Bush Expresses Confidence in Hastert:
President Bush today professed shock, dismay and disgust over revelations that a disgraced former Republican congressman sent sexually explicit messages to teenaged boys who served as congressional pages, but he expressed confidence in House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) in the face of calls for his resignation over the matter.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to a school named after him in Stockton, Calif., Bush said he was sure that Hastert "wants all the facts to come out" about the behavior of Mark Foley, 52, a Florida Republican who resigned his House seat Friday as the scandal was emerging.
Amazing. Bush has chosen this moment to get on board a rapidly sinking ship. This is one of those moments where Karl Rove's supposed strategic genius is nowhere in evidence. The conservative base is
already enraged at Hastert:
There was intense anger among social conservative activists in Washington yesterday, and some called for House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) to resign. ...
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council and an important social conservative leader, said "there's a real chance" that the episode could dethrone the Republican majority. "I think the next 48 hours are critical in how this is handled," he said, adding that "when a party holds itself out as the guardian of values, this is not helpful." ...
David Bossie, who runs a group called Citizens United, called yesterday for Hastert's resignation and said other conservative leaders are likely to follow suit. Bossie said the initial e-mails alone, which included Foley's request of a minor's picture, should have prompted an immediate inquiry. "That was a cry for an investigation," Bossie said. "Why couldn't the speaker of the House muster the will to stop this?"
Leaders from about six dozen socially conservative groups held a conference call late yesterday afternoon, and participants were described as livid with House GOP leaders.
"They are outraged by how Hastert handled this," said Paul M. Weyrich, a conservative activist who participated in the call. "They feel let down, left aside. How can they allow a guy like [Foley] to remain chairman of the committee on missing and exploited children when there is any question about e-mails?"
Bay Buchanan (Pat's sister) and the Washington Times have also called for Hastert's resignation. The base is not going to be pacified on this, even by Bush. In fact, it just makes Bush and his whole administration look more loathsome. The entire leadership of the GOP is now united in working to alienate their core voters and keep them away from the polls next month.
Thanks, guys!