[William McKinley]

I have to say, when I heard Townshend's claim that he was doing research, I dismissed it like a politician's claim that he took bribes merely as part of his own, secret sting operation. But taken in context with this piece, it is plausible.

I guess time will tell.

[Skooz]

I agree. I sincerely hope he is innocent. I have always liked Townsend.

[Helms]

Did or does he have a book deal. With money and fame, people
look for perversions to give them perverted pleasures.

[new cruelty]

'... I dismissed it like a politician's claim that he took bribes merely as part of his own, secret sting operation. But taken in context with this piece, it is plausible.'

While I like the music produced by The Who, Pete Townshend, and Roger Daltry, I don't consider myself a huge fan nor a 'trasher' (as someone coined in another thread).

Depending on the camp one resides, this article by Townshend can be seen as both exonorating or, as another poster conferred, preventive maintenance- a case of 'me thinks thou doth protest too much'. Given his past experience with abuse, his basis for research is plausible, but no less damning.

As you say, time will tell.

And I do wish him luck.

[WL-law]

To all -- please see http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/821928/posts -- we had a vigorous discussion, actually started BEFORE this letter showed up last night. I, like many here, are troubled by the rush to judgement against Townshend, and we raised the 'macro' public policy arguments as well the nuances of the particular case involving Townshend. I'd like to hear your collective opinions on the "macro" issue.