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ABC on Gerry Studds: Only 'A Strong Sense of Loyalty' And Forgiveness From Voters
newsbusters.org ^ | October 5, 2006 | Tim Graham

Posted on 10/05/2006 4:31:08 PM PDT by lowbridge

Posted by Tim Graham on October 5, 2006 - 14:37.

When the story broke in July of 1983 on the sexual affairs with House pages by Reps. Daniel Crane and Gerry Studds, ABC did not fuel days of speculation about whether Speaker Tip O’Neill would resign. (Fun fact: when Studds was censured, Speaker O’Neill did not cast a vote. Three Democrats voted against Studds being censured.) By the time Studds ran in a primary re-election campaign in September 1984, ABC aired a report telling the nation that Studds faced only "a strong sense of loyalty" and forgiveness from the voters in Massachusetts.

On July 14, 1983, ABC reporter Charles Gibson reported:

"In both cases, the relationships were voluntary, there was no favoritism granted to the pages. Thus it was the recommendation of the committee's special counsel, Joseph Califano, that the Congressmen not be expelled or censured, simply reprimanded and by an eleven to one vote, the Ethics Committee agreed."

Gibson added that "Studds dramatically took the floor of the House to talk of the conflicts between public office and private life."

Studds: "These challenges are made substantially more complex when one is, as am I, both an elected public official and gay. In my judgement the mutually voluntary private relationships between adults which occurred ten years ago should not by any conceivable standard of fairness, rationality, rule or law warrant the attention or action of the House of Representatives of the United States."

Gibson: "Studds said he felt the Committee exceded its authority, but he accepted its findings to protect others involved. And Studds was congratulated by fellow members as he left the floor, but he and Crane could face formal reprimand from the full House as early as next week. One House employee, a former page supervisor was also accused of having relations with a seventeen year old female page. But Califano says the surprising thing he found in his investigation that covered a ten year period was that just three cases of sexual misconduct were confirmed in this age of sexual awakening and human fraility. Charles Gibson, ABC News, Capitol Hill."

Peter Jennings then added this knife-twisting note to the hypocritical conservative Crane: "One historical note. Back in 1981 when the House was debating a District of Columbia bill that would have legalized most sexual acts between consenting adults, Congressman Daniel Crane was one of those who spoke out forcefully against it. ‘We have lost sight of the moral codes,’ he said, ‘the time has come for all God fearing people to stand up and be counted.’"

Six days later, on July 20, 1983, when Crane and Studds were censured, Gibson sympathetically concluded: "Later in a statement, Studds said all congressmen are in need of a humbling experience now and then. Members on the floor had called it not humbling, but humiliating. Charles Gibson, ABC News, Capitol Hill."

The next fall, as Massachusetts voters prepared to cast ballots in a statewide primary election, ABC aired a story by John McKenzie on September 18, 1984, suggesting all was well with Congressman Studds, despite the sex with the teenage page:

McKenzie: "Gerry Studds has been the Congressman from southeastern Massachusetts for 11 years. People here know Studds, at least they thought they did until last year."

Tip O’Neill: "Resolved, one the Representative Gerry E. Studds be censured."

McKenzie: "He was rebuked by his peers after it was learned that during his first year in Congress Studds had had a homosexual affair with a 17 year old page. Now, openly acknowledging his gay lifestyle, Studds is campaigning for a seventh term. But it's that one affair that continues to plague him, as he was reminded on this radio talk show.

Woman on talk radio: "You have abused your power in Washington. It is a violation of trust. It makes me nauseous. It's embarrassing."

Studds: "Well, I'm certainly sorry to have you so upset. I don't know what else I can say. Let me say something ma'am. Something happened 11 years ago, 11 years ago. It was an incredibly stupid thing that ought not to have happened."

Peter Flynn: "My response has always been it was a morally reprehensible thing to do."

McKenzie: "Plymouth County sheriff Peter Flynn, admits the only reason he's running against Studds in the Democratic primary is because the censure issue has made Studds vulnerable. But here in New Bedford and fishing towns up and down the coast, there is still a strong sense of loyalty to Studds.

Man: "You've got to judge him by what he does in office. What he does on the other side, hey, you just can't throw a guy down a river."

Woman: "We feel like he let us down. But at the same time we do have to forgive each other."

McKenzie: "Although early opinion polls show Studds leading in this race many people here have been undecided, many waiting until today before weighing Studds' personal past against his political future. John McKenzie, ABC News, New Bedford, Massachusetts."

In 1984 and beyond, Studds then went back to appearing on ABC in his usual capacity: arguing against any money for the Nicaraguan freedom fighters.



TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abc; abcnews; bias; charlesgibson; chucklestheclown; dbm; democrats; foley; gerrystudds; gibson; homosexualagenda; liberals; markfoley; mediabias; msm; studds

1 posted on 10/05/2006 4:31:09 PM PDT by lowbridge
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To: lowbridge

Could it be that ABC is infested with homosexuals?


2 posted on 10/05/2006 4:34:23 PM PDT by brivette
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To: brivette

I've begun to look at every talking head suspiciously..........LOL.


3 posted on 10/05/2006 4:36:44 PM PDT by Howlin (Why Won't Nancy Pelosi Let Louis Freeh Investigate the Page Scandal?)
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To: lowbridge


hilarious double standard ping


4 posted on 10/05/2006 4:37:16 PM PDT by Para-Ord.45
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To: lowbridge

Wow. Charley, are you listening? Are you saying the same things now?

If not, you are a hypocrite.

ABC, you wonder why you have lost so much credibility? It's from this sort of thing.

Screw you, ABC News.


5 posted on 10/05/2006 4:37:52 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
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To: Howlin

Just read that not only did Pelosi say she wouldn't take a polygraph (which I wouldn't either)...BUT..she says she won't swear to an affidavit either...she will NOT go under oath.

Now THAT stinks.


6 posted on 10/05/2006 4:38:31 PM PDT by SE Mom (Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
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To: lowbridge
By the time Studds ran in a primary re-election campaign in September 1984, ABC aired a report telling the nation that Studds faced only "a strong sense of loyalty" and forgiveness from the voters in Massachusetts.

Ohhh, how tender. But there should be no forgiveness for a guy who engaged in dirty talk with an adult who solicited it for grins. He should be run out of Congress and the Speaker of the House with him, but a Democratic pervert (redundant I know) who took a kid to Portugal, plied him with alcohol and then sodomized, well he's worthy of understand and forgiveness. ABC is a shameless party organ of the DemonCrap party. They and their friends they cover up and make excuses for in the Rat party are utterly evil, amoral and hypocritical

7 posted on 10/05/2006 4:44:12 PM PDT by MikeA (Foley has resigned. Bin Laden has not. That is what 's at stake in this election, not some pervert.)
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To: SE Mom; Howlin

The one person I would like to see really step up and say something about this whole mess is Mike Pence. Curiously, he's been very quiet on the Foley matter. I wonder is things are affot behind the scense. Can we say perhaps SPEAKER Pence next Congress?


8 posted on 10/05/2006 4:44:24 PM PDT by ken5050
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To: ken5050

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061004/LOCAL/61004031


9 posted on 10/05/2006 4:59:00 PM PDT by Howlin (Why Won't Nancy Pelosi Let Louis Freeh Investigate the Page Scandal?)
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Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: lowbridge

bump


11 posted on 10/05/2006 5:21:47 PM PDT by God luvs America (When the silent majority speaks the earth trembles!)
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To: lowbridge

bump


12 posted on 10/05/2006 5:36:05 PM PDT by lesser_satan (EKTHELTHIOR!!!)
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To: SE Mom
"Just read that not only did Pelosi say she wouldn't take a polygraph (which I wouldn't either)...BUT..she says she won't swear to an affidavit either...she will NOT go under oath. "

Makes me think she was involved even more. I hope I live to see the day she is run out of D.C.
13 posted on 10/05/2006 6:01:19 PM PDT by angelsonmyside
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To: lowbridge

14 posted on 10/05/2006 6:10:04 PM PDT by Libertarian444
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To: lowbridge

Democrat homo good, GOP homo bad?


15 posted on 10/05/2006 6:50:22 PM PDT by Dionysius
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To: Dionysius

Evidently.


16 posted on 10/05/2006 6:57:50 PM PDT by sport
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To: BOBWADE

ping


17 posted on 10/05/2006 7:56:16 PM PDT by zip (((Remember: DimocRat lies told often enough become truth to 48% of all Americans (NRA)))))
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To: lowbridge

So, if Foley wants to keep his seat in Congress, he has to switch parties.


18 posted on 10/05/2006 8:12:59 PM PDT by OrioleFan (Republicans believe every day is July 4th, but DemocRATs believe every day is April 15th. - Reagan)
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To: OrioleFan

Exactly.


19 posted on 10/06/2006 9:37:01 AM PDT by lowbridge (I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather. Not screaming, like his passengers.)
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To: Howlin

Bad, bad visual, Howlin.


20 posted on 10/16/2006 7:48:24 AM PDT by YdontUleaveLibs (Reason is out to lunch. How may I help you?)
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