Gingrich: House Leadership Would Have Been Accused Of ‘Gay Bashing’ If They Investigated Foley ‘Overly Aggressively’
Gingrich: House Leadership Would Have Been Accused Of ‘Gay Bashing’ If They Investigated Foley ‘Overly Aggressively’
This morning on Fox News Sunday, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich excused the House leadership for their apparent cover-up of Mark Foley’s predatory behavior. Gingrich said the emails seen by House leadership were “relatively innocuous, there was nothing sexual in those notes.” Asked if there should be “second thoughts” about the leadership’s conduct, Gingrinch responded:
Well, you could have second thoughts about it, but I think had they overly aggressively reacted to the initial round, they would have also been accused of gay bashing.
Watch it:
Full transcript:
WALLACE: Speaker Gingrich, did House Republican leaders do all they should have?
GINGRICH: Well, I think if you look at what they actually knew, which was that the family did not want anyone involved, and the actual notes were relatively innocuous, there was nothing sexual in those notes. They had him counseled. They had the head of the page program, Congressman Shimkus, talk to him very directly. And I think they thought it was over. The newest incident only surfaced when ABC News interviewed Foley and he resigned within two hours, or I think the House leaders would have moved to expel him.
WALLACE: But, during all those months, they left Foley in the House Republican leadership. They left him as the head of the congressional caucus dealing with exploited children. No second thoughts about that?
GINGRICH: Well, you could have second thoughts about it, but I think had they overly aggressively reacted to the initial round, they would have also been accused of gay bashing. I mean, the original notes had no sexual innuendo and the parents did not want any action taken.
WALLACE: Well, how would it have been gay bashing?
GINGRICH: Because it was a male-male relationship. And it had no — there was no proof, there was nothing that I know of in that initial round that would have led you to say in a normal circumstance that this is a predatory person.
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Gingrich: House Leadership Would Have Been Accused Of ‘Gay Bashing’ If They Investigated Foley - -
October 1st, 2006 at 3:22 pmOh dear Lord, these people are pathetic weasels.
Sure, and judicial activism causes criminals to shoot judges.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:22 pmWell, yeah. Lets free all gay convicts now.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:24 pmI agree. I also think this is more of a gay issue than a pedaphile issue. Foley repeatedly attempted to verify age.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:25 pmgay bashing?? GAY BASHING!!???? How about CREEPY PEDOPHILE HYPOCRITE BASHING?
October 1st, 2006 at 3:25 pmSay Anything, Do Anything.
Desperate times for the Republicans. :)
October 1st, 2006 at 3:25 pmThe GOP is pro-gay now? Talk about a flip-flop.
I thought the culture war was the most important issue facing America. If so, the GOP just cut and ran.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:26 pmI agree. I also think this is more of a gay issue than a pedaphile issue. Foley repeatedly attempted to verify age.
Comment by Concerned
wrong, under the NEW Foley caucus the age of consent is 18.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:27 pmHe knew damn well the kid was not 18. Cmon.
“Afraid of being accused of gay bashing”? As we can see, the Republicans have elevated sophistry to an art form. They could teach bulls a thing or two about bulls**t.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:28 pmI wonder how far back the eyes of Newt’s lesbian half-sister, Candace, rolled back and up into her forehead when she heard that.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:28 pmGingrich continues to be a parody of himself. Since when is it ever acceptable for an adult to ask a 16-year-old online “What are you wearing?” or “Send me a photo of yourself”?
But considering that Gingrich thought it was acceptable to give his ex-wife divorce papers while she was in the hospital recovering from surgery, I can’t say I am surprised.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:29 pmOh Newt! Thanks for giving perverted pedophiles a new legal defense in your attempt to minimize the actual meaning of ‘gay bashing’. It’s tragic that you failed to protect a minor for fear of becoming even more unpopular in the LGBT community.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:30 pmSo now they are agressive, but not too agressive?
Heck the GOP has been agressively attacking gays for years!!
Give it up Newt, Retire, your a hasbeen.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:31 pmthomas,
Acorrding to the DSM-IV, pedophilia is attraction to “prepubescent children.”
Foley is a homosexual, not a pedophile.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:32 pmThe GOP is utterly shameless. The big question is who else?
Ken Mehlman? Karl Rove?, etc. ….the same sort of “rumors” have been guarded for them as well. How would an isnside look turn out?
How can we have respect for anyone who follows this leadership?
It’s time to crush the GOP.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:33 pmthomas, rochelle:
According to the DSM-IV, pedophilia is defined as an attraction to “prepubescent children.”
Foley is a homosexual, not a pedophile.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:33 pmThey are just throwing shit excuses out there and seeing what sticks. It’ll have to be pretty sticky shit to have this fly by with no damage.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:34 pm#4, even if you don’t consider Foley a pedophile, he’s still a sexual predator and a hypocrite. No progressive-minded person really cares whether someone is gay or not, but it’s entirely irresponsible and wrong for a 54 year old U.S. Congressman to pursue 16 year-old pages, male or female.
Are you saying that a U.S. congressman sending sexually explicit messages to a 16 year old female page would be a non-issue? Please.
The fact that the pages Foley approached were male simply illustrates the Republican hyprocricy over homosexuality. Through all this self-righteous bullshit about how sinful homosexuality is, elected Republicans have been the most plagued by this type of scandal. They’ve also covered it up and the Radical Right has been eerily silent so far.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:34 pmCmon Newt you guys are always talking about the Man-Boy love association [NMBLA] and how evil it is? Now your for it?
Nice try Newt. Go Away.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:35 pmThere is so much wrong with the GOP and its twisted perversion of truth it would be hysterically funni if it were not so serious.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:36 pmSince when are Republiscum defenders of homosexuals?
This is not a homosexual issue - this is about pedophilia.
Consenting adults is one thing that this is not.
Gingrich is a man of no morals, no honesty, and he is the last one to pontificate on sex considering his own history.
Getting a divorce is like being a homosexual? huh?
