AMERICAblog: "Tony Snow downplays Foley's 'naughty emails..."

[Human Torch]

Just the teaser right now, story to follow:

http://www.rawstory.com/

[Human Torch]

1. America Blog has it:

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/10/white-house-downplays-foley-scandal-as.html

Monday, October 02, 2006

White House downplays Foley scandal as "simply naughty emails"
by Joe in DC - 10/02/2006 08:33:00 AM

White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, appearing on CNN this morning, downplayed the Foley scandal. Soledad noted that Snow "tried really hard to minimize the impact and any kind of political fallout." Snow said, "I hate to tell but it's not always pretty up there on Capitol Hill and there have been other scandals as you know that have been more than simply naughty emails."

"Simply naughty emails." That's all they were says the Bush White House. Just naughty emails between a 52 year old member of Congress and some 16 and 17 year olds childen. Just naughty emails when a grown man asks a sixteen year old boy to measure his penis. Just naughty emails when a member of Congress asks a child to describe how he masturbates.

That's why the GOP House leadership is scrambling. That's why they had to call in the FBI. That's why the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating.



According to ABC, Foley was talking about the boy's penis.

[Avalux]

2. Can't believe he used the word "naughty".

I heard him say it on CNN this morning; he also said something about "the hill" and how this stuff happens up there - a definite attempt to distance the WH from the scandal.

This is an ethics problem and it runs rampant through the Republican party. It's what happens when actions aren't held accountable and there's no consequences to illegal behavior. We've seen it with DeLay, Abramoff, and yes, the WH. The broader picture points to general lawlessness among a party that has too much power.

[Human Torch]

3. Sort of Austin Powers-ish...

...I'm waiting for "randy" and "oh, behave...."

You're right, it is an ethics problem. When the average GOP leader is caught in the midst of unethical behavior, the immediate response is an attempt to detach ethics from the situation.

They have a log history of "If we say it loud enough and repeat it enough it will become the truth." Because this does work for them on occasion, they tend to use it often. I don;t see this as being one of those occasions.

:patriot:

[Avalux]

7. I don't either - this is growing huge giant hairy legs.

For whatever reason, this type of behavior tends to resonate with average Americans more than anything else. I really think use of the word "naughty" will come back to bite Snow/WH in the ass.

[mcg]

4. Other Republicans do it, so it's ok???

Lame

[neilepi]

5. I think the appropriate term is "Snow job" NT

[gratuitous]

6. How can it be an ethics problem?

No ethics, no problem. Unless you count "me first and screw the rest of you" to be an ethic.

[Southsideirish]

8. I wonder how their "oh-so-loyal" fundie Christian followers will swallow

all this "naughtiness?"

[cal04]

9. think progress has the video up

This morning on CNN, Soledad O’Brien asked Tony Snow why “any communication between a 16-year-old and a congressman” didn’t “raise red flags — major, massive red flags” with Speaker Dennis Hastert and others who have known about the communications for months.

Snow responded, “I hate to tell you, but it’s not always pretty up there on Capitol Hill. And there have been other scandals, as you know, that have been more than simply naughty e-mails.” Watch it:

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/10/02/naughty-emails/

[FormerDittoHead]

10. He.. did... not... have... sex... with... that... minor... n/t

[Javaman]

11. Propositoning... a... minor... is... a... punishable... offence. nt