Republican Lawmakers Scramble to Avoid Taint of House Scandal

[maddezmom]

By Jay Newton-Small and Laura Litvan

Oct. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Republican congressional candidates scrambled to distance themselves from the Mark Foley sex scandal, fearing it might implicate their leaders and deal a final blow to the party's bid to keep control of the House in November elections.

~snip~

``Toleration of inappropriate behavior is almost as bad as the behavior itself,'' said Representative Heather Wilson, a Republican from New Mexico who faces a difficult race in November.

Representative Rob Simmons of Connecticut sounded a similar theme as his Democratic opponent, Joe Courtney, raised the issue on the campaign trail. ``If it is found that any member of Congress or staff willingly participated in a cover-up of Mr. Foley's actions, that individual should resign immediately,'' Simmons said.

~snip~

Carl Forti, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, called the Democratic response ``political grandstanding.''

``They're trying to take advantage of an unfortunate situation,'' he said. ``I don't know how it helps them.''



more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a5Z_J1wazEb8

looks like Denny has returned to DC to oversee the investigation... :eyes:

[Ecumenist]

1. Umm, Shouldn't they have thought about this about, oh, I don't know.....

<<<<<<<<<<5 FRIGGIN YEARS AGO???!!!>>>>>>>>> Me thinks that this will bite many of and has bitten the highest of them in the collective ass and we should start hearing the yelps in about 15 hours from now...

[murielm99]

2. You couldn't miss

Hastert's ass. I can just see him yelping in surprise and pain, and holding his ass. Even though this is figurative, I am visualizing Denny unable to sit down for a week.

Though I am outraged over kids being taken advantage of, I welcome the help we get from this. We may be able to save our country after all.

I have a gut feeling that this is not everything. I think there may be more to this scandal. There may be things that they hope they can keep out of the spotlight. Don't ask me why. I just have a feeling.

[Ecumenist]

3. Me too, Muriel...

Me too!! There's at least 90% of this mess that is below the surface at the moment and I believe that it will reach into the oval office.

[calimary]

17. And if it doesn't, well, maybe we can help that suspicion along, a little.

DOES the foley sex scandal reach in to the White House???

I'm just asking...

:evilgrin:

[barb162]

16. Yeah, about FIVE years ago and for five yrs. they let this

idiot get away with this crap.

[Dem2theMax]

4. "Republican Lawmakers Scramble"

Just like cockroaches when you turn on the lights.
They run for the dark. Don't want to be 'found out.'
Boy, this is going to be one roller coaster ride of a week we have coming up.
Are your seatbelts fastened? ;)

[Drum]

5. And Democratic ones had better as well.

Seriously, I'm sick of this shit. When the Dems return, we'd damn well better put things in order and keep 'em that way. I am crazy tired of unethical government! Take the high road, and do justice to the institutions you lead, the Founders of this country, and the people you represent!
Grrrrr, Drum is frustrated! :mad:

[rodeodance]

6. Maybe they will bury their own leaders?

[tanyev]

7. Looks like the truth is hitting the fan.

[Supersedeas]

14. well put

[Tuttle]

8. email I sent to my congress critter on 9/31

to the honorable (I think) Chris Shays:

Apparently, under GOP oversight, any investigation of the lewd email propositions from Mark Foley to underage Congressional pages will be swept under the rug!

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/09/29/national/w123452D40.DTL

Let me say this: your "rug" is getting quite lumpy! Is there any room left for a sexual predator down there? Are you vying FOR the predator vote and have ceded the voting block of PARENTS to Diane?

From the sound of this article, quite a few other members of Congress knew of this weirdo's predilection: did you know anything about him???

I would strongly suggest you tackle anyone in between you and a TV camera crew to LOUDLY denounce the GOP for blocking investigations and urge the majority party back to DC to convene special hearings ASAP... you know the drill: think Terri Schiavo.

Earlier this week, you voted to authorize torture and to preemptively pardon torturers (is there a chance for a Condi-Saddam 2008 run for the White House?) so I would suggest you get Fox News Channel to give airtime for the public torturing of Mark Foley to absolve the GOP of their "sweet tooth" for once and for all! Plus you'd get that advantage of the FEAR FACTOR you wingnuts so love to exploit every two years!

I expect to hear more about Foley but probably not from your side of the aisle: on the bright side -- at least it keeps the deteriorating situation in Iraq off of page one (but not in a way that Rove would want).

best,
Tut-tut


(BTW, edited to add: I blindcopied Shay's opponent Diane Farrell on this one -- I hope she's paying attention and is able to glean the important DEBATABLE points)

[katinmn]

12. "...your "rug" is getting quite lumpy!"

I love it. :toast:

[Atman]

9. That's not the "taint" they should have been avoiding!

wink wink nudge nudge

[Chemical Bill]

15. Where's the Daily Show explanation of taint when you need it?n/t

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

10. Political grandstanding (in Florida) = Schiavo

Foley = warranted investigation into sexual predator

[GeorgeGist]

11. The RNC is relinquishing the political grandstand to the Democrats...

until Karl finds a way to blame the Democrats making Foley a gay pedophile.

[skooooo]

13. I think the "Taint" is already well established...

[sugapablo]

19. I was SO not going to go there. :) n/t

[warrens]

18. "My dear Sweetcheeks: We can't see each other for a while...."

"At least until after the election. Please try to understand, and I'll send you a whole book of certificates for Chucky Cheese."

[demo dutch]

20. Attorney Gen of FL now is involved, which is Crist who's runniing for Gov.

Crist has been asked questions about his own sexual orientation. Is this going to affect his race? I wonder?

[yellowcanine]

21. Projection of Forti's part. The pubs are the masters of political

grandstanding. Case in point: Terry Schiavo. Nuff said.

[Supersedeas]

22. Midnite antics for Terry Schiavo v. Protecting Pages from Pubby Pervs