As Mark Foley hides in rehab, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert’s (pictured, looking as if he’s pinching a loaf) political life hangs by a thread as the House Committee on Ethics meets to decide just how much Hastert knew of Foley’s misconduct.
Hastert claims not to have heard of Foley’s fondness for congressional pages until last summer, but others insist he may have known as far back as 2003. Of course, Hastert and his homies maintain their innocence. The New York Times reports:
Mr. Hastert’s chief of staff, Scott Palmer, denied the account of the former aide, Kirk Fordham, who said in an interview that he had informed Mr. Palmer of the concerns about Mr. Foley before 2004. Mr. Hastert’s office had previously said it first learned of concerns about Mr. Foley in the fall of 2005.
After resigning from Republican Rep. Thomas Reynolds’ office yesterday, Fordham’s reliability as been called into question. In fact, some are accusing him of leading the Foley cover-up, allegations Fordham rigidly denies.
Though the ethics committee has been rather ineffective for the past year-and-a-half, politicians from both sides of the divide hope this investigation can revive the House’s standing among the American public. Well, it could, but if too many lies and misdeeds are uncovered, this could shatter America’s already shaky trust.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Speaking of trust, more than a few people are questioning whether or not Foley is indeed an alcoholic. Last night on CNN, Republican Peter King of New York wondered whether or not it’s a “phony” excuse. Meanwhile, Foley’s former guidance counselor from the period during which Foley alleges he was molested by a clergyman (denomination not specified), says he never saw any indication that Foley had been violated.
We’re inclined to think Foley’s excuses – that’s what they are, not explanations – amount to a huge pile of steaming bullshit. If that’s the case, he’s sicker than we thought.
Bryan
It really is frustrating (though not at all durprising) to see the “christian right” attacking homosexuals over this. i mean, one of THEIR champions has been accused of pedophilia (or whatever the term is for the teen equivalent) and they are making it about GAYS! i mean come on people! The issue/scandal is not the man-on-man aspect. it’s the fact that he was sexually harrassing an underage employee when he is in a position of serious power.
jeez louise! some people!
I do have to add that i am thrilled that this is happening on the republican side of the aisle 4 weeks before an election. Its of course a shocking thing, but I am relieved its not the democrats…this time.
jack e. jett
this is such a great time to have fun with hypocrisy.
so much of it going on.
this is a great time to prove a point i have been trying to make for years. look at how many right wing republicans have very thin top lips. i have always wondered what is up with that.
start looking at the photos in the papers and video clips.
where is their upper lip?
jack jett.
http://www.jackejett.com
kizmet
Of course his excuses are bullshit, he’s trying anything to weasel his way out of prosecution and even more humiliation. Blame it on the booze. Blame it on being molested as a child. Blame it on everything and anyone except him.