Did (GOP) Cover Up Foley Scandal? GOP..Calls 'Wash Post' to Change story

[truthpusher]

http://editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003189478&imw=Y

Did Republicans Cover Up Foley Scandal? GOP Leader Calls 'Wash Post' to Change Story

By E&P Staff and The Associated Press

Published: September 30, 2006 10:30 AM ET

(snip)

The Washington Post carried this remarkable passage today: "House Majority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) told The Washington Post last night that he had learned this spring of inappropriate 'contact' between Foley and a 16-year-old page. Boehner said he then told House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).

"Boehner later contacted The Post and said he could not remember whether he talked to Hastert.

(snip)

Near midnight, the Republicans engineered a vote to let the House ethics committee decide whether an investigation is needed.

-- Among the Republican explanations during the night:
The congressional sponsor of the page, Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-La., said he was asked by the youth's parents not to pursue the matter, so he dropped it.

-- Alexander said that before deciding to end his involvement, he passed on what he knew to the chairman of the House Republican campaign organization, Rep. Thomas Reynolds, R-N.Y. Reynolds' spokesman, Carl Forti, said the campaign chairman also took no action in deference to the parents' wishes.

--Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill., chairman of the Page Board that oversees the congressional work-study program for high schoolers, said he did investigate but Foley falsely assured him he was only mentoring the boy. Pages are high school students who attend classes under congressional supervision and work as messengers.

--The spokesman for Speaker, Ron Bonjean, said the top House Republican had not known about the allegations. Shimkus said he learned about them in late 2005.

(snip)


link: http://editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003189478&imw=Y

[truthisfreedom]

1. as long as the GOP is in control of Congress, teenage pages are not safe.

scream it from the rooftops!

[goclark]

2. It's a crime and called CHILD ABUSE nt

[Tellurian]

28. This is NOT a SMEAR; it's the TRUTH!

Theres a difference!

The Party of Family Values responds with a COVER UP!

As they do with everything else that comes out of their FRAUDULENT mouths!

[NNguyenMD]

3. we seriously should, give these bastards a taste of their own smear

this sick f_cks needs to be drag as deep and far into the mud as possible. I'm so disgusted at all things GOP.

[sugapablo]

4. Where is Chris Hanson from DATELINE NBC when you need him...

Seriously,. I'd LOVE to see that special when he and his camera crew set up in a congressional office and wait for the GOP congressmen to come in thinking they're going to get it on with a 16 yr old page they hooked up with online.

Can you imagine him reading the logs as they sit there saying "I wasn't actually going to have sex with the boy".

"So why did you bring condoms?"

Man that would ROCK! :)

[Monkeyman]

5. You better believe there was a cover up

Chicago Tribune has time line of when Hastert knew its in the swamp no link go to blogs

[wiley]

6. Haster, Reynolds (R-NY) let teens be molested. Ethical Paralysis

Don't let this fade from the news. That's what ALWAYS happens when a Republican molests, abuses or rapes anyone.

[tanyev]

7. D'oh!

"Hello, Washington Post? Yeah, you know how I told you yesterday that I spoke to Hastert about Foley?
Well, I just remembered that I really don't remember whether I spoke to Hastert or not. Yeah....that's it. Thanks so much."

[last1standing]

8. "Please don't try to stop the guy who tried to molest our son".

Does Alexander really expect us to buy that excuse? On the remote possibility that it's actually true, he should have not only pursued the matter with the police, but with social services to get that kid out of a sick domestic environment.

This isn't looking good for them no matter how you slice it.

[Hepburn]

32. Just my opinion,

but....

Whether the victim or the parents of a minor victim wish prosecution is irrelevant. The crime that Foley committed is not just against the 16-year-old page. It if were, the damage that was done could be addressed only by a civil matter. Foley committed a crime against the state -- he broke a CRIMINAL law which law was made for the protection of minors. Like I said -- whatever the vic and his parents say is not relevant at all. Say Foley was a drunk driver and hit and killed the child -- would anyone take what his parents' or relatives' thoughts into consideration if they asked that the drunk driver not be prosecuted? Bullshit, NO!! Everyone would wonder what in the hell was wrong with that family.

