Kondracke: Foley scandal "the sexual equivalent of cash in your freezer"
On Special Report, Morton Kondracke stated that the scandal surrounding former Rep. Mark Foley is "the sexual equivalent of cash in your freezer," referring to bribery allegations against Rep. William Jefferson.
During the "All-Star Panel" segment on the October 2 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Brit Hume, Roll Call executive editor Morton Kondracke and Fortune magazine Washington bureau chief Nina Easton likened the scandal unfolding around former Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) to bribery allegations against Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA). Easton noted that Foley "is the fourth ... Republican member of Congress this year to resign under an ethics issue," adding that "William Jefferson, the Democrat, may have had cash stashed in his freezer." Kondracke then asserted the Foley scandal is "the sexual equivalent of cash in your freezer. I mean, this is so simple."
From the October 2 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Brit Hume:
BRIT HUME (host): I know, but let's assume these leaders knew what they say they knew and no more. Does this have legs to hurt them or not?
EASTON: I think it does. I think it absolutely -- it hurts them with values voters. I think it hurts in that this is the fourth member of Congress, Republican member of Congress, this year to resign under an ethics issue. And, you know, William Jefferson, the Democrat, may have had cash stashed in his freezer and so on, but that story really got --
MICHAEL BARONE (U.S. News & World Report senior writer): Ninety thousand dollars.
HUME: Your view is -- to you, Morton, you agree this has legs?
KONDRACKE: I agree. This is the sexual equivalent of cash in your freezer. I mean, this is so simple.
HUME: For [House Speaker J. Dennis] Hastert [R-IL]? Will Hastert survive as the speaker?
KONDRACKE: Well, if the Republicans lose their majority, I think Hastert is gone.
HUME: Well, obviously -- as leader.
KONDRACKE: As leader.
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If they are equivelent lets look at how they were handled. The Democrats went right after Jefferson and the GOP covered up for Foley. THAT is the difference
below the piece on Miniter's column, in detail and with links, this is more the moral equivalent of the rape of the country that is coming out on the heels of the story by the guy I like to call the jackal in wolf's clothing, Woodward. I hope all this sordid sex stuff, as bad as it is, doesn't drown out how badly the 9/11 Commission covered up not only Bush's lies but then covered up Tenet's reporting to both Rice and Rumsfeld (complete with a Powerpoint presentation "connecting all the dots") AND THEN TO THE COMMISSION with the same Powerpoint presentation ...
You just have to check out the links at [link to www.realcities.com] (Tenet's reporting) and Harpers' excellent two year old piece that lays the groundwork for understanding what happened to Tenet's testimony: [link to www.harpers.org]
Foley is out, and possibly looking at criminal indictments, and Jefferson is still sitting in Congress. Reminds me of the Studds affair (and there was a Republican in about the same time frame). The R went home in disgrace and Studds was re-elected, and at least for a time Rosty retained his seat of power, even though it is rumored he knew about both before the stuff hit the fan.
Cash in the freezer has a sexual equivalent. Hunh. I did not know that.
Only if you're rolling around in it with a side of beef and charged by the pound.
ewwwwwwww
but it's your fault, you started it.
:)
Although in moral terms I don't see the equivalency, if Kondrake meant that in terms of political fallout the two offenses should be equivalent I might agree somewhat. What Bill Jefferson did was sleazy. What Mark Foley did was sleazy, too... but there's the added component of engaging teenage boys in a sexually suggestive way that turns the stomach.
KONDRACKE: Well, if the Republicans lose their majority, I think Hastert is gone.
Wow! I never considered that. If the Democratic Party wins a majority of the seats in the House of Representatives, they might not let Hastert stay on as Speaker.
Give that large brain of yours a rest Mr. Kondrake, we wouldn't want you to blow a fuse.
Very funny. These folks are going to be dazed and confused if the 2006 elections don't go their way.
But there's not much else left to do...
Dear God, please show mercy and make this stop. Spare our country of this so that it may concentrate on the problems we already have.
Agree.
But we have politicians whose primary function is to retain, or regain, power. Any opening provided to them will be driven through over and over until points are scored. Dealing with tough, unpopular, less polarizing, less squishy, feely good issues demands leaders and countrymen(women).
Let's all pray for that.
And then there's repulsive disgusting sleazy behavior.
Sleazy behavior includes theft, fraud, embezzlement, paying or accepting bribes, forgery, extortion, adultery...ok you get my drift.
Sexually exploiting minors CROSSES the line from Sleazy Behavior to repulsive disgusting Sleazy Behavior.
Kondracke is TRYING to minimize Foley's behavior. That to me is SLEAZY!
