The American Spectator

Reader Mail

The Foley Follies

10.9.06 @ 12:01AM

GRAND SLAM
Re: Ben Stein's Foley in Perspective and Hypocrisy, Democrat Style:

This 74-year-old Jew, a Democrat since birth, rarely agrees with the gist of Stein's articles.

I do today. Not only his take on the Foley business compared to Darfur, et al.; but perhaps even more his Yom Kippur message about our men and women in the military!

Thanks, Ben
-- Mort Weintraub

...As a gay man -- no, as a critically thinking citizen -- I am livid that Republicans, Neocons and their many enablers and water-holders in the media are blaming the Foley scandal on his sexual orientation. Livid, yes, but honestly, not a bit surprised, as I see the far right now freefalling into a tail-spinning nose dive over how best to control the damage and maintain a position of power. That's really what it's all about isn't it? It's not about accountability, nor the safety of our nation's youth from sexual predators. And it's certainly not about anything that even approaches the truth, which is that top leaders in a Republican-led Congress tried to cover this scandal to protect its power and hold on to a superlative fund-raiser like Mark Foley.
-- Jerry Rigdon
Atlanta/Stone Mountain, Georgia

Ben Stein hits the nail on the head concerning L'Affaire Foley. While Iran and Korea race to develop nuclear weapons with a global range, the Beltway -- hence the USA -- is completely absorbed in a scandal, which when all is said and done isn't a scandal at all -- at least in the Post Clinton America. If you want rape and child abuse writ large -- go to the Congo or Thailand; for real political sex and intrigue one must go back several decades. Thus far, all we do know about this sordid cyber scandal is that it is driven by the 527's, and the timing couldn't be better for Nancy Pelosi. As far as October Surprises go, when one evaluates the feeding frenzy, this one will be well remembered. Lost in all of the fracas is the fact that they boy wasn't really a boy, but a young adult of 18. Of course, gay bashing is now "in" (at least until the polls close on November 7th); just a few years ago Pelosi castigated the Boy Scouts for their retrograde fear of gay scoutmasters. Now, Pelosi is demanding why House Speaker Hastert hadn't better supervised a gay House member's dealing with pages.

When Nancy Pelosi is sworn in as House Speaker next January, it will not be because of an agenda; nor, will the mid-term elections turn on the President's popularity, the Iraq War, terrorism, or fiscal matters. When it's all said and done, the Democrats will win because of a sex scandal where there was no sex, and over allegations of child abuse where the child was an adult. As Iraq continues to melt down, and Iran continues to arm itself, it is nice to know what occupies The Beltway's attention.
-- JP
Indiana

The only thing I would add to your list would be "to read another beautiful piece of prose by Ben Stein."

You have a remarkable way of cutting to the core of any issue. Please keep writing Mr. Stein.

A Canadian Admirer,
-- Nicholas Chadwick

Ben Stein needs some writing instruction! Please help him.
-- Robert Murphy

Thanks, Ben, you are a Gem. God bless our military.
-- Ginny Hudson

I am an old man now and did my military fighting many, many years ago, probably before Mr. Stein was born. If anything I did was instrumental in his birth or life then this article more than repays me. It is obvious he has far greater insight into where our priorities should lie than the vast majority of the mainstream media and most politicians.

Thank you Mr. Stein for reminding of what is really important in life.
-- L. W. Antoine
Palm Bay, Florida

THANK YOU, for Mr. Stein's "Foley in Perspective."

Letter to the Editor

topics:
John McCain, Nancy Pelosi, Bill Clinton, Business, Islam, Hollywood, Constitution, Law, Military, Iraq, Iran, NATO, Nuclear Weapons, Alaska, Oil, Unions