MSNBC "Alex" just compared Foley's action to Clinton's

[itsrobert]

MSNBC is basically saying: Pedophile Foley = Clinton's improper relationship with 20 something bimbo?


Pathetic bullcrap.

[niyad]

1. minor vs consenting adult. they are truly desperate.

[Montauk6]

119. You're more right than you may realize, Niyad

The desperation lies in doing whatever possible to distract everyone with the biggest irrelevancies possible. The always reliable one (in their minds, mind you) is the "Always Blame Big Dog" card—the platinum version being, of course, Monicagate.

One can only hope that a significant majority has woken up to the fact that these jackals have no morals, no decency, no family values, no agenda (pardon me, but tax cuts and paying lip service to cutting programs is a far cry from a feasible strategy in a complex society), no NOTHING.

[City Lights]

2. I'm guessing Alex "T"witt?

If so, she's totally useless. MSNBC should fire her. I didn't see it, but I'll zap off an email to MSNBC over this outrage.

[me b zola]

67. Especially since NBC has made a cottage industry out of similar stories

You know those Dateline shows where the journalist assists the police in actually catching these sexual preditors who use the internet to prey upon minor children. Yet turn the chanel to affiliate MSNBC and they view this behavior as consensual sexual behavior?!

Everyone who writes to MSNBC should include this irony/hypocrocy.

[liberal N proud]

3. Well, you know it is all Clinton's fault

:sarcasm:

[BOSSHOG]

7. foley was so distraught (jealous) of Clinton's action

that he turned to young boys for comfort. Lets all pray for foley, Praise Jesus and lets hear an Amen.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

89. lol

that pretty much sums it up.

[cboy4]

4. That is disgraceful comparison.

How biased and ignorant.

[Buzz Clik]

5. Trying to seduce a 16-year-old boy online is gross. Clinton's knobjob, tho

..never gets dull. So, "Alex" shifts the focus away from the criminal to the MSM Fantasy Land.

[johnfunk]

84. Alex should reward Clinton with a "Monica job" for the eight years...

... of peace and prosperity he gave our nation -- and the cable news growth industry he helped create.

[Totally Committed]

6. We shouldn't be allowing the media to frame it like this!

Tell any network that repeats this Republican talking point that this is absolutely crap!

Consentual sex outside of marriage is a hell of a lot different than stalking children in the internet for sex.

Don't let them get away with this!

TC

[City Lights]

13. I agree, they need to called on their bs. Send them an email.

[e-mail]
[e-mail]

[annabanana]

18. email to:

[e-mail]

[SammyWinstonJack]

21. They should be ashamed of themselves for even using this tactic

too excuse a REPUBLICAN CHILD MOLESTING HYPOCRITE. Monica Lewinsky was an ADULT the sex was CONSENSUAL but then these CM whores know that, don't you Ms. MSRNC?

[Warren DeMontague]

104. We need to turn it back on their ass- that's what Karl Rove would do.

The Republicans- the party that can't tell the difference between consenting adults and child molesters!

[kestrel91316]

110. Well, the inability to recognize a consenting adult certainly seems to

have been a problem for Foley, lol!!!

[itsrobert]

8. exact quote

"Republicans don't own this type of behavior. We have to look no further than Bill Clinton..." Alex said with a cheesy smile.

[FormerDittoHead]

15. "...the Dems are scum and we're still the party of morals and values!"

Gosh! Two wrongs DO make a right!

:sarcasm:

[Catherine Vincent]

73. Thanks for the quote.

I'm sending that bitch an email!

[Warren DeMontague]

101. So the republicans are saying either a) that there's NO difference between

consensual adult sex and pedophilia, and either b) we should let child molesters out of prison or we should arrest every adult who has ever had consensual pre or extramarital adult sex.

[BootinUp]

9. The state of "journalism" and "tv journalism" is horrendous.

These people have no ability to see things form other pov, other than their own religious upbringing I would guess.

[Uncle Joe]

38. I don't believe it has anything to do with religion,

this is all about naked power. The agenda of the mass corporate media to keep their enablers in power, so they can continue to brain wash the American People.

