Conservative Activists Call on Hastert To Resign
Conservative Activists Call on Hastert To Resign
Conservative talk show host Michael Reagan and Citizens United President David Bossie have called on House Speaker Dennis Hastert to resign immediately over his role in covering up Mark Foley’s inappropriate behavior. Reagan, the eldest son of President Reagan, was molested at age 8 by a camp counselor.
From a release:
“Speaker Hastert had knowledge of Congressman Foley’s inappropriate behavior and chose to protect a potential pedophile and powerful colleague over a congressional page,” said David Bossie, president of conservative advocacy group Citizens United.
“This inaction demonstrates a lack of leadership on Speaker Hastert’s part, and calls into question both his judgment and character. If Speaker Hastert was willing to sacrifice a child to protect Rep. Foley’s seat and his own leadership position, then he surely does not share our American and conservative values,” says Mr. Bossie. …
Michael Reagan, nationally syndicated radio show host and chairman of Citizens United’s Faith and Family Project, is also calling for resignations. “Any member of Congress who was aware of the sexual emails and protected the congressman should also resign effective immediately. I was sexually abused by a day camp counselor at age eight and also made to be part of child pornography,” Mr. Reagan stated.
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OF COURSE he should resign! Get out, Denny…You won’t be missed.
October 2nd, 2006 at 2:54 pmgoooooddddd – damn!
October 2nd, 2006 at 2:54 pmCan this get any better?
October 2nd, 2006 at 2:56 pmHis resignation is 3 days too late. Start the criminal proceedings.
Out of congress.
October 2nd, 2006 at 2:56 pmNow can we Impeach all these sicko’s?……….
October 2nd, 2006 at 2:56 pmGOP: Grand Old Pedophiles
October 2nd, 2006 at 2:58 pmOff the AP wire: edited for content.
October 2nd, 2006 at 2:58 pmFoley, 52, checked himself into an alcohol rehabilitation center over the weekend, his attorney said Monday. In a statement, Foley said: “I strongly believe that I’m a pervert, but can hide behind the excuse that I’m an alcoholic and have accepted the need for immediate castration for alcoholism and other sexual deviancy behavioral problems.”
I am not a fan of Michael Reagan, but I have to give him credit for his statements on this issue. Personalizing it by telling his own relevant history is courageous. Of course, how soon before he is swiftboated?
October 2nd, 2006 at 2:59 pmOh, SNAP!
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:00 pmThink Bushit will sign a statment for this bunch of a holes
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:00 pm#8 – PLC – Probably find 3 other camp kids who’ll swear that he came on to the counselor!
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:01 pmPlease, there is a big difference between Foley emailing a 16 year old adolescent male, and a camp counselor molesting an 8 year old pre-pubescent male. The congress was processing the incident through the appropriate channels for a first time offender with the expressed request by the 16 year old’s parents to “keep it quiet”.
If there are criminal violations by Foley, then he should be charged. If Foley is charged, then an investigation into what other members of congress knew should be investigated – all in that order.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:03 pmI wonder if the reason Hastert didn’t do anything about Foley, is because he too has a thing for young pages.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:03 pmBravo to Michael Reagan, and yes Hastert must resign immediately with Rep. Shimkus as well!
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:05 pmI believe it’s “resign or go to jail” or “resign because you’re going to jail”….
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:06 pmI think Denny needs to get out while the gettin’s good. Don’t think he wants people snooping into his questionable past, does he?
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:07 pmThere is absolutely NO difference in the law regarding an 8 year old and a l6 year old. Under the law of this land, they are both considered “minors” – end of story.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:08 pmCompare this honrable response by conservative Republicans (the most hated members of the GOP by lefties and “progressives”) with the following record:
1983: Rep. Gerry Studds (D-MA) represented Massachusetts in the House from 1973 until 1996 [See, Wikipedia]. In 1983, the aptly named Studds admitted having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old male page 10 years earlier. In other words, Studds began preying on young male pages as soon as he entered Congress. The House was entirely controlled by Democrats during those years, and they not only did nothing, they re-nominated Studds for re-election in 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992 and 1994.
1990: Barney Frank (D-MA) has represented Massachusetts in the House since 1981 [See, Wikipedia]. In 1990, it was discovered that Steve Gobie was running a prostitution business from Frank’s apartment. It was also discovered that Frank had fixed nearly three dozen parking tickets for Gobie. In other words, as soon as he got to Washington, Frank allowed his personal appetites to override his official duties and his judgment as a public servant. There were widespread calls for Frank to resign, but he refused. The House [then controlled entirely by Democrats] voted 408-18 to reprimand Frank on the grounds that he “reflected discredit upon the House.†The Democrats then re-nominated Frank for re-election in 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006. His seat is one of the safest in the House.
