
> Kiss a girl.
> Make a cocktail.
> Cook a steak.