WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE ABOUT FOLEY?

Because we are doing a what if (?) think about if you are an executive in a mid size corporation and one of your department heads sends some emails to clients or employees similar to the first emails disclosed sent by Foley.

These emails were suggestive but none were forward about sex like the messages recently released (but went back a couple of years).

So you are an executive and you want to do something about this person who sent out questionable emails. What you do is call your personnel manager or head of human resources as they are called now. Because of the present laws you have to be careful that you follow the procedures to prevent you from losing the company in a law suit.

Not surprisingly your HR people tell you it is probably better not do anything except keep your eyes open for more evidence. What you have are some comments from someone that seemed to be overly friendly and there were rumors of him possibly being gay.
Therefore, if you attacked him for his comments you would be guilty of restricting his rights to free speech. If you bring up a rumor that he might be gay you are guilty of discrimination. Therefore, the professionals and your lawyers are going to tell you not to do anything or you are going to end up in court.

This same procedure was probably considered or followed in the halls of congress. After all, these are the people who wrote the laws and confirmed the judges of SCOTUS who interpret them. They must have had these considerations. I do have some unconfirmed buzz that this is exactly what happened. The implication is that former appointments to the court have it leaning toward the rights issues very heavily and rulings are blocking many corrections in human behavior. Foley will be supported in his right to free speech to the Pages except in the most recent and more explicit text messages that have been revealed.

The messages that recently were revealed are more suggestive and more action could no doubt have been allowed. However, the press disclosed the messages before they were taken to the leadership. Emails are preserved when you turn off your computer. However, text messages disappear unless they are saved. One wonders why a message that is so objectionable was actually saved. Was Foley being baited? Were plans under way to set him up? Or was this a reasonable effort to disclose what Foley is like? If so, then the person or group that withheld these messages until just before the election are guilty of leaving young Pages at risk longer than necessary and are as guilty as Foley.

None of the charges are about protecting the Pages or doing what is right. There are no cries for reform, standards of treatment or education of congress. All we have are charges against the leadership and a request to resign. If Hastert did resign his opposition would make headlines about his weakness and that he had to resign. If he does not resign they will make headlines about him not accepting responsibility and resigning. It is a no win situation for the Republicans.

But it is not the end of the election. At my age I have been through this many times and always know these neat tricks being performed will backfire. The Democrats are elated and confidant. This will take the pressure off many to endure the inconvenience of voting because many will figure it is going to be such a slaughter that their vote will not be missed. The Republicans are worried and energized and will push to get as many votes as they can. The polls are all based on likely voters. It is the actual turn out that will determine the outcome and I am predicting it will be closer than you think.

I would suggest the Republicans should follow a different course of action. They should be critical of the Democrats for setting up a system that protected Foleys rights to verbally intimidate the young people. Republicans must point out the failure of Democrats to seek reforms to protect Pages such as a code of ethics for the treatment of them by the congressional members and an advocate where Pages may discuss any item making them uncomfortable without placing them at risk for dismissal. Show instead that the Democrats are only interested in taking control of the purse strings for their own benefit.