[BootinUp]

49. So Alex has power? The problem I have

with your view is that it requires a conspiratorial view of a humungous organization. I don't even know who this person was, just a reporter working for MSNBC?

[Uncle Joe]

60. Everyone that speaks as a news person on camera,

has a certain element of power or influence on the American People, they help shape our beliefs, 70+% of the people at one time thought Saddam was behind 9/11, this did not happen in a vacuum. The mass corporate media brain washed them in to believing it. I dare say a sizable % of the American People believed Al Gore actually claimed to have invented the internet as if he were in a laboratory and came up with the idea, again because of the misinformation from the mass corporate media. Of course the motivation behind this slander was to enable Bush to power.

But the real power is with their bosses and owners, of which only five or six corporations own almost 90% of everything the American People hear on the radio, see on the television or read from their papers. It's no coincidence there are virtually none if any progressive voices on FAUX news, it's because Murdoch or Ailes does not want them. Of course G.E. owns NBC and MSNBC and Jack Welch was the chairman pushing the news division to call Florida for Bush when it was still in doubt.

It does not necessarily take much conspiracy to make it work, the news people know who cuts their checks and what they want. Either they believe the same as their bosses and report or spin that way, or they subjugate their own feelings and reporting for job security sake.

[Cha]

86. I don't have a "problem" with

your view.

[Nozebro]

Say WHAT? Going way out there on a limb, aren't you?

nt

[BootinUp]

56. I don't think so

I am not talking about excusing pedophiles, I am talking about unsanctioned sex of any kind per the religious reich wing.

[bleedingheart]

10. In clinton's defense...Monica hunted him down...she was on the prowl

for him...

he was just dumb enough to take a bite on that bait hook...

edit:....remember...she was the one lifting up her skirt to give him a gander at her ass...

[Captain Hilts]

12. Exactly. Monica initiated it and he was dumb enough to accept. nt

[Libby2]

29. Flashing her thong

That's why I will always believe it was a set-up and stupid ass Clinton fell for it.


Fuck this pisses me off!!!!!

[me b zola]

55. In Clinton's defense...Monica was a consenting adult!

What Foley was engaging in is pedophilia. If Foley had any physical contact with that child he is a sex offender.

[Cha]

88. Yeah, there's the

freakin' difference. But, leave it to corporatemedia to excuse the republiCON pediphiles who give them the almighty TAXCUT!

[bleedingheart]

94. what I remember was the fact that Monica had been chasing

down other men before Clinton..including a man who was married...yet that got shoved by the wayside.

[ComerPerro]

90. AND Monica is female

and if I heard correctly, Foley was soliciting young boys.

I would say that there is nothing wrong with being homosexual, but in his party, EVERYTHING is wrong with being homosexual...

[kskiska]

69. The wingnuts tried to make Monica out to be a mere child

preyed upon by the big bad wolf. Then they all interviewed her and that notion was forever dispelled.

[Warren DeMontague]

102. Clinton doesn't need a defense because what he did wasn't a crime.

His wife and kid had every right to be pissed off about it, but it wasn't against the law.

[Aviation Pro]

11. Boy vice girl....

...looks like the Christoterrorfascist heads are exploding.

[Bozita]

14. She misunderestimates the definition of the word "pedophilia"

[AlCzervik]

16. i'm sure by Monday somehow Foley's actions will be Clinton's fault.

[Hugin]

20. Yeah, by Monday Foley will be a life long Democrat and Liberal...

It's how the Right Wing Noise Machine works.

[Vincardog]

81. Make that the Reich Wing Noiz machine or Corporate Controlled Media

[Hugin]

17. It's during moments of exposure that their true colors show...

or so I've heard.

That's why it's important to tear into this now before the Talking Points spread.

[C_U_L8R]

19. there they go again

trying to blame their own misdeeds on Clinton.

[peacetalksforall]

22. Distinctions distinctions. Look at it side-by-side::

Break it down - there is little in comparison -

Sex:

male with female
male with male

VERY important given the hypocrisy of homophobia and anti-gay legislation that reigns in the WORDS of the Party who promised honor and integrity

Age:

adult age vs underage

Consent:

The only thing the two relationships had in common was the degree of consent.

