We Now Yield to the Distinguished Gentleman from Florida
Big news in Washington. Republican Congressman Mark Foley has resigned after evidence surfaced (courtesy: ABC News) of sexual advances he made in emails and IMs to teenage boys working as Congressional pages. Oh that sweet 16. What an age, huh.
Foley had previously dropped his 2004 senate bid after committing the felonious act of practicing homosexuality as a Republican (he was outed by two guys, Aravosis and Rogers, with an ongoing campaign to expose gay Republicans on the Hill). Fortunately for Foley, he represents Florida. A couple states over, they lynch you for that, under the "If The Noose Fits" law.
Remember when I said this was a nation of irony? And you said don’t bore us- get to the chorus? Well Foley fought ceaselessly for exploited children, even introducing the very bill that makes what he did with those kids illegal. No joke.
The House Leadership has known about this for months. Denny Hastert was "taking care of it." They are now claiming "Whaaa? Whoooo? Nooooo…" (and having trouble keeping their story gay… I mean straight). You don’t ignore this kind of conduct because it’s an election year, because everyone is tired of scandals, because you have a hot-headed base who will not be pleased. That’s cowardice you’re thinking of, not leadership. Leadership isn’t about damage and spin control, and classifying unflattering information, and calling critics unpatriotic, and saying a bad war is a good one.
This story is starting to pick up momentum, but as of yet, no sign of religious right-wingers fleeing the party in blessed droves.
8 comments September 30th, 2006