Jake Rush Defends Role-Playing Hobby, Attacks Ted Yoho

After reports and photos of Jake Rush partaking in dark-themed, live-action role-playing games (RPGS) got national attention on Tuesday, the Republican congressional candidate looked to offer an explanation and insisted this was all a campaign trick by U.S. Rep. Ted Yohos, R-Fla., team.

As a straight shooter, yes, I play and have played video games, role-playing games, board games, Yahtzee, Clue, and I have acted in dozens of theater productions. My undergraduate degree is in the classics, and I have been raised with a deep appreciation for theater, costumes and art.

All my life, Ive been blessed with a vivid imagination, from playing George Washington in elementary school to dressing up as a super hero last Halloween for trick or treaters. Any cursory review of the Internet will show that I have played heroes and villains, Rush continued. I have never hid nor shied away from disclosing my hobby activities. When I was hired at the sheriffs office, I fully disclosed my gaming and theater background on the application, and these hobbies posed absolutely no problem or raised any flags. In fact, when applying for undercover work, these hobbies were considered an advantage, so much so my shift lieutenant nicknamed me Shakespeare.

I have undergone no less than three background checks in my professional career: when I applied at the sheriffs office, when I applied to the Florida Bar, and when I applied to join the sheriffs office again as a reserve officer. I have always been found to be of high moral character and fitness, Rush continued. As a practicing Christian, I am deeply offended that the opposing campaign and their supporters would take a gaming and theater hobby and mischaracterize it. The very definition of acting is expressing ideas and thoughts that are not your own, just like I dont believe I am MacBeth, which I have played, I am none of the characters.

Remzey Samarrai, Rushs campaign manager, insisted the Yoho campaign was behind the reports.

The opposition should be ashamed with their game-playing; this is yet another example of the buffoonery that always follows Ted Yoho, Samarrai said. In an attempt to deflect from his moral and political failings, the opposing campaign shamelessly believes he needs to impugn Jakes character with innuendo, misleading photos and gossip.

Alex Patton, who is also on Rushs team, went after Yohos record, insisting the freshman congressman was a liberal.

Clearly, Ted Yoho and his supporters want to talk about anything other than his abysmal congressional record: a vote to fund Obamacare, a vote for the budget, a vote to cut veterans' benefits, and an isolationist foreign affairs policy, Patton said. None of which liberal-libertarian Yoho is addressing.

Bottom line: there is nothing wrong with being a gamer, Rush said. Its kind of nerdy, but North Central Florida deserves a legitimate debate on the issues instead of Ted Yohos usual sideshow distractions.