[bigbrother05]

40. You are wrong on point #3

An adult woman directly initiated an relationship with a man she knew was married.

An adult male tried to seduce a minor male via the internet.

How the hell do you do you consider these to be equivalent?

[peacetalksforall]

109. Not equivalent. Consensual. We are not talking rape, we're not

talking restraining orders. We're not talking running from the other. Both relationships were consensual. In the context we've been given. I said the relationships were with consent. I didn't say they were equivalent, but I will go back an dreread what I wrote. I probably could have written it better.

[WinkyDink]

114. Minors by law cannot give consent. BY LAW.

[peacetalksforall]

116. OK. I understand. Retracted.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

23. Alex Witt?

Photo here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Witt

This woman is an idiot. She occasionally substituted on Countdown when Keith was off, rendering it unwatchable. She oozes smug stupidity.

I will write MSNBC to complain about Witt's egregious misrepresentation of both stories.

[Scout1071]

24. CNN did not once mention the emails were to a boy and they never

used the terms homosexual or pedophilia.

If I didn't know better and just saw the news waking up, I would think that he had been exchanging emails with a 16 yr old girl. Not that it's any better or worse, but seems they are going out of their way not to say "16 yr old boy."

[gulliver]

25. Yeah, let's go there.

Clinton has an affair with an arguably very good looking, legal age woman. The GOP Congress then tries to impeach him on a technicality.

Republican Congressman Foley seduces underage male minors. The GOP Congress covers it up.

The comparison is inapt, but the contrast is right there for everyone to see.

[KharmaTrain]

28. Don't Forget The House Speaker Who Was Having An Affair...

...with an intern at the same time as Clinton's indiscretions. Ya know...or his nominated successor who also had to fade from view when his marital "indiscretions" came to light. Yep...the party of "sexual responsibility'.

The light here now can be shone on a fully corrupt House leadership. One that stonewalled investigations into pedophilia by its own members and leaders and dovetail that to all the Abramoff crap that's out there. The slime on these bastards is now tar.

[Bozita]

30. Bob Livingston (R-LA)?

[KharmaTrain]

32. Gingrich & Livingston

Gingrich was doin' one of his office staffers throughout the Clinton inquisition. This came to light during his divorce proceedings and he later married the younger model.

The other was Livingston who was outted by Larry Flynt for several affairs. That's when Livingston went to the House floor on a Saturday morning during the Clinton inquisition vote and had to announce his resignation right in the middle of this surreal dog & pony show.

Oh...and don't forget Henry Hyde's "youthful indiscretions" with a married woman that ruined her marriage.

Yep...some family values there.

[Bozita]

34. Didn't Livingston's "affairs" also involve minors?

I seem to remember something about that.

[KharmaTrain]

41. I Don't Remember That

I thought it was the wives of his friends. :rofl:

In the 80's, Representative Dan Crane of Illinois was censured after he was caught having sex with one of his interns. He actually tried to run for re-election and the voters in that very red district had enough of him.

Livingston's now a big time DC lobbyist...and I'll bet his libido hasn't slowed down one bit.

Cheers...

[Bozita]

50. I'm wrong. It was the S&M thing. Guess who was the submissive one? Whippee

http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Congress/3950/irishtms.html

The Irish Times has learned that Mr Livingston became aware that Mr Flynt had in his possession audiotapes of sexually explicit telephone conversations between Mr Livingston and a woman. It was the nature of the sexual talk that was so disturbing, said this source. It was clearly a sexual relationship of a sado-masochistic or dominant-submissive nature.

 At one point in the conversation, Mr Livingston asks the woman a question to the effect, can't I be the victim next time? (The precise wording of the question could not be confirmed.) What was clear was that Mr Livingston was clearly interested in playing a sexually submissive role.

more...

[KharmaTrain]

51. Should I Be Turned On Or Take A Shower?

:rofl:

I never saw the specifics...they rushed old Bobby out the door in a hurry...no defense, no explantaion...almost like Foley, so you know it must be bad.

