The GOP’s principal talking point bites the dust

October 5, 2006

We’ve seen and heard a few doozies over the last week as conservatives have mounted a counter-attack against the Mark Foley sex scandal — blaming the GOP for political correctness is my personal favorite — but the principal argument theory is that Dems are behind the whole sordid mess.

The theory has always lacked a certain coherence, but in a nutshell, the right believes Dems had the Foley messages, and released them to ABC last week to win the elections. It’s why you’ll hear plenty of conservatives — including House Speaker Dennis Hastert himself — suggest the FBI investigate the Dems’ role in the scandal, because they believe the left knew Foley was a sexual predator but chose not to do anything to protect the pages.

We learned a couple of days ago that this theory is simply false. ABC News’ Brian Ross, who broke the story, said, “I hate to give up sources, but to the extent that I know the political parties of any of the people who helped us, it would be the same party,” referring to Republicans. Likewise, Ross’ producer, Maddy Sauer, added, “They were passed to a colleague of mine from a source, not someone from a Democratic campaign, a source on the Hill.”

So, who was the original source? Sorry, Republicans, but you’ll have to look inward.

The source who in July gave news media Rep. Mark Foley’s (R-Fla.) suspect e-mails to a former House page says the documents came to him from a House GOP aide.

That aide has been a registered Republican since becoming eligible to vote, said the source, who showed The Hill public records supporting his claim.

The same source, who acted as an intermediary between the aide-turned-whistleblower and several news outlets, says the person who shared the documents is no longer employed in the House. But the whistleblower was a paid GOP staffer when the documents were first given to the media.

I don’t necessarily expect all of those conservatives who blamed the Dems to apologize now, but I think it’s safe to say the GOP is officially out of talking points.

Not that they’ll let a little thing like a lack of substance get in the way.

These revelations mean that Republicans who are calling for probes to discover what Democratic leaders and staff knew about Foley’s improper exchanges with under-age pages will likely be unable to show that the opposition party orchestrated the scandal now roiling the GOP just a month away from the midterm elections.

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) yesterday called for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) to testify about what and when they knew of Foley’s contact with former pages.

It even reached a point yesterday in which Fox News’ Sean Hannity said AmericaBlog’s John Aravosis should be investigated, so the FBI can learn what he knew about Foley and when.

Look, this is all pretty silly. The sooner Republicans realize that this is a Republican scandal, through and through, and that Dems have literally nothing to do with it, the better. Because, frankly, at this point, their defenses are just kind of sad.

Sad, but entertaining all the same, as it simply couldn’t happen to a more deserving bunch of clowns.

EVERYTHING that’s been wrong with the Republican party for the last few years is on display for all to see…power, corruption, lies, scapegoating, incoherence, you name it.

  • Good to know that there is at least one member of the GOP in this country with a sense of decency. Too bad it appears it is not one of the elected ones.

  • shingles makes a good point. This is a like a primer on how the rightwing politicians and their noise machine works. The fact that it isn’t working well exposes what they are always trying to do: blame the dems, spin conspiracy theories, scapegoat, tell us up is down. This scandal is like seeing the inner workings of their petty machinations.

  • So—who stands to gain, when the Legislative Branch of government starts feeding on itself?

    The Executive Branch.

    It’s October—SURPRISE !!!

  • As I said (wrote) previously …

    “The outhouse has done blown-up and it’s all over the yard. And the Republicans blame everybody but themselves.”

    Come to think of it, maybe chain-smoking Boehner, got bored while sitting there–stewing in the sewer gas–and struck a match to light a cigarette and then dropped the match down the shaft and BOOM!

    What a GOP–Grand Outhouse Picture?

  • Hastert is now blaming George Soros and..
    wait for it…
    people associated with Bill Clinton!

    It’s one thing when a Limbaugh, Hannity or Coulter blames the big dog. I expect them to blame Clinton for every backed up sewer and burned out traffic light in the country.
    When The Speaker of the House publicly names Clinton, you know they’re flat out of excuses.

  • I’m so tired. They make me stand here for hours, days, months even. It’s torture. I’ve told them I need a rest but they say they’re not finished with me. That I may be more important than ever. That this might be my finest hour. Man, where have I heard that one?

