Kerry: Republican leadership failed to protect children

[ProSense]

On Stop In Iowa, Massachusetts Senator Sounds Off On Scandal

Kerry Upset By Congressional E-Mail Scandal

POSTED: 4:36 pm CDT October 2, 2006
UPDATED: 4:37 pm CDT October 2, 2006

AMES, Iowa -- Former presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry said the House Republican leadership failed to protect children when it hid an e-mail scandal.

The White House and Democratic leaders in Congress called on Monday for a criminal probe into former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley's sexually suggestive electronic messages to teenage boys working as pages in the House of Representatives. (Read complete story.)

Kerry and his wife were in Iowa on Monday to campaign on behalf of several Democratic candidates. During a visit to Iowa State University, Kerry said that Congress failed to protect children in the case.

"If that were in the private sector, somebody would be fired," Kerry said. "If that were in the school and the principal, they'd be gone. Congress has to live by the same standards as the rest of the country."

Kerry is just one of many Democrats demanding answers and accountability. Kerry said he was appalled by the Republican leadership's attempt to cover up the e-mails.

"As a former prosecutor, I will tell you I'm really angry that those in positions of responsibility saw fit to care more about power and politics and a person running for re-election than they did about protecting children," the Massachusetts senator said.

Snip...

"If people are responsible for doing something, and they let down children, and they let down parents, and they don't live up to values, I think you got to hold them accountable," Kerry said.

more...

http://www.ketv.com/politics/9984789/detail.html

Kerry links Foley, Katrina, 9/11 response, Iraq, GOP culture of corruption

[texpatriot2004]

1. Thank you Senator Kerry nm

[blm]

11. Glad he linked Foley, Katrina, Iraq with overall Culture of Corruption

theme that really defines the GOP.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[peacetalksforall]

3. Succinct subject line!

[beachmom]

4. Nobody could've said it better

He compares the Congress with any other place like a school or a corp. and it all is crystal clear. Excellent.

[politicasista]

5. K&R n/t

[flyarm]

6. if republicans could not protect children among them ..how could anyone

think that they can protect americans from terrorist attacks??

if the republican leadership..could not protect a small number of children ..in their care..how the fuck can they protect a nation??????

these bastards need to be replaced immediately..should be the dem talking points!

they failed on 9/11 to protect this nation
they failed by allowing pissy pants to lie us intoa war

they have failed in oversight of war
they failed getting Bin Laden
they failed the economy and have put us in horrible debt

they failed in Katrina..

now they failed to protect children in their midst..they failed the children and their parents ..with a pedophile

so tell me how can we trust these people with national security??????

any body of government that fails to protect children ..has no business leading!

fly

[Trillo]

7. Yeah, well, it's been that way my entire life.

"I'm really angry that those in positions of responsibility saw fit to care more about power and politics..." the Massachusetts senator said."

[karynnj]

8. Look at the history of that MA Senator

Consider that opposing abuses of government has been one theme of his career - from the Vietnam War, to contra drug running, to BCCI, where OBL's bank bought off politicians on both sides. But there is a parallel optimistic theme that good people can effect change if they have enough commitment. Both themes are needed.

Kerry in introducing the Clean Elections act understood that it was regular people who opposed abuses of power that ultimately forced change in the past:

"Every time in the history of this republic when we have faced a moral challenge, there has been enough faith in our democracy to stir the passions of ordinary Americans to act--to write to their Members of Congress; to come to Washington and speak with us one on one; to walk door to door on behalf of issues and candidates; and to vote on election day for people they believe will fight for them in Washington.
It's the activism of citizens in our democracy that has made the American experiment a success. Ordinary citizens--at the most critical moments in our history--were filled with a sense of efficacy. They believed they had influence in their government. " (From Thomas, the Senate record)

[wisteria]

9. We should be focusing on the children, whether they are 17 or

younger.How has this affected them? What this guy was doing was despicable. He abused his political authority by compromising young boys.

[sampsonblk]

10. Great Job, Sen Kerry!

We definitely need everyone to be focused on this.

Incidentally, I heard this referred to as the "Email Scandal" today on CNN. Hell no. This is the pedophile scandal. Or even better, the Republican pedophile scandal. Or the Case of the Family Values Pedophile.