The Hap-Hastert Treatment of Foleygate
The Mark Foley scandal has woken up more republicans to the fact that, like Ronald Reagan said "I didn't leave my party, it left me." On one side, we see principled republican conservatives and other GOPers properly calling for this matter to be properly investigated, for leaders to voluntarily relinquish their posts and returning campain contributions from the disgraced congressman.
On the other hand, the Bush loyalists are desperately screaming for someone to "blame the democrats" and what about the media? All desperate pleas that are not only not working with the GOP as a whole, but really turning them off. the neocons continue, led by their talking head pundits, not seeing that they are just dead wrong here.
Dick Cheney once stood up in front of the nation and declared "They will offer more lectures, and legalisms, and carefully worded denials. We offer another way, a better way, and a stiff dose of truth." The convention exploded and George Bush overcame a 10+ point deficit to eventually have the Presidency awarded to him after the infamous recounts. Cheney was referring to the Clinton - Leweinski scandal mostly. And Americans, even the 1/2 of the country that didn't vote for Bush, admired that statement. When 9/11 happened, it was that statement that helped people quickly overcome their "they stole the election" mantra and gave the president a vote of confidence to go get the terrorists. Indeed, President Bush obtained 90% approval ratings after the devistating attacks. People who didn't like the policies of the new administration gave them a "thumbs up" mostly because, despite policy differences, they trusted the honesty and straightforwardness of this president. even people who thought Clinton was railroaded by the GOP were sick of the washington double speak that had been like a cancer.
Most of those people gave the administration and the neoconservatives who were leading the charge the benefit of the doubt up thru the 2004 election, trusting that the president who endorsed "staying the course" must be right, despite the images on TV, because we know that despite anthing else, they are conservatives, they are religious, they must be honest. they remembered that the administration promised that aside from anything else, they would always offer "a stiff dose of truth."
Now, the Foley scandal has brought a whole new light into that. While some are searching for the truth, the neoconservative hatewagon has been screaming harder every day "what about those democrats, they are evil, remember? it MUST be their fault!" And trying to shift the conversation to talking about 23 year old incidents as if they are germaine to protecting our children today. While the pundits have been trying to get people to hate the media for allegedly (totally unfounded and backed up charges) sitting on the story, they are forgetting something that was learned during the Lewinski scandal.
Americans want to know what's going on. they want a stiff dose of truth. In 1998, everyone was tuning in to find out what Bill said, what Bill did, etc...regardless of if they felt it was a crime. Regardless if it was led by the right. We wanted to know.
In the Foley / Hastert scandal, the neoconservatives arguments are falling on deaf ears. the public could care less who broke the story and their political party. What they know is that their "family values" party knew of this, at least enough to send up red flags, and did nothing. They are offering "lectures, legalisms and carefully worded denials." Americans expected truth. And for most, this is beyond legal ages of consent. If someone doesn't think that sex with a 16 year old by someone old enough to not only know better, but to be their GRANDFATHER isn't disgusting, they are in a severe minority. If someone doesn't think that is child abuse, regardless of consentual ages, go beat up your 16 year old son or daughter and see what you get arrested for. Think it will be assault? No, try child abuse. Social services will be visiting as well.
Neoconservatives want you to think "Jerry Studds" when thinking about Mark Foley, but ironically don't mention the other guy who was censured by the congress, Rep Mark Crane, republican from Illinois. Mark also refused to resign and it was only because he was beaten by a democrat, Paul Simon, that he relinquished his seat.
What will happen next might be interesting. Will we see the more moderate wings and true conservative wings of the GOP take back the leadership within the party? Or will we see the continuations of the Administration and their pundits " lectures, and legalisms, and carefully worded denials?" And will those other wings of the party begin to form a new party? Many have speculated about a new party taking over. many have predicted the demise of the democratic party, and that may very well happen someday. Could a new party come out of this scandal? A centrist, economically conservative, non evangelical based party? Hmmmmm....might be interesting come 2008.
Most americans won't pick apart the NIE report for their favorite phrase. They knew already that the war is creating more terrorists than it is eliminating. They know Iraq is the central recruiting advertisement for Jihad. But there was always that "we can't question the war, it would show weakness,,,don't wanna embolden any terrorists" as if they weren't bolder than hell already...."must be that left wing media again, not reporting the good stuff."
Most americans won't read Woodward's book, or even know of it. But they know that this administration has not been nearly as honest as they have claimed to be or should be. Still, there is a little voice in many of their heads that say, "we can't lose, we're americans...just be quiet or they will know we're losing in Iraq." I think for the Iraqis, it is painfully obvious on a daily basis who is winning and losing. the only ones who are being kept in the dark are the american people. the same ones that were duped into going in the 1st place. But some shut up, because they are patriotic, and that is serving their patriotism well.
But in this, it is not partisan, it is not about legalisms and technicalities. Minors are being hit on by congressmen. And most americans could care less who told them, because this is something they feel, they should have known about. The neocons are getting a stiff dose of truth, not from democrats or the media, but from the people who put their trust in them to lead, only to learn that corruption and power clenching has made Cheney's words a lie. And Reagan's words almost prophetic.