At a White House Rose Garden ceremony on July 27, President Bush hailed Foley and some other House and Senate lawmakers as members of a "SWAT team for kids." Bush spoke while signing into law a broad child protection measure that included a Foley-sponsored provision requiring sex offenders to register in every state where they live, work or attend school. (source: Washington Post)True to scandal form, what Foley did quickly became less what he did to when he did it and who knew about it. Which meant that GOP leadership in the house came under the scandal scrutiny as it slowly leaked out that it various GOP members told Speaker Hastert about the "Foley problem", timeline here. Naturally Democrats have strongly criticized GOP leadership for the lack of action policing one of their own. Including Diane Farrell who said, "This leadership, which has been so terribly wrong on so many policies, now seems willing to cover up events to protect its members." Of all the things that Chris Shays could have said about l'affaire Foley, he chose to say this:
"I know the speaker didn't go over a bridge and leave a young person in the water, and then have a press conference the next day," said Shays, R-4th District, referring to the 1969 incident in which the Massachusetts Democrat drove a car that plunged into the water and a young campaign worker died.Shays was referring to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy who had come to Connecticut to campaign for Farrell and Lamont. It is emblematic that Shays would have to dig into the long ago past, 1969 for this incident, in order to have something to say about the present. But perhaps Farrell expressed it best in this commercial:
"Dennis Hastert didn't kill anybody," he added. (source: The Courant)
Washington Post, Foley Built Career as Protector of Children, By R. Jeffrey Smith, 10/1/06
The Courant, Shays Hits Hard In Page Scandal, By DAVID LIGHTMAN, 10/11/2006
19 comments:
What would possess Diane Farrell to bring a sleeze like Ted Kennedy to campaign for her? Is there a statute of limitations of negligent homicide? She's barking up the wrong tree trying to link Shays with Foley and getting painted with the Ted Kennedy brush serves her right.
Any chance you could put the various ads on a post? Lieberman/Lamon, Johnson/Murphy, Rell/Destefano, etc. I think it would be interesting to look at the various ads in a row...
Just curious...thanks.
Well, at least Shay's doesn't have to go digging in the closet for something. I mean, the Kennedy stuff is so new and fresh - makes sense to use it. Oh wait, right, its not, its from 1969!
ooh... snap. Classy comment from Shays! he's a dope. Kennedy was in an ACCIDENT (and panicked, yes) just like LAURA BUSH ran over her BOYFRIEND and killed him. What Foley did was NO ACCIDENT ("Oops! Mr Happy popped out BY MISTAKE?" Please).
I mean, the Kennedy stuff is so new and fresh - makes sense to use it. Oh wait, right, its not, its from 1969!
2006 --> He's still drunk.
So Diane Farrell has a tv ad where people claim to be Shays supporters who are now supporting Farrell because Shays has changed. Funny thing is, the people are all Democrats who never really supported Shays (except, perhaps, when he had little or no opposition).
The first guy in the ad is a well-known Democrat. He worked for Joe Ganim - what did he know about the corruption? - and now he works for the Democratic Mayor of Stamford. He also lives with the Bridgeport DTC Chairman.
Are we supposed to believe that he EVER supported Shays?
Another negative attack, yet another misleading ad from Farrell.
Go ahead Diane, stand next to Ted Kennedy - I mean what did he ever do wrong other than kill someone - and attack Shays for the Foley scandal.
Farrell's hypocracy knows no bounds with her win at all cost mentality.
What a disgrace!
> Anonymous 8:53 am:
What would possess Diane Farrell to bring a sleeze like Ted Kennedy
> to campaign for her? Is there a statute of limitations of negligent homicide? She's
> barking up the wrong tree trying to link Shays with Foley and getting painted with
> the Ted Kennedy brush serves her right.
Shays was in the House of Representatives over a long period where countless Republicans (more being revealed every day) were aware of the Foley scandal, some for over a decade. That has a much bigger political stink than who campaigns for who in an election, and it's a shame that you guys in the far right are so entrenched in campaign warroom mode that you can't see that, as this affects Republican and independent voters as much as Democratic voters, if not moreso.
Dear Fuzzy Turtle,
Are you kidding? An accident?
Driving drunk, running off a road, leaving someone to die (whether it was panick or calculated to protect his political career is irrelevant) is a crime!
Just because he was never charged, because he was a Kennedy, does not change the facts. Having done some criminal defense work, I can share with you that I know of several people who have served years in jail for similar "accidents".
Foley and his actions are disgusting - just as the actions of 2 Democratic Congressmen Barney Franks and Gerry Studds. Hastert should have taken much stronger action, but it pales in comparison to what Kennedy did.
BTW, did you know that the CT Democrats had a known pedophile - State Rep. Jeff Davis - serving in the House of Representatives and not one Democrat called upon him to resign??????
Did you?????
Shays told Farrell last night that she's wrong on Iraq. He wants a definite timetable for withdrawl now while she wants benchmarks. The story is in the Norwalk Hour if anyone has a copy.
Well, yes: In politics, there is no end of kettles calling pots black. Shays probably blew up at the sheer disproportion of it all. Does one need to takes lessons in morality from a man who left a girl to drown in a car -- the victim lasted a lot longer than most people at first supposed because of an air bubble in the car; autopsy reports showed she died of asphyxia, not drowning -- walked past a house that was clearly occupied, from which he might have summoned help in time to save her, swam to a hotel in which he fell asleep -- over indulging in alcohol sometimes has this effect on people -- and made no attempt to report what later was determined to be a crime? Receding tides uncovered Kennedy’s crime. Does any of this matter when Kennedy begins to denounce the sliver in Republican’s eyes? It does. Some offenses are so heinous that they never grow old.
