If the page program survives the current scandal, those in charge of it might want to hire Betsy Newmark as a consultant. Drudge has a breaking story up now about the Foley IM scandal that Betsy Newmark predicted less than 48 hours ago. Here is the Drudge story:
According to two people close to former congressional page Jordan Edmund, the now famous lurid AOL Instant Message exchanges that led to the resignation of Mark Foley were part of an online prank that by mistake got into the hands of enemy political operatives, the DRUDGE REPORT can reveal.
According to one Oklahoma source who knows the former page very well, Edmund, a conservative Republican, goaded an unwitting Foley to type embarrassing comments that were then shared with a small group of young Hill politicos. The prank went awry when the saved IM sessions got into the hands of political operatives favorable to Democrats.
The primary source, an ally of Edmund, adamantly proclaims that the former page is not a homosexual. The prank scenario was confirmed by a second associate of Edmund. Both are fearful that their political careers will be affected if they are publicly brought into the matter.
The prank scenario only applies to the Edmund IM sessions and does not necessarily apply to any other exchanges between the former congressman and others.
The news come on the heels that Edmund has hired former Timothy McVeigh attorney, Stephen Jones.In a Conservatives With Attitude podcast panel discussion Tuesday night, Betsy predicted as much. I don’t have a transcript of her comments, but she talked about the possibility that the IM exchanges might have been the result of a small group of teenagers sitting in front of the computer laughing about the things they could get a congressman to say. She did not, in any way, use the possible scenario to excuse the behavior of Foley. She is a high school teacher and from experience could not help but consider the possibility. I agreed with her that the scenario seemed plausible, but never dreamed we would ever know even if it was true. I don’t know whether or not Drudge’s story will be confirmed. Even if it is it does not excuse what Foley did, but it certainly does feed the suspicions of many that some political dirty tricks were involved.
Update: Good roundup of reaction and commentary at Stop The ACLU.
Update II: ABC has released information of Mark Foley’s discussions with three additional pages that is even more disgusting than the earlier reports. Whether or not the page whose IM messages were released earlier was playing a prank, the three additional pages assure ABC that Foley’s interactions with them were no prank.
I will repeat here what I have said (and every other Republican I have heard so far has said) — Foley is a disgusting, creepy guy who should have resigned and should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and should be subjected to personal and professional shame and shunning. No “put a little ice on that” and it will be all better, no calling his actions “reprehensible” today and then later on saying that his behavior is horrible but does not “rise to the level” of punishment. He should pay for what he has done and he should never be in a position to harass another page, or child for that matter, ever again. Thank goodness he resigned in disgrace and will be fully investigated.
Some on the right think it should not be pointed out that Democrats are trying to use a horrible situation to paint all Republicans as either child molesters or child molester defenders, I think it is entirely appropriate to call Democrats on their dispicable behavior, but frankly, if they continue, it won’t be necessary to do it. It will become evident to most that Democrat leaders desperate to regain power are practicing political opportunism of the worst kind. This is how a party seeks to win when they have no agenda to run on.
Update III: Hugh Hewitt thinks Democrats, especially Patty Wetterling, have overplayed their hand.
Update IV: Mary Katharine has a great roundup and commentary.
Rob, why is it the “NORM” and not the norm? Are you making some weird Cheers reference?
FYI: Soros is behind that, too.
Dear Lord I am so tired of this story. It’s a frickin tempest in a teapot, a la the “Plame Affair.”
Faux issues for a faux world.
I wonder if anyone would notice if N. Korea blew a nuke, or Iran declared it’s first nuke had cleared production.
So much time wasted that could be better spent on more important, and worthy, things. Sheesh.
Did it ever occur to you that Foley may have been a covert CIA operative. Maybe you blew his cover.
Oh, sorry. Wrong Faux Scandal.
The grasping was in Florida, no that is an employee (not Foley) of the democratic party of Florida and the girls were 14 and 15 and the teacher was a male. Fired, now employeed by the rightous democrats. I guess it’s different with a teen female, the season is always open on them for the voltures even if the actions are almost exactly like Foleys. Story and links at Michele Malkin’s blog. When you open a can of worms expect to get some dirt on you. Expect dozens of democrats to be outed before the weekend is over. Tit for Tat and the old folks say. Hang Foley and then get after the rest.
Lorie:
I completely agree with you about predators and children. In my view I think 18 is too young even. Democrat, Republican, whatever. Anyone who crosses that line should be condemned.
