Townhall.com, Where Your Opinion Counts
Talk Radio:   Bill Bennett   Mike Gallagher   Dennis Prager   Michael Medved   Hugh Hewitt   
BREAKING NEWS  LeftArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican   RightArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican  
Columns, funnies & more in your inbox!
Login | What's Hot
  • Check the boxes and send us your email address to receveive your free newsletter
  • Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
  • Townhall.com’s weekly inside scoop on what’s happening behind the scenes in the world of politics. When news breaks, we report.
  • Signup to receive the latest daily Townhall cartoons
Monday, October 02, 2006
Rich Galen :: Townhall.com Columnist
A new code of conduct
by Rich Galen
Forward Print Share Single Page
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
[+] Text [-]
 
 
Poll
Will the Dems' health care Christmas Present to America be an improvement or detriment to our health care system?


  • This business with Mark Foley of Florida who had a series of instant message exchanges with a male page is beyond the pale. If you haven't read the transcripts, don't. They will turn your stomach.

  • In yesterday's Washington Post I was quoted as saying:

    • "This sense of entitlement that members of Congress can do anything to anyone, or for anyone, has got to end."

  • The reporter with whom I spoke, Jonathan Weisman, makes it appear that I was speaking about Republicans only, but I had made it clear to him in the conversation I was talking about the Congress as a whole.

  • No matter. I stand by the words.

  • The notion that the Republican leadership knew about the Foley business and did nothing appears to be off the mark. From the current reporting it appears that the Congressman, a Republican from Louisiana, who had appointed the Page told the head of the Republican House campaign committee about the exchanges.

  • It appears that the response - based upon what was known at the time - was apt.

  • According to the Washington Post, "[Chairman of the Page Board, John] Shimkus (R-IL) questioned Foley, but at that time, he had seen only suspiciously friendly e-mails, not the explicit instant messages revealed recently."

  • Shimkus had a conversation with Foley and told him, in effect, to stay away from the kid and, for that matter, stay away from any of the Pages.

  • It is not in the nature of any organization to rat out a member in good standing on thin evidence. If the e-mails were only "suspiciously friendly" then a warning was probably the appropriate response. Unfortunately, the instant messages were way more than friendly in any known meaning of the word.

  • Congressional Democrats are pretending that they are outraged about the Foley-Page business, but they know perfectly well that there are Members on their side who are but one phone call to a local news bureau away from having their careers come to a screeching halt because they, too, have been "pursuing" Pages or young staffers.

  • In fact, back in 1982 there was a Republican male Member of Congress who got caught having sex with a female page. He was not re-elected. At the same time there was a Democratic male Member of Congress who got caught having sex with a male page. He was (a) from Massachusetts and therefore (b) was re-elected several times.

  • The Lad was a Page back in the early 90's. He told me that female pages were specifically warned to stay away from certain Member of Congress who is no longer in office.
    • Continued...
    1 2
    		| Full Article & Comments | Next >
    Share:
    Forward Print Single Page
    Vote on It:
    Average Vote:
     
    About The Author

    Rich Galen has been a press secretary to Dan Quayle and Newt Gingrich. Rich Galen currently works as a journalist and writes at Mullings.com

    Be the first to read Rich Galen's column. Sign up today and receive Townhall.com delivered each morning to your inbox.

    Join The Debate!

    Post Your Comment
    (14 comments so Far)
    View in ascending order     View in descending order
    Reply # 1
    Date: Oct 4, 2006 - 12:22 PM EST
    Clean House, NOW !!!
    It is now become perfectly clear that the time is now, to clean up our political house. In the upcoming elections, either local, state or national, do not vote to re-elect ANYONE already in office. Period.

    If someone is running for office that has never been elected before, vote for them. I don't care if they are republican, democrat or independent. Vote for them, now.

    And also, it's time for term limits as well. A maximum of two terms for any one person and then it's someone elses turn. Let's put an end to career politicians. The founding fathers never intended for our government to work that way.

    Oh and while we're at it, its time to impeach and remove the Supreme Court justices that voted against the American People and their private property rights in the recent Kelo decision.
    Flag as Offensive

    Reply # 2
    Date: Oct 4, 2006 - 12:19 PM EST
    Sick and stupid
    Not only is former rep. Foley sick, he also stupid! Any person in a leadership role should keep his dic* in his pants!
    Flag as Offensive
    Sign Up to Post Your CommentsSign Up to Post Your Comments
    If you are already registered, click here to login. Otherwise, please take a few seconds to register with Townhall.com. Once you sign up, you’ll be able to post your comments immediately, use the action center, get podcasts, and more!
    Note: Fields marked with a red asterisk (*) are required.
    Salutation:
    First Name:
    		*
    Last Name:
    		*
    Email:
    		*
    Nickname:
    		*
    Note: Nick name will be shown when you post comments.
    Address 1:
    		*
    Address 2:
    City:
    		 *
    State:
    		 *
    Zip:
    		 *
    Phone:
    		       
    Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
    (Bi-Weekly) We highlight the best opportunities from our partners for surveys, action items and more.