Priest Did Not Have Sex With Foley

The Rev. Anthony Mercieca, 72, who now lives on the Island of Gozo, denied ever having sex wtih Mark Foley. But he did go naked in saunas with Mark Foley.

"We were friends and trusted each other as brothers and loved each other as brothers," Mercieca said in a chilling statement.

"We never had sex, OK? I fear God," Mercieca stated firmly. "But I did give the boy a reach-around...once. No, sorry, twice...there was that time at the cabin. Ah, that boy was like a son to me."

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported meetings that included naked massages, skinny-dipping in a secluded lake, and drug use.

Once again Ten Commandment worship is paying dividends.

My "Over-Friendly" Reply to Republicans

The euphemism of the week is “over-friendly” which is a phrase the Republicans have commandeered to describe Mark Foley’s sexually explicit e-mails to under-age page boys.

Scratch that, they weren’t “sexually explicit.” They weren’t “inappropriate.” They weren’t “lewd and crass and pedophilic in nature.” They were just “over-friendly.” That’s not so bad when you put it that way, is it?

Trying to claw for every vote the party of family values has just given ambiguity to every guy who doesn’t know when to stop. The boss at work isn’t sexually harassing you, he’s just being “over-friendly”, so loosen up! A guy who contacts teenagers with messages laced with sexual innuendo isn’t a pedophile, he’s just “over-friendly.”

Appalling.

The Republicans have summoned Bill Clinton’s past behavior for a last-ditch defense. I remember the analogies put forward during that scandal: if you or I had an affair with an intern we’d be fired. And that’s true. So, now, in light of Foley’s behavior, which is so much worse—and if you can’t understand that you have issues--why didn’t the Republicans fire him when they had the chance? ABC news had to break the story?

These are the games politicians play. The Republicans have successfully spun so many incredible disasters they almost seem to enjoy the challenge. They certainly don’t have much respect for you if they’ll go on national television and describe someone like Mark Foley as “over-friendly.” It should be taken as an insult to your intelligence; a slap in the face. When caught in the act they put the question to you, who are you going to believe? Me? Or your lying eyes?

God forbid, let’s hope it’s never your child who meets an “over-friendly” adult. The party that played black-and-white politics on complex issues like foreign policy, terrorism, and religion has a very hard time talking tough when one of their own is mired in disgrace. Some things are more important than politics.

These are the things the Republicans claim to stand for: ethics and morality. I don’t see it displayed anywhere in this scandal, nor in the behavior of other recently felled Republican leaders, or in how the leadership has handled the war on terror. They use words like "over-friendly", "last throwes", "freedom on the march", fuzzy nothingwords, stripped of all common sense. We're told things are going well in Iraq, and now Iraq is in a civil war. EVERYONE admits this now. We're told about WMDs, and "smoking guns" where none exist, and the result is a blanket confusion and reliance on emmotional whims rather than any empiracal logic. Even IF Iraq had been a success, would it have been worth it to strip the people of their faith and common sense, the very people who make possible such a altrusitic exercise?

At this point their spin is kind of like cotton candy, it kind of dissolves on contact.

So, my “over-friendly” reply to the Republicans, and as a parent, would be: you guys are pathetic. Anyone not calling for people’s heads over this scandal should be ashamed of themselves. Anyone even attempting to spin this makes my skin crawl. Anyone voting for the “Federal Marriage Amendment” and not trying to root out all of those in congress who prolonged Foley’s behavior should be considered hypocrites. Pointing a finger at Bill Clinton or a scandal that happened 20 years ago will do no good, because you are the party of the moral majority, the Tom DeLays, the Ralph Reeds, the James Dobsons who have an open line to the White House! We bowed to the new revolution. Don't point fingers, you say? You wanted to change things and now you just want to be treated like everyone else. Well, where is the fruit? What have we gained after all that? “Over-friendly"? Meet the new boss, the same as the old boss.

Sad, really.

Alcoholism, Church Claims Another Powerful Figure

It appears alcoholism and religion have claimed another one of our best and brightest in congress. Former Rep. Mark Foley announced he is entering rehab treatment for “alcoholism and other behavioral problems” after being caught sending sexually explicit messages to underage boys. The terrible disease of organized religion may have had a hand in Foley’s behavior as well. A day after announcing his struggles with alcoholism Foley added that as a minor he had been sexually abused by a clergyman.

Foley’s bought is another in a sharp rise in congressional alcohol related incidents this year. Foley joins former congressmen Patrick Kennedy (crashed his car near the Capitol) and Bob Ney (took illegal gifts from Jack Abramoff) in the battle against this terrible disease. The Catholic Church has also been mired in high profile scandals this year as it fights pedophilia among its ranks.

Republicans, initially passive about Foley’s behavior toward underage boys, are now expressing shock and outrage at his behavior and his attempt to alleviate personal responsibility, a ploy usually reserved for bleeding-heart liberals.

"I don't buy this at all. I think this is a phony defense,” said Republican Peter King of New York. “The fact is, I think he's responsible for what he did here and I think it's a gimmick."

Other alcoholics are equally offended and upset.

Mel Gibson issued this statement: “Alcoholism is a serious problem. It should not be used as an umbrella or political move when it is the responsibility of the person to control his or her actions.”

Ralph Bunker, a bum living under a dumpster off 43rd street was also annoyed. “I’ve been an alcoholic for most of my 60 years and I’ve never propositioned young boys. I’ve talked to other alcoholics and we don’t want him.”

Some have been more sympathetic.

“These things are pervasive in our society,” said psychologist Maria Ellison. “I think you’d be surprised at the amount of unexplainable behavior that has its roots in alcoholism or religion.”

Foley has checked himself into a rehab clinic in Florida and we wish him the best of luck on his quest to control this terrible disease. Read more about Mel Gibson’s fight here.

Missing and Exploited Children Chariman Resigns Over Sexually Explicit Messages to Minors

So, they knew the whole time? This is the story of the Republican congressman who sent sexually suggestive e-mails to underage congressional pages, and the Republican leadership that covered it all up.

I used “Republican” twice because, let's not forget, they're the party trying to tell you who to sleep with, who to get married to, and when it's ok to die--all on some kind of moral ground. Their moral authority now seems as solid as the Catholic church's.

Mark Foley (R-Fla), the 66 year-old congressmen and predator who sent the e-mails to boys under the age of 18. He was also the co-chair of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children, before resigning on Friday. Foley was so notorious in Washington that the pages warned each other to watch out for him.

John M. Shimks (R-Ill), head of the House Page Board, was told about the troubling e-mails almost a year ago. Mr. Foley was warned to be “epically mindful of his conduct” with pages. House speaker Dennis Haster (R-Ill) is also involved in the cover-up, first saying he found out about the shocking news last week, now saying he was informed early this year. The problem has been moved to the ethics committee, a well-known quagmire of inaction.

So, it seems like the worst place to leave your kids would be with a priest, a scout leader, a high-school, or a congressman. What a world.

Read the whole story here.

Visit Foley's re-election web page here.