1998: Bill Clinton (D-42nd President) was president from 1993 to 2001 [See, Wikipedia]. He was plagued by allegations of extramarital affairs [See, Gennifer Flowers] during the 1992 primary campaign, but Hillary Clinton “stood by her man†and the Democrats nominated him to run for president. After his election, there were more allegations of sexual harrassment [See, Kathleen Willey] and sexual assault [See, Juanita Broaddrick], one of which Clinton settled for a cash payment of $850,000.00 [See, Paula Jones]. Clinton also began a sexual relationship in 1995 with White House intern Monica Lewinsky – who at the time was barely older than his own daughter, Chelsea. Hollywood even made a satirical movie based on his sexual misconduct [See, Wag the Dog]. Yet Democrats renominated him in 1996. In 1998 Clinton was impeached for perjury and obstruction of justice, charges against which virtually all Democrats, with the exception of Joe Lieberman, defended him. They excused Clinton’s “lying about sex†and insisted that the nation should just “move on.†[Thus was MoveOn.org born] Clinton was fined and disbarred for contempt because he lied to the federal judge in the Paula Jones case. Yet Democrats – inclluding all the TP Clintonistas – defend him to this day.
These are only three prominent examples of how Democrats have excused and overlooked publicly known sexual harrassment and sexual assault by their leaders. By contrast, when sexual misconduct by a Republican becomes public, that Republican is gone within a very short periood of time – even if no actual sexual contact with a victim – adult or otherwise – ever took place [See, Mark Foley]. More notably, other Republicans may be forced to follow Foley out of office, something unheard of in Democratic/MSM history.
So let’s put this into proper context. Foley was investigated by the House leadership, counseled, and put on a form of private “probation†(according to the young man’s family’s wishes). When he violated that probation, he was forced out of office, despite the political harm to the GOP. That was the right thing to do. If Foley had been a Democrat, he would still be in office, because Democrats have always put party politics above the ethics and integrity of doing the right thing. This year is no exception.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:08 pmJason > drop the defense of Foley on here, he is going to be charged with soliciting sex from underage teenage boys! And listen to Michael Reagan!
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:08 pmthey are lining up to get a replacement only the wildly irrational will enjoy.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:08 pmpull up the rope sailor, if the rats are leaving, we are sinking. if we can stop them, maybe we can stay afloat
Give the GOP the proverbial “boot” in November. It’s time for a change – time to take back this country from the liars, crooks, and predators.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:09 pm12 Jason Hendler
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:09 pmI’ve worked with both sexual abuse victims and offenders in counseling. You don’t know what you are talking about! (Big news, there.) The victimizations are both about abuse of power, distortion of interpersonal boundaries, separating sexuality from a loving relationship, and collusion of deception. The impacts on the victims are likely to be different because of the differences of age, but the fact of victimization remains.
Hey Jay – Just for the record, Jason’s an incorrigible paid GOP troll and not worth having dialogue with.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:10 pm‘The congress was processing the incident through the appropriate channels for a first time offender with the expressed request by the 16 year old’s parents to “keep it quietâ€.’
No, Jason, they weren’t:
But one House GOP leadership aide, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of losing his job, conceded that Republicans had erred in not notifying the three-member, bipartisan panel that oversees the page system. Instead, they left it to the panel chairman, Rep. John M. Shimkus (R-Ill.), to confront Foley. WASHINGTON POST
The House leadership has no excuses. The bucks stops with them. The acted in a wilfully negligent manner…Hastert, et al. need to step down.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:11 pmWOW!!! Maybe Denny will check himself into a FAT FARM to avoid answering questions about his knowledge in this sordid affair. Wasn’t Denny a wrestling coach at one time? Boys in tights, I am seeing a pattern here… This is all unacceptable to the American voter, Demorcrat or Republican we expect and deserve better. From failed Iraq policies to moral terpitude, this administration isn’t delivering the goods. No checks and balances in gov’t is a very BAD thing.
Texas Juice
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:11 pmTroll alert! TROLL ALERT! Jason’s baaaaaaack! He cuts out around 5 or 6 depending on his “shift” though so just freeze him out and he’ll eventually sleeze away.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:11 pmObviously Michael Reagan is a cut and run quitter. Michael! Don’t you understand?!?!?!? If Hastert resigns – along with Foley being gone (and now probably Reynolds too!), that means the Rovians will start the election already down 3 seats! including speaker! Haven’t you read your neocon / PNAC approved talking points like Hannity and Limbaugh and Savage? NOBODY wants Nancy Pelosi as Speaker because YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!!!!!
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:13 pmAs such, credibility, morals, ethics – you know, all the Republican “standards” are just talking points and election crap to keep them in office. When push comes to shove – its all about money and power and the Rovians intend to not surrender either.
#19, Jay,
The pedophilia charges are over the top. He may have had inappropriate emails with someone below the age of consent, and if any crime was committed, he should be charged, but that doesn’t make him a pedophile. You need to get the terms pedophile, child molester, statutory rapist and sexual predator straight, because your diatribes lose their force when you use them interchangeably.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:13 pmJason sets up a false choice in typical Bush style: GOP members should only be investigated if Foley is charged with a crime, else they should not be investigated, no matter how creepy or unethical Foley’s behavior. But Jason will learn (again) that he will have to keep lowering the bar even further for his beloved party, because I suspect that Foley will be charged with a crime.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:15 pmwho said anything about pedophilia? I believe the more accurate terms applied have been “inapropriate sexual conduct” “predatory conversation with a minor” and fall well within the predator lines of the law.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:15 pmof course, the last email exchange to be released clearly indicate the solicitation of a “get together” by Foley and his underage victim. Perhaps Jason, like the rest of the GOP, simply “hasn’t read them yet”. ROFL!
