Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] [POLITICS] Dump House Leader for Protecting Foley

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On Wed, 4 Oct 2006, Vern Green wrote:

> I am not so sure I can let Hastert off so easily. This kind of thing is 
> probably well known. I have no doubt that Foley was doing similar 
> actions all the way back to 1995 when he was elected. It is hard to hide 
> this sort of thing because these teenage boys will talk to each other. 
> Indeed this article would sustantiate my claim:
>
> http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20061004-064058-6521r
>
> Now that does not mean the republicans knew for sure, but it raises a 
> number questions to me. Of course, with this type of information out 
> there that early, I find it surprising that the democrats did not know 
> about it as well. These types of rumors spread faster than a California 
> wild fire.
>
> So we have to ask ourselves a question, why now? We should also ask 
> ourselves what did the members of congress know before. The incident 
> Hastert refers to is one issue and is not all that much compared to what 
> the latest incident is. To be honest I think the story is one of those 
> situations where congresspersons, both democrat and republican have 
> probably heard the rumors but wrote the rumors off as just rumors.
>
> I have no doubt that more people knew of Foley's appetite before now.


I don't think the Democrats would have known about Foley's interest in the 
Congressional pages and kept that a secret for many years.  That wouldn't 
make sense, but they would keep it a secret for up to two years so that 
they could use it as an "October surprise."  They could have held it until 
it was too late to take Foley's name off of the ballot.  If they Democrats 
knew that Foley was gay, they might have kept that a secret forever, 
because they don't like to use that against people, but the thing about 
teenage boys is something they would definitely use against him.

One thing is for sure, if any politician ever claims to be doing something 
because he "cares about the children," he is almost certainly lying. 
People who appear to be shocked by what Foley did are just playing us. 
That's not to say that it's OK.  Everyone agrees that it was wrong and he 
has resigned, but every politician now has to figure out what to say to 
make the best of the situation for himself.  Being shocked and caring 
about the children can work for them.

Mike

_______________________________________________
discussion mailing list
EMAIL:PROTECTED
http://mlug.missouri.edu/mailman/listinfo/discussion