    It’s exhausting. All I want to do is sit down and get some rest. Take a few minutes to repack a little. Clean up around the edges and get some starch back in my posture. But these guys never sleep. It’s like they need me all the time. I hope I get a break soon. I don’t know how much longer I can help them out.

    “What?” Damn, I’ve got to go. They “need” me. Again. The next few weeks are going to be extra rough. I can tell.

    See ya.

  • Well, they do understand the media. This is no less a Republican scandal than Abramoff, which is why it either needs to not be reported, or if you can’t ignore it, bipartisan. On CNN last night, they asked the question: “Is the media harder on conservatives for sexual impropriety than Democrats?” See, the reason Clinton got a pass for Lewinski during that solid year of nonstop coverage (continuing in the NYT) and pursued so unfairly here is that Republicans are so moral, and therefore held to a higher standard they’ve set for themselves.

    I never cease to be amazed at how journalists self-flaggelate on cue. “Are we to liberal? Why are we so liberal? Next up: are the Republicans foibles all an illusion, because we’re so darned liberal?”

    Nevermind the Dems preknowledge does not contradict the fact that the GOP leadership allowed one of their own to molest children, and encouraged him to seek re-election.

    I’d say they’re fools, but it takes real smarts for the AP to make the same “typo”, referring to the major players in the Foley scandal as Democrats. FOX, you expect to be biased, but the wire service?

    Good God. Orwell was psychic.

  • of course the other theory is: its a gay conspiracy. Even ABC News mentioned that Fordham is gay…insinuating that he as a past staffer to Foley must have protected him………….even though he was the one alerting the house leadership to the emails………but just throw the gay thing in and everybody will run with it……disgusting…..no one has the decency to just look at the facts and see that it this is a republican scandal….what did GWB say at his inaugural about decency and ethics in Washington? That should be a good clip for any Dems TV ad……

  • They will continue to flog this just because they can’t help themselves – it is reflexive…..

    And of course it was a Republican…. First, a Republican is likely to know the most about other Republicans, and most likely to keep the secret – at least for a while. Two, like some Republican staffer in this era of hyper-partisanship is going to cross the aisle and give ammo to the Democrats – get real.

    As I said this “blame the Democrats” talk is reflexive. They are so addicted to this line of thought and it has become so incorporated into their psyche, that it likely doesn’t occur to them that it can’t possibly be true. Then there is the fact that it is exactly like something that they would do so the concept of “projection” is alive and well. The fact that they believe that Democrats are the root of all bad, will continue to belive this until their dying day – is just sad and pathetic. They are always saying people need to be responsible for their action of course this doen’t apply when they are Republican politicians.

  • AHA!!! Why didn’t a Democrat come forward with the information?? What do they have to hide???? We need an investigation….

  • Straw Man. Very Clever, better eat some Wheaties.

    It’s because were are god-less heathens. It’s OK when GOP does bad shit because they believe and will get forgiveness, the Devil made them to it, or some other religious non-sense.

    We on the other hand have no faith so when we do bad stuff, even when it’s extremely less bad, we don’t get to fall back on religion.

    They play that card all day long, we never do and I think the base can relate to, and even forgive a man who repents no matter what he has done. They just don’t understand that it’s nothing more then a cheap and overused political ploy.

  • The Republicans are suffering, and there’s not a dry eye in the House.

    I’m trying to figure out how all this affects the mid-terms. Specifically, how it affects the inclinations of independent swing-voters. Neither the Republican or Democratic bases will budge.

    Republican desperation is palpable. When they’re blaming Clinton, gays, flag-burners, and photosynthesis, they know they’re in danger, but where does the danger lie? As much as I’d like the mid-terms to be a referendum on Bush and Republican control of congress, I don’t think that will be the case. The Democratic challenges will be the familiar story of “MY congressman is OK” and “just politics as usual.”

    However, when I predicted the whole thing would disappear by next week, I wasn’t counting on the develping “cover-up” angle. Still, voters aren’t going to link the Foley scandal to gas prices or the cost of health care. We can hope, though, that the scandal will produce what shingles and dale mentioned. That the it will illuminate the Republican culture of incompetence and lies.

