Unnatural justice
- 11 Oct 06, 03:32 PM
Sorry to go back to sex but my attention is caught by the website of the Republican congressman . Under the heading Children Should be Safe In Congress (any takers for the idea that they shouldn't?) Mark writes: "I am disgusted with the actions of Rep. Foley who should be condemned and then prosecuted."
Eh?
I should declare an interest here: Back in the days when Mark and I looked like page boys and sex did not involve electronic devices (well, not often) we were classmates at the world's finest institution of learning, the . But I could have sworn he went to law school after his sojourn in London and assuming that he concentrated just a little did he not learn that to condemn and then to prosecute is an unusual approach to natural justice.
Of course he did. But on this sex scandal issue such considerations are thrown out of the window as sanctimonious politicos on either side of the divide (the Democrats' adverts are even worse) vie with each other to hate Mark Foley more. I write this in the knowledge that Mark Kirk is a decent amiable reasonable American (in fact I harbour a genuine and not entirely impartial desire that he one day makes it to the White House and I hope he will still have me to tea) but this story has unhinged even the sanest.
Just a thought: Congressional pages must be at least 16 - which is also the age of consent in DC. And a further thought: just what is "internet sex"? An oxymoron if ever there was one.
Justin Webb is the 大象传媒's chief North America radio correspondent.
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I do wonder whether the Mark Foley story would have died a death already had the recipients of Foley's affections been female.
I think the 'outrage' being expressed by Foley's (former) colleagues would have taken the "Mark is a good and decent man, and should be allowed to continue to serve the US Congress and the people of America." line of things had he been harrassing 16-year-old girls. But given that his text-buddies were male, the Republicans have inevitably taken the "Ooh ick!" approach, as they always do when faced with homosexual relationships. The 'crime' is the same but the difference in the people involved is what is making this a story.
It is almost comical how the Republicans have distanced themselves from this affair by condemning Foley and Foley alone, whereas if Foley had been a democrat? His actions would of course have been the result of the Democrats' continual ploy to destroy good ol' american family values - as they see it.
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While the age of consent maybe 16, you will have to ask Congressman Kirk or another lawyer whether the District of Columbia has laws against this kind of sexual harassment of those you are in a position of authority over or if it is merely immoral.
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Male or female has nothing to do with it. Dont muddy the waters. It's the fact that he was an older person having these inappropriate relationships with young boys and underlings...
Monica Lewinsky was 20 years old and a female and that scandal brought down a presidency, so that argument does not hold water.
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Yes, but there is a difference between a President and a Congressman in terms of the media impact (and thus political outrage) when they have affairs. You will need to equate Foley's situation with the coverage given to a (heterosexual) affair by a fellow Republican Congressman, not a Democratic President.
I also don't think that it holds water that it's the age-gap between Foley and the male pages which is giving the GOP cause for concern, I can't see Hastert going "Well Mark, if only all these men were 10 years older, then you could have kept your job!"
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I think the author totally misses the point in his article. Even if pages are at the age of consent, they are essentially wards, even unpaid employees. The intention is not to have them harrassed by their superiors. And the irony that a REPUBLICAN did the harrassing is the news. If you say you are the more moral of the two parties, if you espouse Family Values (who's family?), then you have to behave that way. Foley highlights what is wrong with the Republican Party. Do as I say, not as I do is not a platform.
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