Foley broke a law that was in place to protect minors from perverts such as Foley. I say, if the parents wish to subject their child to such crininal action without complaint, then maybe there is something VERY wrong with the parents. How many people would give the perp a free pass on sexually exploiting their child? Ummm, well, I sure as hell would not. There are laws in place in every jurisdiction in this nation that protect victims of sexual abuse when they are involved in the ciminal justice system. Child sexual abuse/exploitation is particularly offensive. What "good" parent sits back and says having a child sexually abused or exploited is OK? GMAFB! Maybe to those parents of the page being a good GOP supporter is more important than seeing that human garbage such as Foley is taken out of circulation. Hey, if Foley did this to a US Congressional page, what in the hell will stop the bastard from doing this to some other child? Take the bastard off the streets!

[LongTomH]

34. Threats may have been made against the parents or the boy!

As horrible as that is, I would no longer be surprised!

[last1standing]

36. Only one way to find out.....INVESTIGATE!

This should be worth at least $70 million worth of funding and a prosecutor who revels in the salacious.

[Straight Shooter]

9. Every single one of those Republicans has a convenient memory.

The bush administration can't remember being warned about bin Laden, and these chuckleheads in Congress can't remember what they did in response to learning about a colleague's cyberspace molestation.

:eyes:

[rodeodance]

25. they KNEW before they DIDNOT know.

[Tarheel_Dem]

10. I hope every Dem who's invited on any talkshow.....

reminds the public just how hyprocritical these "Rule of Law" repukes are. The public needs to be reminded that repubs wanted every minute detail of bill Clinton's sex life exposed to scrutiny. They embraced & BELIEVED, and in some cases even financed the women who made accusations against Clinton. And now we learn that this has been known to them for almost a year?

If, as they say, the parents didn't want any investigation or action taken, why did Foley resign? Why has it now come to light? I'll bet this kid wasn't the only one. HYPOCRITES!!!!

[ishtar66]

40. Do you really think Foley was the only one?

The entire 'page' system to me seems 'suspicious'. No Foley was not the only one that is why any attempt at an investigation will be resisted fiercely.

[truth2power]

11. Whatever will we tell the children?? n/t

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

27. "Bend over?"

:shrug:

[Joe Bacon]

12. Wow, what will Rick Santorum tell his children?

:hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide:

[kath]

13. Note this important tidbit from that article: "House Democratic Leader

Nancy Pelosi of California proposed to the House that its ethics committee investigate and make a preliminary report in 10 days. She demanded to know who knew of the messages, whether Foley had other contacts with pages and when the Republican leadership was notified of Foley's conduct.

Instead, majority Republicans engineered a vote to allow the ethics panel to decide whether there should even be an investigation.

[intheflow]

16. This should be its own post.

It's too important to languish in this thread.

[kath]

37. Started a thread about it in GD, but no response.

[Vidar]

18. She's not my favorite, but I'm glad she's speaking out on this.

[radfringe]

14. I know of one business that is booming in DC

since the bushies/GOPers have taken over

The Broom and Rug businesses have been making money hand over fist...

[Jack Rabbit]

15. Ve have Vays. You vill retract that story

You vill retract that story or you vill be charged as an enemy combatant und nobody vill know ver you are und nobdy vill hear you scream.

[rrasile]

30. Is it time yet?

[Jack Rabbit]

35. What bothers me is that they seem to have the power to do it

The other day, I posted that we aren't quite there yet, but it really seems that the only thing between the American people and a police state now is Mr. Bush's goodwill.

That's something I don't rely on.

[oldboy101]

17. One big difference between Democrats and Republicans

With apologies to all gays I would note the following:

Judging by what the record shows, it appears that Democrats are mainly attracted to legal aged women for their sexual dalliances. Clinton and Monica for example.

