# Foley Could Backfire on Dems **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 5, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400 "2006-10-05T17:02:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/21 "2006-10-05T19:12:35Z")
Seriously, the only content to the OP is the accusation that Pelosi knowingly supports and marched “with” NAMBLA and that gay people are all perverts in the same way that going after young boys in your employ is. Baseless, pointless. However, the evidence seems to suggest that Christian conservatives aren’t that moved by this scandal so far. I never would have expected that the relevelations of Allen throwing the n word around willy nilly and stuffing severed deer heads in mailboxes would have resulted in his rise in the polls, but that seems to be the case. How voters react to things is often pretty odd, and sometimes what they are actually responding to isn’t the most obvious reaction to the big story in the national news. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/22 "2006-10-05T19:45:30Z")
[Link](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,218043,00.html) Looks like the GOP is worried. Predictions are for a loss of up to 50 seats! And wouldn’t **that** be nice? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/23 "2006-10-05T20:02:49Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Does anyone have a cite for NAMBLA having a float in the Gay Pride Parade? I’m calling bullshit on that. [/QUOTE] Actually in googling “NAMBLA float” it appears that they do have one that’s been in several gay pride parages. Still looking for a pic. to confirm. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/24 "2006-10-05T20:14:19Z")
> [@](#): > > Looks like the GOP is worried. Predictions are for a loss of up to 50 seats! And wouldn’t that be nice? Don’t worry. Dick “Rock-Bottom” Cheney is using every single one of his 16 approval rating points to [back Hastert up](http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/10/5/103005.shtml?s=lh). > [@](#): > > Vice President Dick Cheney insists "it makes no sense” for House Speaker Dennis Hastert to resign over the Mark Foley affair – and said he’s unsure how the scandal will affect Republicans in the midterm elections. > > _\_ > > Cheney rejected predictions that Democrats will take control of Congress in November. > > "We will retain control of both houses,” he declared. > > He also rejected claims that Democrats will triumph if they succeed in cutting the link between the Iraq war and the broader war on terror. > "They are linked,” he told the Examiner. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/25 "2006-10-05T20:24:41Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] You know, I’ve seen spin, and I’ve seen spin. But I’ve never seen spin that could turn this into a problem for Democrats. [/QUOTE] That ain’t stopping the Coach: [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0610050132oct05,1,1331359.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0610050132oct05,1,1331359.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true) > [@](#): > > “I think the base has to realize after a while, who knew about it? Who knew what, when? When the base finds out who’s feeding this monster, they’re not going to be happy. The people who want to see this thing blow up are ABC News and a lot of Democratic operatives, people funded by [liberal activist] George Soros.” > > (Hastert) went on to suggest that operatives aligned with former President Bill Clinton knew about the allegations and were perhaps behind the disclosures in the closing weeks before the Nov. 7 midterm elections, but he offered no hard proof. ---
**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 5, 2006, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/26 "2006-10-05T20:37:22Z")
[QUOTE=astro] Actually in googling “NAMBLA float” it appears that they do have one that’s been in several gay pride parages. Still looking for a pic. to confirm. [/QUOTE] I’m guessing on this recipe: 20 gallons of vanilla ice cream 75 gallons of root beer 1 small cute boy, topped with whipped cream and maraschino cherries. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/27 "2006-10-05T21:05:40Z")
[QUOTE=AskNott] 1 small cute boy, topped with whipped cream and maraschino cherries. [/QUOTE] Sorta [Herb Alpertesquey](http://www.franklarosa.com/vinyl/BigImg/wc.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/28 "2006-10-05T21:06:53Z")
[QUOTE}I think the base has to realize after a while, who knew about it? Who knew what, when? When the base finds out who’s feeding this monster, they’re not going to be happy. The people who want to see this thing blow up are ABC News and a lot of Democratic operatives, people funded by [liberal activist] George Soros." (Hastert) went on to suggest that operatives aligned with former President Bill Clinton knew about the allegations and were perhaps behind the disclosures in the closing weeks before the Nov. 7 midterm elections, but he offered no hard proof. [/QUOTE] So Hastert is claiming that the Democrats knew a Republican Congressman was a potential scandal, but the Republicans didn’t know about it? What kind of defense is that? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/29 "2006-10-05T21:18:39Z")