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:16 pm#30, unity,
Tell that to your friends here on TP.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:17 pm#12
as Glenn Greenwald wrote:
“…one of the laws which Mark Foley appears to have violated is the so-called “Adam Walsh Child Protection Act of 2006″ which, among other things, increases penalties for adults who use the Internet to discuss or solicit sexual acts with “minors” (defined as an “individual who has not attained the age of 18 years”). GOP leaders hailed this law as a vital tool in protecting our nation’s children against Internet predators”
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:17 pmConservatives are asking Hastert to step down! Anyone checked the temperature in hell today?
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:17 pmRe No. 12 – Jason, you’re probably right that there is a significant difference between abusing a 16 year old and abusing an 8 year old (and, PLC, I think Jason was referring to the impact on the victim; but I shouldn’t speak for him). But, I think this statement is totally naive: “The congress was processing the incident through the appropriate channels for a first time offender with the expressed request by the 16 year old’s parents to ‘keep it quiet’.” The parents may have wanted the whole sordid affair kept quiet, but I doubt anyone in Congress – Democrat or Republican – has the honorable motives you ascribe to the GOP leadership. The fact is, Denny Hastert is as political as they come; I find it hard to believe he’d do anything without considering his self-interest first, the party second, and then maybe – maybe – what was right under the circumstances, so long as it didn’t hurt him or the party. Which is not to say that Democrats are any better, but let’s not kid ourselves about Hastert’s motivations.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:17 pmno one’s diatribes lose credibility like Jason Hendler’s. His typical attempt, albeit futile in it’s transparency, is to interject semantics into the discussion for the sole purpose of hijacking the veracity of the thread. Whether the posters use the proper terminology in their posts is of little consequence….
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:19 pmthanks hit-escape! That should shut our resident troll up for a while!
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:20 pmcitizendad
How can you call yourself “dad” and post such childish responses that remind me of a little boy saying “but mommy, brother did it first” in order to avoid responsibility?
Barney Franks was NOT accused of sexually inappropriate behavior with a minor and he was NOT the one who ran the prostitution ring. Yet, the Democrats reprimanded him.
Bill Clinton’s sexual improprieties were with consenting adults and Democrats did find fault and wanted to censure him. Republicans wanted to impeach him for political purposes.
Your examples are idiotic.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:21 pm…which is not to say democrats are any better….this must be Jason’s alter ego posting?? LOL….obviously, another attempt to hijack the thread to the dems….won’t work here….ROFL! ROFL!
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:21 pmRepublican sex offenders: http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/Republican_Sex_Scandals
Enjoy!
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:22 pmAny one condoning or making light of a disgusting pedaphile must be part of the “Bird’s of a feather flock together” bunch. Case in point the same jason h. who want’s to “distroy” all democrat’s…….Miserable excuses for human’s…Impeach all and include enabelers…..Jail all guilty for war crimes and crimes against children……..Blessings
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:22 pmJason > I call Foley a sexual predator, and a pervert, so do not farm pedophile word onto me, but he does act borderline on that too!
Listen to Exley on here > even he calls for Hastert to resign! Tell Karl Rove that you can NO longer defend Foley or other GOP pervs on TP threads!
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:23 pm“Lunch with Mark Foley” contest.
That’s right, Foley sponsored a contest where the winner received a free lunch with Mark Foley. One has to wonder if it included other “gifts”.
What a sick bastard!
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:24 pmIf this isn’t pedophillia, it is soliciting sex from a minor at the minimum. If he did anything, it is homosexual statuatory rape.
Sorry Jason, you can stand by your sexual deviant all day, but what he did falls under one of three categories, all of which are illegal and would be cause for jail by any average person.
You remember that evil school teacher?
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:24 pmbtru,
Sex with a 16 year old is statutory rape, not child molestation, nor pedophilia. When Dems over-reach, they surrender the moral high ground and remind people why they should never again be in power.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:24 pmTypical Leftist half-truths.
Michael Reagan did not say that Haster should resign.
He said, as shown above: “Any member of Congress who was aware of the sexual emails and protected the congressman should also resign effective immediately.”
The explicit emails were not known to the house leaderhip until ABC released them. Whoever had possession of those emails for three years and elected to hold them for a politically opportune moment rather than notify the proper authorities committed a crime.
This thing is going to backfire on the Left.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:27 pmI can tell from the posts made by Jason and OBGYN today that it is a top priority of the GOP to deflect the pedophile description. You see, pedophile sounds so nasty and it hurts the party to have this term floating around, for example in statements like “the GOP party leadership mounted a coverup to protect one of its congressional delegants after discovering that he was a pedophile.” I suspect that most people, even many of the kool aid drinkers, will deem Foley’s behavior extremely creepy and rather disgusting, so I think
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:27 pmtheir strategy of trying to somehow excuse Foley by relabeling his behavior will fall flat.
