# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/41 "2006-10-06T11:45:08Z")
[QUOTE=Siege] 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.” [/QUOTE] Keith Olbermann’s Countdown show is on MSNBC. It is followed by Joe Scarborough’s Scarborough Country program. ---
**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, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/42 "2006-10-06T11:54:45Z")
Thanks. Come to think of it, I did hear the show called _Scarborough Country_. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/43 "2006-10-06T12:00:20Z")
I must lead a sheltered life. I had never heard of NAMBLA, so I looked it up. Eeewwwww. I would be amazed if any prominent Democrat embraced such a group. I don’t know why the right is so worried about Pelosi. I think after a year of her as Speaker, everyone is going to wonder what they were so afraid of. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/44 "2006-10-06T12:12:59Z")
OK, I think the OP is lacking in many ways, but I do think that there’s a bit too much crowing on the Dem side about this Foley matter, and I worry about some other shoe dropping and it being all for naught. And believe me, the GOP is looking for shoes to drop on Dems, desperately. I am not confident they won’t find something, however nebulous. So, personally, I wouldn’t be wagging my yellow-dog ass in any Pubbies face just yet. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/45 "2006-10-06T12:29:40Z")
Not making any attempt to debate the facts of the matter or the history of how the parties deal w/ “perverts”… see the other six page thread. There are plenty of spinnable issues: Studds/Clinton vs Livingstone/Foley E-mails vs IMs… who really knew what/when Dems/media…do they care about the kids or an October surprise? If what he did is so wrong lets root it out instead of wait until October of every even numbered year… turn over all your emails and ims you staffers and reps of both parties. As for Pelosi/NAMBLA … that’s just a placeholder for any one of a number of ways to attempt to tie Dems to the Christian Right’s idea of perversion. I’ll answer my own question: Does Hastert/Pubs have the balls…if history is a factor then definately not, but this could be different Would the Christian Right buy it… don’t know, I’m not one. ---
**Author:** ![aegypt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@aegypt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aegypt)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/46 "2006-10-06T12:35:22Z")
I just want to register my distaste to equating everybody who’s gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered to perverts who rape children. I’m bisexual and have many friends who are exclusively gay. None of us have ever had any desire to sexually molest children. Most of us are surprisingly boring and ordinary people, who happen to enjoy having consensual sex with adults of the same gender. I also note that the OP goes one step further than this and suggests that anybody who is a supporter of gay rights (such as Pelosi) automatically thinks child abuse is fine and dandy. Then he takes the additional step of equating the entire Democratic party with “hypocrites who embrace perverts”. Fine reasoning, indeed. Thirdly, I’m appalled at whoever allowed an organization of child molesters to march in a gay pride event, as pedophilia has nothing whatsoever to do with homosexuality. However, I note that it might be hard to prevent groups like that from showing up and that there might be some practical difficulties in getting rid of them if they do. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/47 "2006-10-06T15:31:01Z")
[QUOTE=What the … !!!] Not making any attempt to debate the facts of the matter or the history of how the parties deal w/ “perverts”… see the other six page thread. [/quote] 😕 [QUOTE=What the … !!!] There are plenty of spinnable issues: Studds/Clinton vs Livingstone/Foley [/quote] 😕 Studds? Livingstone? [QUOTE=What the … !!!] E-mails vs IMs… who really knew what/when [/quote] I think that’s already been established. [QUOTE=What the … !!!] Dems/media…do they care about the kids or an October surprise? [/quote] Hastert’s been talking like that but so far it looks like desperate, pathetic flailing, nothing more. [QUOTE=What the … !!!] If what he did is so wrong lets root it out instead of wait until October of every even numbered year… turn over all your emails and ims you staffers and reps of both parties. [/quote] Who would enforce that? On the evidence, the Ethics Committee (no matter which party controls it) can’t be trusted with that responsibility. To be effective it would have to be in the hands of somebody **outside** of Congress . . . and considering the way both parties in Congress closed ranks over the [Jefferson](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=372849) business . . . [QUOTE=What the … !!!] Does Hastert/Pubs have the balls…if history is a factor then definately not, but this could be different [/QUOTE] On the evidence, they **have** the balls to try to use it, but lack the brains to stay away from it. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/48 "2006-10-06T15:53:04Z")