October 1st, 2006 at 3:36 pmSorry Newt,
your skill at reframing issues does not fly in this case, and you know it.
Consenting adults cannot include a minor/child.
Age is the dividing line.
A minor/child CANNOT GIVE CONSENT.
The age of the boys makes Foley’s actions a crime.
Gay or Straight, involving a minor/child in sexual words or action is a crime, as well it should be.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:36 pmEverytime a Bush Republican makes a shameful attempt at defending Mark Foley, a Conservative Republican decides to sit the November 7th election out. It’s hard for those who have no scruples to understand how much they turn the stomachs of people who innately know the difference between right and wrong and good and evil.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:36 pmLet’s get the talking points right, people. It’s not pedophilia, it’s not homosexuality, it’s a fragile, budding May-December romance.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:37 pm#15: “Foley is a homosexual, not a pedophile.” - - Riiiight. Foley is SO principled that he purposely avoids contact with boys under adult age but does look at them as “future draft choices.” Amazing that anyone would try and defend Foley’s actions.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:37 pmNo charges, no crime. The boy was 16? And 16 is the legal age where the boy lives? I know congress just threw away Habeas Corpus and all but really.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:39 pmDoes Newt really think the gay community condones what this jerk did? Most of us wouldn’t accuse them of gay bashing we’d help them get the pervert removed from office. Let’s face they just asked a couple of quick questions the first time around so they could say they looked into and then push it under the rug. ABC asked three or four questions and hit pay dirt, no one is calling that gay bashing. Newt and company need to stop blaming the GLBT community and the hispanic community for everything and take responsibility for there own inepitude.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:40 pmSo in what kind of universe would trying to get to the bottom of those “relatively innocuous, nothing sexual” notes possibly lead to accusations of “gay bashing”?
October 1st, 2006 at 3:40 pmFoley is a homosexual, not a pedophile.
Comment by ThinkCensorship===============================
October 1st, 2006 at 3:41 pmFoley is a sexual predator. Being gay has nothing to do with preying on underage boys. His behaviour is indefensible and trying to excuse it by saying he is not properly defined is inexcusable.
Badmoodman,
No one defended Foley’s actions, liar.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:41 pmFOLEYS CAUCUS RAISED THE AGE TO 18!
The guy is a sexual predator!
READ IT!
Getting a divorce is like being a homosexual? huh?
Comment by ThinkCensorship
Yes, family values and morals, remember your talking points!
And Clenis!!
October 1st, 2006 at 3:42 pmGery Studds has a sexual relationship with a minor; Democrats reelected him. Foley resigned immediately. That is the difference.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:43 pmI know congress just threw away Habeas Corpus and all but really.
Comment by concerned
On the money, concerned. This scandal makes the Repubs look bad, but they are using it to distract from the real crap going on in this country.
Please TP, some threads on the interrogations bill?
October 1st, 2006 at 3:43 pmOn the one hand, Newt says there was nothing sexual in the first round of information, but when he was asked how would it have been “gay bashing”, he says it was “a male-male relationship”. So did they know there was sex or did they not know? BTW - this relationship involved an older man and a teenage boy. Was Newt drunk when it appeared on Faux News?
October 1st, 2006 at 3:44 pmThinkSenseless:“Badmoodman,
No one defended Foley’s actions, liar.” - - LOLOL
October 1st, 2006 at 3:48 pmRead Foleys caucus and you will see using the internet [email] as a sexual predator is 18, not the local age of consent.
Bwahahahahhaha FOLEY Hamstrung himself.
Thinkcensorship,do you get paid to post such damage control drivel?
I saw this same crap on Kevin Drums blog.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:49 pmDog,
I posted a fact from the DSM. You think facts are “drivel”. Enough said.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:51 pm10 million to investigate clinton and consenual sex and nothing to investigate Foley the Predator?
HYPOCRITES!!!
October 1st, 2006 at 3:52 pmClinton’s sex with Juanita Broadrick was not consensual.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:53 pmWhy do pages hate America?
October 1st, 2006 at 3:54 pmI posted a fact from the DSM. You think facts are “drivelâ€. Enough said.
Comment by ThinkCensorshi
The fact is you should read Foleys caucus, before you continue your apologetics for the deraanged predator.
And yes, your here posting your damage control DRIVEL.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:55 pmThinkCensorship is the same kind of troll who has been here lately, who, no matter what anyone says, they just keep repeating themselves. Remember the idiot with the “anti-semitic” meme? Same thing.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:55 pmClinton’s sex with Juanita Broadrick was not consensual
October 1st, 2006 at 3:55 pmhmm Jason Kello….media contact for Foley…
October 1st, 2006 at 3:56 pmClinton’s sex with Juanita Broadrick was not consensual.
Comment by ThinkCensorship
Then Juanita ought to get herself a lawyer, if the statute of limitations haven’t run.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:57 pmAny decent person should be outraged and nauseated by this fat, spoiled immoral man ( Gingrich) and his party. I have no words….
The GOP is a blight on this country. It will take the victim stance in every single situation no matter how much twisting, lying, and bad it takes. Had enough?
October 1st, 2006 at 3:57 pmI have said nothing that could be construed by any reasonable person as a defense of Foley. Dog+Doo is either a liar, an illiterate, or a moron.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:57 pmExcept that Foley wasn’t an admitted homosexual, so how would it be gay bashing?
Ridiculous as ever Newt. It is your party that wants to ban gay marriage, and force gays to be celebate. Try looking in the mirror before you accuse others of being a big fat hypocritical bigot…
October 1st, 2006 at 3:58 pmAnd of course no one in the Republican leadership has ever engaged in”gay bashing” have they? So, can we assume that had this been a 16 year old girl, Foley would have been kicked out of Congress months ago? I don’t think so.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:58 pmIs this really the best excuse Fox/GOP can come up with? Lame.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:58 pmSo according to Zoophile, if the statute of limitations has expired, that’s all that matters. Sicko.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:59 pmback to Clenis are we thinkcensorship?