The Foxites might best keep their traps shut (if possible) or they might find themselves defending the indefensible. This is a sad episode made sadder by the power over protection attitude of the Repubs.
On second thought, keep yapping. It weakens your perceived moral superiority.
I would agree. There is no moral equivalent in what Jefferson did and what Foley did.
Very well said. There is no way to spin this issue unless you feel that sending sexually explicit emails to minors is okay.
Or their fault.
Or they set you up.
Or they were gay, so obviously a pervert.
Or you have a drink problem.
Or democrats did it first.
We are now in full re-reporting mode by the right wingers. Kondrake's is merely the lastest salvo in painting Foley's conduct as "more of the same; didn't the Democrats and Bill Clinton do it first" crap. By next week, Foley will be redeemed, the pages will face jail time, and we will all discover that it's Clinton's and the MSM's doing. Sadly, there will be many dummies who will buy it.
albeit in the jefferson case it was bi-partisan (although if I remember correctly there were more repubs defending jefferson than dems). it was a strange defence indeed, the fbi cannot search a member of congress' office in a criminal investigation??? however, i don't know if they are 'morally' equivalent. in the foley case the repubs covered it up for their own self-interested partisan gain. in the jefferson case everyone tried to sandbag the justice dept. to maintain their own self-interested ability to rape the public interest with impugnity.
I think it is entirely possible that republicans defended Jefferson so loudly because they might have more to hide. Maybe a guilty conscience poking out there? I was all for searching his offices. They had a warrant. What more did they need?
Anyway, Foley is a scum bag. It's pure and simple. I was hoping that this was some Stone Phillips set-up or something like that for DAteline is it? Or 20-20 where they bait folks into meeting teenagers for sex? Imagine that show. It might be a ratings buster.
I did see another article, can't remember where, the Boehner is pointing the finger sharply at Hastert saying that Hastert knew all about this. They're in survival mode right now, and starting to tear each other apart, which makes me laugh a little. Not because this teen may be or was at risk, because it is funny how the mighty have fallen in such a short time.
... always looking out for what he loves.
That "money in the freezer" ... Mort is worried about the money's lost innocence, that the Congressman might take advantage of it. That the money's entire life might be ruined, by being manipulated by a powerful figure out to degrade and violate the naive CASH.
Yup. Mort has thought through all the "MORAL" implications of the two deeds, and found them EQUAL.
Because, while the Republicans make fun of Democrats who intone that actions taken are "FOR THE CHILDREN," the Republicans have a LOVE of their own: MONEY.
So, abuse those children all you want, but put CURRENCY in the FREEZER??!!?? Inhuman!
[I'm GLAD that the Rightwing has decided to use their same SPIN cycles on this latest scandal; it's a moment of clarity and revelation.
Who remembers the Meryl Streep movie, "The River Wild"? That moment where Kevin Bacon's character Wade is adminished by Roarke, "I thought you were a nice guy!" Wade is visibly hurt. "I AM a nice guy. I'm just a different KIND of nice guy." At that moment, everyone knew they were dealing with a psychopath, a monster. Keep it up, Rightwingers! The more you try to downplay this event, the more it destroys that IMAGE you have so carefully constructed. And Good Riddance to that phony mask of Morality and Decency.]
The sad part of much of this, from hyperpartisans such as yourself, are your incessant and shameless attempts to make every single thing on the planet about the evil "rightwing" vs. you and your lofty place on some "leftwing" pedestal.
This Foley scandal, among the obvious culprits, is a sad day for the American people too. We elect people to serve us and entrust them in positions of incredible influence and judgement. They then turn around and spit in the face of those that allowed them the opportunity.
May we all learn from this and demand our leaders act in kind.
Accusing Tex of hyperpartisanship Tommy.. That's a good one - At least we know clearly where Tex stands...
Who ever said anything about dems/left-leaning politicos being as pure as the driven snow??
The big issue is once again "The party of morals" falling flat on its face and wallowing in the mud of hypocracy..
That's what I take from this.. And I'm supposed to think they have the best interests of all of us as Americans in mind.
No, the dems aren't perfect either but when it comes down to it I do trust that they will do the "right" thing vs the repubs any day of the week in the here and now..
Not surprising you would come to Tex's defense.
However, in my opinion, all these broad brushes that everyone is fond of when painting their opponents come with a tough little brush against one's own self from time to time.
Slamming all conservatives, or even all Republican's for that matter, is no better or worse than those that are demonizing all gay people regarding this scandal. This is about one man and the possible coverup by his "bosses". To lump anyone else in with that is ludicrous, unfair and yes, hyperpartisan sniping.
