( CNN ) -- When is a kiss not just a kiss ? When it 's a political undoing . On Monday , a Louisiana newspaper posted a video showing freshman Louisiana Rep. Vance McAllister , a conservative Christian and married father of five , in an extended passionate kiss . In his government office . With someone other than his wife . That someone , congressional staffer Melissa Hixon Peacock , also happens to be married , to a high school pal and campaign donor of McAllister 's , in fact . According to payroll records , says Politico , she started working for McAllister the day after he won his seat . Her husband , Heath Peacock , said McAllister `` has wrecked my life '' and that he and his wife are `` headed for divorce . '' He also claimed that , by the way , McAllister faked his devotion to religion to win votes . Certainly , it was n't the most strategic of office affairs . Though a recent Quinnipiac poll reported that it is politicians ' abuse of power , more than their ( increasingly exposed ) extramarital activities , that turns off voters , by hiring a family friend on the taxpayers ' dime and then getting romantic with her at the office , McAllister seems to have accomplished both . But the bigger problem the congressman faces , and what could well lead to his downfall , is hypocrisy . People may forgive romantic indiscretions , but it can be harder to make them—or potential opponents—forget religious ones . McAllister , who had no previous political experience , ran on a platform of `` faith and family , '' touting his 16-year marriage , five children , and pre-church Sunday breakfasts . He described himself as a `` true conservative '' and called on endorsements from family members of A & E 's popular and extremely socially conservative `` Duck Dynasty '' — the men among them known for being anti-gay and , as it happens , anti-adultery . McAllister invited Willie Robertson , the star of the show , to accompany him to the State of the Union address in January . In at least one campaign ad , he asked voters to pray for him . Said Heath Peacock , `` He broke out the religious card and he 's about the most nonreligious person I know . '' But it apparently helped ; he won . Meanwhile , who is out of a job ? Melissa Peacock . News reports say that she was `` removed from the payroll '' within the 24 hours after their embrace was exposed . While `` there 's no ethics rule that says you ca n't make out with your staffer , '' as the National Journal pointed out , House Ethics rules do require members to `` conduct themselves at all times in a manner that reflects creditably on the House , '' and it 's possible McAllister will face an ethics investigation . In 2010 , House Speaker John Boehner asked Indiana Rep. Mark Souder to resign after Souder admitted an affair with a staffer in his district office . McAllister has apologized for the indiscretion , sort of , but said he has no plans to resign . In fact , he said , he 'll run for re-election next fall . That 's not exactly an act of contrition ; he seems more sorry he was caught than for damaging the public trust . Though certainly it takes two to tango , as they say—and we do n't yet know details , including how the relationship started , or even if it has stopped — it 's clear McAllister has different rules for himself than for others . And that for a guy with scant political experience , he felt plenty comfortable with using his position ( and his office ) for personal gain . If he runs again , at the very least , he might want to rethink that whole `` faith , family and hard work '' message the next time around .
Peggy Drexler : Freshman Rep. Vance McAllister caught in video kissing congressional staffer . She says he ran on platform of Christian conservatism , family values . Score: 6 She says meanwhile staffer is out of job , but McAllister not resigning . Drexler : A poll says voters think abuse of power worse than infidelity . McAllister guilty of both .