Good.
* Republican Mayor Philip Giordano is serving a 37-year sentence in federal prison for sexually abusing 8- and 10-year old girls.
* Republican Mayor Tom Adams was arrested for distributing child pornography over the internet.
* Republican Mayor John Gosek was arrested on charges of soliciting sex from two 15-year old girls.
* Republican County Commissioner David Swartz pleaded guilty to molesting two girls under the age of 11 and was sentenced to 8 years in prison.
* Republican legislator Edison Misla Aldarondo was sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping his daughter between the ages of 9 and 17.
* Republican Committeeman John R. Curtain was charged with molesting a teenage boy and unlawful sexual contact with a minor.
jajajjaajaaa thinkcensorship!!
October 1st, 2006 at 3:59 pmQuit while your behind already!!
Thanks, Foley, for helping perpetuate the incorrect negative stereotype about gay people being pedophiles. It’s not hard enough trying to combat the wave of misinformation about that lie about us (us as in gay people in general, not you and I, Foley), no, you have to go and exemplify the damn stereotype.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:59 pmWay to give homophobes some free ammunition, idiot.
Dog+Doo,
So a few Republicans have committed crimes, which no one denies. Many Democrats have committed similar crimes. So what is your point?
Foley resigned, Democrats reelected Studds. QED
October 1st, 2006 at 4:01 pmhave said nothing that could be construed by any reasonable person as a defense of Foley. Dog+Doo is either a liar, an illiterate, or a moron.
Comment by ThinkCensorship
Yeh right. When you started with your clinton claptrap you exposed yourself.
And now that you have regressed into third grade name calling..
HAHHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!
October 1st, 2006 at 4:02 pmDog+Doo is either a liar, an illiterate, or a moron.
Comment by ThinkCensorship
TRy GWB instead of Dog+Doo and the sentence has meaning.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:02 pmThinkCensorship,
Since you’re so fond of calling me “Zoophile,” maybe you could share with all the kids exactly what it is you’re calling me.
You have a lot of nerve calling me a sicko.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:02 pmShin Gallon,
According to the DSM-IV, pedophilia is attraction to “prepubescent children.” Stop lying.
Foley is a homosexual, not a pedophile.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:03 pmIt’s the corruption, stupid
One of the keys to winning the upcoming Fall ‘06 election is to show the electorate that the Republican party is fundamentally corrupt to the core. Nobody wants corrupt government. And Republicans set the anti-corruption bar themselves back in 1994. The truth is that Republicans rode into power with their Contract With America. They set the standard. And they aren’t living by it, to say the least.
As we sink into Republican congressional resignations over pedophilia, the Republican corruption gets worse and worse. All this Republican corruption and what do they do? What do our captains of the ship do? Blame the iceberg again.
Republicans are supposed to be leading this Nation. Let’s not let America forget that. That’s what Republicans promised they would do when they ran for office. Lead. And I also seem to remember a lot of criticism of Democrats for being immoral, and a promise to bring a new conscience to Washington, D.C. That contract with America again. Or am I mistaken? Did Republicans run on the platform which says “we’ll be corrupt and immoral and then try to justify our conduct by lamely claiming everybody does itâ€? Because that’s what it seems like to me now.
Where is the Republican responsibility? Where is the accountability? Where is the leadership?
Let’s remember the contract with America that Republicans promised us in return for their votes:
On the first day of their majority in 1994, the Republicans promised to hold floor votes on eight reforms of government operations:
• require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply to Congress;
• select a major, independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of Congress for waste, fraud or abuse;
• cut the number of House committees, and cut committee staff by one-third;
• limit the terms of all committee chairs;
• ban the casting of proxy votes in committee;
• require committee meetings to be open to the public;
• require a three-fifths majority vote to pass a tax increase;
• and implement a zero base-line budgeting process for the annual Federal Budget.
http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Contract_with_America#Content_of_the_Contract
Republicans are not delivering. This is not the contract they promised us. Except for a brief flurry of activity when they introduced their contract in 1994, Republicans are, have been, and appear like they always will be in MATERIAL BREACH OF THEIR SO CALLED CONTRACT WITH AMERICA.
Let’s review again for our Republican friends how incredibly dishonest Republican Administrations have been starting with Nixon through today. And we’re not just talking lies, we’re talking felonies. Lot’s of them. I think hopefully there’s one thing we can all agree on – this is highly inappropriate and unacceptable. Felonies cross the line. Here’s the Republican rap sheet, followed by the record of Democratic Administrations (hint- there is no rap sheet because there is not one conviction since Nixon despite Republican witch hunts):
Nixon was the epitome of a crook caught red handed (please try to deny it, please do my good Republican friends), followed by his VP crony Ford who amazingly gave Nixon a complete free pass to America’s great dismay, followed by a record busting 29 convicted criminals in the Reagan Administration, followed by Bush I giving the Secretary of Defense under Reagan and no less than five other Reagan officials ensnared in the arms to Iran scandal another complete free pass to avoid getting caught himself (sworn testimony from Cap and crew shows that despite bogus denials Bush I knew all about Iran-Contra), followed by W. whose White House Procurement Officer has already gone from the White House to the Big House due to getting wrapped up with none other than Abramoff - the biggest scandal guy since Nixon.
And let’s look at Republicans in Congress today. It’s another huge MATERIAL BREACH of Republicans’ bogus promises. Republicans have swung so far into the sewer that these people who we entrusted with our votes, our money and our lives to be our REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS HAVE TURNED INTO LAWBREAKERS.
Starting at the top, Republican leader and Speaker of the House Tom “The Hammer” Delay had to resign in disgrace and is on trial for his political life claiming the prosecutor is partisan against him even though the prosecutor has gone after more Democrats than Republicans (something’s not clicking here . . .) Top Republican Bob “The Velvet Hammer” Ney (notice the pattern of criminal gangster names – would be funny if it weren’t so apt) — another Abramoff pal — admits to being a dirty guilty felon politician and that all his prior bogus denials and blaming liberals and the media and blah blah blah for his own big “persecution†were just that.
