John Laesch, Dem Challenger, on Dennis Hastert

BuyingThyme

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Wed Oct-04-06 10:57 PM
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John Laesch, Dem Challenger, on Dennis Hastert

"Hands on Hastert" is "hands off Foley"
Submitted by john on Mon, 10/02/2006 - 9:16pm.

Dennis Hastert is known as a "hands-on" guy in Washington D.C. and he has proven to be a very "hands-on" campaigner.

Several weeks ago, Dennis Hastert drove by our small office that is located on a dead-end street. I was standing outside, taking a break from fundraising calls when a red pick-up truck and a black SUV drove by the office.

I hopped into my Jeep and followed the entourage all the way to Denny's next stop, a hot dog stand. The Speaker rolled out and strolled across the park and probably bought himself a hot dog.

My point here is that Dennis Hastert is a pretty hands-on guy who is playing a very Reaganesque, "I forgot what happened" role.

Hastert was very hands-off during the Abramoff indictment.

I think that this is important because Hastert is clearly lying through his teeth on TV. He does not even look at the camera. He looks down and he looks guilty - he should because he is equally responsible for this mess.

Below the fold are some more examples of Hastert being a "hands-on" leader.
I went to Dennis Hastert's book, Speaker, for some more research.

Does Dennis Hastert know what is going on in the halls of power?

According to page 186 of Speaker, Dennis Hastert has a very low ear to the ground.

"Reading is not my strong point... I'm not comfortable with computers... I need to be focused on what's going on in the room and who's saying what to whom. I base most of my knowledge on listenting to people. I get a lot of briefings and have good people working for me. Some say I have an incredible memory or recall for exactly what happened when and who said what to whom. I do listen pretty diligently, more than a lot of people listen, and I do pick up on facts that way."

This is a completely different Dennis Hastert than the one who can't remember if he knew about Foley or if his staff knew about Foley and how much he knew about it.

Well, how does Hastert handle these little problems?

According to page 226 of Speaker, Dennis Hastert takes a "hands-off" approach when curbing the lusts of Washington.

"And when we find some guy spending too much time socializing every night, we have our own way of saying, 'you'd better straighten up or you'll get in trouble.' The message doesn't have to come from me. But you want to get a message out that says something like, 'Being out in the bars every night is probably not the best thing for you to be doing.'"

So Denny Hastert has a way of sending someone like John Shimkus to do his dirty work. Of course 11-months ago Hastert felt that a slap on the wrist would solve his "Foley problem." Now of course the full weight of the justice system is the right prescription for Foley. It is amazing how the punishment is magnified as the election year gets closer.

Is Dennis Hastert responsible for what happened in his house?

According to page 235 of Speaker, Dennis Hastert felt that he was responsible for kids working in the Capital during the Anthrax scare - I agree.

"So we shut down the House. When we did that, we also stopped our mail delivery, which came through the Gerald R. Ford Building. We said, 'We have kids opening that mail.' I'm responsible for the people who work in these buildings on Capitol Hill, so I decided we were better off shutting down and sending everyone home."

Are there other examples of the "hands on Hastert?"

A local blogger pointed out that lobbyists loved Hastert's hands on approach.

"Speaker Hastert has built up a great deal of goodwill and has a reputation among the business community as a get-it-done guy," said Scott Hatch, executive director of the National Republican Congressional Committee. "From health care to financial services modernization, the business community likes Hastert because he's a hands-on kind of guy."

Then we should probably go back to that time when Denny Hastert first stopped by one of our campaign events. Why would the most powerful Congressman in America stop by a Saturday canvass being hosted by a 32-year old Navy Veteran? The only answer - he is a "hands-on" guy.

Some people have said that I was a little hasty in my call for Hastert to resign. Those people have not been receiving e-mails and phone calls from grown adults who were also abused in their childhood. I used to date a girl who was sexually abused while she was still a minor. Even her parents did not know about the situation because the abuser was a family friend. These people suffer in silence and it is wrong. Mr. Hastert remained silent. He didn't investigate Mark Foley's e-mails. He looked the other way. There are hundreds of people suffering in silence. How many of Foley's other victims will remain silent because Denny Hastert would not investigate the situation? As your next Congressman from Illinois' 14th District, I refuse to stand by in silence - Mr. Speaker it is time to resign.

Sincerely,

John Laesch

http://www.john06.com/node/299

John's bio:
http://www.john06.com/about_john

Homepage:
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