Now I'm curious if we'll find out about those poker games with Porter Goss and friends and hookers at the Watergate. Why not have some more fun while we're at it.

[Poiuyt]

36. Don't forget that Gingrich divorced his first wife while she was dying

of cancer so he could marry the woman he later cheated on during the Clinton trial.

And this guy wants to be president???

[KharmaTrain]

26. She Wrote That Talking Point All By Herself???

Or did she lift it off of freeperland?

I heard some goober on Washington Journal this morning do the "so's your old man" game on this too...saying how Clinton's penis was impeached and found guilty of perjury (lie...he plead no-contest) and how he raped a woman (we're still waiting on that one) and killed Vince Foster and his wife was also investigated...yada yada.

C'mon...what else can these goons throw at us? It's a knee-jerk reaction to blame Clinton's penis when you're attacked and have no other prepared talking point.

[NashVegas]

27. I Think It's a Pretty Apt Comparison, Except for the Minor's Status

I just read the .pdf file that the ABC blog links to.

You'd have to show me worse, for me to view it as anything more than flirting.

Clinton's affair with Monica was inappropriate - she was a page.

Foley's what-ever-it-was with this page is inappropriate for the same reason, but because the kid was a minor, we have something to make political hay out of.

By all means, let's make hay, but let's not hoodwink ourselves. The kid was flirting back. Unless you can show me that his gig was threatened if he didn't make the congressman happy, the worst I could say is, "it's inappropriate."

[Libby2]

31. Ah never mind

[SlavesandBulldozers]

91. "because the kid was a minor, we have something to make political hay"

I know, imagine that, wanting to make political hay out of a felonious relationship between the chairman of the exploited children caucus and a minor.

Geeze. . . idiots.

[Bozita]

33. Monica was a page?

[Captain Hilts]

95. No, she was not a page. They're high school age kids.

She was an intern of graduate school age. 25. I think Gingrich's squeeze was 29.

[annabanana]

35. "anything more than flirting."

There were transcripts of instant messaging between the two that make it pretty clear that this wasn't just "flirting" between a 50-something congressman and a 16 year old boy. I'm looking for links.

Here's the .pdf
(maf is Foley)

http://abcnews.go.com/images/WNT/02-02-03b.pdf

[Bozita]

37. Was it Americablog? -- link

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/09/house-gop-leadership-knew-about-foley.html

[NashVegas]

59. Yes, That's the One I Read

And I'm sorry, but, except for the knowledge that the people in that conversation were a congressman and a page, there is little more than cyber-flirting going on there. I've seen - and taken part in - chats that went much, much further, albeit with more age appropriate partners.

The technicality that the page is a minor is the *only* thing in that chat to get uptight about. That it's a minor + a boy is great political scandal and I'm going to enjoy that as much as anyone.

But the kid in that chat transcript strikes me as flirting back. And unless this is the tip of an iceberg of abuse, I'm not going to get upset about this, for that very reason.

[Name removed]

92. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Akoto]

39. I don't think it's an apt comparison at all.

On the one hand, we have Bill Clinton and Monica. Did they have an affair? Yes. Were they both consenting adults? Also yes. Was there anything illegal about it? No, other than his denying it under oath. I'm still scratching my head over how this was the country's business.

Then we have Mark Foley. A congressman who has been exposed as using his position to access teenaged boys. Did he prey upon SEVERAL underaged pages, not simply this one? Yes. Was it pedophilia? Apparently it was close enough, because his superiors hid the fact and kept him in power for a year after they were informed.

[Malikshah]

42. Smells like being contrary for contrariness' sake...this is what is wrong

with the country.

Folks ignore the evidence out there and make boneheaded claims/statements just to be different.

Yup. It's all sorts of healthy for the country.

Some sick sense of entitlement makin some feel that others need to point out the clear evidence too them.

More's the pity.

Enjoy the oblivion.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

97. amen.

[Occulus]

43. You have GOT to be fucking JOKING. n/t

[AlCzervik]

44. hold on there for a moment, the emails and the im's were not to the same

person, the emails were unwanted attention to one page and the im's were to "several other male pages" so it's not limited to one person. Foley cast a wide net.