And we all know what happened to Republican “Duke†Cunningham, whose multiple felonies in taking millions of dollars of bribes even W. admitted were “outrageous.â€
And the leader of the Senate, the Republican Senate Majority Leader and multi-multi millionaire Bill Frist is under investigation by the SEC and other authorities for insider trading in dumping his family stock to get even more money right before bad insider news broke and otherwise has a terrible record for honesty (happy to get into it if you want to).
And that’s just the start. To avoid a bad sentence, Republican ringleader of the massive K-Street scandal (yup, it takes a whole block of Republican lobbyists), Abramoff is ratting out lots more Republican pols.
And this is not to mention “Scooter” Libby who has been indicted and will stand trial for obstructing justice.
Or that little abhorrent thing that our “moral†“law abiding†Republicans don’t seem to be too concerned about — PEDOPHILIA! Look at the PEDOPHILE Mark Foley who just resigned in disgrace after being caught red handed in doing things that are too disgusting to repeat here. And this guy Foley was sitting on committees responsible for dealing with child issues. And what about our new crop of Republican leadership in Congress? What did they do? They saw the warning signs. And they hid them. What about Rodney Alexander (it was his page not to protect) and those senior leaders who learned of the indicators of Foley’s pedophilia? What did they do? Coverup. This fine new “leadership†includes Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and senior congressmen John Boehner and Tom Reynolds.
This is not to mention those other Republicans in Congress under a serious corruption cloud like Jerry Lewis (R-CA), Alan Mollohan (D-WV), as well as Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT). In fact, out of the 20 most corrupt members of Congress, only 3 are Democrats! http://citizensforethics.org/ press/ newsrelease.php?view=156. Yup, no less than 85% of the corrupt scum in Congress are Republican. When you hear 4 out of 5 dentists recommend brushing with fluoride, and you think that’s the overwhelming majority, Republicans have the dentists beat hands down on corruption with no less than 4.5 out of 5 of the most corrupt politicians in Congress being Republican.
And this doesn’t even get at the Republican Administration’s illegal wiretapping or torture. They didn’t like the laws so they secretly broke them. Then they got caught so what did they do? What else. Rewrite them. Let’s review: secretly break the law, get caught, deny you broke the law while at the same time desperately trying to rewrite it. Twice. With in not getting warrants to spy on Americans and in ordering widespread torture. Hmmmm.
If these Republicans were in business there would be a real investigation and they would all be fired by now. Shareholders don’t have the patience of the Republican electorate. And by the time these Republicans get through with us we will be morally bankrupt in addition to being financially bankrupt.
In the meantime let’s look at the top Democrats, the Democratic Presidents from Nixon to today. Say what you want about the man’s effectiveness, but Carter was, is and always will be . . . well let me say something understated that even the extremist Bush Republicans will have a hard time arguing with . . . not a President who broke the law. Clinton was persecuted to the point of impeachment by a Republican controlled House of Representatives over blow jobs — only to be . . . again let me say something understated even the Bush Republicans will have a hard time arguing with . . . surprise! . . . not convicted. Yes it’s innocent until proven guilty for the Republicans of course, if you’re innocent like Karl “The Architect” Rove.
You want more criminals in office? Vote Republican. It’s in the bag.
And let’s not let America forget it. Over and over and over.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:04 pmWay to give homophobes more ammo to use against us by perpetuating the incorrect negative stereotype of all gay people being pedophiles, Foley, you great git.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:05 pmI’d like to formally apologize on behalf of all gay people for some of us being horrible perverts.
I’d like to see these “original notes”. Just how explicit were the ones that the house leadership was aware of?
These people are so slimey it’s disgusting.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:06 pmDemocrats relected Studds, Foley resigned. That’s the difference.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:07 pmRE: 59.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:07 pmLying? What the hell are you talking about? I know what the definition of “pedophile” is, idiot.
Foley is a homosexual, not a pedophile.
Comment by ThinkCensorship
A homosexual that seeks young kids, thats a sexual predator, thats an illness, thats a sicko, thats a card carrying member of the NMBLA!
FOLEY= National Man-Boy Love Association predator sicko!
October 1st, 2006 at 4:09 pmShin,
“I know what the definition of “pedophile ”
So then you know you’re using the term incorrectly, i.e. you’re purposely lying. Thanks for the frank admission.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:09 pmDemocrats relected Studds, Foley resigned. That’s the difference.
Comment by ThinkCensorship
Yesterday you were calling him ’stubbs’ lmao!!
October 1st, 2006 at 4:09 pmShin Gallon,
I’m afraid you are right that Foley has re-opened the door to the false sterotype of gay people being after our children.
A sick little bonus to his party, from the self-hating gay man, Foley.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:10 pmI guess they censor or edit out comments here.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:10 pmOh well, back to Eschaton.
#68, prove it, liar.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:10 pmIts pretty sick that the repubs are defending predatory homosexual pedophiles
October 1st, 2006 at 4:10 pmDog+Poo,
“A homosexual that seeks young kids, thats a sexual predator, thats an illness, thats a sicko, thats a card carrying member of the NMBLA!”
So presumably if the kid was 18, then Democrats would be A-OK with Foley, correct?
And your refusal to condemn Studds is noted as well.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:12 pmDemocrats relected Studds, Foley resigned. That’s the difference.
Comment by ThinkCensorship
LMAO!!! What ODD LOGIC!
BTW I’m not a democrat, we are Secular Progressives, didn’t you get the memo?
October 1st, 2006 at 4:13 pmre: 59.
16 years old my not be “pre-pubescent” physically, but it is psycologically and that’s the standard set by our society and by our laws.
