GOP: Of course we'd never do the right thing

The Foley scandal is such a giant problem for the GOP because, as bad as it is to have a predator in Congress, it is worse to have leaders who cover it up to protect their hold on power.

It should be obvious to every American that Republican leaders cared more about preserving their majority than the safety of the kids who were placed in their care.

But just in case it isn't, Republican leaders, operatives and conservative pundits have been desperately trying to point the finger at Democrats.

DB says great! They're proving the point. People like Pat Buchanan find it incomprehensible that a Republican revealed this information -- because no good Republican would ever put the safety of these children ahead of the political considerations of the party.

Buchanan criticized the GOP leaders, not for covering for Foley, but for failing to be "loyalists." Game. Set. Match.

Democrats should say:

"I'd be proud to take credit for putting an end to this predator's career in Washington. And I'd be proud to be the one who let the voters know, when they're all paying attention, that the GOP leadership is so completely addicted to power that they let these crimes continue for so long.

But the fact that the Republicans want people to think that I'm the one who helped put a stop to these disgusting acts just proves that the Republicans think standing up for these kids is the wrong thing to do. That's reprehensible."

The GOP is digging themselves a deeper hole every time they open their mouths. Let's hope they don't shut them until election night.

Foley as Bush Administration metaphor

Glenn Greenwald has an excellent post today about the ways in which the Foley scandal reveals to the most casual observer all the mendacity and bottom-feeding tactics of the Bush Administration and its most ardent supporters. Go read it.

Blame game

If you are stunned by the fact that right-wing leaders are reacting to the Mark Foley scandal by pointing the finger at gays, Democrats and liberals in general, you've been living under a rock.

After all, this is what Jerry Falwell had to say to an agreeing Pat Robertson after 9/11:

"I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.'"

If they will blame 9/11 on gays, how could anybody be shocked when these people blame gays for Foley? Of course, nobody really is shocked.

What is amusing to DB, though, and should be highlighted by liberals is the irony of the situation: Republicans are caught in a scandal because they are so warped by seeing things through a partisan lens that they put political considerations ahead of the safety of children and they are now looking to deflect that responsibility by claiming the entire thing is a partisan, election-related set up.

Aside from the fact that ABC's Brian Ross has already demolished that argument, the fact that they respond to this crisis with more of what got them into it in the first place is all the evidence anybody should need to prove that these immoral jerks care about their own power and nothing else.

It's also a good time to remind Christians everywhere that politicians are not Jesus and never have been. This is why government should be kept at a safe distance from religion.

Foley truncated

Why did the Palm Beach Post truncate this hypocritical quote about Bill Clinton by Mark Foley?

"It's vile. It's more sad than anything else, to see someone with such potential throw it all down the drain because of a sexual addiction."

Here's how the Post printed it:

"It's vile," Foley said in 1998. "It's more sad than anything else — to see someone with such potential throw it all down the drain."

What's the point of that edit?

Spin the perv

Here's the difference between MSNBC and CNN: One of these news outlets seems interested in putting facts on their web page, the other puts GOP spin.



Those are the facts. This guy is sick and the GOP knew it. They were more interested in keeping it quiet than keeping kids safe.

But CNN chooses to put the Hastert-approved spin front and center:



Shocked! SHOCKED! How could he do this to us? We, the GOP leaders, we're the victims!

What a joke. No wonder CNN isn't really America's Most Trusted Name in News. They apparently don't think we can handle the facts. That's why they hire Glenn Beck and Bill Bennett. If it weren't for Jack Cafferty, there wouldn't be a reason to ever watch that network.

Unless you like to be reminded every night at 6 p.m. ET that Mexico wants to reclaim Aztlan.

You're a moron

Some of DB's favorite quotes from pervert Mark Foley (R-FL):

"I would rather be called a chicken than a moron." -- Jan. 23, 2002

"Mr. Speaker, I rise in outrage over a reported deal to pay the runaway bride, Jennifer Wilbanks, half a million dollars." -- June 17, 2005

"The December bombing of Iraq occurred and the Administration told us it had to be done because Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, was fast approaching. They said we must attack now because if we don't, it would create an international incident.

What about Hanukkah, which was being celebrated at the time of our bombing in Iraq?" -- March 11, 1999

"President Bush recognizes that America faces serious energy shortages, so his administration is putting forward a comprehensive plan to protect consumers from fluctuating fuel costs using 21st-century technology to diversify our clean and affordable energy sources.

But what does Gray Davis do? He hires spin doctors at $30,000 a month paid for by the taxpayers to explain why his State is suffering. I am sure Governor Davis realizes this is an inappropriate use of tax dollars, considering he is sitting on $26 million in campaign cash.

This reminds me of another disaster, Mr. Governor, the Exxon Valdez. That is your administration." -- June 26, 2001

"It used to be that we tracked library books better than we do sex offenders, but this bill will even that score." -- July 25, 2006

"I urge the Senate to take up the House bill that was sent over in messages to help us rid this society of the scourge of child pornography, sexual exploitation, child molestation and finally get tough with the people that commit these heinous crimes against our most vulnerable. We have sent it overwhelmingly by voice vote to the other Chamber.

I urge Senator Frist to bring his Chamber together to pass this vital legislation so we can continue to crack down on these monsters." -- March 16, 2006

UPDATE: Have to add this one about Bill Clinton:

"It's vile. It's more sad than anything else, to see someone with such potential throw it all down the drain because of a sexual addiction." -- Sept. 12, 1998