#44, Jay,
If it turns out that his messages include passages that are undeniably overtures for sex, then I agree that sexual predator is the correct term. Moreover, if they find that he has engaged in sex with a 16 year old, then he is a statutory rapist. In either case, he is not a pedaphile, nor a child molester, since a 16 year old is adolescent, and not pre-pubescent.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:28 pmGOP
Group Of Pedophiles!!!!
Get’em out of Congress before they start saying the emails were consensual!
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:30 pm#49, realscientist,
By all means, scream pedaphile to your heart’s content, and the American public will turn a deaf ear, because you have over-reached. At this point, I am satisfied that Foley has forfeited his seat in Congress. If he is guilty of more, then he should be charged, and his superiors investigated.
Most importantly, nor more discussion of Katrina, Darfur and poverty, so their are no Dems left in this race, just Reps and Rep wannabe’s.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:32 pmJason > go read the newly released transcripts of IMs by Foley to young male Pages by ABC News > he sets up a time and place to meet a boy for dinner and sex! Listen to Reagan and Exley, before you are the last person on TP defending Foley!
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:35 pmJason Hendler
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:37 pmOK, so have it your way – Foley is not technically a pedophile (although we don’t know if he chose 16 year olds because that’s the age most available to him now do we). Now what? What’s your plan for addressing the issue and his behavior? Or are you just content parsing words and trying to appear professorial to all us dumb progressives?
Time to bust out the plethysmograph.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:37 pm48 the pages sent there emails to ABC! SO it’s the kids fault for kepting the email and IM’s? They only said the didn’t know about the one’s ABC had did they know of others? Typical GOP BS!
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:39 pmForTruth
plethysmograph!! I am surprised anyone else has even heard of this thing!
I vote for Jason Hendler to be the first to be assessed.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:40 pmJason is first up for the plethysmograph.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:42 pmYes, PLC,
I knew that you would know what that was. I too have already set aside Jason’s appointment to be assessed via the plethysmograph.
Micheal Jackson will assist Jason with the fitting.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:43 pmI haave a new slogan:
Today’s GOP, we’re not pedophiles, just perverts.
Courtesy of Jason Hendler.
-GSD
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:44 pmForTruth
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:45 pmActually, the plethysmograph does not include blog posts, so Jason Hendler would probably have zero response.
Should put a huge dent in the “Republicans keep us safer” bs. They can’t even protect 16 year olds entrusted to their care.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:45 pmThe Speaker of the House has more to do than worry about the page program and who text-messaged who. Foley should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, but Hastert should not resign. Don’t let your hatred of Bush and the GOP get carried away. We all hated that when they were crucifying Clinton. For the record, there are plenty of sex scandals and inappropriate behavior to go around to both parties.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:47 pm#18 – “Democrats have always put party politics above the ethics and integrity of doing the right thing. ”
Citizen Dad, you’re obviously thinking of the Republicans when you make statements of that nature.
Never forget, it was the Republicans that wanted to HIDE the fact that Rep. Foley was coming on to an underage staffer. Republicans would rather sacrifice the innocence of a 16 year old boy rather than kick a pedophile out. THAT is a fact!
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:47 pmPLC,
Jason’s reading would have zero until he started reading the transcripts of Mr. Foley’s converstations with the 16 year old.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:47 pmbtru, Sex with a 16 year old is statutory rape, not child molestation, nor pedophilia. When Dems over-reach, they surrender the moral high ground and remind people why they should never again be in power.
Comment by Jason+M.+Hendler — October 2, 2006 @ 3:24 pm
Saddest use of projection in a post today. The moral high ground was surrendered, Hendler, but it wasn’t by the Dems.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:48 pmThis disgusting incident is SO going to turn off the base of the party, keeping so many religious conservatives home on Election Day, that it is not even a question any more — The GOP loses both houses of Congress…and deservedly so. But the political consequences are secondary. The main concern is that poor kid who came to D.C. to have the experience of a lifetime and see first-hand how our government works, and instead was subject to vile and demeaning harassment from this pervert and predator.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:49 pmExley, good point.
I also feel the overall energy in DC is of a predetory nature. If its not on 16 year old pages, its predetory in so many other ways.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:51 pmBut the political consequences are secondary. The main concern is that poor kid who came to D.C. to have the experience of a lifetime and see first-hand how our government works, and instead was subject to vile and demeaning harassment from this pervert and predator.
Comment by Exley
Well said! I thoroughly agree with you (except that it may be “kids”, not kid).
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:53 pmthank goodness Hendler doesn’t represent the majority of americans who are totally outraged by predator/gate. He’s a paid troll who has about another hour or so left on his day job.
Americans will not forget how the GOP failed to protect their children against “known predators” within their midst…..posing as wolves in sheep’s clothing, no less as Chairman of Missing & Exploited Children.
Americans will not forget the Hastert et al cover-up which, in many minds, is far more heinous and criminal than the email exchanges soliciting sexual favors of a minor.
Thank goodness the majority of american will not forget!
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:54 pmFor those posting here for the first time, Jason Hendler is a paid troll. He deserves absolutely no respect or commentary.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:55 pm#47 – ‘When Dems over-reach, they surrender the moral high ground and remind people why they should never again be in power. ”
Ummm. How about “High crimes”??? How can getting a hummer be a “high crime”??? I guess you consider any Republican over-reaching to be acceptable, but hold a completely different standard for Democrats. No surpirse there.