You can argue that he’s not a pedophile by the the DSM’s strict diagnostic guidelines. But you can’t argue that he’s not HARMFULL by the standards of our society, or that he’s not a CRIMINAL by the standards of our laws.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:13 pm“Its pretty sick that the repubs are defending predatory homosexual pedophiles”
No Republican is defending Foley, liar.
Studds was reelected by Democrats, Foley resigned. That is the difference.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:13 pm71,
I saw your exact same apologetic reasoning on kevin drums blog.
duhh
October 1st, 2006 at 4:14 pmWhatever he ( Foley) may be clinicaly diagnosed as is irrelevant with regards to him being suitable as a public servant.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:15 pmWhen anyone is false, as in pretending to be one thing when in reality is another, renders that person unfit for public service as an elected representative of the people who have elected him or her.
Watch poor illiterate Dog+Poo be unable to explain this:
October 1st, 2006 at 4:15 pm“What ODD LOGIC!”
ThinkCensor: “#68, prove it, liar.” - - Any moment now TC will break into a chorus of, “Liar, liar, pants on fire…”
October 1st, 2006 at 4:15 pmStudds was reelected by Democrats, Foley resigned. That is the difference.
Comment by ThinkCensorship
So why hasnt NEY resigned?
Your difference makes no difference, I am not a Democrat!!
LMAO!!
October 1st, 2006 at 4:15 pm“16 years old my not be “pre-pubescent†physically, but it is psycologically…”
LOL What nonsense.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:16 pmGary Studds retired from congress in 1997, and lives a quiet life with his husband.
No one covered up for him, the way the Repubs covered for Foley.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:16 pmShin,
“I know what the definition of “pedophileâ€â€¦â€
So then you know you’re using the term incorrectly, i.e. you’re purposely lying. Thanks for the frank admission.
In what manner did I use the term incorrctly? What Bizzaro-English rules are you trying to apply here? Are you high, or merely stupid?
October 1st, 2006 at 4:17 pmI loathe Gringrich as a spokesperson.
richb
October 1st, 2006 at 4:17 pmYep, then Foley would just be a homosexual, not a sex offender.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:17 pmI’m illiterate yet I’m here typing and reading your Foley apologetics. Yeh your a genius.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:18 pmRepublican legislator Peter Dibble pleaded no contest to having an inappropriate relationship with a 13-year-old girl.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:18 pmOMFG, what a swollen penis this guy is. Can’t we shut him up by an Act of Congress?
Elsewhere, Frank Rich asks, “So You Call This Breaking News?”
I just got back home, so better late than never, I guess.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:18 pmZoophile:
“No one covered up for him [Studds]”
He was reelected by Democrats several times. LOL
aguafiero:
“Whatever he ( Foley) may be clinicaly diagnosed as is irrelevant with regards to him being suitable as a public servant.”
Agreed.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:18 pmAre you high, or merely stupid?
Comment by Shin+Gallon
Can we get a vote here?
High - 0
October 1st, 2006 at 4:19 pmStupid - 1
HAHAHAHAHAHA! Now that’s a good one! Since when is the ‘gay bashing GOP” AT ALL concerned about “gay bashing”? ahahahahahahah! They’re not only jokesters but fools as well. People remember…..people remember….people remember…..thank goodness!
October 1st, 2006 at 4:19 pmShin Gallon:
“In what manner did I use the term incorrctly? What Bizzaro-English rules are you trying to apply here? Are you high, or merely stupid?”
I’m applying the DSM-IV, as I said more than once. Are you illiterate as well as dishonest?
October 1st, 2006 at 4:20 pmThere is no excuse for what Foley has done, no excuse for the Repug leadership covering it up and no excuse for any troll trying to make excuses for them .
All have shown what kind of low, scumbag pieces of crap they are trying to excuse and coverup this pedophile.
Thinkcensorship, you are beyond being the lowest scum ever.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:21 pmMaybe you send little boys email as well, since you seem tothinknothingis wrong with it.
ThinkCensorship,
Since you’re so fond of calling me “Zoophile,†maybe you could share with all the kids exactly what it is you’re calling me.
Re-election several is not a cover up.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:21 pmThis GOP is certifiably NUTS now! They must be so desperate that they are willing to make absolute jackasses of themselves when there’s nothing left to “spin”….. let’s see….you couldn’t investigate a “known perv” because he happens to be gay? What kind of legal system are they operating under? Certainly not US law!
October 1st, 2006 at 4:21 pm#94 - correction
Re-election several [times] is not a cover up.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:23 pmMaybe Gingrich has some predatory skeletons in his own closet? It certainly seems like he’s got some “personal” interest in all of this, doesn’t it? Maybe he needs to be checked out.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:23 pmGingrich is a sly fox, but this issue is NOT about Foley being Gay, but it is about him being a sexual predator and pervert trolling for underage boys!
October 1st, 2006 at 4:23 pmWayne,
We have as much evidence, according to the DSM-IV, that you are a pedophile as we have that Foley is. There’s no evidence that Foley did anything related to any prepubescent child (the DSM standard).
October 1st, 2006 at 4:24 pmAlso, I’ve seen the IM messaging between Foley and the child and they were far from “inocuous”. What will the GOP now say….that they didn’t see “the original transcript”? Hell, half of the world has seen it by now - who are they kidding?
October 1st, 2006 at 4:24 pmRepublican Congressman Dan Crane had sex with a female minor working as a congressional page.
Lets talk about the ‘difference’, huh?
The difference is,,???
JAJAJAJJAAAAA!!
So much for your studds argument, and your ODD LOGIC.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:25 pmHypothetical here:
Video tape surfaces of President Bush having sex with both of his daughters on the White House lawn.
Right wing response: “You have to understand, what we’re seeing here is a loving father performing a medical procedure, as documented by the leader of the United States Senate, himself a noted doctor, and doing that in obvioius pain to himself, but being a Man-of-God, this is just a father going the extra mile for his children…”
I’m a getting warm?
