No doubt, the Foley affair (or Masturgate, if you will) is a bombshell, and one that promises to keep on
exploding in the Republicans' faces, especially if the coverup is/was anything like the allegations I have read here. The potential to demoralize the Fundie Mentals on the right is vast, thematic ties to the
Marianas child prostitution scandal await illumination, there is a complex and wide-ranging money trail to follow, and on and on. Enough to keep us enthralled until well after November 7.
And that is the problem.
DailyKos is going tabloid over this scandal.
Before you all flame me a new one, let me be clear: this scandal is
real, it is
important, and I am glad it came to light because it takes a possible sexual predator out of a position of power over his potential victims. I am also glad for the gift of a new election issue with no apparent downside for democrats.
But it is not the Iraq War.
This is a crystal clear opportunity for democrats all over the country to tie the Repubs vaunted party loyalty to their inherent corruption, and to show how the failures of America in recent years are not just the result of the Worst. President. Ever., but are a natural result of the cronyism and backroom dealing of the power brokers hijacking our government.
But it is not the evisceration of the Bill of Rights.
As more information comes to light, and Americans witness the reluctance of the Repub leadership to deal with this responsibly, it is easy to show the callousness of said leadership toward the alleged victims.
But it is not Katrina-ravaged New Orleans.
Many have rightly said that, politically, it is pointless to go after Foley; he's resigned in disgrace, and may face criminal charges (pardon coming 1/19/09). The Republican leadership involved in covering this up are quite likely complicit in any crimes committed, and in a just world would be criminally liable for what they've done.
But it is not the institutionalized torture of prisoners.
I feel the need to remind the community that, for all its juicy goodness, this latest abomination of the
Gangrenous Old Pervert party is not even close to the biggest problem facing our nation.
Look, if it helps win the democrats seats in November, then hallelujah. Let's flog this for all it's worth. God knows they'd do it to us if the tables were turned. But I've been reading far too many comments like this one from a recommended diary:
If MSM doesn't pick up on this big time then this one gets us into the streets.
Tens of thousands in every major city across the country.
Peaceful blockades of the networks and their affiliates then they'll listen.
Desperate times, friends, desperate times.
Excuse me, THIS is the issue that gets us riled up to the point of massive street protests?
Not the plain fact that we have been lied into an unwinnable war?
Not torture being written into law as habeas corpus is being written out?
Not the languishing of a major American city thirteen months after a hurricane ravaged it?
Not the serial lawbreaking of a truly rogue ruling party?
NONE of that pissed us off as much as Masturgate?
Tawdry sells, I know.
So sell it. But don't buy it.
The outrage is a little too NatalieHollowayJonBenetRamseyLaciPetersonStainedBlueDress for such a sophisticated community.