When neo-con sympathizers over-reach, they surrender the moral high-ground and remind people why they should never be listened to in future posts.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:56 pmMost importantly, nor more discussion of Katrina, Darfur and poverty, so their are no Dems left in this race, just Reps and Rep wannabe’s.
Comment by Jason+M.+Hendler — October 2, 2006 @ 3:32 pm
Jason, are you now welcoming this scandal because it diverts attention away from your party’s other failings? Bwahahahahahaha – you guys are a scream! What a brilliant diversionary tactic! You’re even crazier than I thought if you really believe that the general public is going to make the distinction between a pedophile and a statutory rapist that you’re making now. Damn, if we could just get you on the tube making that argument!
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:58 pm#73…A good but sad point, PLC…If more than one child is involved (and that unfortunately is likely) the tragedy is compounded.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:59 pmWhat’s the matter with you people? YOu don’t know the full story yet on who knew what when. At this time it looks like the dems are going to have to come up with some answers about this bushwhacking too. Not that I’m taking Foley’s side at all absolutely no way… but come on you jerks, haven’t you learned ANYTHING about jumping on the wagon before all the facts are in… you’re a bunch of vultures.
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:01 pmWow… What an October suprise!!! I just started reading “State of Denial” and the Republicans are blowing up. So much for Christian values unless you count Catholic priests. Hassert is just like Cardinal Law. Its so ironic that I could have never imagined. Imagie the next thing that will came out is Karl Rove was the President of “Man Boy Love Association”… Karl does have the look of a boy lover. Him and Foley.
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:01 pmFor those posting here for the first time, Jason Hendler is a paid troll. He deserves absolutely no respect or commentary.
Comment by unitynow
While HE may not deserve commentary, his posts sometimes need to be thoroughly and resoundly smacked down in a progressive unity-stomp. Today, maybe he did that to himself.
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:01 pmoh and by the way… it’s these dastardly deeds done by the dems that are just sooooo energizing the republican’s base. Please keep it up. We’re gonna win it all again.. hehehehehehehhehe
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:04 pmMaybe the fact that the Republican leadership did not start an immediate investigation into this, will point out that they never did any investigations into war profiteering either. What missing $8 billion.
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:07 pmComment by hogtrash — October 2, 2006 @ 4:04 pm
WTF?
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:08 pm#85 – you beat me to it ForTruth, WTF is right. Well, I guess it’s always happy hour somewhere in the world. Have another drink hogtrash.
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:10 pmSorry, but I ain’t buying this, notwithstanding Michael Reagan’s childhood trauma. I’ve seen too much good-cop-bad-cop nonsense from this administration and its enablers. Reagan may be sincere. But, I believe his (unfounded) fears over a Democratic re-capture of Congress is his primary motivation for speaking out — and not principally “for the children.”
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:11 pmhogtrash (what a most appropriate name)
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:13 pmIf this kind of abuse of power and deception is what it takes to win – then call me a “loser”, I want no part of a party that can condone or enable this.
The Speaker of the House has more to do than worry about the page program and who text-messaged who. Foley should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, but Hastert should not resign. Don’t let your hatred of Bush and the GOP get carried away. We all hated that when they were crucifying Clinton. For the record, there are plenty of sex scandals and inappropriate behavior to go around to both parties.
Comment by LincolnLounger — October 2, 2006 @ 3:47 pm
New troll line: there is “inappropriate behavior” going on in the Democratic party. Well, LincolnLounger, can you give an example of any Democrats covering up a sexually deviant stalker right now? Because the only example I see right now is Republicans covering up for Republicans.
Oh, and nice try attributing any criticism to “hatred of Bush”. Standard line, but always worth trotting out for the kool aid drinkers who might not be able to tell the difference between stalking boys and having an affair with a consenting adult.
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:15 pmAt this time it looks like the dems are going to have to come up with some answers about this bushwhacking too.
Comment by hogtrash — October 2, 2006 @ 4:01 pm
Huh? You demand answers from Democrats about why the Republican congressional leadership covers up the predatory stalking by one of its sexually deviant members?
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:18 pmit’s these dastardly deeds done by the dems that are just sooooo energizing the republican’s base.
You’re giving the Dems way too much credit.
I certainly hope that Foley’s dirty games and Hastert’s cover up energize the base, though, Republican fundies hate sex scandals. Either they’ll be too disgusted by their brethern and won’t vote or they’ll finally realize that their GOParty of Corruption isn’t what they thought it was and will realize they actually do have a choice when they vote.
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:41 pmApparently, he doesn’t have more important things to do. If he did, he wouldn’t be all over the Newspapers and Internet. Apparently, nobody agrees with you. Even conservatives. That makes you a fringe looney whacko.
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:43 pmkeith Olbermann meets his dad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz_-fwW2Vz4
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:44 pmLooks like Republicans not only abide the real perverts in their leadership ranks, but actively cover up their behavior. Who’s surprised?
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:46 pmNo. really. Who? Of the GOP, apparently, only a few like Reagan, molested at age 8 by a camp counselor, really ‘get it’. The rest are busy telling us how it’s ok. They are so busy spinning the age angle that I think the kid is 21 by now, going on 40.
