It wasn’t an April Fool’s Day joke after all - it turns out Jake Rush, Florida State Congressional candidate and closet LARPer, drew some serious heat from his opponent and the media recently over evidence of his history as a role-player. Apparently in the world of politics, anyone with an ounce of creativity or individuality is doomed to have his professionalism questioned and his character scrutinized.

The young lawyer and Florida native Jake Rush is currently running against incumbent Republican Tea Party candidate Ted Yoho for his seat in Congress. In 2012, Yoho himself defeated the then incumbent Republican Cliff Stearns, assuming his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives last January.

This election year, it seems Yoho is intimidated enough by his challenger that he has stooped to petty attempts at public embarrassment.

Jake Rush has addressed this stab at his LARPing as a “dirty trick.” In response to the invasion of the press into his personal and private life, Rush indicated that this was a lame attempt to distract voters from the real issues at hand.

“Bottom line - There is nothing wrong with being a gamer,” Rush said. “It’s kinda nerdy, but North Central Florida deserves a legitimate debate on the issues instead of Ted Yoho’s usual sideshow distractions”

Rather than denying these “accusations” or hiding from his hobbies and interests, Rush put recent reports into context. He discussed his interests in acting and improv, acknowledging his previous membership among online LARP communities and forums.

Who knew that a so-called “LARPing scandal” would ever end up making political headlines? Unfortunately, it seems like chronic media distraction from any substantial issues will forever be a bipartisan policy.

Whether or not you reside in Florida’s 3rd congressional district, you have to respect Jake Rush for embracing who he is in spite of attempts to humiliate him. Let’s keep our fingers crossed, LARPers - we could use one of our own in Congress!