[NashVegas]

62. The Emails

The ones I saw - the ones that were floating around yesterday - were fairly ambiguous. A teen who knew they were getting hit on would know exactly what they were, but it's not a crime to ask someone what they want for their birthday. It's a bit too much like thought police.

Again, if we want to enjoy a terrific political scandal, by all means, let's do it. Let's get some revenge. Milk it.

Just be aware that you are milking it for milk's sake; until I see something that leaves no doubt as to whether or not this puke is a sexual predator who is threatening pages that don't play his game, it will be nothing more than that.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

96. Revenge?

who said anything about revenge. What happened to CLinton doesn't need to be revenged, he did nothing wrong.

Foley did, he told a minor he wanted to jack him off. How often do YOU do that on IM? Tell me, I'd love to report you to the authorities.

Scandal for scandal's sake? You see nothing wrong here? By all means write to the shill Witt and express your support for the equivocation.

[kestrel91316]

111. Yep, sounds like he had LOTS of, ahem, "special little friends".

[Old and In the Way]

48. Not even close to the same.

Foley and Rove appreciate your attempt to co-associate the 2, though.

[goodhue]

53. Monica was not a page

Check your facts

[NashVegas]

63. Oh Man

You sure got me, didn't you?

[goodhue]

78. got you?

I'm lost

[SlavesandBulldozers]

93. you certainly are defensive for somebody who thinks hitting on minors

is no big deal.

[me b zola]

57. How creepy to say that there is *any* comparison...

...Except for the minor status. :wtf:

The minor status is the story with Foley. Foley is a sexual preditor who preys on children.

[last1standing]

61. You consider a 50yo man asking a 16yo boy if he has wood, flirting?

You are wrong with every point you made in that post.

1. According to the Walsh Law, that Foley helped push through congress, what he did was not flirting, but a federal felony. This is Foley's law that Foley was breaking. He is a sexual predator according to his own law. Also, as the child who received one of his emails called it "Sick, sick, sick..." and did not write him back, it can only be considered stalking, not flirting.

2. Clinton's affair was not inappropriate nor was it illegal. Two adults consented to have sex, period. No law was broken and no children were involved. There is no law on the books that you can find that will refute that statement. Also, Lewinski was an intern not a page. The difference is high school versus college, and that's a Hell of a difference.

3. If you do not understand the difference between "inappropriate" and "illegal" here it is:

SOLICITING SEX FROM CHILDREN IS ILLEGAL!

SEX BETWEEN CONSENTING ADULTS IS LEGAL!

I honestly hope this helps you in figuring out the difference.

[NashVegas]

68. If "Legal" Is the Only Thing That Defines "Appropriateness"

Then laws mean nothing, as laws can be changed.

People do illegal things all the time. Three quarters of the country, probably.

1. According to the Walsh Law, that Foley helped push through congress, what he did was not flirting, but a federal felony. This is Foley's law that Foley was breaking. He is a sexual predator according to his own law.

And therein lies what's so delicious about this story.

Also, as the child who received one of his emails called it "Sick, sick, sick..." and did not write him back, it can only be considered stalking, not flirting.

Did the page - a 16 year old boy is NOT a "child" - lose his gig by not playing along, or by reporting him? That's the important thing, AFAIC.

2. Clinton's affair was not inappropriate nor was it illegal. Two adults consented to have sex, period.

Do you believe a sexual affair between a married CEO and an intern is appropriate?

[last1standing]

70. You live by your "morals" and let others live by theirs.

"Did the page - a 16 year old boy is NOT a "child" - lose his gig by not playing along, or by reporting him? That's the important thing, AFAIC."

According to laws in the state of Florida (where much of this took place), a 16 year old boy IS a child. Also, I never mentioned sexual harassment, I said "stalking". Please check the difference.

"Do you believe a sexual affair between a married CEO and an intern is appropriate?"

I believe that an affair between a married CEO and an ADULT intern is none of my business. As it is not illegal, it is not my place to judge whether two people who have not hurt me or others is appropriate or not. Once again I have to ask: What don't you understand about the differences here?