He was 15 when it happened! Now, I’m 57. How would you trolls like it if I sent your 15 year old daughters some “naughty little emails” just like Foley’s? How about a picture or two? No, even better, let me do it while they are far away from home, working in my “house”, and under my “protection?”
Citizen-Dad,what a cute name you have!How does one become a Citizen-Dad,can you apply if your queer? It’s always someone elses fault isn’t it? Shucks only 14 minutes into this blog and your’re blaming everyone but Foley! You need to look no further than Bush,he’s a fag as they come!My suggestion to you is quit acting straight, and come out of the closet!
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:47 pmNo offense, but Micheal Reagan isn’t really Ronald Reagan’s son. He was adopted. Reagan’s real children aren’t right wing extremists. Micheal has some serious abandonment issues to overcome. His own self-doubts about his identity are probably the motivating factors behind his extremism. Having said that, he’s probably right about Hastert even though rabid homophobia is not the right reason for holding that position.
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:49 pmwhy are my posts deleted
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:51 pmolbermann has a special comment on foley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz_-fwW2Vz4
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:52 pmHastert’s going down. Hey, sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug.
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:52 pmcheck my homepage for the olbermann special report on foley!
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:52 pmImagine that: Conservatives are calling for Hastert to resign. While they’re at it, they may as well as for the resignation letters of everyone in the Bush administration.
Isn’t it pathetic, though, that the Republicans beat the Democrats in calling for Hastert’s resignation. Do you think the Dems will muster the courage to say anything bad about the Republican Party now?
But isn’t it ironic that the party that claims to be doing the Lord’s work is harboring child molesters just like the Catholic church.
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:53 pmExley! You never said anything I agreed with before.
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:53 pmI can’t breathe. I’m in shock!
My world is shaking beneath me.
You’re not defending him? You’re not spinning it?
Somebody pick my jaw up from the keyboard!
Dobson? Dobson?
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:54 pm“But the political consequences are secondary. The main concern is that poor kid who came to D.C. to have the experience of a lifetime and see first-hand how our government works, ”
Exactly how is this experience anything short of illustrating how our government works?
Beaver Cleever should open his eyes once and a while.
October 2nd, 2006 at 5:02 pmBill, Dobson can’t hear you right now – he’s in the shower discouraging a youngster from being gay by showing him his…….
October 2nd, 2006 at 5:03 pmSick, sick, sick!!!!!
October 2nd, 2006 at 5:10 pmThese “Come to Jesus” republi-can’t crack me up. Can’t win a war, can’t run government and now, can’t keep their hands off the little boys.
October 2nd, 2006 at 5:13 pm#103 Solitaire,
What’s right is right (And I don’t mean ideologically)….This incident is sickening on so many levels. On a personal level, because I (and I think all of us) feel so bad for that kid, who came to D.C. with grand hopes and aspirations only to have them squashed by a sick and predatory pervert. On a political level, because this incident shows how the arrogance of power corrupts. Hastert and other members of the GOP leadership thought they could “handle” or “finesse” the situation, seemingly without giving any thought to the human costs of their willful inaction. I have long championed term limits for members of the House and the Senate so as to keep this kind of institutional rot away from Congress. Hastert and Foley and God knows who else have let this country down, have let the hopes of true conservatives down, and, most importantly, let the hopes of this child and his family down.
Inexcusable. Resign, Mr. Speaker. Take responsibility for what transpired on your watch.
October 2nd, 2006 at 5:20 pmI was just starting to feel sorry for the trolls. I pictured them dragging themselves out of bed, hearing what Snowjob had to say on all the networks first thing this morning, and then getting the call that they had to go out and work the blogs and try to spin this story so that somehow someone on God’s green earth might actually think that it didn’t make the GOP look like…well, the scum that we all know them to be. Even with all the talking points supplied by Rove’s office, what self-respecting right-wing troll… Correction. That would be an oxymoron. What not-entirely-self-loathing right-wing troll could get enthused about starting his or her or, in the case of MA, his-her week having to push a giant load of elephant dung like that around?
Again, I’ve underestimated them. Jason M. Hendler, good sport that he is, has answered the call. Good for you, Jason! Way to sell it!
By the way, I’m sorry if I missed it, Jason, but did you have a clever way to spin the GOP leadership’s decision to let Foley stay on as chair of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children’s Caucus?
You can split hairs all you want over the precise definition of “pedophilia”, but I do think that a sixteen year old comes under the heading of “children”. And, in this instance, “exploited children”.
October 2nd, 2006 at 5:28 pmThe local papers – for anyone interested in writing a letter to the editor regarding Hastert are the Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Tribune and Suburban Daily Herald.
fencepost@dailyherald.com
ctc-TribLetter@Tribune.com
Letters@suntimes.com
They all hear plenty from me – it’d be a nice change of pace for them to hear from others.
October 2nd, 2006 at 5:31 pm“No offense, but Micheal Reagan isn’t really Ronald Reagan’s son. He was adopted. Reagan’s real children aren’t right wing extremists. Micheal has some serious abandonment issues to overcome.”
bull.
I have good reason to suspect Michael has far less issues of abandonement than most Hollywood kids.
