The best schadenfreude is Brevard County schadenfreude

As a former resident of Brevard County, I'm well acquainted with its batshit crazy wingnuttery, dominated by wealthy retirees, active and retired military, and the space program. Indeed, I've been rather outspoken about my disdain for Brevard, and the only reason I go there at all is because my kids live there.

So you can imagine my glee to discover this little nugget in the news this evening:

Titusville police say they have arrested Florida State Rep. Robert "Bob" Allen, of Merrit Island, on second degree misdemeanor charges for soliciation for prostiution.

Allen, 48, was arrested Wednesday afternoon at Veteran's Memorial Park on East Broad St. in Titusville. The park was under surveillance by a detail of undercover police officers.

Officers say they noticed Allen acting suspicious as he went in and out of the men's restroom 3 times. Minutes later, he solicited an undercover male officer inside the restroom, offering to perform oral sex for $20. Officers realized he was a public figure after the arrest.

Allen, a Republican, represents District 32 of the State House of Representatives. The district spans parts of Brevard and Orange counties. Allen was first elected to the office in 2000.

I used to eat lunch on occasion at Veterans Memorial Park. I know that area well, although it wasn't a place I cared to frequent much at night. Still, it's mighty funny to see another Republican hoist by his own petard, so to speak.

Now, if you're not from Florida, you reasonably might ask, would it really have been that horrible for Allen (right, with mugshotty goodness) to just have come right out and said he's gay?

If you're a Republican in Brevard County, the answer is emphatically YES. And it looks like he's still in denial:

Allen, as he was taken out of the Titusville Police Department to be transported to Sharpes, called the situation "a very big misunderstanding," in comments to WFTV Channel 9.

"This is disgusting," Allen said.

At 6:12 p.m., Allen was being screened by medical staff in the jail at Sharpes and will be waiting in a holding cell until a new shift starts work a little after 6 p.m. His bail has been set at $500, according to the Brevard County Sheriff's Office.

Allen, is a former Little League volunteer who also donated time to the Boys and Girls Club, serving on its board of directors. Allen is married and has a teenaged daughter.

And just in case the rich pleasure of the schadenfreude isn't good enough on its own, it's even funnier to learn that "Allen was planning to serve as a House co-chair for Senator John McCain's presidential campaign." I'll bet Allen thought those plans would change because McCain's candidacy was in the crapper ... not because he'd be in jail.

(h/t to Eschaton commenter db)