  • Don’t forget their “values” / “family values” talking point. That also has bitten the dust. Unless, of course, allowing and enabling near-paedophiles to stalk and feed upon minors is a wholesome family value. Maybe in Newt’s family. Maybe in Hastert’s family. Maybe in Boehner’s and Shimkus’ and Delay’s families. Wouldn’t surprise me one bit.

  • But I thought the DRUDGE REPORT said that the pages in question WERE of legal age.

    Sooo, basically, the GOP strategy is to:

    1) Blame the Democrats for holding on to evidence, and therefore are guilty of not reporting a crime.

    but if that doesn’t work;

    2) Claim that no crime was committed, since the “victims” were actually of legal age.

    and if that doesn’t fly;

    3) It’s all Clinton’s fault, for creating this culture of immoral behavior.

  • Re #9.

    But it could be a gay conspiracy. As far as I can tell, Foley did not actually break any laws. How would he know how not to? He wrote them.

    So he and Fordham plan this little excursion to discredit the Republican’t leadership. He does a bunch of disgusting things with some Republican ex-pages, lets Fordham get the (mild) emails from one of them and pass them to the Leadership. The Leadership gets a $100,000 check from Foley and decide he’s far too valuable to let go, so they let him off with a warning.

    Then in September some Republican Aide releases the information to ABC. ABC puts it up on their blog and right away other ex-pages release Sext-Messages from Foley.

    Now here is where the conspiracy kicks in. Foley is supposed to call the IMs lies and resist the investigation. Instead, he ups and resigns (that surprised me!) and leaves the leadership out to dry.

    Then Fordham resigns and when the Leadership naturally tries to scapegoat him, he starts just telling the truth. He warned them about Foley and they did nothing about it.

    Really, it’s beautiful. I really have to hand it to these guys.

  • “Straw Man. Very Clever, better eat some Wheaties.” – ScottW

    Wouldn’t that be canibalism?

    I like the Straw Man too.

  • I’m not usually a big advocate of jock-on-nerd violence.

    But if Heath Shuler wins his House race and joins the NC delegation, I really hope he takes that little shit McHenry into the House commode and gives him the swirlie to end all swirlies.

  • “Straw Man. Very Clever, better eat some Wheaties.” – ScottW

    Wouldn’t that be canibalism? – Lance

    Nah, that would be Shredded Wheat.

    This really has been an amazing, is it six or seven days now? The story is still front page above the fold in the Washington Post. But it has been interesting to watch the Refuglican spin machine work in slow motion. The bumbling and fumbling and finger pointing has taken place in public and now on day five (or six?) they finally get around to blaming the Democrats. Maybe they’re trying to make Pelosi laugh herself to death. Too bad every one knows that the one Dem on the Page Committee was excluded from any conversations about Foley’s “problem.” Too bad they tried to throw Fordham on the fire and now he has nothing better to do than talk. And that footage of Reynolds with his “Jesus loves the little children,” stunt. You can’t make that stuff up. Oh please God one more thing. Just one tiny little thing is all I ask. I want to see the Gestapo’s Orgasm Pogram shatter like an old wine glass.

    tAiO – Another fan of the Straw Man.

  • Today marks Day 7 of the Foleygate-GOP intra-mural food fight and conservative carnival of blame. Tomorrow, hopefully, will mark Day 8–and with any luck we’ll see Week 3. CB, you need to include the day in your headings.

  • Wouldn’t that be canibalism? – Lance

    Nah, that would be Shredded Wheat. -TAIO

    See… some would rather eat their own children than fight the terrists! I rest my case.

  • Stewart, he was good last night. I don’t usually stay up that late but having taken the wife out for a coffee (that is, she got one and I didn’t) I was up at 11:00 and saw the beginning. Just too much fun!

    Stewart/Colbert 2008. Let’s have a real Unity ticket!

  • Watching a crew of self-righteous pricks hoist on their own petard is the most amusing thing I have seen. Period. Even better than Watergate. Their “strong point” (values) has suddenly become the spear stabbing them in their heart (actually, it must be stabbing them somewhere else important, since none of them have one of those).

  • In response to blaming this on the Dems, first BillO has Foley labeled as a Democrat on his TAPED broadcast, and this am, we heard that the AP has mis-labeled Foley as well. Can’t they be fined or something? It’s too blatant to be called subliminal, but it’s just wrong!

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