Ron used to pick up Mike from the private boarding school every weekend without fail. None of the other fathers widely known on the silver screen bothered to pick up their kids on weekends. There are probably ten men alive today from that boarding school who wished they had a dad like Ronald Reagan.
This is not to say we who grew up at home weren’t ignored or that we were attended to. Some parents are very good at ignoring a child even when they are together.
You weren’t there. My mother in law was.
October 2nd, 2006 at 5:33 pmNew question for the pollsters to try out:
Which party do you think would be better at keeping your children safe from sexual predators? The Republicans or the Democrats?
Care to wager which party comes out ahead, Jason?
October 2nd, 2006 at 5:59 pm#111, chimp,
The term child does NOT apply to 16 year olds. “Child labor” laws apply to those 15 years old and younger, thus a 16 year old can be employed. Moreover, 16 year old is allowed a drivers license, so they are not children, they are adolescents.
I’ve stated that Foley was being processed following the congressional guidelines for a first time offender, and it was done discreetly at the request of the parents. If it turns out he had more sexually explicit emails, he should be prosecuted as a sexual predator. If it turns out that he had intimate contact with a 16 year old, then he should be prosecuted as a statutory rapist. If he is indicted for any counts of sexaully predation or statutory rape, then House leadership should be investigated to determine what they knew of his activities.
October 2nd, 2006 at 6:08 pm#113, btru,
Hilarious, are you still on the Contra thing? Bet you can’t wait to give Hugo Chavez a hug and a kiss, since communism was so good for 100,000,000 killed in the Soviet Union, China and Cambodia to maintain a communist state.
October 2nd, 2006 at 6:10 pmTHIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LOOOONNNNNNNGGGGGGGG TIMEhttp://www.thelawparty.com/FranklinCoverup/franklin.htm
October 2nd, 2006 at 7:46 pm#7 I agree with you. However, it underscores my belief that unless something bad happens to a GOPer they have no sympathy for the victim.
October 2nd, 2006 at 8:17 pm#37 Your list is so much longer than citizendad’s. How odd.
October 2nd, 2006 at 8:19 pm“This disgusting incident is SO going to turn off the base of the party,”
Somehow I think we will definitely get a rise out of the radical right. That said, I am impressed that you have taken the stand that you have.
October 2nd, 2006 at 8:23 pmrove loves this… it takes the heat off wordward’s book and congressional reports detailing his entanglement with abrahmoff and susan ralston
October 2nd, 2006 at 8:32 pmThe latest at Faithful Democrats on the Foley scandel is the letter that we sent to Speaker Hastert. Check it out as we also CCed Dobson, Robertson, Falwell and Perkins. They have been silent on this scandel but if it was a Democrat they would be going crazy about it.
October 2nd, 2006 at 8:46 pmI keep reading references to the fact that the pages are “underage” or “under the age of consent.” I don’t know about the state(s) where these events may have occurred, but in some states the “age of consent” is 16.
October 2nd, 2006 at 8:49 pmTHIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LOOOONNNNNNNGGGGGGGG TIME
http://www.thelawparty.com/FranklinCoverup/franklin.htm
October 2nd, 2006 at 9:33 pm#127 You haven’t heard because it doesn’t matter. If it is on the internet it is federal statute…thus, 18.
October 2nd, 2006 at 9:57 pm[...] Second, Denny Hastert is going down. Someone is going to have to take a fall for this one, and even some conservatives agree that it should be him. [...]
October 2nd, 2006 at 10:15 pm[...] The Foley story is getting another big boost today from things like a call by some conservatives for Dennis Hastert’s resignation. [...]
October 2nd, 2006 at 10:46 pm#116 JMH
The term child does NOT apply to 16 year olds. “Child labor†laws apply to those 15 years old and younger, thus a 16 year old can be employed. Moreover, 16 year old is allowed a drivers license, so they are not children, they are adolescents.
The definition of child is imprecise and it varies between cultures, eras, and whether you’re talking about physical development, mental development, or emotional development.
You don’t like “child”? How about minor. Non-adult. Teenager. Somebody’s kid. What’s a driver’s license got to do with it? They can’t enter into contracts. They aren’t allowed to vote. They aren’t old enough to enlist. They aren’t allowed to buy cigarettes or alcohol. There’s a reason for that. They are considered vulnerable. It’s assumed that their judgement is not developed enough to make sound decisions about serious things, like having sex with 50-something-year-old Congressmen.
You’re really struggling with this, Jason. You’re just not able to wrap your mind around the notion of “taking advantage”, are you? The reason it’s not okay for teachers to have sex with students,even in college, or bosses having sex with employees is because there’s a power differential. One party to the relationship has the means to subvert the will of the other, due to the nature of that relationship. Congressman vs. 16 year old page–who has the power? Get it?
Now why would the GOP leadership think it was okay to let someone like Foley continue to chair the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children Caucus? Does that seem okay to you?
October 2nd, 2006 at 11:29 pmmaybe it’s time for the republican party to switch mottos:
“Ho! Ha-ha! Guard! Turn! Parry! Dodge! Spin! Ha! Thrust!”
