Battleground dispatches
A cruise around the Florida papers this morning to see how the Foley thing is playing near the front.
Remembering that, it's no surprise that the House Republican leadership can't issue a good explanation for why it worked in secret to protect Mark Foley. The only plausible explanation is that political values mattered more than American values. -- Palm Beach Post
"Closure won't come easy. Although an independent counsel isn't necessary to make a criminal case, it's essential in determining what Congress knew about Foley's inappropriate activities and what, if anything, may have occurred to cover them up." - Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel.
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Even though Charlotte County comprised less than 20 percent of eligible voters in his state-crossing district, Foley was instrumental in the county's efforts to receive federal funds to aid in the recovery from Hurricane Charley. He became one of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's sharpest critics and offered common-sense solutions to improve disaster-response efforts. He sponsored legislation that will bring millions of dollars to clean up the Everglades.
However, the recent disclosures overshadow his accomplishments and contribute to the public disillusionment with politicians, especially those whose righteous public policies conflict with their unseemly private behavior.
"Some newspapers -- including this one -- knew of this message as well and did not find it worthy of a news story because it seemed innocuous. Thus, Democratic charges of a ''cover up'' of Mr. Foley's activities by the Republican House leadership seem not only premature but crassly political. But the discovery of other, more explicit, messages and confusion over who knew what and when raise questions that require answers -- preferably, under oath and soon."
-- Miami Herald
"In 1996, The Advocate, a gay newsmagazine, outed Foley. During his 2003 run for U.S. Senate, several Florida newspapers reported the old Advocate story. Foley has never publicly said that he is gay. On May 23, 2003, he called a news conference and said that the innuendo about his life was "revolting and unforgivable" and that he would not discuss his sexual orientation." -- News-Press (McClatchey)
The Foley incident goes to the heart of the House's peculiar self-protective culture, particularly among the majority: To get along, go along; don't rock the boat; don't do anything that might make the party look bad. It's why the House has been unable to enact meaningful lobbying reform or bring the costly problem of earmarked pork projects under control. -- Naples Daily News
* * *
Oddly enough, the editorial above appears above one other... about the Minnesota Twins.
Didn't stumble across any editorials about the school shooting in Pennsylvania. But here's what's interesting. In the U.S., the story of an alleged pedophile congressman is the top story. Overseas, it's the school shooting.
Not sure whether that's a commentary in itself on us... or them.