October 1st, 2006 at 4:26 pmIsn’t is a bit odd how Fox News uses such a terrible human example of sexual fidelity, such as Newt Gingrich, as a character witness for a GOPervert Pedophile?
October 1st, 2006 at 4:26 pmDo you think any of the Kool Aid Fox Viewers noticed this fact?
SPIN SPIN SPIN SPIN….NOTHING IS GOING TO SPIN OVERT PEDOPHILIA IN THE MINDS OF PARENTS - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. THE GOP IS TOTALLY ‘COOKED’ NOW.
NOW IT’S CLEAR THAT WE NOT ONLY HAVE TO “FIGHT THE CRIMINALS IN IRAQ AND WE ALSO HAVE TO FIGHT OUR OWN ELECTED PERVERTS WHO ARE ENTERING THE BEDROOMS OF OUR CHILDREN AND MOLESTING THEM RIGHT IN OUR OWN HOMES”…..WHAT A CAMPGIAN SLOGAN!
October 1st, 2006 at 4:27 pmCrane did not resign did he thinkcensorship?
Your Studds logic aint gonna fly.
As far as your ‘DSM’ logic goes…hahahhahahaaa!
October 1st, 2006 at 4:27 pmOho, I see now…I used a more common meaning for “pedophile” than the strict MI usage, so that equates to me being dishonest and illiterate. Sophistry at it’s finest, in the grand Republican tradition.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:27 pmWhatever. Have fun defending thieves and liars, buddy.
#89…
October 1st, 2006 at 4:28 pmDo you also agree with the second sentence of my post? (#78)
Both Crane and Studds were repremanded by the House.
Studds was reelected by Democrats, Crane was not reelected. You were saying?
October 1st, 2006 at 4:29 pm* Republican Judge Ronald C. Kline was placed under house arrest for child molestation and possession of child pornography.
* Republican congressman and anti-gay activist Robert Bauman was charged with having sex with a 16-year-old boy he picked up at a gay bar.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:29 pmAnd when the trolls have to resort to “semantics” and “proper usage of terms”, they also know they’re “cooked”. …You say potato and I say po-tat-a….you say tomato and I say tomata…potato/potata - tomato-tomata…it’s all so Republican to me! trallalalalala
October 1st, 2006 at 4:30 pmAaaaahhhhhh,
No more Katrina …
No more Darfur …
No more “two America’s” poverty speeches …
Just Republicans and Republican wannabe’s
Bwah hah hah hah hah haaaaaaaaa ….
October 1st, 2006 at 4:30 pmShin,
Yes, making up your own definitions is dishonest.
aguafiero:
Your second paragraph would eliminate every member of Congress.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:32 pmYou are right, ruskindoc.
Trolls — Dismissed.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:32 pmMoral Majority? What a joke.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:33 pm“Accused of gay bashing”? The GOP prodded by the American Taliban(Falwell, Robertson, & Dobson), has raised gay-bashing into an art form, part of their “moral values platform. Sheeeesh, you could fertilize the Sinai with this republican bs.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:33 pmDog+Poo will not list any Democrats who have been convicted, proving his own double standard. Thanks Poo.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:33 pmHow can you tell when a troll is posting on a thread?
Because he’s “so Republican”…..hahahahah!
G=Greatest
October 1st, 2006 at 4:35 pmO=Opportunist
P=Pedophiles
ThinkCensorship,
October 1st, 2006 at 4:36 pmIf any of my sons had been subjected to what Foley’s victims had been subjected to by this pervert, I would have given Foley the ability to perform a blow job on himself - I have one of those ultra-sharp Japanese Samurai swords (A token from my Asian trip courtesy of Uncle Sam from 1963 to 1965). Fortunately, for Foley, all of my sons are in their thirties.
Dog+Poo will not list any Democrats who have been convicted, proving his own double standard. Thanks Poo.
Comment by ThinkCensorship
for the third time, I am not a democrat!! LMAO!!!
ERGO, Genius, It cannot be a double standard!!
JAJAJJAJAAAAAA!!
October 1st, 2006 at 4:37 pmIsn’t it comical for the GOP to be worried about “gay bashing” when they’re precisely the ones who have become “experts” at it? I guess the ugly mirror is up for them and they are seeing themselves for who they truly are - finally!
October 1st, 2006 at 4:37 pmRepublican Committee Chairman Jeffrey Patti was arrested for distributing a video clip of a 5-year-old girl being raped.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:37 pm#112….
October 1st, 2006 at 4:38 pmthank you, my point exactly!
So, where do we begin, hmmm?
Aren’t we forgetting the other two branches of government?
And let’s start at the very very tippy top and work our way down, shall we?, it may give some of the more petty apprentices time to straighten up……
And, party affiliation will no longer matter if we apply this simple yardstick to prospective public servants.
I guess Gingrich falls under the Hume standard too.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:39 pmHey thinkcensorship I am a true conservative, I am only trying to help educate the Neo-Cons!!
October 1st, 2006 at 4:39 pmDog+Poo,
“I am not a democrat!! LMAO!!!
ERGO, Genius, It cannot be a double standard!!”
That makes no sense at all.
You are demonstrating a different standard for Democrats than for Republicans. Whether you belong to either group is irrelevant.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:40 pmJust like when we send our children to school, these parents sent their kids to Washington to view our elected “role models” and this is what goes on?
I believe that this is just the tip of the Pedophile-gate and an iceberg that will swallow many, many more in high places when the kids begin to speak.
Didn’t I read that this young man had been “warned” by his classmates about Foley’s “hitting on them” before he went there? Obviously, Foley has a lengthy history of this behavior??
October 1st, 2006 at 4:40 pmThis is all part of a well orchestrated plan. Foley’s out, so there’s no saving his career or his seat. Gingrich purposefully tried to link Foley’s actions - that is, in appropriate sexual advances to a minor, whether it meets the DSM-IV definition of “pedophilia” or not - to homosexuality. Sure, Foley’s gay (or bi, I suppose), but every one knows that the offense is going after someone who’s underage. But Gingrich and other right wingers want to convince people that gay men are more likely to go after underage boys.
