Your author has received a few emails asking what his opinion is on the recent Rep. Mark Foley scandal.
First let us analyze what actually happened. Foley has been accused of sending a lurid instant message exchange to a former Congress page. Foley has since resigned and gone into hiding by admitting himself for alcoholism rehabilitation. As I type the Drudge Report, which has gotten it right more than wrong, has indicated that the exchange may have been with an adult of the lawful age of 18. The second point that Drudge indicates is that it may all be a prank. Your author admits it would be a splendid event if Drudge’s accusations were proven to be fact. It isn’t so much that he supports Foley or his work in Congress but rather it would once again pop the balloon for the out of control Democrats.
Whether the circumstantial evidence levied against Foley is true or not, the Democrats have been circling like blood thirsty sharks. True, whether or not the former page is a minor or of age, the actions of Foley are intolerable. They are intolerable because it violates several ethical standards that one would wish to be imposed on and practiced by elected officials. However the way in which the Democrats are riding this in as a form of a coupe de grace on the November 2006 elections is indeed sad as well.
The Democrats better check their own closet. It was 2:45 AM May 4, 2006 and Democrat Rep. from Rhode Island Patrick Kennedy, son of the infamous Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy, had just rammed his Ford Mustang into a barricade on Capitol Hill. The Rhode Island Congressman was out of it, three sheets to the wind or just plan blitz. Kennedy must have been startled and then told officers at the scene that he was late for a crucial vote. He would later claim to be under the influence of sleeping pills.
Kennedy, who in 2003 was criticized for remarking that he ‘had never worked a (expletive) day in his life’, was then driven home. There was no mug shot, no fingerprints taken, no handcuffs and no formal arrest. This all despite that eye witnesses from a nearby bar that had clearly seen Kennedy drinking. He quickly checked himself into the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for drug rehabilitation. In the end he pled guilty to driving under the influence of a prescription, paid a fine of $350 and received one year probation. What was even stranger, besides the eerily familiar ring from his father’s Chappaquiddick page, was the court ordered portion of his probation. Kennedy adamantly denied he was drinking, however he agreed to weekly urine tests, daily Alcoholic Anonymous meeting and a weekly meeting of recovering addicts. One must wonder how he will be able to oversee the business of Rhode Island in between all of those meetings.
It is quite apparent that Kennedy is unfit for his job or do the folks of Rhode Island just not care? Where was the media in all of this fiasco? Did they even question Kennedy’s ability? No, in fact Kennedy would later stand before a televised audience and proclaim he was battling addiction just like many fellow Americans. In other words he took his own weaknesses and sickness, spun it to fit the common man when in fact his background indicates he has nothing in common with the average American. What is even more astonishing is that the Rhode Island Democrat Pasty has endorsed this spoiled snot nosed punk in his next reelection bid.
And now the media calls for the head of Republican Representative Denny Hastert on allegations that he knew of Foley’s actions but did nothing. Once again these are allegations and have not been proven. The media is all but demanding the entire Republican leadership in the House be brought to the chopping block. Yet they still claim to be fair and balanced? Your author must remind himself this is the same media that debated the seriousness and degrees of lying as it related to then President Bill Clinton and the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Once again poor ethics or a lack of, somehow not being addressed and the media machine contemplates the severity of such actions. Never mind the fact that Clinton supporters chanted the mantra of a ‘vast right wing conspiracy’ coupled with such phrases as a ‘Republican witch-hunt’ all the while Clinton would proceed to embarrass his wife and daughter in front of the entire nation, while he continued to lie about the matter.
Your author in no way supports Foley although he did quickly resign and not decide to try to fight it out. He did, like so many others, decide to throw bits out suggesting he was molested and suffers from alcoholism. The Republicans have cut ties and he has since slinked off to some cave, which is the appropriate action at this juncture. Meanwhile the Democrats on the other hand are calling for heads where they may be no smoke, much less a fire.
On another note
Your author has often compared friendship, true friendship, to being a rubber band. One can pull on it, stretch it and it never breaks unless certain events justify such action. Your author felt as if he compiled a list of the true societal cretins that walk among us, ones that would be capable of breaking the friendship band. These include terrorists belonging to the peace loving religion known as Islam, pedophiles, rapists and ones who rob the elderly or handicapped. Well your author now throws those who murder Amish in the pile.
Your author was saddened to see the acts perpetrated by Charles C. Roberts IV earlier this week. All of you know what he did- he armed himself with guns and personal lubricant (the latter detail the press felt announcing), blasting his way through an all girl school house located in the Amish community of West Nickel Mines, PA. Roberts did not rape any of the girls, all of whom were under the age of 14 and later took his own life. Before his suicide Roberts contacted his wife and stated that twenty years prior he had molested several female relatives. He blamed this compulsion, one he claimed to have previously engaged in, as the reason for such a heinous act. It has since been proven that Roberts’, who was described as an ideal husband and father, claims were false. In the tradition of the Amish, a genuine example of people who practice a peaceful faith, Roberts’ parents have since been forgiven by their church and both parties have openly expressed their remorse over the entire incident.
The Amish shun the modern world. They typically do not use electricity, grow their own crops, wear plain clothes that are often homemade and practice turning the other cheek. Obviously they don’t bother with TV news and don’t recognize the role of the big media machine. They are genuine with their lifestyle and faith, walking the walk. With that being said has the big media machine been respectful of them, especially in their time of mourning? No. The media has been providing details before and during the funerals for the victims, describing the funeral procession and words being spoken. Has anyone asked the Amish if they welcomed such attention? No.
And there you have it-the big media machine spinning out of control, allowing others a pass, calling for the jobs of elected representatives despite the evidence not fully known and disrespectful of an entire community's faith.
