"you are taking the erroneous position that the GOP are in any way defending Foley"
No, I'm taking the position that they are making themselves LOOK like they are defending Foley. Can we just agree to disagree here? No one seems to understand what it is I'm trying to say and I can't spend the whole day clarifying every sentence I write.
That's because what you are saying doesn't make sense.
The GOP defending themselves against bogus allegations is exactly what they need to do - that is, for anyone who wants to see them retain the House.
The allegation is that the GOP leadership sat on explicit IMs and did nothing.
The Dems would like that very much if the GOP took your advice to just let those very serious charges slide. Let them slide for a few weeks until the charges are solidified in voters' minds. Any defense at that point will be a day late and a dollar short in the public's eye, and will be viewed a last ditch effort to play games. The Democrats would like that very much, indeed.
Hastert himself called for a full investigation of what happened, and THAT needs to be front page stories too.