Thursday, October 5: This post is still open to commenting, but check the latest post for fast-developing news.
Wednesday, October 4: The “witch” hunt is on. No comment. 
Update (10/3): Dennis Hastert is digging in. By the way, don’t be surprised by the depravity of this scandal. Man is capable of much, much worse.
(Note: You may read and discuss Foleygate here)
This message is for Republican “political strategies” and scared politicians who think Foleygate will “depress” conservative Christian turnout next month. Despite this alarmist story, I don’t think the GOP has to worry about conservative Christians not voting. The fact that Republicans leaders knew about Mark Foley’s perversion and didn’t do enough to stop it won’t stop us from performing out civic duty or from pulling the lever for Republicans.
We, more than most, are keenly aware of man’s frailty. It is a mirror reflecting our own. (Also see Congressman Mark ‘Page Boy’ Foley Resigns.)
Years ago, I was a bit shocked to find out that not all Republicans were conservatives and that not all conservatives were Christians. I’m embarrassed to admit it now. I know such thinking was irrational and illogical, but it was an illusion I lived under for many years.
Growing up surrounded by people who voted for Democrats for no other reason than tradition, I had many strange ideas about Republicans. First, as most black kids are taught, I thought they were all bigoted, self-righteous, religious, intolerant racists. I was hostile to Christ, Christians in general, and to “right wingers.” Second, I thought there was some vast conspiracy among them to keep me “oppressed.” Once I grew a brain and learned to think and examine the issues for myself, I found that I agreed with Republicans on many social issues. I knew I could never go back to voting for Democrats.
I began drifting toward the right while working for a Democratic senator on the Hill, and I was glad Republicans pushed the Clinton impeachment issue. A sitting president could not be allowed to get away with lying to a federal grand jury and using the machinery of government to cover up his tacky infidelity, which, to top it off, was committed inside the White House.
It didn’t matter that a handful of Republican senators thought Clinton’s acts couldn’t sustain a vote for conviction. The Republican House managers did the right thing, and the Republican senators who voted to convict Clinton for perjury and obstruction did the right thing.
If [Somebody could have told me about this typo.] I wish there were a viable third political party of fiscal and social conservatives, one I could be passionate about, but there isn’t. I’m stuck with Republicans. The idea of voting for a Democrat is almost unthinkable, so I’m caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place.
No party can be all things to all people, but that shouldn’t stop me from complaining. As I sat in the ballroom of the Omni Shoreham hotel last week, listening to Christian and social conservatives criticizing the Bush administration but asking, “What other choice do we have?”, I was comforted by the fact that I wasn’t alone. Being around other Christians is a wonderful thing. We “Values” voters will turn out in November. I feel strongly about the need to vote, even if it’s the lesser of two evils. (See my column, Summit signals power of religion in public life.)
So this “values voter” will head to the polls on November 7. My non-voting representative isn’t up for re-election, but I’ll vote for the Republican mayoral candidate who doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning, and my civic duty will be done. This man will be the new mayor, the private school-prepped Democrat who doesn’t believe taxpaying parents with kids in failing schools should get vouchers so they can send their kids elsewhere. At least that’s the impression I got when I read his response to my op-ed.
Yes, conservative Christians are extremely disappointed with the Republican party, but I don’t think Republicans on the Hill need to worry about us. The leadership screwed up, and no matter what they say now, it looks like they gave cover to a predator because they didn’t want a scandal to jeopardize his House seat. That’s really bad, but I have a lot more faith that Republican leaders will make amends than I’d have toward any Democrat.
(Hat tip: Alabama Liberation Front)
—————————————————————————————————————–
Foleygate developments: Drudge is reporting that ABC’s Brian Ross is hearing from pages about other Congress members. Watch this page for updates.
Other stories:
- Foley and His Friends
- Washington Times calls for Hastert’s resignation as Speaker of the House.
- Opinion Journal: “What next was Mr. Hastert supposed to do with an elected Congressman? Assume that Mr. Foley was a potential sexual predator and bar him from having any private communication with pages? Refer him to the Ethics Committee? In retrospect, barring contact with pages would have been wise.” Emphasis added.
- Did Democrats Page Mark Foley?
- The Problem Isn’t Foley
Bloggers:
- Hugh Hewitt says “Don’t resign, Speaker Hastert. Swing back.”
- Outside the Beltway: Should Hastert and Frist Go?
- Wizbang
