Washington Times: Foley Scandal "a disgrace for every Republican member of Congress"
By: Lowell
Published On: 10/3/2006 5:33:21 AM
Today, the right-wing Washington Times' lead editorial is titled simply, "Resign, Mr. Speaker." Aside from calling the Mark Foley page-boy sex scandal a "disgrace for every Republican member of Congress," it demands that Dennis Hastert (R) resign as Speaker of the House. For once, I agree with the Washington Times (will wonders never cease?). Except that I'd go further, and demand the resignation of ANY member of either chamber - House or Senate, Republican or Democratic - who knew about Mark Foley's "naughty" activities but did nothing.
Think about this: if you found out that your middle-aged male neighbor was sexually molesting teenage boys in the neighborhood, wouldn't you call the police and have him arrested? Would it be moral and/or legal of you NOT to call the police? Or, would you hang out with the guy like nothing had happened, be his pal, keep his little secret (like Dennis Hastert apparently did) accept money and other gifts from him (like George Allen did), work with him (like his fellow House Republicans did), help him succeed in his career? If you chose the latter option, you would be like Republicans in Congress, the ones who the Washington Times this morning called a "disgrace."
[UPDATE: The New York Times says that the Foley scandal is indicative of a Republican Party in which "power becomes the entire point." The Times adds that the Republican Party's coverup of Mark Foley's sexual predation on teenage boys is "astonishing behavior for a party that sold itself as the champion of conservative social values." On the other hand, the Times notes that this is the same party that "prides itself on fiscal conservatism managed to roll up record-breaking deficits," so what do you expect? The Times concludes that the solution to this comes on November 7, when we all have a chance to toss out the scoundrels on their butts.]
P.S. There's a VERY interesting article on Mark Foley, George Allen, and the Republican Party here.]
Lowell Feld is Netroots Coordinator for the Jim Webb for US Senate Campaign. The ideas expressed here belong to Lowell Feld alone, and do not represent those of Jim Webb, his advisors, staff, or supporters.
Comments
Moving forward. (Kathy Gerber - 10/3/2006 6:46:42 AM)
The first paragraph from the NYT piece you mention
History suggests that once a political party achieves sweeping power, it will only be a matter of time before the power becomes the entire point. Policy, ideology, ethics all gradually fall away, replaced by a political machine that exists to win elections and dispense the goodies that come as a result. The only surprise in Washington now is that the Congressional Republicans managed to reach that point of decayed purpose so thoroughly, so fast.
I'd settle for bare bones accountability, character, honesty, and civility from our leaders.
They are not just campaign slogans. They are very important issues, and we couldn't be further removed from them right now.
Macaca, MZM, sexual predators. The list goes on. That's what we have now. These revelations just make me want to work harder for candidates who are for starters - DECENT.
What we have now reminds me of the bizarre self-centered dimwits involved in the fall of the Roman Empire.
99.9% (at least) of Americans have zero tolerance for sexual predators. How in the hell did we manage to get so many in Congress that do tolerate them???
I'm at a loss - really. And, oh yeah, if anyone gives a hoot, I DON'T feel "safe from Islamofascist terrorists" with these yahoos running the asylum.
I keep thinking of Caligula.... (Lowell - 10/3/2006 7:31:35 AM)
Might as well have him in charge; could it be any worse than it is now under right-wing Republican rule?
Last year in Sep I thought of Nero (RayH - 10/3/2006 12:03:34 PM)
Nero played violin while Rome burned.
Bush played guitar while New Orleans drowned.
Eerie parallel.
Early morning reaction to Allen ad coverage (PM - 10/3/2006 7:54:48 AM)
I have not had my coffee yet -- and I'm just unfolding the Post, and I read this below the fold on the front page about Allen: "Appearing with his wife, he asked voters to choose on the issues, not questions of character."
Is he conceding defeat on the character issue?
When is some tv station in the DC area going to say -- okay -- let's have a few debates on the issues and we'll run them in an 8:00 time slot instead of the mindless trash we usually run? How about your station, Peggy Fox?
Another bad group LaCivita works for: USA Next (PM - 10/3/2006 8:25:10 AM)
Can one trust anything Chris LaCivita says?
I was going to do a full blown story on this, but I need to do some work outside today.
The above is an ad USA Next ran criticizing the AARP. The AARP, had the temerity to fight Bush's Social Security sex change operation.
Cutting to the chase, sayeth the NYT:
To help set USA Next's strategy, the group has hired Chris LaCivita, an enthusiastic former marine who advised Swift Vets and P.O.W.'s for Truth, formerly known as Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, on its media campaign and helped write its potent commercials. He earned more than $30,000 for his work, campaign finance filings show.
USA Next is a phony group that pretends to be an alternative to the AARP -- only it's a cover for PHARMA (the drug makers) and the Republican Party.
The above is the type of ad the group runs. All in a day's work, right Chris?
Some other people have already done the heavy lifting. Below are links to a NYT story, stories by Public Citizen, a great blog site article, and a Wikipedia entry.
One thing I DID stumble onto. Jack Abramoff was on the board of USA Next. Know Jack, Mr. LaCivita?
Have fun guys.
Great NYT article: http://www.nytimes.c...
A hat tip to telescreen.org, whose work led me to this. http://vidiot.typepa...
You can find more information on USA Next, and its ancestor the United Seniors Association at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia....
Check out these Public Citizen URLs:
http://www.citizen.o...
and
http://www.citizen.o...
What an incestuous group. A conservative essayist yclept James Glassman writes for USA Next. If you check out his FEC stats, you'll see lots of money to GOP groups and candidates. He gave to Sandhills PAC, which is a big George Allen contributor. It's a money whirlwind, folks, spinning so fast you can't tell where it came from and where it will go!
Except under the guise of being an alternative to AARP, this is just a GOP lobbying front.
I'd ask the FTC to investigate (I'm an old FTC hand) but they're in the control of the Republicans now.
Finally, USA Next started a magazine. It's first issue had a special guest interview with . . . drum roll . . . MEL GIBSON! LOL!
And just to show you what a fine non-partisan grass roots group it is, it ran television ads in Virginia decrying Gov. Warner's tax plan! http://www.usanext.o...
Ask yourself -- can you believe anything LaCivita says when he plans strategy for a fraudulent old folks' association?
I'm going outside to dig holes and plant.
Apparently the repugs don't have a problem with... (Loudoun County Dem - 10/3/2006 10:14:50 AM)
...Foley's actions with these teen age pages unless he wants to marry one of them...