The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Knives Out for Ben Stein

10.4.06 @ 12:02AM

FOLEY AROUND
Re: Ben Stein's Hypocrisy, Democrat Style and Reader Mail's La Cage Aux Foley:

As a gay man, I have no interest whatsoever in young boys nor do most gay men. Rep. Foley is neither gay nor straight, he is a pederast. Gay or straight, Democrat or Republican, it is completely inexcusable for an adult to have this kind of communication with a minor.'
-- Marc Krasnow
New York, New York

I'm not exactly sure where it is that Ben Stein gets his gay friends, but he obviously manages to select only pedophiles as friends. As a conservative and a gay man, I feel horrible for Rep. Foley. The anger among the religious right towards any gay or lesbian forced him into a closet. But at the same time I also consider him an absolute beast and totally despicable for using his position of authority to attempt to find an adolescent male for sexual gratification of any kind, even if it was only in his fantasies.

I can very safely say that the last time I was attracted to someone of that age, was when I was that age myself! My partner of 10 years feels the same way. Any attempt by an adult to use a minor sexually is simply abhorrent and deserves the condemnation of our entire society. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. I cannot think of any circumstances in which pedophilia should be tolerated. Oh, and Mr. Stein, having an affair with a consenting adult is wrong, but it is in no way the moral equivalent of pedophilia. And if it were, then try taking a look at the many Republicans on their 3rd and 4th wife, many of whom did commit adultery.

The true hypocrisy is in a Republican party which has forgotten that it is the party of small government, state's rights, and minimal interference on people's rights. Instead, the party I once proudly supported has become even worse than tax and spend Democrats. At least the Democrats paid for their pork and their overspending honestly by taxing the very people who elected them. The current Republican leadership has decided to spend like a drunken sailor on shore leave using borrowed money forcing the bill on today's children. Oh wait, now I understand, Hastert and the House Leadership have gotten so used to raping our children financially that they didn't see any problem with a fellow Republican trying to do it physically.

The GOP has decided that holding power is an end unto itself and so hid the probably criminal acts of a fellow Republican just to hold on to another seat in Congress.

I'm conservative in the old sense. I believe in limited government, only as much taxation as is absolutely necessary, state's rights, and the absolute imperative to preserve all of our citizens' rights. It is because I am a true conservative that I can no longer vote for the Republican candidates and not because of my sexuality. And the blind allegiance of so many conservative commentators is a truly sad comment on the state of conservatism today.
-- Phillip McKee

Ben Stein's article on Foley is excellent.

While in poor judgment, I don't believe there is a law against consensual emails ...and if this young man was truly offended by the Foley's comments, why did this young page continue their dialogue via email and to go on, in great detail, in their email conversation, explaining to Rep. Foley exactly how he masturbated himself? A male version of Lolita can hardly be considered a "victim."

The real issue that Ben clearly exposes (pardon the pun) is how the Democrats falsely champion themselves as the party of diversity, equal rights, and the gay agenda, but only if you do it their way. If you dare to be out of step with their Machine, the rabid dogs gnarling their teeth will come after you. Some tolerance.

Ben has always been a champion of the gay community and equal rights (for gay people of BOTH parties) and was probably one of the few straight people ever to win the gay mecca of West Hollywood's "Citizen of the Year" in 2005.
-- Elihu Yale
West Hollywood, California

... Why does Stein insist that the Democrats are coming down on Foley because he is gay, and not because he's a pedophile? Seriously, what Democrat has even suggested such a ridiculous thing?
-- Rian Amiton

After reading Ben Stein's special report published Oct 2, 2006, I cannot believe that I once trusted this man. To defend a pedophile, to compare a 22-year-old intern to a sixteen year old boy is despicable. Just as I find Ben Stein to be now.
-- Nancy Cardoso

At first, I assumed this piece was written before any real information about Mark Foley was really known. I have a huge amount of respect for Ben Stein, so I waited patiently all day Monday for it to be withdrawn or retracted. It's Tuesday and it hasn't been, so I have to assume that these are Ben Stein's real feelings on the matter. I still have a huge amount of respect for Ben Stein, but sometimes wrong is wrong....
-- Ross Glenn
Longmont, Colorado

He's not doing the GOP any favors, that's for sure. With regards to the Foley scandal -- is "Bill Clinton did it, too" the absolute best you folks can come up with? Is it really the talking point you want to go with? Are you sure? Because all that tells me is, The Republican Party, apparently, can't tell the difference between consenting adult sex, and pedophilia.

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Bill Clinton, Islam, Abortion, Hollywood, Movies, Constitution, Law, Iraq, Conservatism, Oil, Unions