Gov. Blunt donates his Foley money

   Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt today donated the $1,000 he received from former Florida Congressman Mark Foley to Boys and Girls Town of Missouri to help abused and neglected children.

   "The disturbing incident brought to light just days ago is terrible for everyone involved," said Bekah Cooper, a spokeswoman for Blunt.

   She said no one with the campaign was aware of Foley's behavior when the contribution was accepted.

   Blunt received a $1,000 donation from Foley's political committee on Aug. 26, 2004.

   Earlier Monday, Missouri Democrats had demanded that Blunt donate the money to a charity.

Posted by Steve Kraske

Comments

[LarrytheScrabbleGuy]

Why is it Blunt only moves on stuff like this AFTER Democrats call him out on it? Makes you wonder. I mean, you'd think by now they would expect the Democrats to attack him on it and go ahead and cut the check to charity yesterday.

[BeProudAmerica]

Larry,

Did you notice that yesterday was Sunday and the weekend. The story started late Thursday and exploded on Friday. Last time I checked Monday was the next business day and if I was someone in Blunt's shoes, I would want to get all the information first hand not through news stories which takes time.

Weren't the Democrats calling him Republicans as the story broke anyway????

[BeProudAmerica]

The last line should have been:

Weren't the Democrats calling Republcans out as the story broke? Seemed awfully coordinated.

And again I am in no way apologizing or defending Foley, he acted improperly and should be punished.

[LarrytheScrabbleGuy]

BeProud, as the story above reads "Earlier Monday, Missouri Democrats had demanded that Blunt donate the money to a charity." So it all happened today. Nice try.

[BeProudAmerica]

Larry

Come on, you got to be kidding. To criticize someone you have to give them a chance to something.

So the story really broke on Friday and then Monday morning Dems are demanding him to return the money. Yea, there was a lot of time there.

[Bob]

Seems like the party line for the Republicans, "we didn't know." Methinks the gentelmen protest too much.

Why was Foley donating to Blunt in 2004?

This is a disgusting cover-up. Hastert said today he didn't remember being told about the instant message - total B.S. Another Republican has already said he told Hastert in the spring. LIAR!
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,217176,00.html

These people value predators & politics over keeping our kids safe.

[John Evans]

What's worse is the house leadership was well aware of this even warning pages. These people put Party loyalty above all. Just look at thier votes. They walk in lockstep with the extreme right and there is no disent tolorated. They will not investigate the crimes of the administration which are clear to all. They went so far as to draw up legislation to give President immunity from war crimes already knowingly committed when they should have long ago had him testifying in front of an Impeachment investigation. These people are drunk on Power. I believe they kept him in that position so they could blackmail him. A gauranteed vote. The Republican Party must be brought down. Donald Rumsfeld allowed U.S. to rape children in front of their parents for interogation purposes. They are some sick demented people. Those who would keep them in power now are just as bad.

[ezjay]

Blunt what a great read on that guy! Once again this Gov can not judge anyone. I glad he is a one termer!

[BeProudAmerica]

John Evans stated: Donald Rumsfeld allowed U.S. to rape children in front of their parents for interogation purposes.

Ok, I have to admit that is a new one that I hadn't heard before, now where did you get that from?

[craig]

I have been reading these blogs for the last couple of days (haven't been able to post) and I am fairly disgusted by both sides. How can anybody make this a political stategy? Let me sum it up for everybody;
1. Foley/pedophile = dirtbag
2. Rebupblican or Democrat = irrelevant
3. Bill Clintons affair in the 90's has nothing to do with this.
4. As of right now any speculation about the party leadership knowing about this is just that, speculation. Wait for the investigations and if it turns out that someone did then they need to be held accountable. What that level of accountability is (censure, resignation, removal from key positions...) is to be determined later. If it is found that they knew nothing about it then they should receive an apology from anyone that jumped to conclusions.
5. Why hasn't anyone shown any sympathy or support for this poor kid in Louisiana? He is the victim!! Yet everybody wants to point fingers and call each other names and play partisan politics. Any of you that called stated something negative about the Democrats or Republican without worrying about this kid ought to be ashamed of yourself. It is very possible that this kid will be scarred for life. While his name has not been released, I am sure that people that are close to him are asking him "Hey weren't you a page last year?" and it is only a matter of time before some unscrupulous reporter leaks his name, address, and phone number. Focus on what is important.
One last question, what the he** does this have to do with Iraq?