"Just because he was never charged, because he was a Kennedy, does not change the facts." but he was charged and he pleaded guilty, Mr. Defense Atty anonymous. You, like me, may not have agreed with the deal but you should agree with the facts..
Kind of an odd statement by Shays who considers Teddy's brother, Bobby Kennedy, to be one of his role models. Shays, like Leiberman, takes the high road only in his own mind and the mind of his staunch blind supporters.
I wish you guys the best of luck defeating Senator Ted Kennedy in his 1970 reelection campaign. Just one small favor, while you guys are there, can you pick me up an original copy of the first Black Sabbath record? We need something good to listen in order to celebrate the Republicans losing Congress this year.
Anon 10:07- better watch out, posting inflammatory stuff like that could get you sued-and you should be if it wasn't true!
Anon. 3:20 - Former State Rep. Jeff Davis plead guilty to crimes related to sexual molestation of a young man (age 13 I think) who was in his foster care. It is a matter of public record.
Dear Anon. 3:20 and any other Democrat suffering from memory loss:
This is an AP article on former State Rep. Davis easily found on google. After reading it, I challenge any of you to find me a statement of a CT Democrat condemning him for his actions.
"By Matt Apuzzo, Associated Press Writer
Originally published by The Associated Press, August 26, 2004
DANIELSON, Conn. — State Rep. Jefferson Davis has cut a deal with prosecutors that will spare him from going to prison in a sexual assault case involving a boy who told investigators he was sodomized more than 50 times.
The Pomfret Democrat, who submitted his resignation Wednesday, agreed to a deal calling for a 10-year suspended prison sentence, probation and registration on the state's sex offender list. He is scheduled to be sentenced in November.
Davis, 53, appeared in Danielson Superior Court on Wednesday and pleaded under the Alford Doctrine to one count of risk of injury to a minor. Under the doctrine, defendants do not admit guilt but concede the prosecution has enough evidence to secure a conviction.
Authorities arrested the six-term lawmaker last year, accusing him of assaulting the 8-year-old boy. Details surrounding the charge were made public when an arrest warrant affidavit was unsealed Wednesday. The Associated Press is not identifying the child's relationship with Davis and does not identify victims of sexual assault.
Davis, who admitted teaching the boy how to masturbate, did not speak to reporters but issued a statement saying he was innocent but feared being wrongly convicted.
"I know who I am and what I am not," Davis said.
State's Attorney Patricia Froehlich said Davis told investigators that he masturbated in front of the boy, but only while teaching him about sex.
Davis' attorney, Hubert Santos, said the police affidavit told only half the story. He would not discuss specific acts but said Davis never acted willfully to harm the child.
"There may have been mistakes in judgment here," Santos said.
He said there was no medical evidence to substantiate the boy's claims of sodomy and said Davis was pleading guilty only because of the high risk in going to trial.
According to court documents, prosecutors were prepared to call six expert witness to testify. The boy and his adoptive parents were also on the witness list.
Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz said Wednesday night that Davis submitted his resignation earlier in the day in a brief letter.
Bysiewicz, a fellow Democrat who once served in the state House with Davis, said she was sorry to hear about his plea deal.
"While he was a legislator, he did serve the state very, very well," Bysiewicz said. "I wish him well as he goes forward."
House Majority Leader James Amann, D-Milford, said he believed legislative leaders would not appoint someone to fill Davis' seat, because the election is in little more than two months and the legislature won't be in session until January.
Attorney B. Paul Kaplan, who represents the boy, said the child and his family supported the plea deal and wanted to avoid a trial. The child, now 12, is living out of state.
Davis, who announced in May that he would not run for re-election, appeared in court with his ex-wife, Jean.
Santos said Davis tried to help the boy, who according to court documents has a history of depression, abandonment and neglect.
Prosecutors and police painted a much different picture of Davis' relationship with the boy. The child told police that Davis repeatedly touched him, occasionally trying to have oral sex with him.
"The victim stated that because Jeff had touched him so many times, about 50 different times, which would be about three times a month, that he does not remember each time itself," Trooper Jeffrey R. Payette wrote in an affidavit.
Davis' plea deal includes provisions that he receive sex offender counseling. The counseling could prove difficult if Davis continues to profess his innocence, Judge Patrick Clifford said.
Under Connecticut law, Davis' probation can be revoked if his refusal to accept guilt interferes with his rehabilitation. Santos claims that provision is unconstitutional.
"Today is one more crushing blow to my idealism and optimism," Davis said.
Davis had previously pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree sexual assault, fourth-degree sexual assault and two counts of risk of injury to a minor.
Prosecutors said the assaults occurred between 2000 and 2002. Davis was arrested after a two-month state police investigation into allegations the boy told his adoptive parents. Davis had been scheduled to go on trial next month."
Please tell me who is worse: Foley, Hastert and the Republicans or Davis and the CT House Democrats who never called for his resignation?
Some offenses are so heinous that they never grow old.
That's how most of us feel about your writing.
Anon
When you start to sound like a church “That’s how most of us feel about your writing” – you should begin to worry.
Annon 10:09
Gotta get out of the bubble, see a bit of the world, read a little Shakespeare: “I could close myself in a walnut shell and count myself the king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams.”
Lucidity is the result of bad dreams. Gotta get out of the bubble.
First of all Ted Kennedy was inebriated and he drove off a bridge into the water with a young campaign worker he (who was married) seduced. His family intimidated the young woman's family and the courts as to let him get away with vehicular homocide, negligent homocide if not murder. Diane Farrel deserves all the flack she gets from bringing him to campaign for her. Good for Shays!
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