[QUOTE=What the … !!!] Does Hastert/Pubs have the balls… [/QUOTE] We don’t know if they have them, but evidently they like them. Alot. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/49 "2006-10-06T16:29:47Z")
Pelosi going nto a gay pride parade is not news. A republican going would be. Tolerance and acceptance occurs in the Dems. The repubs hide their gays. Sometimes they dont stay hidden. When found out they show no forgiveness or understanding. Kill them all and blame the dems. Repression and power work so well. No discussiuon on how convenient the dry out clinic was. To be able to dissappear until the election is over is too convenient.I have read no indications thjat he had a drinking problem. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/50 "2006-10-06T16:57:11Z")
[QUOTE=Apos] 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. [/QUOTE] Actually, [Webb is gaining ground.](http://www.thenation.com/doc/20061023/moser) ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/51 "2006-10-06T18:11:56Z")
To answer the OP’s title: even if I were the staunchest Dem I wouldn’t want to even take the _chance_ that Foley would be able to backfire on me 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/52 "2006-10-06T19:17:46Z")
[QUOTE=Siege] 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. [/quote] This is the same Pat “Man of God” Robertson who advocated assassinating the President of Venezuela, right? Now _there’s_ an example of level-headed lucid thinking for ya. :rolleyes: > [@BobLibDem](#): > > I don’t know why the right is so worried about Pelosi. It’s the same fears they have with Hillary Clinton – that she’s (a) female, (b) competent, (c) liberal (or at least non-right-wing-nuts) and (d) will kick their asses if given half a chance. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/53 "2006-10-06T22:21:00Z")
They’d demonize \*any \* Democrat in a leadership position. Shrug it off; it’s merely shoring up their base. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/54 "2006-10-06T22:23:16Z")
[QUOTE=BobLibDem] I had never heard of NAMBLA, so I looked it up. Eeewwwww. I would be amazed if any prominent Democrat embraced such a group. [/QUOTE] Does it actually even _exist_, as an actual cohesive group with a membership that couldn’t fit into a booth at McDonald’s? Seriously? Or is it just another bogeyman trotted out any time there’s a need to smear “liberals”? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/55 "2006-10-06T22:34:54Z")
[Based on what you know right now, do you think Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert should remain in his position as Speaker of the…](http://www.surveyusa.com/breaking.aspx) Remain Speaker 27% Resign Leadership 20% Resign from Congress 43% Don’t know 10% With 63% already wanting Hastert gone, I don’t see much room for blowback on the Dems. People have made up their minds. The [resignation of a ‘special assistant to President Bush’](http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/4241424.html) over the Abramoff scandal will make any sort of pushback still harder for Hastert and friends. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/56 "2006-10-06T22:40:39Z")
[QUOTE=ElvisL1ves] … it’s merely shoring up their base. [/QUOTE] Is that a neo-euphemism, like “overly friendly”? ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/57 "2006-10-06T22:54:32Z")
[QUOTE=What the … !!!] Dems/media…do they care about the kids or an October surprise? [/QUOTE] This one ain’t hard to rebut: do the Republicans care about the children _at all?_ The Republicans had a chance to reveal this a year ago, when it would do the least damage. But they _didn’t_, knowing children would continue to be in danger. They wouldn’t have released it at all, if they could’ve got away with it. Their decision was probably, “Can we get him re-elected and _then_ drop him?” All the Democrats have to do is stick to the “why didn’t the Republicans think of the children?” line and there’s not much the Republicans can rebut that with. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/58 "2006-10-06T23:02:54Z")
Not all the Republicans. Those who can prove that they never heard anything at all about it should be spared, the rest, straight into the woodchipper. Fair and unbalanced, that’s me. ---
**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 6, 2006, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/59 "2006-10-06T23:10:38Z")
I think the only fair test here would be dunking. We put the Republicans on the dunking school and ask them what they know about the Foley scandal. Then we dunk them under the water until they confess. I guess waterboarding would also work. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400/60 "2006-10-06T23:34:50Z")
[QUOTE=Evil Captor] I guess waterboarding would also work. [/QUOTE] Careful, [that’s 15 years hard labor](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/04/AR2006100402005_pf.html) unless the Republicans approve it! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foley-could-backfire-on-dems/375400.md?page=4)