Posted on 10/02/2006 9:19:15 PM PDT by SmithL
Former Rep. Mark Foley's salacious correspondence with teenage boys working as congressional pages is the kind of story that not only obliterates interest in whatever bills Congress passed before leaving town but promises to hit a much rawer public nerve than the corruption scandals that have already removed three Republicans from office this year.
It strikes especially hard at "values voters," the conservative Christians who make up the core of the Republican Party.
"This kind of thing just should not happen, and there is no excuse to justify it in any way." said Rev. Bob Schenck,... National Clergy Council, a politically active group of conservative church leaders.
"A big deal should be made of it, and we intend to make a big deal of it," he said. "We plan to address it in pulpits across the country, that this is an egregious moral violation, and we all will be held accountable."
A swirl of unanswered questions remain over who in the Republican leadership knew what about Foley's exchanges and when they knew it. GOP leaders dismissed the first e-mail exchange that came to light months ago as "overly friendly," but some conservative activists now say the messages "had predator written all over them." Foley, a Republican congressman from Florida, was chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children.
A criminal investigation has been opened and shows every indication of keeping the scandal alive through the election.
"The electorate is 20 percent Republican, 20 percent Democrat, and 60 percent disgusted,"
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Correct!
"I like, you know, for some reason, uh, think this story is funny. He just like sent him email and messages? And he's in trouble? All they did to me was make me wear an ankle thingy. That congress guy needs to start wearing dresses and womens wigs! If he looks hot enough as a homo transsexual transvestite whatever he'd be OK! Those democrats would leave him alone."
{terrible problem for the GOP and the Religious Right was going to abandon them forever over}
Chris Matthews wishes for that, in the same way he wishes for someone to watch his show.
Regardless of what happens next month, I have a feeling conservatives are going to take a more hands on approach in the party.
Can't disagree with that.
Values voters cannot be that irrational, they know what legislation Republicans/Conservatives push vs the commie vampires.
A pol in the House who turns out to be a criminal has zero to do with my Republican Rep.
As was said above, DUI in 2000. People stayed home.
Yes, people have been upset about spending. Yes, they've been upset about illegal immigration. I'm one of them on the last. But character is just as an important issue to a large segment of the base and it's clear the Dems/MSM plotted to find a way to make them stay home the way they did in 2000. Sickening, really, that some people allowed the abuse of children for political timing but there it is.
Will these same voters sit home this time? I don't know. I came out and voted for G.W.B. anyway after the DUI, but I wasn't happy he hadn't shared it earlier. I can't predict if they'll stay home or begrudingly come out and vote. You can't either. It's clearly what the Dems are hoping though.
Yet Barney is still in Congress and Foley has already resigned, and, for all we know, Barney might still be at it with his underage gay pals!
No question there is a double standard here. Democrats living in glass houses are already throwing all the stones they can muster - through their MSM - because there isn't anything more substantial for them to place on the table five weeks before the election.
Schenck is an idiot. With a friend like that, we don't need enemies. When the Rats are bending him over and burning down his church, maybe he'll realize that there are worse things than one Republican with a zipper problem, and a speaker with more important things to do than police such things.
I don't know. Based on my experience, some of them are pretty stupid, and some really don't care whether they win.
In addition you will NOTE for the record [the DBM won't do so] that Studds and Frank were NOT even CHARGED with a crime and STAYED on as members of the House. Reynolds was of course pardoned by the King of the World and REAPED nothing for the 'sowing' of a 14 year old child
Foley, from the news that has been reported ONLY emailed and IM'd his VICTIMS and supposedly never got near enough to TOUCH any of them. But within 15 minutes of being asked questions about emails by the DBM he resigns his office and the entire GOP is being called on the carpet for covering up the story!!
All in all, I say............."It's good to be a DEMOCRAT!!"
You mean politicaholics like us? Do you know what time it is?
It's midnight--do you know where your politicaholics are?
I haven't seen this much infighting on this site since Terry Schiavo. Unless facts prove otherwise, can't be band together and support the Republican leadership of Congress. The RATS are trying to pull a guilt by association...trying to confuse e:mails/IMs.
From what I've seen, Hastert did the right thing, and reported the e:mail incident. I also believe him that he just learned of the IMs.
We've got through so much BS with Fitzmas, books, the Dumbo Street Memo, you name it. It would be a crying shame to lose in the home stretch by falling for the claptrap that the RATS and MSM are putting forth.
Foley's gone. That's great. If the rest of the story is what Hastert is saying, there's no need to start cleaning house.
This election is too important to lose. We have to stick together
""A big deal should be made of it, and we intend to make a big deal of it," he said. "We plan to address it in pulpits across the country, that this is an egregious moral violation, and we all will be held accountable."
Amen to that.
This kind of behavior is not acceptable in our party.
All correct. I thought the brothel extended to Frank's Brookline condo.
sjb
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