Monday, October 02, 2006
Fox guarding the Henhouse?
The recent resignation of Congressman Mark Foley (R-Fl) over the sexually explicit e-mail exchange he had with a 16 year old (former) Congressional Page raises a big question: was the fox guarding the henhouse?
Foley was the co-chair of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus. He was supposed to be protecting children from adults who might sexually exploit them. ?
Foley co-sponsored the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006,. The act expanded the definition of sex offenders who must register with state authorities to include those who "use ... the Internet to facilitate or commit a crime against a minor."
In Foley's own words testifying before the House Judiciary Committee in 2005:
"Sex offenders are not petty criminals. They prey on our children like animals and will continue to do it unless stopped. We need to change the way we track these pedophiles. ... It has often been noted that a society can be judged on how it best treats it children. We have a moral responsibility to do everything in our power to protect our kids from these animals. This bill will turn the tables and make prey out of these predators. Failing to act on this measure is just playing Russian roulette with our children's lives."
And, then there is the Congressional Leadership, they are culpable, too.
Hassert knew about Foley's misconduct as far back as 2001, as did others in GOP leadership positions. Was there a cover-up?
Now, Hassert is calling for an investigation into why are these e-mail messages surfacing now--as if there might be a conspiracy. (It might be that they can use the cover of "under investigation" to hide behind). The real question is: Why did the Congressional / GOP leadership
not do anything to protect the pages from this illegal conduct, this sexual harassment/abuse ?
The National Republican Congressional Committee "would gladly accept Mr. Foley's [campaign war chest] money or part of it to devote to House races." ( Carl Forti, Communications director of the NRC as quoted in thre NYT 10/2/06 p.15)
Foley was the co-chair of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus. He was supposed to be protecting children from adults who might sexually exploit them. ?
Foley co-sponsored the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006,. The act expanded the definition of sex offenders who must register with state authorities to include those who "use ... the Internet to facilitate or commit a crime against a minor."
In Foley's own words testifying before the House Judiciary Committee in 2005:
"Sex offenders are not petty criminals. They prey on our children like animals and will continue to do it unless stopped. We need to change the way we track these pedophiles. ... It has often been noted that a society can be judged on how it best treats it children. We have a moral responsibility to do everything in our power to protect our kids from these animals. This bill will turn the tables and make prey out of these predators. Failing to act on this measure is just playing Russian roulette with our children's lives."
And, then there is the Congressional Leadership, they are culpable, too.
Hassert knew about Foley's misconduct as far back as 2001, as did others in GOP leadership positions. Was there a cover-up?
Now, Hassert is calling for an investigation into why are these e-mail messages surfacing now--as if there might be a conspiracy. (It might be that they can use the cover of "under investigation" to hide behind). The real question is: Why did the Congressional / GOP leadership
not do anything to protect the pages from this illegal conduct, this sexual harassment/abuse ?
The National Republican Congressional Committee "would gladly accept Mr. Foley's [campaign war chest] money or part of it to devote to House races." ( Carl Forti, Communications director of the NRC as quoted in thre NYT 10/2/06 p.15)
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just a passing thought re:hassert's call for an investiagtion on who leaked the e-mails now...perhaps it was someone in the GOP administration who wanted to take our eyes off of what the administration has done to our democracy. There is now, no rule of law, an imperial president, torture, no habeas corpus...
Just an aside; I am a little concerned that Foley has played the alcoholism card. Alcoholism did not make him write to the pages. Though, he might have dealt with his homosexuality--his internalized homophobia--by drinking. Alcoholics do not equal homosexuals, nor do homosexuals equal pedophiles.
Being an alcoholic/ I was drunk is not a "get out of jail free" card, doe not absolve one from taking responsibility for one's actions. Mel Gibson and Mark Foley.
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Being an alcoholic/ I was drunk is not a "get out of jail free" card, doe not absolve one from taking responsibility for one's actions. Mel Gibson and Mark Foley.
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