Pages parents: Do you know enough 'bout them to judge them? I don't.

[uppityperson]

I am getting tired of posts judging these page's parents. Unless you know them personally, know their stories and reasoning personally, I do not see how you can judge them without making yourself look prejudicial and bigoted.

These pages have gone through enough and don't need us to be passing judgement on them or their families.

Thank you for abstaining.

[Recursion]

1. I think people have the wrong idea about the program

It's not (for the most part) some political patronage thing. It's kids who make good grades, stay out of trouble, do leadership/service, and want to learn about the political process.

[Fleshdancer]

2. If I know that a parent saw the IM exchange and did nothing....

then I will judge them negatively.

However, I would bet that most had absolutely no idea what was going on. I can't imagine teenage boys would be willing to tell their parents that "Representative Foley asked me to measure my penis and come over to his place for oral sex". If the kid doesn't say anything, the parents would remain clueless...especially when the Republican leadership works to keep the parents and everyone else from knowing about it.

[AIJ Alom]

3. I agree. We have no idea how much "influence" or "pressure" was applied to

keep a scandal this big silent for so long. Someone out there came up with enough courage to bring this sad reality out into the open and my prayers are with them regardless of their political affiliation. Justice for all.

[uppityperson]

5. thank you. I am tired of blaming the parents and calling them names

I do not know all the whats and whys and most people here don't either and I am tired of calling the parents names.

[KurtNYC]

4. Let me ask you

If you were in a sports stadium full of people and you saw a fire burning in the corridor -- you narrowly escape the flames then return to your seat and say nothing ....for 3 years! wouldn't that be irresponsible?

A loose analogy but my point is these knew what they knew and did not sound the alarm in any meaningful way. Do people not have a responsibility to each other to alert each other when they see or experience something which is a potential threat to others?

[uppityperson]

8. In your analogy, it depends on how big the fire was, where, etc.

your analogy is loose indeed. Do you know who did or did not know what and why they did or did not do what? Yes, people have a responsibility to stop threats, but we do not know why they did or did not and calling them "Crappy selfish rePUKE parents" for example is just plain wrong. They were not all republican parents either as all pages are not republican or come from republican families.

It is very common to not come forward with things like this, there can be many many reasons and I do not know all the whys and feel it is wrong to insult them.

[CoffeeCat]

9. I agree with your point...

...if any parent knew that Foley was hitting on their teenager--they should have
made an effort to do something. Knowing that Foley remained in Congress, with
access to additional teenagers--puts the responsibility on the parents to do something.

Maybe the parents of this first victim did tell members of Congress and they assumed
that the problem was handled and resolved? It would be VERY enlightening and interesting
to hear what the parents have to say.

I agree though--that these parents have a responsibility to society--and to other teenagers.
You can't just know about a pedophile and walk away--leaving others vulnerable and potential
targets for a pedophile.

Great points.

[kiahzero]

12. They did do something

That's where the coverup came in, because the parents contacted their representative.

[sproutster]

6. Hell no. I'm just a democrat and I'm flipping scared of our government

COULD YOU IMAGINE having the wrath of the Repugs on you? Trying to keep your kid safe?

[elehhhhna]

14. and who wants their son swiftboated as a teen Jolita?

[CoffeeCat]

7. I agree...we don't know enough yet...

However, it's likely that some of the pages were from prominent, well-connected, politically active Republican families. Pages can only be admitted to the program, through referrals from a member of Congress, correct?

It's highly likely that these boys hail from political families with connections.

We all know that the type of Republican family, who would hear about this stuff, and be more than willing to cover it up--so as not to rock the boat. That's how abuse remains a secret and this abuse was secret for months, if not years.

Furthermore, it's interesting that Foley's victims have all been Republican-minded young men. My guess is that they come from staunch Republican families with strong loyalties to the party. Pedophiles often pick victims that they have leverage over. Coming from a family who has an interest in keeping Republicans in power and their scandals quiet--is leverage.

Again, I'm reserving judgment until I know more facts. However, this scandal was a secret until a Republican shared the info with ABC News. It wasn't a parent, coming forward and demanding justice. We know one set of parents knew about Foley, but we don't know about these other parents of the three recently discovered pages.

I guess we just wait and see.

[DaveJ]

10. That's what I thought but wasn't sure.

Lots of kids make good grades but could never get into the page program. I was under the impression many of the page's parents were politically connected, which makes me think that they really pissed off the wrong people.

Well at least they would be the wrong people to piss off if they were Democrats. Maybe the Republican parents will take it with a grain of salt and don't mind their kids being surrounded by perverts.

[CoffeeCat]

13. I was raised by conservative, Fundies...

...and I can tell you that they would have demanded that this be kept quiet.

Not all, but many wealthy conservatives--are more worried about appearances--than they
are about justice. Their lives revolve around gossip at the country club and social
status. Standing up against a Republican member of Congress could diminish their social
standing.

I'll say that the majority of wealthy, conservative, well-connected families probably
behave this way.

[uppityperson]

15. I was raised by midwesterners and they would've wanted it quiet.

they would have supported me once it came out, but would not wanted to push it.

[nosillies]

11. Agreed, thank you n/t