It's all well and good to wish for a kinder gentler political climate now, from our elected officials to those who elect them, but keep in mind who created this era of angry partisanship. were you decrying the catcalls of "no war for Monica!" during Clinton's years in the whitehouse? i doubt it. more than likely you were sitting around wearing your smug moral superiority like shield. the fire that conservatives started back then is now burning down their own house and those who fanned those flames back then are responsible for the damage it does now. until you and yours own the blood on your hands, whether that is the literal blood of Iraqis, or american service men and women, or the metaphorical blood of our democracy that is bleeding to death here at home nothing will begin to change. it's not enough to lament the coarsening of our national discourse.
My "hyper-partisanship" extends to BEHAVIOR, without a doubt, but always my focus is POLICY.
From my "pedestal," I look at the REALITY of the results of the policies of the Republicans, and conclude that they are almost uniformly BAD for America. For example, lying us into a war that is killing thousands of American soldiers for no good reason is simply BAD.
Our Republican legislators have been attempting to "legislate morality" (gay marriage, etc.), have been attempting to merge church and state ("faith-based initiatives, etc.), have embarked on 'Balkanizing' a class system in America whereby the wealthy receive ALL governmental advantages (tax policy, the awarding of government contracts, etc.), have turned America into a terrorist nation (pre-emptive war/no provocation, torture policy, etc.), and undermine our Constitution at every turn (Presidential "primacy," signing statements, warrantless wiretapping of Americans, etc.). All this is BAD for America.
So, Tom, it takes little "pedestal" to recognize a very BAD political party involved in doing very BAD things in the name of, and TO, America, the country that I love.
That they are hypocritical, are moral reprobates, perverts, and lying cowards covering up their misdeeds in hopes of retaining POWER, is no surprise.
We don't elect SAINTS, to be our saintly "role models" for all human relationships. We elect PEOPLE, who are human, and expect them to follow the LAW, while at least TRYING to serve their constituents (not just the very wealthy).
Their personal behavior can certainly be an issue, and should be discussed in the public forum, their fate ultimately in the hands of the VOTERS. This assumes, of course, that there have been full investigations to determine if any laws have been broken, and if there HAVE, then the judicial system should process these lawbreakers as common criminals to the full extent.
Other than that -- POLICY which helps America instead of harms it, and following the LAW, I don't look to our political leadership as any paragons of virtue or purity. If YOU do, then you will be disappointed infinitely.
I supposes my PARTISANSHIP results from recognizing that terrible policy comes from terrible people, and so I EXPECT lawbreakers to populate the ranks of the rightwing Republicans, and I have never been disappointed in this expectation in the over 50 years I've been living.
news, and others, all day yesterday, use the kindergarden excuse " he did it too, Mrs Goldteeth ". that is so precious. I have been in a court system and saw that each case is treated on its own merit. Foley used government assets to intimidate young impressionable men in matters that have nothing to do with learning how government works.
My husband and I have been watching the media on TV today and it is such a shame that republicans and their supporters seem to think still at this late date in their careers and life, that two wrongs do make it okay. As long as you can discuss the "wrong" by a republican and throw in something that a "democrat" did wrong, then you're okay. That seems to lessen in their minds the severity of their accused crime because at some time someone else did wrong too from the other party. What kind of values are represented when Mr. Reynolds from NY, one involved in this early on because of his job at getting republicans re-elected, holds a press conference surrounded by little children? Just how sick is that! And when reporters asked that the children be removed so they could discuss more adult questions of Mr. Reynold's, he refused!! He refused!! Hiding behind the image of little kids he tries to abrogate his repsonsibilites of discussing his role in this fiasco. SO, hide from answering the abuses of Mr. Foley on teenage underage boys by surrounding yourself with children. Anyone who excuses this behaviour or tries to shirk their responsibilities in this should be removed from office. If you can't protect those who cannot protect themselves, then you don't deserve the trust of Americans in protecting them in anything. As for Mr. Foley himself, beside his blaming his actions on alcohol, his spokesman has just announced on CNN, that he was molested by a clergyman between the ages of 13-15. I am sorry but is there no honour among anyone now that you alone are responsible for your actions?????
is that he was abducted by aliens and probed.
his conservative friends and stashed away for thirty days in a facility noone knows where for something he may never have done ( alcoholism ). Sounds fishy to me.
Same as money in your frig....unless it is your kid
said he wouldn't lose his election for governor of LA unless he was "caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
I think Kondrake's just trying to coin a new phrase that'll keep "cash in the freezer" on everyone's lips. Not moral equivalence-wise, but more like a revelation of wrongdoing that will make a politician radioactive in an instant.
Kondrake is as clever as Brownie in a new shirt.