I'm out for most of the day now, but I'd love to see your reply when I get back.

[NashVegas]

80. That Is Exactly What I'm Trying to Do

I've read the emails - they are too ambiguous to prosecute for anything.

I've read the chat - there is no actual soliciting of a minor, and it *may* be moot, anyway. Florida's Age of Consent law is written to cover sexual activity. The law Foley sponsored, as far as I can see, covers solicited and/or simulated sex. There is neither in that chat.

In the chat, there is description of activity - masturbation - there is an expression of wish-for sexual activity, which is phrased as, "I'd like to" but not, importantly, any actual solicitation or agreement to engage in sexual activity, nor is there any actual simulation of the same.

Foley very probably understood that law well, and was careful to use loopholes to insure he did nothing prosecutable.

Until someone comes forward to give evidence he went beyond those loopholes, this is political scandal, and nothing more.


I believe that an affair between a married CEO and an ADULT intern is none of my business. As it is not illegal, it is not my place to judge whether two people who have not hurt me or others is appropriate or not.

You don't really want me to comb through DU looking for examples where you've either endorsed an illegal activity, or expressed criticism or outrage of any legal activity, do you? Because I can. Heck, I just did. Took all of 10 seconds.

Apparently you believe in the letter of the law only when it suits you. Just like most of us.

The sad thing is, that's not even the point of my initial post, and those that followed it. Except its usability as a political scandal, this wouldn't be a story (unless there is more evidence of actual crimes, that we haven't seen).

[last1standing]

108. OH OH! STRAWMAN ALERT! STRAWMAN ALERT!

"You don't really want me to comb through DU looking for examples where you've either endorsed an illegal activity, or expressed criticism or outrage of any legal activity, do you? Because I can. Heck, I just did. Took all of 10 seconds."

Show me where I've endorsed prying into the private lives of politicians who have not been prying into the private lives of others, in more than jest. Please! If you can't then you're doing nothing more than setting up a strawman argument in order to pervert the original intent of the discussion.

I don't know why you're adamant in defending a middle aged guy who writes to a minor "Do I make you a little horny ?" but I'm sure you have your reasons. How's that for a strawman argument? LOL

On the more serious side, this is about the difference in adult consensual relations and the stalking of children. It's not something to take lightly and not something to relegate to "political scandal" status. It's a criminal offence that needs to be dealt with, party be Damned!

[NashVegas]

118. *rolls eyes*

Remember this, above?

"SEX BETWEEN CONSENTING ADULTS IS LEGAL!"

My full statement:

You don't really want me to comb through DU looking for examples where you've either endorsed an illegal activity, or expressed criticism or outrage of any legal activity, do you?

Hint: prostitution is illegal in most places.

"SOLICITING SEX FROM CHILDREN IS ILLEGAL!"

Yes, it is. And if you would take the time to read the emails that have been published, if you would take the time to read the chat transcript, you would understand that Foley was careful to avoid engaging in illegal activities. Unless something comes out that demonstrates actual soliciting, or actual simulated sex, he has done nothing to be arrested for.

From the evidence that has been published, Foley appears to have done nothing illegal. And there you have it - nothing illegal, but something inappropriate with which to use for political scandal.

Again - by all means, go for it. But stop deluding yourself that we are being white knights in using this. We're just getting as down and dirty as the pukes. If it works, great.

I could only wish to see people get this outraged about the torture bill.

[last1standing]

120. Nice way to twist my words into exactly what I didn't say.

If you had bothered to quote me you would have shown that I said that while I support legalizing prostitution I wouldn't suggest setting up a bordello in Illinois.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=5626180#5628358

The question isn't whether anyone here believes a law is "right" or "wrong", it's whether a bounty hunter who chases criminals should be allowed to break the law in his attempts to capture them. I don't support child pornography, but that doesn't give me the right to go to Thailand and kidnap pornographers and I do support legalized prostitution but that doesn't give me the right to set up a brothel in Illinois. We at DU try to change the culture that brings about poor laws in our country and we work to elect those who would legislate in that vein, but we don't usually support vigilantism (although if you look hard enough, I'm sure you can pull out an example).

