Posted on 10/02/2006 5:42:54 PM PDT by Dane
Conservatives Call on Hastert to Resign
by Robert B. Bluey
House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R.-Ill.) is coming under fire from conservatives for his failing to take action against disgraced Rep. Mark Foley (R.-Fla.), who resigned last week for inappropriate communications with teenage pages.
“Speaker Hastert had knowledge of Congressman Foley’s inappropriate behavior and chose to protect a potential pedophile and powerful colleague over a congressional page,” said David Bossie, president of conservative advocacy group Citizens United.
Joining Bossie’s call for Hastert to resign was nationally syndicated radio show host Michael Reagan.
“Any member of Congress who was aware of the sexual emails and protected the congressman should also resign effective immediately,” Reagan said. “I was sexually abused by a day camp counselor at age eight and also made to be part of child pornography.”
Hastert said in a news conference Monday that neither he nor other Republican leaders knew about the lurid exchanges between Foley and the teenage pages dating back to 2003. “As a parent and speaker of the House, I am disgusted,” Hastert said.
However, that didn’t blunt the criticism from Bossie and Reagan. Bossie’s group, which is best known for producing the movies “Celsius 41.11” in 2004 and the just-released “Border War,” said Hastert had failed in his duty to investigate the matter “before it became a public relations problem.” Bossie said the problem may cost Republicans control of the House in November as a result.
“This inaction demonstrates a lack of leadership on Speaker Hastert’s part, and calls into question both his judgment and character,” Bossie said. “If Speaker Hastert was willing to sacrifice a child to protect Rep. Foley’s seat and his own leadership position, then he surely does not share our American and conservative values.”
Butnot quite.
STFU
STFU, I am referring to the blowhards not you
I'm afraid that Hastert has perhaps done his college best (or high school best) to make Pelosi the next speaker.
What a drama queen. Sacrifice a child? That "child" was participating.
Why did Foley have to resign?? Studds didnt. Frank didnt. Clinton didnt .teddy Kennedy didnt. And they all did MUCH worse than Foley. As for Hastert, I too think he has been weak, but now is not the time to bail on him.
That's what my lib friends say about BJ Clinton and Monica.
I agree. Also if no one wants to say it I will. There are going to be people in our own party that try to take advantage of this for their gain.
What is worse?
Foley text messaging at this point almost college age kids(bad enough)
or
People who will use those kids and exploit them for political and Idelogical gain(this seems almost like a form of molestation in itself)
Michael Reagan is just wrong on this.
The problem is that the older crowd is just plain ignorant about the distinction between emails and Instant Messages.
This is like calling a post of FR an email.
Michael Reagan SHOULD be asking why the democrats held onto the instant messages for THREE YEARS.
The emails which are part of the houe email system are recored and kept in archives. A sexual predator would not use those. Thus the house leaders would not have access.
The fact is that the Dems rolled out Harman to respond TOOOOO conveniently and too coordinated. The real issue is how long have democrats known about the instant messages in order to be able to prepare and plan?
This is going to die a fast death. Because the Power protects its own. These guys will start pointing the finger at everyone and it will be a mele'. My bet is that it goes out fast.
That is the way it is going to be.
Get rid of emough Republicans and it will be pelosi.
Hastert say he did not about the e-mails until they were made public. I believe him.
I hope these two realize a Democratic operative gleefully admitted he had them at least before July of this year, when they were "posted on" the internet. I trust Hastert.
Michael Reagan on H & C right now.
I believe he knew about the emails but not the IM messages, but I may be wrong.
making a fool out of himself.
He didn't say a word about Hasert. Notice he only said anyone who knew. The "journalist" (another word for liar) is the one who suggested he meant Hasert.
Hastert was my son's wrestling coach. His first year he was a gangly, uncoordinated tall kid. Hastert made him his bitch; let all the good guys whip his butt daily for practice and fun. He was a successful coach.
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