Is Foley That Big A Deal?
Ben Stein: There Are A Lot More Important Things Happening
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Ben Stein says that the news media should be covering other stories besides the Mark Foley scandal. (Getty Images/Richard Patterson)
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Foley Fallout
Background on the former Florida representative and the probe into the House page scandal.
Naturally, like every other American parent, I am troubled indeed by the revelations about Mark Foley sending sexually explicit e-mails to teenage Congressional pages.
But I am stunned about the amount of attention the subject is getting in the national media. It's 24/7 on all the cable news stations, all over major front pages, and leading the network news. I agree it's a big story, but let's put it in perspective:
There's a war on in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa. Something roughly like of 1,200 civilians each day are being raped and or murdered or dying of disease or hunger in that war. Millions have died, and very rarely does anyone in the media mention it.
In Darfur, Sudan, there is an ongoing genocide, taking thousands of lives every day, while the world does nothing, and I mean nothing.
The security situation in Afghanistan, which we thought we had conquered a few years ago, is collapsing. Half of the country is enemy infested. Our commanders there are begging–yes, begging–for more troops, planes, and helicopters, and their pleas are going unanswered. The Taliban, which sheltered Osama bin Laden, is resurgent all over the nation. If we lose there–and we are losing — Osama bin Laden has beaten us — again.
If Afghanistan falls to the Taliban, Pakistan will likely fall to the Islamic fanatics in that country. This would be a catastrophe indeed, since Pakistan has a large arsenal of nuclear weapons. But nowhere is this gathering disaster mentioned except on egghead shows.
Call me crazy. But while e-mails about gay sex to a minor are important if they come from a Congressman, aren't 1,200 lives a day in Africa important? They're just as important as you and I are. Isn't the likely victory of a terrorist movement in Afghanistan and the possible emergence of a fanatic-led nuclear Pakistan important?
The Foley story is a big story, but in the interest of pursuing a sex scandal we are ignoring matters of life and death for the whole planet. Countries that don't know what is life threatening and what is not do not last. I am sorry to say, that's us.
Commentary By Ben Stein ©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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The Foley story needs to reported and the Darfur story needs to be also...and it (Darfur) is, sadly, under-reported.
...And why aren't you discussing the topic - the short coverage by the media and world governments (including the U.S.) of the tragedy in Darfur...Does anyone (this include you), care? What is your solution to addressing their plight?
Like Darfur, we're all waiting for your solution...and waiting...and waiting...
Darfur? The Progress in Iraq?? North Korea developing nukes??? Who cares at the Comedic Broadcasting System. I can't stand George Clooney but at least he shows some courage by talking up Darfur. Witness that with how Pervert Bill and Miss Piggy Albright did nothing about the Sudan (save a missile strike on a chemical plant) until the last six months of pervert liar's Presidency.
I want my America back, the America that stood for freedom, peace, liberty and justice...regardless of the cost. PLEASE vote...please reclaim our America.
We want the moral high ground...we want every day American families to have housing and medical care...we don't want secret prisons, torture, people held without charges, deals with murky secret organizations in other countries to torture people to on heresay evidence. Get rid of this bunch. Vote.
*** CHAT WAS WITH 18 YEAR OLD
On Tuesday ABC news released a high-impact instant message exchange between Foley and, as ABC explained, a young man "under the age of 18."
ABC headlined the story: "New Foley Instant Messages; Had Internet *** While Awaiting House Vote"
But upon reviewing the records, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned, the young man was in fact over the age of 18 at the time of the exchange.
A network source explains, messages with the young man and disgraced former Congressman Foley took place before and after the 18th birthday.
"you republicans are the first to speak out loudly against gay rights, but have no problem electing gay people like Foley to office"
I'm also not aware of ANYONE supporting his actions...
"and then support his disgusting, evil acts....typical republican"
Less emotion and more reason, please?
Did we ALL forget about Darfur already??? Sorry, Mr Stein.
You may be thinking of Amerika? You know, the one where Marxism thrives and is alive and well...Oops, it's not here either. Your insensitivity to what matters went out with the 90's (thank goodness). Just ask any Bolshevik.
I do intend to vote...thank's for the reminder!
My son, Page, was of a page's age when Tom Foley was speaker of the house. No one could have known any of this information unless it was an inside job. Look at the numbers used by dgmiller13 and finny06. Read the comments of jason bellini intently, then read what I have just posted.
You always have to base your arguments on the message...otherwise there is nothing to intelligently debate.
Is the story accurate or not...if not, then show me (with facts) why not?
The messenger can be from Mars as far as I care.
I think you're 'feelng' this more than getting it...Uh oh, I think I just I just fired a shot across the bow...sorry.
First, what happened and didn't happen in the Foley matter is important. If leadership was covering for a member rather than protecting children, that's a big deal indeed.
Second, I'd be hard pressed to remember when Ben Stein thought any of these other issues were important enough to be the topic of his commentaries. Seems to me he tends to be more interested in his tax burden than the hardships of life in the Congo.
Take a look at American political history from the Civil war going forward...you may be unpleasantly surprised?
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by
October 9, 2006 8:34 PM PDT
- cuymag and uvolks2 - We all 'feel your pain'. What I want to know is...when are you going to say something?
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