Shameful, plain and simple.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:40 pmand BTW thinkcensorship, I am a Christian and I do believe in GOD, and I’m just helping to open the eyes of other good Christians who are being tarnished by the likes of these GOP perverts and pedophiles!!
I am doing GODS work!!
October 1st, 2006 at 4:41 pmAnd to the trolls above, if “education” means learning how to molest minors, take your drivel elsewhere! and fast!
October 1st, 2006 at 4:41 pmTHE GOP is TARNISHING THE NAME OF GOOD CHRISTIANS!!!
October 1st, 2006 at 4:41 pmso why didn’t they contact other pages? They would have found the IMs.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:42 pmThe pages said they were warned about Foley. It was apparently well known and givien the content of the IMs it would have been hard for Foley to conceal it. Those young men certainly got the message from him.
Pedophilia is defined as the act or fantasy on the part of an adult of engaging in sexual activity with a child or children
In the US, 18 is the age of full citizenship aka adult status. Your attempt to engage in semantics does nothing to change the fact that Foley, a 53 year old man engaged in sexually explicit emails with someone under the age of 18. Pedophile or Pervert - whatever you want to call him – the whole incident is disgusting.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:43 pmKlaus, unlike accused rapist bill Clinton, Gingrich - a) was not accused of lying uder oath, and b) resigned.
So what is your point?
October 1st, 2006 at 4:43 pmYou are demonstrating a different standard for Democrats than for Republicans. Whether you belong to either group is irrelevant.
Comment by ThinkCensorship
change that goalpost!!
Keep helping to tarnish Jesus for your party!!
October 1st, 2006 at 4:43 pm(sigh)
October 1st, 2006 at 4:43 pmBeing a Gay is far different then being a Pedophile…
And, in case you haven’t noticed, this thread is not about “censorship”. It’s about bringing to justice predators who have injured our children!
October 1st, 2006 at 4:43 pmMy what an increasingly unhinged troll we have here.
I see 16 year old boys AND girls everyday at the High School.
They are children. Their hormones may be popping because of evolution, but not a one of them is in any way sexually desirable to me.
I am an adult. I desire adult companionship.
Foley is sick. Period.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:44 pmI am posting facts thinkcensorship, not standards.
You can find your own facts to post.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:44 pmRight on Rochelle! Thanks for the clarification. This is “precisely” what’s occurred here. No argument about semantics will alter that. The trolls need to take their “censorship arguments” elsewhere. They’re trying to hijack the thread and we’re not going to allow it.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:45 pmTC,
October 1st, 2006 at 4:45 pmWHen you find a similar situation with a Dem making advances to an underage boy and the Dem leadership knows about it and does absolutely nothing even though it is quite possibly a crime and they elicit $100,000 from their own little pervert for their campaigns then lets compare. Your “Dems did it too” arguement is about as empty as W’s head.
Hi true,
How’s Miniblue?
October 1st, 2006 at 4:45 pmWe have equal evidence that ruskindoc engaged in inappropriate conduct with a prepubescent child as we do against Foley.
rochelle,
Using the proper definitions for words is not “semantics.”
October 1st, 2006 at 4:46 pmWho cares if Foley is gay or straight? That’s a moot point. Pedophilia is pedophilia - period!
October 1st, 2006 at 4:46 pmBauman was arrested in October of 1980 for attempting to solicit sex from a 16-year old male prostitute, contributing to his electoral defeat one month later. As he related in his autobiography, The Gentleman from Maryland (1986), he had led a secret double life for years. The resulting stress eventually caused him to become an alcoholic. Bauman was renominated in 1982,
The difference is the Democr..er Republicans renominated Studds …er Crane
October 1st, 2006 at 4:47 pmnice try, troll!
October 1st, 2006 at 4:47 pmThey’re trying to hijack the thread and we’re not going to allow it.
Comment by ruskindoc
Apparently we are.
Just sayin’
October 1st, 2006 at 4:47 pmHi.
Well enough to go to school tomorrow.
Thanks for asking.
:)
October 1st, 2006 at 4:48 pmI’m gonna go now, my face hurts from laughing at Jason Hend..err thinkcensorship.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:48 pmTroll attempts to hijack the thread….don’t feed the paid trolls!
October 1st, 2006 at 4:49 pmROFL, trolls! hahahahahah!
October 1st, 2006 at 4:50 pmTroll attempts to hijack the thread….don’t feed the paid trolls!
Comment by ruskindoc
Can you imagine what the general feeling is at the White House today? After Woodward, Foley, Intelligence Reports - all in one week?!
October 1st, 2006 at 4:52 pmThe GOP seems to fundamentally misunderstand its base (and most Americans) on this issue. Soccer moms and helicopter parents (the intensely involved parents who hover over their kids, even after they head off to college) are extremely protective of their children and extremely tuned in to the issue of the sexual exploitation of minors. They do not like the idea of their 16-year-old sons being subjected to pestering by horny adult men (of any political party).
Telling them that unsolicited “overly friendly” emails from congressmen to their sons are “relatively innocuous” and that there’s “nothing sexual” about a 52-year-old man collecting photos of teenage boys isn’t going to fly. Regardless of the clinical definition of childhood and puberty, most Americans do not consider their minor children fair game for sexual advances from adult men. Ask the average church member if an adult man who likes 16-year-old boys is a pedophile and she won’t consult a diagnostic manual, she’ll open her Bible.
Telling people that Democrats have done worse doesn’t give the GOP a free pass on this. Liberals have been so thoroughly demonized by the GOP, people won’t exactly be comforted to learn that the congressional leadership uses them as a yardstick for their own behavior. Their base isn’t into moral relativism.
By the way, Gingrich’s head seems a lot smaller than it used to be. Slow leak?
October 1st, 2006 at 4:55 pmCan you imagine what the general feeling is at the White House today? After Woodward, Foley, Intelligence Reports - all in one week?!
