Ignoring GOP handling of Foley scandal, Matthews suggested Republicans wouldn't "have put up with" a Republican version of Clinton
SUMMARY: Chris Matthews declared that he
didn't think Republicans "would have put up with" Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky because "I
think a lot of Republicans were very tough on Richard
Nixon." But Republicans apparently "put up with" former Rep.
Mark Foley even after House leaders learned -- months and possibly years ago --
of potential misconduct on the part of Foley toward underage former House
pages.
During a conversation with Republican strategist Vin Weber on the October 30 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, host Chris Matthews declared, "I don't think your party would have put up with" former President Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky because "I think a lot of Republicans were very tough on [former President] Richard Nixon." Weber readily agreed that Republicans would "have been pretty tough on a Republican version of President Clinton."
In claiming that Republicans would have responded to the Lewinsky matter in a different manner than Democrats, Matthews ignored a much more recent GOP scandal that involves minors (as opposed to an adult in Clinton's case). Indeed, the Republican Party apparently "put up with" former Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) even after House leaders learned -- months and possibly years ago -- of potential misconduct on the part of Foley toward underage former House pages. Foley retained his place as co-chairman of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus and his seat on the House Ways and Means Committee. Additionally, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) accepted a $100,000 contribution from Foley's PAC in the summer of 2006, and the NRCC even reportedly encouraged Foley to run for re-election in 2006. Moreover, House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) has made contradictory statements about whether the House leadership played any role in Foley's resignation after the sexually explicit instant messages Foley alledgedly sent to underage former congressional pages surfaced, as Media Matters for America has documented.
From the October 30 edition of MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews:
MATTHEWS: Do you think the Republican Party would have put up with Clinton the way the Democrats did and his behavior at the end, '98 on? His behavior around '97, '98, I think we can isolate it there. But the problem with Monica, your party -- I don't think your party would have put up with it.
WEBER: I doubt very much they'd have put up with it. I have to say I've got a little different point of view. I don't think impeaching a president of the United States is almost ever in the country's interest. I think it hurts us around the world, and I was not happy with what we did then. But you're asking me what the average Republican would think. I think the average Republican takes a pretty tough attitude. They're willing to throw their own out if they think they've committed wrongdoing. I think they'd have been pretty tough on a Republican version of President Clinton.
MATTHEWS: I think a lot of Republicans were very tough on Richard Nixon, and I remember it well. Thank you very much, Vin Weber.
WEBER: Thanks, Chris.
In my opinion, comparing the lecherous advances of a pedophile to the act of two consenting adults is invalid. Also, the Republicans haven't exactly been steaming about this Foley thing... just pointing fingers and forgetting/remembering when they first heard of his behavior.
...I suppose the proper wording would be 'not valid'. I don't think Foley is invalid by any stretch of the imagination (faux-alcohol abuse, etc).
They would have put up with a guy who had a consensual affair between two adults, but its okay that the Republicans allowed a child predator to remain in their ranks because they wanted to hold on to a safe House seat.
THANK YOU. njguy93@yahoo.com
Gotta disagree. First, Republicans would have convinced the president not to appoint a special prosecutor for Whitewater. Secondly they probabaly would have covered up the affair by buying Monica and her friend off. Thirdly, the Republicans record in rigging the ethics panel to protect Tom DeLay suggests that they would not have handled a Monica affair any more honorably than that. Bottom line is that the Republicans would have held on to power regardless how ruthlessly they might have had to do it.
This is a MUCH different Republican Party than in Nixon's day... much more power hungry, much more ruthless.
I predict several "terror alerts" in this scenario.
In one sense Matthews is right, there were Republicans who were tough on Nixon. Pete McCloskey in the house and Lowell Weicker in the Senate come to mind. But what he doesn't say is that the republican party of today would disown these men. I doubt very much that Tricky Dick himself would be that appetizing to them since he was the one who appeased those commie bastards in Red China.
Republicans wouldn't tolerate a president who diddled an intern in the White House and lied about it...but they have tolerated a President who has killed thousands of people for political gain...and lied about it.
...also hits home where the so-called value structure lies in the US.
Yes, the Republican Party - whose overriding value seems to be moral relativism ("Any crime is OK if I can justify it somehow") - have no qualms about going to war under false pretenses. In fact, they're proud of it, despite the deaths and destruction and misery they've caused. Killing thousands of people is OK if it gets rid of their weapons of mass destr..., um, if it gets rid of a murderous dictator and brings people a better way of life ..., um if it helps defeat the terrorists ..., no wait - if it gives the terrorists a place to kill Americans that's far away from my house. There, see? Justified.
Republicans wouldn't understand morality if they had to sleep in a cage with it.
HEY I SEE ROVE IS GOING AFTER WHAT KERRY SAID AND THE RIGHT-WING MEDIA ARE JUMPING ALL OVER IT. I BET THIS WILL LAST LONGER THAN FOLEY AND FOX NEWS WILL BE ALL OVER THIS STORY. MARK MY WORD MCCAIN WILL BE ALL OVER THE NEWS SHOWS. MCCAIN WON'T BE GETTING MY VOTE BECAUSE HE HAS SHOWED HIS TRUE COLORS TWO, HE HAS LET ME DOWN VERY MUCH.
The Foley scandal, I believe, has already been successfully buried. Barring some kind of bombshell, I doubt we'll hear any more about it until after the election, if at all.
Aren't the Republicans more angry about the leak than they are about the perv? And, didn't daddy bush have an affair with a staffer named Jennifer Fitzgerald? Inquiring minds want to know...
[link to www.americaheldhostile.com]
Of course the ABOVE average republicans wouldn't put up with anything because, as one of their own, the dearly departed Ken Lay once said, "I know nothing". The present Speaker of His House, Mr. Hastert said...I know nothing.
I am beginning to believe that the Republicans are not following the gospel according to Karl but they are the party of Sgt. Schultz...I believe I may be onto something because our country is being run by someone resembling Col. Klink.
...your hilarious, especially when you go out in fantasy land like this.
Of course the Republicans have looked the other way. They never made a fuss about Giuliani's affair and thank goodness. How silly to deprive the country of an effective leader over a private sexual matter . Mathews' obsession with the Clinton's knows no bounds - He once criticized Hillary for being ambitious. Of course he's not the least bit. And what does he tell his kids - "Keep your head down". He owes his entire success to the Lewinski affair. Without those months of endless speculation and gleefull drooling with Bill Bennet his show would have never lasted and he knows it.
Chris Matthews should know that at some point you have to forgive. He continues to judge Bill Clinton on a single flaw without seeing the good that he did.
The Republicans would love to have a president who could hold a successful war without troop loss and who could balance the national budget by building an excellent economy.
With Mr. Bush in charge, the Republicans are forced to put up with an awful lot. True, Mr. Bush is not drunk driving anymore or snorting the white stuff. I guess these are on the list of flaws that Chris can forgive.
It could be that Chris is without sin so he can pick his targets.
That Bush the smarter WAS having an affair with one of his interns. Bush the dimmer actually called him up and confronted him about it. So where was that special prosecuter looking into this affair again? Tweety is gone round the bend.
[link to www.dkosopedia.com]