Scandal Control

Under normal circumstances, I'd not comment on the Foley, Congressional Page scandal as the newspapers are full of the details. What has gotten me about it, more than that an adult male (or female these days) would use their position to seduce teen-agers, is the reaction from Republicans-- the scandal control operation put immediately into place. Not to say Foley was right in what he did. He's disgusting, but it's what people who weren't perverts (supposedly anyway) did about it both before it came out and continuing.

First came the Republican expressions of horror that Foley would do such a thing. One of their own. Oh my! Then came the information that some of them knew about it. Uh oh... can't stay with the original dodge-- so it was the fault of the Democrats. They probably knew about it and held back until right before the election. Never mind that these boys came from Republican families as whoever wants to let facts get in the way when trying to bury a scandal.

Next I am hearing-- well look at all the Democrats who have done the same thing as Foley or worse. That was quickly combined with who else can keep the American people safe but Republicans? Only they will hold the line and win the war in Iraq. That last was evidently Speaker Hastert who quickly got himself onto Rush Limbaugh-- two soft-living, old men who never fought a war anywhere, but we are supposed to believe men like them are the reason we can win the war in Iraq. Amazing. They might be why we got into it without thinking it through but win it? Ack!

In my many years, I have seen scandals from both parties and fully understand that among all politicians are those who lead secret lives. Power corrupts, and too many in power do whatever they can get away with. They lose track of what is even moral as they espouse how good they are with words and forget those same words when it comes to their personal actions.

But the difference in parties is Republicans are the ones claiming to be God's party, the ones who are the righteous, religious and moral bunch. They claim, as Foley did before he was outed, that they will protect Americans from perverts. They are the heroes; like Cunningham was before he was caught in a web of corruption that sent him to jail.

It's not been determined that Foley committed any crimes yet, although evidently he himself helped write laws making it illegal to use the internet to seduce minors. Is that ironic or what!

Foley has now checked into an alcohol rehab center. I guess that is one way to avoid answering questions, but does anybody really believe the man did what he did because of alcohol? Oh and his lawyer says he is gay and oh yes was also molested as a youth. Furthermore, he's innocent because he was unsuccessful in his seduction attempts.

In comparison to the evil of the man who just killed the little girls in Pennsylvania, this is nothing, but it's how our political system reacts to it that makes it something.

To me, the basic lesson is don't believe what any politician says about himself. Because the guy claims he's moral is no reason to vote for him because too often those running on supposed character quality have no clue what it even is.

(No pictures for this one as it's one of those just came up topics and besides what kind of picture would be appropriate? I sure can't think of any uplifting side to it.)

(Updated: In comments, Dick suggested outhouses would be good photos for blogs like this one about scandals. I realized that I actually had such photos as I have photographed more than a few when I see one that is in an interesting area or different. This one is in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana. Anyway, from now on, whenever the topic is suitable, this will be the picture.)