From The Austin-American Statesman:

"This morning, I came across a Web site for U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison’s gubernatorial campaign.

"A provocative twist: The site may have been juiced with the intent of drawing visitors with the help of more than 2,200 hidden phrases—including “rick perry gay.”

"On my inquiry, Hutchison’s campaign spokesman, Jeff Sadosky, initially said he’d look into the matter. He later issued a statement that didn’t indicate how the phrases landed on the site, but said they weren’t condoned and would be removed."

Also in 'Outrage's' cross hairs is former Idaho Sen. Larry Craig, who was busted for sexual solicitation in a Minnesota airport bathroom but continues to insist he is 100 percent heterosexual.

'It was a poor choice of words,' Barrett said. I didn't mean it in a racist way. I treat everyone with dignity and respect.'.

Paul Stanley sponsors Bill SB70078
Adoption - Prohibits any individual who is cohabitating in a sexual relationship outside of a marriage that is valid under the constitution and laws of this state from adopting a minor.

Paul Stanley sponsors Bill SB0662
Adoption - Prohibits any individual who is cohabitating in a sexual relationship outside of a marriage that is valid under the constitution and laws of this state from adopting a minor.

SB0220 Laundries and Dry Cleaners - As introduced, increases from 180 to 200 days minimum time required before dry cleaner or launderer may dispose of unclaimed garments.

"Well, it was only a matter of time, wasn't it? According to authorities, one of our own social conservative Republicans has been caught cheating on his wife, and he was doing it with a young legislative intern. At this juncture, we're going to resist the temptation to make a joke about family values. That's getting so old it's not funny anymore."

Suffice it to say that like John Ensign, Mark Sanford and all the rest on the national stage lately, this one is really rich--with a little homemade porn and a bumbling blackmailer tossed into the story to make it even spicier. Ensnared in Tennessee's own sex scandal tonight is Sen. Paul Stanley, the wingnut from Germantown who has crusaded to ban gay adoption of children and who once made the really stupid mistake of saying: "When you're married, there's a commitment there."

According to court documents, here's what happened: Stanley, who is married with two children, was accused of having an affair with a 22-year-old legislative intern, McKensie Morrison, by the woman's boyfriend. The boyfriend, Joel Palmer Watts. 28, discovered a computer memory disc with sexually explicit photographs of Morrison that appeared to have been taken in Stanley's apartment. Watts then blackmailed Stanley, demanding $10,000 in return for keeping quiet.

"Releasing the photographs to individuals or the media would cause embarrassment, both professionally and personally, to Stanley," according to the court affidavit, as if we needed an explanation for why this might pose a small problem for our family values champion. (Notably, as a House member, Stanley introduced a bill prohibiting the showing of pornographic materials in a moving vehicle. Don't ask us to explain why.)

Now a blackmail victim, Stanley went to the TBI, and they set up Watts. Stanley met his blackmailer behind the El Rey Azteca Mexican restaurant in Whites Creek. Where else? According to court documents:

Lawmakers flock to 133 C St. SE for cheap rent, weekly dinners, Bible studies and spirituality sessions that serve as a sort of group therapy for some of the country’s most powerful men.

But now the stately brick house is becoming known for something else: It’s ground zero for Republican sex scandals. In February, Nevada Sen. John Ensign — who lives at the house — was confronted at C Street by colleagues who wanted him to end his affair with a staffer.

Earlier this month, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford — who lived at C Street when he served in the House — said C Street was where he’d been asked the “hard questions” that were “very, very important” in his decision to admit an affair with an Argentine woman.

And last week, the estranged wife of former Rep. Chip Pickering said he carried on a long-term extramarital affair while living at the “well-known C Street Complex."

Before onetime comedian Al Franken is sworn into office as Minnesota’s newest senator, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is aiming to lower expectations regarding the Democrats' filibuster-proof majority.

"Democrats aren’t looking to Sen. Franken’s election as an opportunity to ram legislation through this body," Reid said in remarks welcoming Franken to the legislative body Monday. Franken replaced former GOP Sen. Norm Coleman after a protracted court battle for the seat.