Gee, some would say that I was saying that I don't support breaking laws. Strange you would come to a different interpretation and not bother to paste the quote or give a link. Some would say that makes you a person who deliberately tries to deceive others, but not me. I just say it makes you look like you can't handle an honest debate.

As for the question of whether he was soliciting a minor, you don't need to use the exact words "I'm soliciting you for sex" in order to do that, but I think you know that as well. At this point I really am starting to wonder why you seem to have such an interest in making this sound like a political hit job on the repubs, even to the extent of using deceptive pseudo-quotes to silence others. Something just isn't right here.

[Cogito ergo doleo]

77. Nothing delicious about this. A powerful congressman tried to

pick up a 16 year-old boy. Pedophilia is a grave issue, and aptly compared to the Roman Catholic church where powerful clergy took sexual advantage of youngsters.

Alex Witt hurt kids today, and the matter is entirely indefensible. A 16-year-old is at the most vulnerable time in his life, pumping hormones and trying to make sense of the world and his place in it. Comparing this situation to Clinton is foolish and irresponsible for adults to engage in, and whose ethical and moral duty as members of society it is to be watching out for kids- not minimizing the profound dangers of sexual predators.

[Kahuna]

74. Monica wasn't a page. She was an intern. There's a big difference..

So, please stop repeating repuke talking points.

[Kahuna]

76. And another thing..stop assuming that the IMs were to the page..

Everybody seems to be making that gigantic leap. None of the reports I've seen or heard have said that the page is the recipient of the IMs. My impression of this terrible "reporting" <sic> is that these are separate issues.

[NashVegas]

79. I'm Not

Now that I've seen both the reported emails, and the transcript, I think it's unlikely the teen(s) were the same person.

The kid in the emails was creeped out. The kid in the transcript was all to happy to describe how he masturbates.

[janx]

117. You're right. The IMs were to OTHER pages--former pages.

That's what makes it even worse.

[WinkyDink]

115. "Flirtimg"?? Oy.

[William Bloode]

45. I ain't the most eloquent guy on the planet.

At any rate this is a copy of the E-mail i sent.>

To whom it may concern.

I just wanted to take a moment to tell you about a horrible comment made by one of your on air personalities. It would be one Alex Witt. She had the audacity to compare the present congressional sex scandal to Bill Clinton's exploits.

It was disheartening that one of your commentators would give cover to such a thing. Foley was a grown man soliciting underage males online. He was breaking laws he helped create as co chairman of the missing and exploited children.

Bill and Monica was simply a grown man and a grown woman beyond the legal age of consent. There is a huge difference between what to full grown folks do, and what one adult does to a minor.

Her exact quote is as follows>"Republicans don't own this type of behavior. We have to look no further than Bill Clinton..."

I sure hope your organization does not condone such rhetoric. It just makes too light of a very serious situation, and i am appalled, and deeply offended.

Thank you for your time> WB

[The Wielding Truth]

54. You were so right to send this. Foley's action was to a child.

Bill had a tryst with a pushy adult. Do any Repub's want all their current Congressmen having affairs be put in the same category as Foley. It's bad enough that they new it was happening and did not stop him. They left him in a position to have be responsible for defense of innocent children.

Good letter.:kick:

[William Bloode]

58. Thanks.

The one i sent was a tad bit better. I managed to fix some of my more glaring errors :D

We need to hit them when they try this triangulation crap. Especially on so matter serious. I won't take the hyperbolish stance of pedophilia, as i don't think it warrants it. This is serious enough just as it is. A man with mass amounts of power and influence, using that power and influence to predte young boys.

[City Lights]

64. Very nice!

:yourock:

[Imagevision]

46. Pelosi must demand to expose others who knew about Folie!!

More action, not rant and raves!!

[blondeatlast]

47. Sixteen is still a kid. BIG difference. Don't let them ignore that point.

Frame it--that was KID he was chatting with--and what if it were YOUR kid?

That's the frame--see why framing matters?