Republicans on the other hand are attracted to underaged boys. They also are more in denial about this, claiming that they have no dalliances. Foley and males pages for example, and Hastert the former wrestling coach.

In five more weeks the voters can decide which leadership they prefer.

[JerseygirlCT]

19. Am I wrong here? Alexander doesn't get to decide that since

the parents don't want to pursue, he doesn't have an obligation to report the crime.

A crime was committed, period. Not telling the authorities makes them all complicit, doesn't it?

[meowomon]

20. A Big Thank You!

To the person(s) responsible for getting this out to the media. The rethuglicans must be stopped before they destroy what is left of this beautiful Nation.

[rodeodance]

21. BOehner remembered BEFORE he DIDN"T RE-member!

The Washington Post carried this remarkable passage today: "House Majority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) told The Washington Post last night that he had learned this spring of inappropriate 'contact' between Foley and a 16-year-old page. Boehner said he then told House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).

"Boehner later contacted The Post and said he could not remember whether he talked to Hastert.

[rrasile]

31. . BOehner remembered

Boner can't remember how to pronunce his last name let alone remember something that fat mess Dennis Hastert told him. I know what Speaker Hastert said and I quote " fuck off".

[POAS]

22. Some of this (maybe all) is maneuvering for

post election power plays within the GOP for leadership positions. If they weaken the other guy and distance themselves from the scandal then whether the GOP retains control or not the power stucture within the party will shift.

[rodeodance]

23. Why has not the Justice Dept stepped in?

[rodeodance]

24. or the FL Attorney Gen?-----there are laws aren't there? (other than

ethics violations" ????????

[YDogg]

26. FL Attorney General Charlie Crist (R) is too busy running for governor.

And some have questioned Crist's own sexuality (I personally don't give a damn, but that is an issue that might affect how this is approached). So it may be a wee bit too inconvenient for Crist to be drawn into a discussion about Foley's behavior, in spite of the fact that he ought to be all over this high-profile scumbag:

1 - takes time from Crist's campaign
2 - opens up questions about Crist's personal life
3 - subjects Crist to criticism from republicans for investigating one of their own, and all that might be uncovered in a public investigation this close to the election, including the lack of action by other republicans who were covering their own ass rather than protecting pages' asses.

It's all so fucked up.

[Botany]

29. if your Boner is limp in the spring can he still screw you in the fall

"I don't remember if I remember because my boner lasted more than 6 months."

[Kablooie]

33. But a lot of teen Republican boys do think that Foley is pretty hot.

[mkb]

38. EXPOSING The Hypocrisy of The Republicans

     It looks like Republicans are pretty gay after all,
doesn't it?  We have this example, the one of Congressman
Dreier, and who knows how many others we don't hear about,
that demonstrate the hypocrisy and malfeasance of this party.
     Granted, politicians are not the most trustworthy of
people, but we need to see clearly the danger that is posed by
people who commit violations of the acts they speak against so
often.  Even worse, of course is the never ending ability to
start wars, and reap the benefits of those conflicts, while
the people suffer the calamities and injuries with little or
no redress.
     I caution readers to have patience in trying to make
progress in the world, because I don't forsee a blissful
future anytime soon for most of us.  These incidents reinforce
in us the reasons why we oppose the right-wing agenda, and
hopefully cause those who may be paying attention reason to
support a progressive political system.
     Let's hope we can see the focus directed by the media on
the more pressing issues, like the war, the economy, and the
environment, as well as many others, rather than on individual
sexual misconduct which takes up a disproportionally amount of
space in the media.  To repeat, I urge caution  on expecting
too much out of the  system, because I believe it will take
time and more people suffering the injustices of it before the
opportunity to turn things around finally appears.  Good luck
in the meantime, and remember that the future is influenced by
everything we do today.

[grateful581]

39. Hell yes they covered it up

The repukes are more concerned in keeping the house then stopping fellow republican pedophiles.
sick bastards, ALL OF THEM