Some (not many) want to give them a pass...but I look at it this way:
If my son Eli were a page or former page and he got an email from a 54 y.o. (or 30 y.o, for that matter) Congressman who was well known for liking boys, asking for his picture, I'd start asking questions. Lots of them. The first two would be: 1) why does he want your picture. 2) what OTHER communication/requests have you had from him? Any parent would ask these questions.
And when the Congress is essentially in loco parentis to these kids, it's incumbent upon them to act as good parents would. By that measure, the GOP leadership fell on its face and let the kids and their parents down.
But then again, what else is new? The GOP leadership has consistently shirked its duty to true conservative principals (fiscal responsibility to name one), oversight of the administration and promoting ethical conduct among its members (Abramoff scandal). The spawn of their failure? I give you Katrina. Iraq. And now Foley.
But the GOP doesn't hold a monopoly on dropping the ball. The Dems have consistently failed to offer a principled, rational alternative.
Where's a Roosevelt (either one) when you need him?
2 comments:
I remember someone saying the page program should be eliminated. That sounds like a good alternative to me, regardless if it came from GOP or Dems.
Do we really need young people running messages back and forth? Foley seemed to prefer e-mail anyway.
That would be throwing the baby out with the bathwater. A lot of these kids are starry eyed about Congress and this gives them the opportunity to see politics and our government in action, and they learn a lot of good things beyond not IMing creepy Congressmen. I would have loved to have been a page when I was a kid.
The problem is entitlement...those in power feel they can do anything...whether you're a Catholic Priest or a Member of Congress or a President who thinks God is on his side.
Just my .02...thanks for commenting!!
Scott
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