Quin, I missed Hastert's press
conference but I'm not surprised in the least nor do I doubt your
assessment of it. He doesn't get it. The
issue isn't about when he knew about e-mails, IMs, or when and
whether he did or didn't decide to do something about them. The
issue is that the Foley disaster represents one more in the long
list of ethical breaches (Cunningham, Ney, Abramoff, etc.) on his
watch, not to mention the abominations of legislation (like the
prescription drug program, earmarks, No Child Left Behind, etc.)
that he has pushed through his chamber. In short, it's an absence
of leadership, and if the buck truly stops with him as he says, he
should step down.
More evidence that Hastert and other Republicans don't get it
(courtesy links from Drudge):
Baltimore Sun article on Hastert: "When the base finds out
who's feeding this monster, they're not going to be happy. The
people who want to see this thing blow up are ABC News and a lot of
Democratic operatives, people funded by George Soros." -
This comes off as just so much whining. You had an aspiring
pedophile in your midst, and you expect your political opponents
and the media not to hammer you? The only
points the Republicans ought to be pressing is that they are
shocked this individual could do such a thing; that they want him
fully investigated; they want the page program fully evaluated; and
they want any criminal behavior prosecuted to the fullest extent of
the law. In other words, they need to exhibit a large dose of
humility.
Newt Gingrich, who reportedly told a South
Carolina audience that Democratic sex scandals have been far
worse: "What we don't have to do is allow
our friends on the left to lecture us on morality. There's a
certain stench of hypocrisy." - There is plenty of evidence
of hypocrisy to heap upon both parties, so this is another example
of GOP whining. "He did it too, and worse" playground-type
fingerpointing won't resonate with a public (electorate) disgusted
by Foley's actions. And since when are Democrats a measuring stick
for behavioral standards?
Vice President Dick Cheney
in the Washington Examiner:
"I'm a huge Denny Hastert fan - I think he's a
great speaker. And it makes no sense at all for him to think about
stepping down." - I really like and respect the vice
president, but he is misidentifying greatness in leadership
here.
Let's hope whoever the next Speaker is demonstrates strength and
authority, lays down the law that no unethical behavior will be
tolerated, and that a renewed effort to adhere to conservative
principles will be followed.
topics:
Earmarks, Law
