Why Foley will matter to the Republican voters and their leadership

[Sydnie]

The dots that they are connecting out there in the "heartland" will be damning to all of the leaders that will eventually be exposed as having knowledge of Foley and his activities. Why do I believe this, you ask?

Because they are beginning to figure out that Foley was preying on children in Washington, sent there by their parents to serve in what would and should have been a great addition to any kids education, college application, and future resumes.

It's not just that he was soliciting children that they are connecting with. That is upsetting enough on it's face. It's that he was soliciting the children of REPUBLICANS. Connected Republicans. Donating Republicans. Active in the party Republicans.

This will shake the grassroots supporters because there were no Dem's involved to blame. It has not been stated in the coverage as yet, but I am laying my bets on the odds that all the kids he approached were sent there from republican families who are well connected to the local party's actions and that they were active in getting these members elected or local versions of "pioneer" fund raisers.

It's going to matter to the leadership because they won't be able to spin this as the fault of any dem. No dem knew about Foley's behavior, but repubs did. No dem was involved in covering it up, but repubs were. It wasn't a dem that sent these emails to their boys, it was a repub.

It's a self contained explosion and they own it all on their own. And they know it. And now so do the people that supported them.

:nuke: A trifecta!

[AZBlue]

1. Sorry, but I disagree. They've already started to spin this against Dems.

Their spin: the fact that both sides have had these kinds of scandals but when it happens to a Rep they are immediately removed from office, unlike the Dem situations.

Don't shoot the messenger - I'm just repeating their spin and PR on this.

And, yes, the public will fall for their rhetoric.

[Sydnie]

2. You think they will fall for it?

I don't think they will. I think parenthood will win out on this one.

And, it's different than their children dying in this war. If they sacrifice their child for the war, they can wear that like a badge of honor and garner favor with the party. But a molested child? No honor in that for them. They will be treated like the outsider if the leaders that knew don't pay.

I hadn't heard a lot of the spin today. I was at work and out of the loop. If we let them succeed in painting us with some guilt on this, then we should be ashamed. We didn't tape Foley's fingers to the keyboard and make him type, after all. :shrug:

[LSK]

4. the ONLY example they troll out is from 1983

and it was an incident from 1973.

And if sheeple think this is the same as Monicagate, then there is no helping them.

[Imalittleteapot]

3. Dream on.

To them it's proof that homosexuals are evil -- even though, mind you, that this is not a gay issue. Besides, they are already spinning away and their followers believe anything they say. AND, don't you know, poor Mark is an alcoholic.

[Sydnie]

5. I must have missed one hell of a spin cycle today huh?

:shrug:

Well, it worked for Mel Gibson .... :mad:

[ComerPerro]

6. You assume that Republicans actually give a shit

or believe anything they say about family values and protecting children.

They don't

[gilpo]

7. I agree..

mostly because these people are parents and they will want to exact a pound of flesh (at minimum) in retribution.

[Sydnie]

8. that was my point too

Most are not catholic, but christian. They weren't "harmed" when the priests did it. They are harmed now and they know that those that profess to keep them safe aren't doing it, no matter how much they say they are. If they can't send their boys to Washington to serve with those that they are supporting for fear that they will get molested, they sure as shit aren't going to give them money, time, or their support any longer.

JMHO.

[Poppyseedman]

9. You must have taken the "blue" pill

'cause you aren't living in the real world.

The Foley scandal means almost nothing outside of the Florida district he represents.

When Joe citizen walks into the walking booth, Foley isn't going to on their ballot.

[Sydnie]

10. but the pages involved are NOT all from Florida

and yes, I probably did take the blue pill. It was such a lovely color ... ;)

[Sydnie]

11. With the Washington Times calling for Hastert to resign,

I believe my OP even more. There is a call for heads to roll ... and they will pay with votes and money for this mess.

edited to add which Times.