[librechik]

52. OK--Time for a ruthless 80 M dollar investigation! Where's Ken Starr?

he'll do anything for a dollar---

Is she suggesting we give him a pass cuz Clinton did it? They didn't give Clinton a pass.
Moral equivalency demands we destroy the Republicans over this.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

98. great fucking point.

we can expect round-the-clock news coverage and embarassing play-by-plays by all of the right wing media now, right?n the ones so concerned abotu the children. oh god the chiiiiuiilllddreeeennnN!!!

[dkofos]

65. Is msnbc trying to be as revolting as faux

[El Fuego]

66. Monica threw herself at Clinton, but Foley pursued the boys

Foley was a true predator. Those 16 year old boys weren't working as congressional pages because they were looking for sex.

And in Clinton's case, Lewinsky was the predator.

[Kahuna]

71. I can't stand that vile freeper bitch.

:puke:

[Catherine Vincent]

72. WTF?

How can an affair with a consenting adult be the same as an alleged pedophile?

[DeepModem Mom]

75. CONTACT: 201-583-5000, [e-mail] nt

[Nictuku]

82. It is even worse

On Washington Journal this morning, a lot of right-wingers were comparing Foley to Barney Franks (as if being gay was illegal). It made it pretty clear to me that if the right wingers could have their way, they would outlaw and render gays to secret prisions.

So the talking points are out: Compare Foley to Clinton (who was involved with a consenting adult, not a child of 16), or Barney Franks (who is guilty of being ... gay?)

And the sick thing is, the sheeple are falling for it.

[K8-EEE]

83. Oh right, the GOP is so morally superior

Yeah it seems this was common knowledge and the GOP was just going to RUN the guy without regard to what was going on. They think by pointing the finger at Clinton for all their misdeeds for the end of time, they can get away with murder time and time again.

They are really REALLY sounding crazy. And Clinton looks better and better the more horrid GOP years we have.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

99. absolutely.

Kat Vandenheuvel made this very point. The GOP leadership history has done more to hallow CLinton's name than any single thing Clinton himself could have done. Universally, regardless of party, Americans look back to when CLinton ran things as a Golden Era by comparison. They won't admit it, but its true.

[bklyncowgirl]

85. The boy was 16 years old. In my world that's JAILBAIT.

Carrying on an obscene online conversation with a minor is against the law. Clinton's kanoodling (I love that word) with Monica was certainly immoral, undoubtably stupid but not ILLEGAL.

[Cha]

87. ANy Idiot can tell the difference..don't

tell me they have sub-Idiots working at msnbc? :+

[SlavesandBulldozers]

100. you obviously don't watch MSNBC much.

and I obviously had to stop watching it, and TV in general, largely because of that channel. Tweety especially.

To me, MSNBC was the worst - it is a republican mothership that is effectively cloaked, compared to the death star of Fox. ok now I really geeked that metaphor, i even mixed my sci-fi, but you get my point. And no, my point was not that I'm a geek.

[Warren DeMontague]

103. If this is REALLY the argument the GOP is going to use, we need to fucking

TRUMPET it from the rooftops:

"The GOP thinks Pedophilia is the same as consenting adult sex!"

"The GOP can't tell the difference between two adults having sex and sickos preying on little kids- no wonder they're so morally confused when it comes to telling consenting adults what they can or can't do in their own bedrooms and with their own bodies!"

"Either The GOP thinks Pedophiles aren't criminals, or the GOP thinks anyone who has sex outside of marriage is a criminal!"

[SlavesandBulldozers]

105. yep. another great point.

[chat_noir]

Alex's message board at IMDb hasn't had a posting since 2004

show her some love

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1197882/board/threads /

:evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin:

[chat_noir]

106. dupe

[WHAT]

107. ume...assume that it's equivalent...

I say spend 40 million or whatever investigating it. Let us allow the ensuing investigative tendrils to curl and wrap around everyone they come in contact with. That should give TV something new so they won't have to play the Clinton reruns.

[undeterred]

112. 16 and 24 are not even in the same ballpark

And its not like Lewinsky was harassed... she ate him up.

[kentuck]

113. Monica was 16??

...and was a boy?? Hmmm..