Comment by trueblue
I think that’s why there were no trolls yesterday — they were getting their talking points for today from Unka Karl.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:56 pmAre you kidding me?!? What total, utter crap. This has to be one of the lamest, flimsiest, and most pathetically feeble excuses I’ve ever heard. Foley’s resignation and censure has virtually nothing to do with the fact that these electronic exchanges (e-mail and instant message) involved people of the same sex. It has everything to do with the fact that at least one of the participants was a MINOR who did not invite these overtures, did not encourage them, and considered them inappropriate. If I’m not mistaken, in the private sector, the mere fact that the object of such overtures considers them inappropriate and/or offensive can be sufficient grounds for a harassment suit — sexual or otherwise.
There’s some debate, I know, as to whether the recipient of the e-mail messages was past the age of consent or not — but this is something of a moot point anyway, since the fact remains that the recipient of the e-mail messages found them disturbing and offensive enough to show them to a Capitol Hill staffer and describe them as “sick”. That hardly sounds like someone who’s really a willing and consenting participant, does it? The fact also remains that although the age of consent in DC is 16, the age of consent in Florida (Foley’s state) is 18 — and it seems a bit too laissez-faire and disingenuous, not to mention convenient, to claim that what Foley did wasn’t wrong if he was in DC at the time when it would have been wrong if he was in Florida. Foley’s position as the Co-Chairman of the Missing and Exploited Children’s Caucus also adds fuel to the issue — he’s supposed to be stopping people who take advantage of children, not imitating them.
Gingrich’s excuse might hold a drop or two of water (and only a drop at best) if there weren’t any openly gay members of Congress or if this were prohibited — but there are, and it isn’t. There was nothing explicit in the e-mail messages which originally broke the story, that’s true — but notice that Gingrich only mentions those and not the instant messages to another anonymous page, which were what really served to nail Foley’s political coffin shut.
October 1st, 2006 at 4:57 pmGingrich is basically Gay bashing by claiming this was just male on male action > he fails to clarify that a 53 year old male was going after a 16 year old underage boy! This is Karl Rove’s spin for the GOP: Foley is a closeted homosexual, who hid his sexuality from his party, and was just trying to have consenual sex with another male. Do NOT allow that spin to take hold in the press, because the real fact is that Foley is a sexual predator soliciting underage boys for sex!
October 1st, 2006 at 5:00 pmZooey,
October 1st, 2006 at 5:00 pmI can just see TC, furiously typing at it’s computer to the sound of a whip cracking!
That Karl is one tough cookie!
I thought gay bashing was the GOP strategy to get out the knuckle draggers.
October 1st, 2006 at 5:00 pmObviously, the administration is in a tailspin and understandably so. That’s what occurs when the first lie is covered by a second lie, etc. and the layering process begins. I suspect that it may be a full two years of daily regurgitation of facts proven false, timelines intentionally skewed, and various and sundry skeletons popping out of many GOP closets. Just saw on another site that Rove’s office apparently is being re-investigated for lying about Abrahamoff contacts….what else is new? I think we all expected that?!
I do concur with the previous post, however, that, regardless of political affiliation, what Foley did was improper and potentially criminal and will impeact the quite understandably protective parents of underage children and definitely will be reflected in how they vote in November and in ‘08. People, especially parents where children are involved, do not “forget”.
It’s beginning to shape up as a truly “surprising october” - which I suspect is something less than the GOP termed their “october surprise”.
October 1st, 2006 at 5:03 pmBy the way, Gingrich’s head seems a lot smaller than it used to be. Slow leak?
Comment by Jim+Source
… good one! :)
October 1st, 2006 at 5:04 pmThe reality is that this is about one man - Mark Foley - and his inappropriate contacts with minor children….nothing else!
October 1st, 2006 at 5:04 pmUnitynow,
October 1st, 2006 at 5:06 pmI’m afraid of the “October Surpise”
Going into Iran (which is what I fear it is) would be disasterous.
But that’s another thread!
These guys are nuts. Does anyone expect Gingrich to say anything that does not shed good light on his pals? Just like Stephanopoulos asking a White House spokesman if the Woodward book is accurate. “No George, the whole book is inaccurate…” As if amending the Constitution to deny marriage to gays is not also gay bashing. Hog-wash from a real hog!!!
October 1st, 2006 at 5:06 pmAnd, speaking as a parent myself, I don’t believe parents care one iota if the sexual predator is male or female/gay or straight. Pedophilia is pedophilia.
October 1st, 2006 at 5:06 pmIt looks like the troll knocked off at 5.
October 1st, 2006 at 5:07 pmTrue, trueblue but that’s another thread and I would’t want to be accused of attempting to hijack this very important and worthwhile thread.
October 1st, 2006 at 5:08 pmJim Source,
No one has given Foley a “free pass”.
Bluestocking,
No one has made any excuses for Foley.
October 1st, 2006 at 5:09 pmHuffington Post has some more on this topic; in fact, they have the original transcript of Foley’s IM messaging there. “inocuous”….yikes!
October 1st, 2006 at 5:09 pm#132, rochelle,
Foley had an inappropriate conversation with a 16 year old male. Although the 16 year old male was below the age of consent, and not considered an adult, at 16, he is far from pre-pubescent, and NOT a boy, so pediphilia is not a correct description. Since there was no physical contact alleged, it is NOT statutory rape either, so clearly, what he did is NOT even criminal, but it is inappropriate and unethical, so it was being processed as such.
Now that he has resigned, it is resolved in the minds of most Americans, so once again, Dems are over-reaching, trying to appear tough on crime, when they are not. Again, this makes them Republican wannabe’s.
October 1st, 2006 at 5:09 pmTrueblue and I vehemently disapprove of thread hijacking.
October 1st, 2006 at 5:09 pmunitynow,
Foley’s actions, while wrong obviously, do not fit the definition of pedophilia.
Foley is a homosexual, not a pedophile.