I haven't said that the Republicans should be punished en masse. Not at all. This is an issue that involved a Congressman who happens to be a Republican and, yes I'll say it, the response of the leadership of the Republican party in the US House.

You have said that the Democrats are going hogwild over this, but then you talk about how the media won't stop talking about it. The media and the Democrats are not the same thing. I realize that you feel that the media is biased in favor of the Democrats - a sentiment I sometimes share - but if there is a scandal or a potential scandal in the water the media goes after it. Regardless of party.

You've said that the Newsbuster article shows that 'the Democrats' were the ones behind this. Yet the Harper's reporter states that his source is someone without ties the the national party. And in his (the reporter's) belief, the source was genuinely appalled by Foley's behavior. And, furthermore, it also shows that this wasn't supposed to be a last minute surprise.

You seem to feel as if it is liberals/Democrats who go after Hastert. Yet, right off the bat, the Washington Times called for the resignation of Speaker Hastert.

Or this from George Will:

"
To Rush Limbaugh's 20 million receptive listeners, Hastert, referring to Republicans as "we," said:

"We have a story to tell, and the Democrats have -- in my view have -- put this thing forward to try to block us from telling the story. They're trying to put us on defense."

It is difficult to read that as other than an accusation: He seems to be not just confessing a coverup but also complaining that the coverup was undone by bad manners. Were it not for Democrats' unsportsmanlike conduct in putting "this thing" forward, it would not be known and would not be disrupting Republicans' storytelling.

Their story, of late, has been that theirs is the lonely burden of defending all that is wholesome. But the problem with claiming to have cornered the market on virtue is that people will get snippy when they spot vice in your ranks."

Pittsburgh Channel

Chronicle

John Boehner also seemed to leave Hastert out to dry.

The Hill - Editorial

Point is, the GOP leadership had been warned about Foley's actions (maybe not specific gaudy emails) for a long time. Nothing was done. They dropped the ball. If a Dem finally let the media know (or it still could be a Repub or an enraged parent) then so be it. Congress is better off without Foley.

But so far, the GOP hasn't helped itself with it's inconsistent stories, it's blaming of Democrats, and its own circular firiing squad.

ED NOTE:First, I applaud you for actually providing sources this time. It's easier to sort out fact from speculation that way. I do note that at least one source is an opinion piece - so we will give it that weight - an opinion, like yours' and mine.

I don't know why it is important to anyone which party brought forth the IM messages. The point I am making is that the Democrats knew about and shopped around the IM messages for months. If their concern had been the kids - they would have gone to the police, not the media.

You agree that the first emails were innoculous. So why blame Hastert because he didn't do anything? It's also important (and the media fails to do this a lot) to keep track of "emails" (which were pretty innoculous) and "IM Messages" (which were full of filth).