October 3rd, 2006 at 12:49 amwell everyone maybe we all should just think how great term limits would be in the senate an un the house for all of the country ….so we would not allow time enough for dems or gop to get corrupted powers
October 3rd, 2006 at 6:56 amterm limits
October 3rd, 2006 at 6:57 amAs a member of AA, and a recovering alcoholic, 4 1/2 years sober, I am totally offended by Foleys remarks. I spent my whole life totally loaded and not even once, did I say, “I think I’d like to shtoop a little boy!”
This guy needs prison AFTER treatment!
October 3rd, 2006 at 8:02 amwe should turn this investigation over to Ted Kennedy, the Democrats standard bearer for morals,ethics and temperance.
October 3rd, 2006 at 10:32 amWhat kind of a sick B—–D brings up sex between consenting adults in comparison to sexually harassing a “MINOR”. For GOD”S “sake” you fools must open your eyes and stop defending satanic egos!!!
October 3rd, 2006 at 11:20 amAll of you, beginning with Citizen+Dad (comment #17) who are attempting to “put this in context” by pointing out instances of Democrats’ sexual escapades, or responding with even more Republican examples, are missing the point, and guilty the logical fallacy called “Tu Quoque” (meaning, “you are too”)–a rather childlike response when faced with an undeniable charge, to claim, “Yeah, but look how bad they are!” If you wish to actually proceed with a debate, then stick to the matter at hand. The question, at this moment, concerns Mark Foley and the appropriate response to his disgusting pedophilia. Finish that discussion, and then if you need to bring up Clinton, AGAIN, then that is a separate converstation. Organize you mind, discipline your thinking, apply LOGIC–or you’ll get another scolding from Aristotle’s Bastard Child.
October 3rd, 2006 at 11:23 amGod help us. As a nation let’s kneel and pray for forgiveness.
October 3rd, 2006 at 11:30 amThe little rascals had more focus than this gaggle of clowns running the country. i just cannot wait to see what they PULL next.
October 3rd, 2006 at 12:18 pmBend over america, the conservatives have the gloves on and they have no intention of boxing wit yall.
90% of this thread is whats wrong with this country and the people who run it ! Our politicians ,political activists,and politcal loyalists are so F@#^*&$ concerned about how “this or that” will affect their party ! where’s the concern for the people involved in the scandal of the day ? Wheres the concern for the citicens of this country ? Where’s the concern for the world we are leaving our children ? Our political system spends all of its time campaining to keep their party on top rather than doing the job they were elected to do ! Most of them are sick twisted individuals who care nothing about the people they supposedly represent ! The partisan BS is so F—ing tiring the average person won’t get involved anymore! When will the people of this great country start to put the good of our people before the good of “their party”and their own sick and twisted closet dwelling ways ?
October 3rd, 2006 at 12:38 pmAs a moderate type person, I have seen and acknowledged wrong doings in both parties. What I can’t believe about Foley is how in the hell did he think no one would know or find out about it. E-mails? Talk about dumb criminals.
October 3rd, 2006 at 1:09 pmI think what we are witnessing is the beginning of the end of the United States of America as we know it. All great civilizations last for only a season. After that season, history has shown us that they are never the same or great again. We are seeing the twilight of ours. Pretty soon it will be dark.
October 3rd, 2006 at 2:56 pm[...] And the ones calling for his resignation are not only democrats. In fact two powerful conservative voices are demanding that Hastert resign. [...]
October 3rd, 2006 at 8:26 pmThousands of Americans are calling for Hastert to step down. His lack of leadership on this issue, protecting politics instead of our children, cannot be overlooked. Contact your representative and call for Hastert to step down as House Speaker/
October 5th, 2006 at 9:39 amApparently the democrats have forgotten about Stubbs and Reynolds who actually had sex with underage people.
Stubbs had sex with a male page who was a minor and there was no resignation, no calls for an investigation, and the guy was even reelected
Reynolds was convicted for his offense and Clinton gave him a commuted sentence.
Barny Frank claims he didn’t know a male prostitution ring was being run out of his office yet there are no calls for resignation, no calls for an ethics inquiry nada.
Seems to me the democrats only want to “protect the children” when a GOPer is guilty of these disgusting acts.
October 5th, 2006 at 1:35 pm[...] Page Summary: If Foley is charged, then an investigation into what other members of congress knew should be investigated – all in that order. In 1983, the aptly named Studds admitted having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old male page 10 years earlier. When push comes to shove – its all about money and power and the Rovians intend to not surrender either. You need to get the terms pedophile, child molester, statutory rapist and sexual predator straight, because your diatribes lose their force when you use them interchangeably.read more | digg story [...]
October 26th, 2006 at 8:41 pmloza
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December 24th, 2006 at 7:02 pmHello. NNFQGJVTI2 [url=http://www.tNNFQGJVTI3.com] NNFQGJVTI3 [/url] Thanks
January 28th, 2007 at 7:03 pm[...] a president do…..http://www.truthorlies.org/IraqArticle58.html” rel=”dc:source” property=”dc:titleThink Progress ? Blog Archive ? Conservative Activists Call on …Oct 2, 2006 … Bravo to michael Reagan, and yes Hastert must resign immediately with Rep. ….. [...]
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:54 am