The cover-up that kills
Sidney Blumenthal
Thursday October 5, 2006
The Guardian
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As Republican control of Congress in the mid-term elections teeters on the precipice, party leaders suddenly find themselves rediscovering the harsh reality of Richard Nixon's commentary on the Watergate scandal - that it's not the crime that kills you, but the cover-up.
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From the moment he arrived on the scene, it was well known to people in the press and politics that Foley was gay, part of a gay network that honeycombs the Republican party. As the Republicans demonised gays for partisan advantage, the party became the largest walk-in closet in Washington. After the scandal broke, one gay Republican described Foley to me as incredibly indiscreet. Almost everyone on Capitol Hill knew that Foley spent an inordinate amount of time hanging out with pages.
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One Republican congressman said anyone in the leadership who knew should resign. Another returned contributions from the campaign committee as tainted. The conservative Washington Times editorialised: "Resign, Mr Speaker".
In 2004, the Republicans galvanised their voters through referendums against gay marriage in swing states. Last June, Hastert unveiled the Republican platform for the 2006 campaign, the "American Values Agenda". Now the Republican leaders' blame-casting resembles the last scene of The Treasure of Sierra Madre , where the varmints battle each other as their gold dust blows away.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1887756,00.html