Disgraced Representative Compares Himself To Abraham Lincoln?

Republican Representative Aaron Schock is stepping down as Illinois State Representative, but not before making outrageous comments comparing himself to one of this country’s greatest leaders ever, Abraham Lincoln.

Aaron Schock compares himself to Abraham Lincoln. I want to make a joke about this but it’s just too insane. http://t.co/mgcd0PxGxM

— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) March 27, 2015

Schock made his farewell speech to the House on Thursday before he resigns next week, comparing his disgraceful acts to the “adversity” that President Lincoln once faced.

According to the Huffington Post, Schock commented, “I leave here with sadness and humility… I know God has a plan for my life.”

Representative Schock went on to say, “I also know that every person faces adversity in life. Abraham Lincoln held this seat in Congress for one term, but few faced as many defeats in his personal, business and public life as he did.”

Many fail to see how the “adversity” really compares. While Lincoln clearly faced opposition, it was not self-imposed, as is the case with disgraced representative Schock.

Schock is leaving amidst questions of his actions with taxpayers’ money.

Schock was criticized for using taxpayers’ money to re-decorate his Capitol Hill office in the style of Downton Abbey. Schock also “allegedly billed taxpayers for tens of thousands of miles that his car may not have traveled and for private air travel.”

And, what’s more, according to CNN, Schock is accused of “flying on a private jet owned by a donor to a Chicago Bears game, taking staffers to a Katy Perry concert, bringing a large group of staff to New York using taxpayer funds, and failing to disclose he took his photographer on a trip to India.”

In his six-minute speech, Schock went on to say that Abraham Lincoln’s “continual perseverance” was a model for his own life, adding that this quality was “something all of us Americans should be inspired by, especially when going through a valiant life.”

Is spending taxpayers’ money to see the “Teenage Dream” pop star sing her greatest hits really a part of a “valiant life?”

Even though Schock is willingly stepping down and has made a $40,000 reimbursement for his lavish office re-decoration, CNN reports that the FBI are still going to conduct an investigation on potentially illegal acts by Schock “in accounting for his campaign expenses.”

Schock’s actions had many outraged, but now his comments have got the web buzzing once again.

@morningmoneyben Both have Biblical first names that begin with A.

— LeftDial (@LeftDial) March 27, 2015

@morningmoneyben — Lincoln is spinning in his grave over this. @aaronschock should be comparing himself to Nixon or Nero.

— Adam VanHo (@adamvanho) March 27, 2015

@morningmoneyben “Four score and seven years ago, CHECK OUT DEES ABS”

— BigMcLrgHuge (@BigMcLrgHuge) March 27, 2015

@morningmoneyben I seem to recall Lincoln modeling his log cabin after downton abbey no?

— Doug Mintz (@douglasmintz) March 27, 2015

While the jokes may be plenty, Abraham Lincoln probably wouldn’t be laughing over Aaron Schock’s outrageous comparison.

[Photo Courtesy of Huffington Post]