I believe more than one person fits the bill of "Worst Person in the World" here.
Americablog is asking these questions:
Why did Republican House Speaker Denny Hastert leave Foley as the co-chair of the House body in charge of child sex offenses for a good year after they knew?
Why did Republican House Speaker Denny Hastert permit Foley to stay in the House at all, where he would be around other pages every day all day long?
And just as importantly, why did Republican House Speaker Denny Hastert let Foley lie publicly yesterday about the emails, claiming they were innocent, and simply a dirty attack from the Democrats, when the House leadership knew the real story?
And finally, we find out that the FBI was contacted two months about this story. Was there any follow-up from the Bush FBI? Or did they just let this potential case of child sex offense go by the wayside because it involved a friend of Bush?
Many Americans effected by the Adam Walsh Act, formerly known as HR 4472, are asking those same questions.
Many persons have been convicted of sex-related offenses that have no physical contact with a person, much less a minor. Period.
Foley is a perfect example, getting caught up in this email situation.
Words on a page.
To lure a page?
My point is this.
When the Adam Walsh Act (HR 4472) was sent back to the House by the Senate, a handful of Congressmen stood up and asked Hastert to suspend the rules so the AWA did not have to go to a full vote with the House.
These representatives all sponsored some plank of the AWA.
Foley was one of these Congressmen.
Bobby Scott[D-VA]-alone-stood up against the AWA, citing, "This does not release us from the responsibility to legislate on a sound and reasoned basis. I believe the situation is serious and grave enough to warrant a bill that is based on approaches that have been proven to reduce this scourge in our society, not on sound bites that will merely pander to our emotions."
Thousands of Americans already impacted by the individual state's highly restrictive offender laws-that also impact nonoffending family members- faxed Hastert request after request after request to please NOT SUSPEND THE RULES for the Adam Walsh Act.
Of course, Hastert chose to go ahead and allow this handful of elected officials to vote this horrendous AWA into law, just in time to be signed by our Prez on the 25th anniversary of Adam's disappearance.
We now know that Hastert knew about Foley for one solid year, allowed him to keep the Co-Chair position, and ignored the request of countless American citizens, to honor a simple citizen request that United States Congressmen actually follow procedures.... and Hastert suspended the rules anyway.
A severe clear case of conflict of interest.
Expellable?
I would think so.
At any rate, countless, FACELESS, Americans were disenfranchised by the political process of our supposedly representative form of government
Rep. Sensenbrenner [R-WI]: is also involved in the heavy handed passage of the AWA.
How much did he know abut Foley?
And let's not forget the others who supported Foley in the rush to pass the AWA: Rep.Green[R-WI], Ginny-Brown Waite,[R-FL],Rep. Pence [R-IN],Rep. Pomeroy [D-ND],Rep. Cramer[D-AL],Rep. Kelly [R-NY],Rep. Fitzpatrick [R-PA],Rep. Gingrey[R-GA],Rep. Hayworth[R-AZ],Rep. Gillmor[R-OH],Rep. Udall [D-CO]:Rep. Emanuel [D-IL]Rep. Pence [R-IN]:Rep. Meek [D-FL],Rep.Herger[R-CA],Rep. Van Hollen [D-MD].
These "people" are responsible for using our worst fear-the possible harm of our children-to pass hysteric legislation.
Knowing, full well, that many persons convicted of sex-related offenses, have had no physical contact with a person. Period.
Just like Mark Foley.
One who chose not to practice what he preached.
If charged, Foley's indiscretion is a third degree felony and under the AWA, if convicted, he must register as a Tier II sex offender and be possibly subject to GPS monitoring.
His face, name and home address will be posted on his resident state's sex offender registry as well as a national sex offender registry.
Foley will not be allowed to live within certain distances of places children choose to congregate.
For words typed in an email.
What sweet justice that Foley may be subject to the very laws he helped to create.
Families are being forced to leave their homes in Georgia, Iowa, and Kentucky because of the impact of the unconstitutional laws Foley helped to pass.
Ex post facto.
Under the AWA, Prom Night, the traditional right of passage, now carries a 10 year mandatory minimum should an 18 year old high school senior cross a state line with his 17 year old girlfriend.
Or vice versa, ladies.
The 109th Congress.
Disgraceful.
Foley's parting words at the passage of the AWA, July 25th, 2006:
"I want to thank Speaker HASTERT for keeping his word to get the Adam Walsh bill to the President by July 27th-the 25th Anniversary of Adam's death."
I feel dirty.
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