As far as the Foley issue and politicians are concerned. Anyone, Democrat or Republican, who withheld information or waited or tried to cover up should be condemned and thrown out on his or her ass.
Clinton had consequences and should have for the lie. The sex was with a 22 yo adult. I defended him against impeachment but he lost his law license which he should have and was subject to incredible public scorn, humiliation and embarrassment. Some on the right think that wasn’t enough. That’s OK, that’s their opinion. But if anyone thinks there were no consequences to him you’re denying reality.
Lori
You can wrap yourself in the mantle of virtue all you want. The fact remains that the House Republican leadership is busy pointing fingers at each other, because they know they screwed up. The goal of the Republicans, just as with the Abramoff scandal, is to make the public think “everyone does it,” to deflect from the fact that this scandal is all about the Republican leadership. Foley was a member of the Republican caucus. The Republicans run the House. Trying to claim that the Democrats had equal responsibility to deal with him is a smokescreen, especially since we have Republican leaders stating definitively that other leaders were informed (and Democrats were intentionally kept out of the loop), as opposed to blogger speculation about which Democrats knew. Yet you choose to focusd on the speculation rather than the facts, approaching this as though it’s more important to talk about what the Democrats knew. Lost in the repeated mentions of Pelosi’s name is any factual evidence that she knew anything. Your whole attack is based on zero evidence. “She must have known” is hardly a convincing argument.
And please stop patting yourselves on the back about Foley. I don’t doubt that you condemn him, as do most Republicans. It’s hardly a daring stance. I’m sure you’re brave enough to condemn Osama bin Laden, while you’re at it. You go girl!
The fact remains that the Republicans did nothing about Foley until the press came knocking. As soon as this scandal broke, the Republican response was “We think the most important thing is to go back and talk about 1983.” Yeah, real responsible. I hear from the Republicans that they step up and take responsibility, but I see them trying to deflect the blame onto Democrats, lower level staffers and everyone but the people in charge. That may be taking repsonsibility in your little echo chamber, but the American people know better, and the polls are reflecting that.
Here’s a perfect example of the approach the Republicans are taking: Kirktoe said “I actually hope that the Dem’s start circulating these names of gay Republicans.” He conveniently ignores the fact that it is Republicans who have drawn up and are circulating such a list, in order to place blame for the whole thing on a cabal of gay staffers. Very admirable. Yet kirktoe’s reflexive response is to yell “Democrats.”
Face it, there is no credible evidence linking Democrats to any of this. Demanding that Pelosi take a lie detector test is just more obfuscation. And crying about the timing of these revelations is really pathetic. I supose the press should just declare a moratorium on doing any reporting after September 1st, so as not to confuse the voters with actual facts. George Bush shamefully politicized the 9/11 memorial services, and Democrats were outraged. But complaining about it has no effect, because the public doesn’t want to hear about it. And just like in that situation, when you are reduced to complaining about the timing of the story, rather than the facts of the story, stick a fork in it. You’re done.
And by the way, I know you’re used to preaching to the choir, but perhaps you could state what the lies are in Wetterling’s ad, rather than just throwing out the accusation.
Right, Chris…all the Rethuglicans knew all about it, but none of the Dems did…
If anyone, from either party, knew half of what has been revealed and subsequently did nothing, they’re as sleazy as Foley.
Not that I particularly give a tinker’s damn about drawing Clinton’s escapades into the fray, but both his indiscretions and Foley’s perversions do have a common thread–abuse of power and position. To deny that similarity is disingenuous at best.
The fact, undeniably supported through the past few decades of history, remains that when a Republican is involved in a scandal, he typically resignes his post promptly, if not vacating his Congressional seat as well. When a Democrat gets caught with his hand in the cookie jar (or anywhere else, for that matter), the Party supports his decision to “ride out” the investigation.
The other salient difference is within the way that the two parties deal with scandal in the opposition’s camp. The Republicans typically are silent for the most part, calling for resignation of the guilty party and an investigation at most. Democrats start calling for the resignation of every elected Republican official, lacking regard as to whether the official is connected to the scandal.
While there may be an exception or two you may cite that doesn’t align with the above assertations, there are precious few aberrations from either party’s “standard operating procedure” when a member of Congress is disgraced.
according to hastert(via Newsmax interview) the DCCC waited till the last day after Foley could get his name removed from ballot to drop this hitjob…