Posted on 10/04/2006 3:55:25 AM PDT by billorites
LIKE THE Catholic church's sex abuse scandal, the Rep. Mark Foley scandal is one born of a deeper cultural problem than is first apparent.
Foley, it is now clear, was well-known in Washington as someone who had a keen sexual interest in boys -- and who acted on that interest.
Even if House Speaker Dennis Hastert did not know about Foley's sexually explicit Internet chats with underage pages until they were reported by ABC News, as he claims, it is hard to believe that he did not know about Foley's reputation as a man with a taste for underage males and a willingness to act on his impulses.
There is so much hypocrisy to go around that the whole scandal looks like a Grace Metalious novel.
Foley was a co-chairman of the Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus and co-sponsored legislation making it a crime to use the Internet to lure minors to sexual rendezvous. Then he was caught using the Internet to try to seduce boys who worked as House pages.
Democrats accuse Republicans of covering up the scandal, but the minority party has never taken sexual exploitation by their own politicians seriously. They completely excused former Massachusetts Rep. Gerry Studds' sexual relationship with a 17-year-old, and Studds went on to serve another 13 years in the House. Mass. Rep. Barney Frank's live-in boyfriend ran a male prostitution ring out of Frank's own home. Prostitution of young women is exploitation, but prostitution of young men is not?
Republican leaders, having pledged to be more morally upstanding than the other side, at the very least looked the other way when they found that one of their own was making unwanted overtures to a 16-year-old boy.
Politicians protect their own. Big surprise. The larger issue here is that Foley's behavior reportedly was very well known in Washington. And yet insiders of both parties allowed it to continue.
As in the Catholic church, the predatory behavior was no secret. But few thought to stop it.
We will withhold final judgment on Speaker Hastert until the extent of his knowledge about Foley's behavior becomes better known. But it is clear that there was a widespread secret-keeping culture in Washington that served to cover Foley's behavior for years. Leaders come and go, but cultures remain. The Washington culture in which Foley's sexual predation was overlooked for so long has to change.
The "boy" was not underage in DC.
Did it violate any Federal internet laws? The age limit for communicating with a "minor" may be different in this case. (I admit I don't know)
agreed. you can't surround the wagons on this one.
im so pissed at this Foley ASS that i can't breath right.
Eddie01
Well if it was "well-known" then why isn't the Washington press corps responsible for not bringing it to the publics attention along with law enforcement - yet somehow it is all Hastert's fault for not doing somethign about it???
You are right! The Washington press doesn't mind bringing the countries secrets to the front page, but will hold this for years.
It is insane!!!!!
Well then, bring back Foley! /sarc
Blackbird.
"Did it violate any Federal internet laws? The age limit for communicating with a "minor" may be different in this case. (I admit I don't know)"
Has Ruth BaderMeinhof Ginsburg weighed in on this yet? Where is the ACLU?
Similarly, Hastert's being informed about some instances of ONE KIND and few instances of computer communication between Foley and pages is not the same as his knowing in detail the contents of all instances of ALL kinds of computer communication.
But part of the storm of (self-)righteous outrage at this whole event is fueled by blurring distinctions, events, and charges.
Not only is this bad for GOP hopes in 34 days, it is just flat bad for the citizenry of this country. If we are to govern ourselves we have to do it on a sounder basis that that of indignant anger based on indefinite allegations. Making distinctions matters.
Has anyone told Hastert yet? Someone go wake 'Coach' up.
I hope Foley doesn't get to sit in "rehab" for a couple of months and then walk free.
The real coverup here is the way the drive-by media is intentionally obscuring the details of this case in order to help defeat Republicans. Even CSPAN is doing this, as heard on their 7:00 AM "teaser" this morning, with words to the effect, "it's reported that House Republicans urged Foley to run for re-election even after they read his e-mails..."
Gerry Studds' "boy" was not underage in DC either.
How about this newspaper addressing the "festering homosexual rumors" concerning Justice Souter?
Sometimes when these stories break I wonder in all of DC how many of our LORDS aren't convicts waiting to be caught....I bet 25 percent is an optimistic number..
Until ALL the media, investigate all politicians equally, and the law is practised as it is written, without any celebrity,or wealth benefits ...nothing will change.
"The Republicans should just declare the matter closed and move on"
Yes, and if they follow your advice you will be able to attend the next convention and speak your mind. There will be lots of space as conservatives will likely not be attending. Go back and read the article on this thread. It smolders with anger and resentment. But, pay attention because that is the anger and resentment of a conservative voice.
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.