“Chewbacca is a Wookie…” ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/30 "2006-10-05T21:21:27Z")
It’s a desperate defense to make sure as many of their own base turn out in a bit. They HAVE to know they’re taking a beating in the undecideds with this one so it’s all about base now. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/31 "2006-10-05T21:36:43Z")
[QUOTE=kunilou] What kind of defense is that? [/QUOTE] Very poor, much like the one Hastert used when he said that he might’ve been told about it a year or two ago but doesn’t remember, as if being told one of your guys was cybering with teenagers could POSSIBLY go in one ear and out the other without setting off every last alarm bell and siren in his head. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/32 "2006-10-05T22:10:39Z")
[QUOTE=What the … !!!] Dems, hypocritical as a whole, embrace perverts … see Pelosi marching with NAMBLA and the rest in the gay pride festivities. [/quote] And Dick Cheney hasn’t disowned his lesbian daughter! The shame! (Seriously, WTF kind of argument was _that?_) ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/33 "2006-10-05T22:19:45Z")
[QUOTE=What the … !!!] Pubs deal with individual hypocritical perverts…see Foley. Dems, hypocritical as a whole, embrace perverts … see Pelosi marching with NAMBLA and the rest in the gay pride festivities. Do the Pubs have the balls to fight this fight? Would the evangelicals listen to this argument? [/QUOTE] If you mean, might they try and spin it that way, I realy wouldn’t put that sort of scummyness beyond any current political party. So I expect some thing like “We had one pervert and got rid of him, they do nothing but support perverts. Ra,ra,ra, Gay Marriage is bad because it will make all your children’s teachers into perverts,…” ---
**Author:** ![jshore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/34 "2006-10-06T01:40:48Z")
> [@](#): > > He also rejected claims that Democrats will triumph if they succeed in cutting the link between the Iraq war and the broader war on terror. > "They are linked,” he told the Examiner. [hijack]Well, if he means linked in the sense of “Iraq is becoming a chaotic mess that is a magnet and a breeding ground for terrorists” then I can see his point. See, Cheney makes sense if you know how to interpret what he says![/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/35 "2006-10-06T02:41:13Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Does anyone have a cite for NAMBLA having a float in the Gay Pride Parade? I’m calling bullshit on that. [/QUOTE] I’m guessing that this is the kind of shit that Rush Limbaugh spews on his radio show, and of course the dittoheads swallow it down like the good Kool-Aid drinkers they are. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/36 "2006-10-06T03:42:10Z")
I’ve googled two or three sources that have indicated that NAMBLA is no longer allowed to participate in Gay Pride Parades. They were for several years and caused much dissent among the ranks. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/37 "2006-10-06T09:48:37Z")
Unfortunately, I happened to hear Pat Robertson saying Hilary Clinton and Rudy Giulani were as bad as Mark Foley because they marched in gay pride parades in which NAMBLA participated. I was doing other things at the time, so I don’t know the name of the show, but it’s the one which followed Keith Olberman, I assume on CNN. Of course, if this is intended to be an attack on Democrats, I don’t know how brining in Rudy Giulani helps unless the argument is “No one is innocent.” ---
**Author:** ![FRDE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e68b1a/32.png) [@FRDE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FRDE)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/38 "2006-10-06T10:28:40Z")
Surely, if the USA is anything like the UK, all political parties know the dirt on each other, and the Press is well informed. The only interesting thing about such ‘revelations’ is the timing - it is a bit like tit for tat expulsion of dubious diplomats I anticipate a Democrat scandal, or a hint that Foley was about to become a serious liability. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/39 "2006-10-06T10:32:39Z")
[QUOTE=FRDE] Surely, if the USA is anything like the UK, all political parties know the dirt on each other, and the Press is well informed. The only interesting thing about such ‘revelations’ is the timing - it is a bit like tit for tat expulsion of dubious diplomats I anticipate a Democrat scandal, or a hint that Foley was about to become a serious liability. [/QUOTE] And in the UK it is one thing knowing something and another to avoid being totally screwed over by our very strict Libel Laws if you don’t have total, rock solid proof. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/40 "2006-10-06T11:31:44Z")
[QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness] No doubt they’ll try, but I think it’ll fail. [/QUOTE] It’s already working to keep the base onside. The TV talking heads have already started babbling about Bill Clinton and that Democrat congressman who did something back in 1983, and sure enough, **Scylla** started dutifully parroting the same nonsense just yesterday. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400.md?page=3)