# "Dennis Hastert didn't kill anybody" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 11, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hastert-didnt-kill-anybody/376065 "2006-10-11T15:49:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hastert-didnt-kill-anybody/376065/1 "2006-10-11T15:49:01Z")
Well there is that I suppose [“Shays Hits Hard In Page Scandal Invokes Chappaquiddick In Rebuking Farrell”](http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-foley1011.artoct11,0,4392221.story?coll=hc-headlines-politics) > [@](#): > > WASHINGTON – When the congressional page scandal broke last month, Democrats across the country saw a chance to lambaste Republican leadership - including Diane Farrell, who called on House Speaker Dennis Hastert to step down. > > But when Sen. Edward M. Kennedy came to Connecticut last week to help her campaign, Rep. Christopher Shays hit back. > > “I know the speaker didn’t go over a bridge and leave a young person in the water, and then have a press conference the next day,” said Shays, R-4th District, referring to the 1969 incident in which the Massachusetts Democrat drove a car that plunged into the water and a young campaign worker died. > > “Dennis Hastert didn’t kill anybody,” he added. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hastert-didnt-kill-anybody/376065/2 "2006-10-11T15:58:37Z")
Kind of like being an unindicted co-conspirator. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hastert-didnt-kill-anybody/376065/3 "2006-10-11T16:10:19Z")
Does Chappaquiddick still really carry any sting against Kennedy? Yes, it was reprehensible, but it was 37 years ago already. Bad attempt at a dodge says I. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hastert-didnt-kill-anybody/376065/4 "2006-10-11T16:11:35Z")
If Hastert had held a press conference the next day after learning of Foley, then we wouldn’t be complaining, now would we? I immediately sort anyone who brings up Chappaquiddick into the idiot pile. It was 1969. It wasn’t covered up. The voters know but obviously don’t care. And it’s arguable how much the incident reflects on his political career anyway. He’s a senator, not a chauffeur. If you live in MA don’t vote for the guy, but stop beating the tu quoque drums. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hastert-didnt-kill-anybody/376065/5 "2006-10-11T16:34:20Z")
Oh, I raped a grandma and tortured her puppies. But I didn’t kill anybody. You see. It’s all about _degrees_. If you didn’t kill anyone, you are A-okay! ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hastert-didnt-kill-anybody/376065/6 "2006-10-11T16:50:37Z")
Right, how long before Godwin’s Law works its way in here? ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hastert-didnt-kill-anybody/376065/7 "2006-10-11T17:12:16Z")
‘Dennis Hastert didn’t kill anybody.’ Well he didn’t vote to invade Iraq either. Oh, wait - he did! ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hastert-didnt-kill-anybody/376065/8 "2006-10-11T17:19:44Z")
[QUOTE=glee] ‘Dennis Hastert didn’t kill anybody.’ Well he didn’t vote to invade Iraq either. Oh, wait - he did! [/QUOTE] So, in a very real sense, he did acquiesce in the murder of thousands! Because he supported the Bush pogram … er, program … And pedophilia is apparently A OK with Hastert, too. What a swell guy! ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hastert-didnt-kill-anybody/376065/9 "2006-10-11T17:25:58Z")
\ You know, I’m a GQ mod. But this is so far into the GD realm that I simply cannot help myself. Sorry, MPSIMS Mods, but I was here and had to do something. Moved to _Great Debates_. \ ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hastert-didnt-kill-anybody/376065/10 "2006-10-11T17:33:58Z")
What? The line was too long at the **Pit**? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hastert-didnt-kill-anybody/376065/11 "2006-10-11T19:33:27Z")
[QUOTE=Menocchio] It was 1969. It wasn’t covered up. The voters know but obviously don’t care. And it’s arguable how much the incident reflects on his political career anyway. He’s a senator, not a chauffeur. If you live in MA don’t vote for the guy, but stop beating the tu quoque drums. [/QUOTE] Shays probably wants Republicans to hear him and doesn’t care much about the Democrats. It might make them feel better about themselves, although I kind of doubt it. I agree that it’s pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hastert-didnt-kill-anybody/376065/12 "2006-10-11T19:56:46Z")
**"Dennis Hastert didn’t kill anybody," he added.** Ya know, if that’s the strongest endorsement you can give, it might be time to look for another candidate… ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hastert-didnt-kill-anybody/376065/13 "2006-10-11T20:02:05Z")
[QUOTE=tomndebb] What? The line was too long at the **Pit**? [/QUOTE] Exactly. What is the debate? ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hastert-didnt-kill-anybody/376065/14 "2006-10-11T20:15:37Z")
Two things… If Sen. Kennedy had been tried and convicted in 1969, he would have served 6 or 8 years at the most for negligent homicide (probably half of that for not getting in trouble while in prison.) Isn’t 37 years of being dragged through the mud enough? To quote from president George W. Bush (in reference to his cocaine use, DUI, and being AWOL during wartime,) “That’s ancient history! We’re not gonna play gotcha.” ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hastert-didnt-kill-anybody/376065/15 "2006-10-11T20:23:24Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Exactly. What is the debate? [/QUOTE] Have patience, **John Mace.** Surely, any minute, somebody will post to defend Rep. Christopher Shays. Lots of people voted to send him to Washington; somebody must agree with him. Give it time. We’re less than 20 posts in. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hastert-didnt-kill-anybody/376065/16 "2006-10-11T20:30:23Z")
Laura Bush killed someone, and we’ve managed to forgive her. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hastert-didnt-kill-anybody/376065/17 "2006-10-11T21:44:23Z")
[QUOTE=AskNott] If Sen. Kennedy had been tried and convicted in 1969, he would have served 6 or 8 years at the most for negligent homicide (probably half of that for not getting in trouble while in prison.) Isn’t 37 years of being dragged through the mud enough? [/quote] He plead guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and received a two-month jail sentence. You could argue that it’s not enough, because he avoided responsibility for the whole thing by not serving time for something more serious and because a number of his actions were questionable. I won’t make that argument, but I don’t care one way or the other. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hastert-didnt-kill-anybody/376065/18 "2006-10-11T21:45:51Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] He plead guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and received a two-month jail sentence. [/QUOTE] …which, I meant to say, was suspended. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hastert-didnt-kill-anybody/376065/19 "2006-10-11T21:58:23Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] Laura Bush killed someone, and we’ve managed to forgive her. [/QUOTE] Wasn’t that Clinton’s fault? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hastert-didnt-kill-anybody/376065/20 "2006-10-11T22:08:37Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Exactly. What is the debate? [/QUOTE] Was Mr. Shays born stupid, or was he simply dropped one too many times as a toddler? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hastert-didnt-kill-anybody/376065.md?page=2)