Posted on 10/02/2006 9:19:15 PM PDT by SmithL
I don't see how it could hit the GOP 'that' hard. After all, it's not as if mainstream American voters connect conservative Reps to homosexual pedaphiles. That connection would more likely be made to the DemRats.
Just as most mainstream, average American voters have become familiar with DemRat tactics in an election year (Rathergate comes immediately to mind), I realize the desperation of the left and how they ALWAYS pull these last-minute slime routines. But honestly, I don't see this as critical. I see it as just as irrelevant as pretty much everything else the DemRats have managed to come up with to use and throw at Bush, Rove, Cheney, Rumsfield, Condi and anyone else they consider to be a threat.
Also, as has already been pointed out, by linking Foley's sexual preference (homosexual) to a charge of pedaphilia, the DemRats are, once again, still and as usual, shooting themselves in the a....er....foot. And I, for one, love it when that happens.
I didn't say I thought they would.
I said it's been done before, hence my respect to history, and no one can predict at this time how they'll react at the polls this year.
The sum of my response is that it is too flippant to dismiss it will not occur, and too fatlistic to assume it will. There is not enough information to draw a conclusion either way as this is still settling distastefully around the country.
Though the Dems aren't helping themselves by evidencing more blood lust for Hastert then for Foley and his affect on those pages. That isn't going to play well either.
Honestly, I just see further alienation of the public from both parties over this in the end.
Though I will say I disagree with your assumption this is over by next week. The Dems have never stopped attacks based on polling. They just keep going until they wear people down. The only thing that could temp cause this to cease is a Republican win at the polls. Furthermore, they have been leaking info slowly. Expect more damaging leaks to come to keep it playing in the media.
BTW, I didn't state I thought the DUI was a non-event. I stated I voted for him anyway, but I was NOT pleased he hadn't mentioned it himself. The DUI was forgiveable absent any fatalities. So long as lesson was learned. It was the lack of honesty that killed him in 2000 with Est. of four million sitting home.
In CA we have two bad ones, and I know they don't listen. I've emailed both. Boxer didn't even take the time to respond. Feinstein berated me for my opinion on the Iraq war, while trying to convince me that her belief the President "lied" us into the war was correct. When I challenged her on her position she failed to respond again. Thus, they don't listen to their consituents who don't buy into their bull.
Social conservatives do not like homosexuals holding public office even if they are Republican.
Most social conservatives, the category this story is supposedly describing as "value voters", are glad that Foley is being replaced.
It will make those in his district more likely to vote Republican.
Of course it is a partisan issue. When dems do anything that is unethical,consider Patrick Kennedy, all they do is say they are sorry or check themselves into rehab and everything is okay. Reelection, not an issue. They will be reelected. I'm waiting for the token democrat Barney Frank to come out in support of Foley or else ask him for references.
Ever watch the evening news or Jay Leno or David Letterman, etc. They have been beating this to death. I wouldnt be surprised if by the end of the week more people knew who that a Republican congressmen had to resign because he was messing with a congressional page than know who the Vice President is. Definitely more than know who Hastert or Pelosi are.
You seem to overlook that dealing with issue is going to require a lot of the GOP leadership's time when they should be dealing with the election. It has the head of the congresional campaign committee at loggerhead with Hastert. Hastert and other GOP leaders will probably be less inclined to go out and campaign for other congressmen because they dont want to be dogged by questions about Foley. Its going to make it difficult for Republicans to run a values campaign. Instead of talking about national security and the war on terror, now the discussion is about abuse of power and the do nothing congress.
Brother Dobson was bitching this morning about Foley and the fact that congress hasnt done anything for the values voters who put them in office. I wouldnt be so sure.
Oh great,now Republicans are going for moral equivalency. Damn things are getting bad around here.
What is the big deal? We are talking about Instant Messages. Which were mysteriously kept, and THAT IS ALL. There have been no allegations of Foley doing anything, no bodies mysteriously dieing or disappearing. Not even a dead women in a car in the water.
This is getting more press play than the LEAKS of secret information to the NY Slimes, or the KILLINGS, RAPES, AND CRIME OF ILLEGAL ALIENS.
If anything we should be outraged at the press for pushing matters that are worthless in the long run, and ignoring matters that will get us killed or destroyed as a culture.
I do believe that conservatives see thru the smoke screen of MSM. They are such a sleazy bunch. It's no wonder the liberals hold the MSM in awe. Same boat heading in the same direction.
Oh I don't know, it's just how they mention it. This past weekend on Fox News Sunday, Mara Liasson couldn't scream a defense fast enough of Barney Frank as not being involved with a subordinate after Brit had the nerve to lump Bawney in with Bill Klintoon and Gerry Studds. It was whiplash inducing.
Right now, I'm almost wishing Foley would stand up and say that what he does in his private life is HIS business.
That the publishing of his emails and IMs are an invasions of HIS privacy.
That's exactly what the Democrats have done in the past.
And why exactly is it that a Kennedy does a DUI, has and accident, CHECKS IN for ALCOHOL treatment and is a fine example to all because he recognized his problem and faced it head on.
What a joke.
I think the Dems are going to overstep this one and WELLSTONE it.
This is maddening! One or more Republicans mess up so some decide to punish THEM by staying home and letting the real enemy of value voters, the Rats, write the laws and run the country. Dumber then dirt!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.