[John Evans]

This is the kind of crimes the president and his boys just got a free pass on.

Kids sodomized at Abu Ghraib, Pentagon has the videos - Hersh
by Gryn
Wed Jul 14, 2004 at 08:33:32 PM PDT

(From the diaries -- kos)
Seymour Hersh says the US government has videotapes of boys being sodomized at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

"The worst is the soundtrack of the boys shrieking," the reporter told an ACLU convention last week. Hersh says there was "a massive amount of criminal wrongdoing that was covered up at the highest command out there, and higher."
This is a summary of Hersh speaking at the ACLU 2004 America At A Crossroads conference according to EdCone.com (via Oliver Willis). I verified by watching the video myself (it starts at 1:07, the "worse stuff" part starts at 1:30).

There's more bad stuff in here, read Ed Cone's summary.

I'll try transcribing some of the more important bits.

[my transcription from 1:31 - 1:32]
Some of the worse that happened that you don't know about, ok. Videos, there are women there. Some of you may have read they were passing letters, communications out to their men. This is at Abu Ghraib which is 30 miles from Baghdad [...]

The women were passing messages saying "Please come and kill me, because of what's happened". Basically what happened is that those women who were arrested with young boys/children in cases that have been recorded. The boys were sodomized with the cameras rolling. The worst about all of them is the soundtrack of the boys shrieking that your government has. They are in total terror it's going to come out.

It's impossible to say to yourself how do we get there? who are we? Who are these people that sent us there?
Chilling.

[update: title changed since Hersh could be giving either 1st or 2nd hand info. I need to watch it again first - Gryn]

* Gryn's diary :: ::
*

Tags: Abu Ghraib, ACLU, Seymour Hersh, rape, video (all tags)
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2004/7/14/193750/666

[John Evans]

Here's more on Abu Graib. pdf. http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/world/iraq/abughraib/151108.pdf

If it is true that the U.S. government, who claim to be a Christian country, allowed the U.S. to rape children in front of their parents for interogation purposes, then there is no doubt in my mind that we are the Great Babylon described in the book of Revelation within the Holy Bible.

The Great Babylon, this country is described as the famous prostitute that God will allow and cause to be destroyed totally in one hour by fire, it will be burned to the ground and everything within it will be destroyed because of the countries unrepented sins and evils. It is written and it will happen.

[kayceewolf]

Actually, I thought we were only the So-So Babylon.

Sheesh! Is there a full moon out tonight or what?

[John Evans]

Denial

[BeProudAmerica]

I don't think I saw anything in your articles that states that Rumsfield allowed these things thatare being accused.

What I find funny is the woman that was in charge of the prisons in Iraq spoke in Springfield, MO last week about the war. And dogged the adminstration about the things that went on in the prisons when SHE was in charge of them and the stuff happened under her watch.

[southerngirl]

First of all you cannot tie Blunt to Foley except for a donation. When it came to light he did the right thing, he did not keep the money. Had he not brought it up himself, one of you would and then you would have faulted him for having the money.

None of us can plan what another will do, but we can try to do the right thing. Give it a break, he stood up like a man and did what was good...my goodness, may everyone be so good.

How about donations from Ted Kennedy to any Democrat, or Bill Clinton of all people stumping for Claire...she has no problem with Willie Nelson's help either. Wouldn't you want to run from that instead of calling him a "true patriot"?

People who live in glass houses......

Kayceewolf,

I guess I am alittle slow, explain yourself. I don't understand what you are trying to say by the comment:

"Actually, I thought we were only the So-So Babylon.

Sheesh! Is there a full moon out tonight or what?"

Southerngirl,

Blunt did not do so great in standing up for our children in the version of the Jessica law bill that he signed supposedly to curve sexual abuse of children. As it stands, children over 12 years old are not really protected by the bill, it protect the perverts from harsh punishment if their victim is over 12 years old.

No harsh punishments in Missouri for perpetrators such as Foley and a great many other "quote, well respected men" hypocrites like him in our society, who see themselves as somehow above deserving harsh punishment for ruining children's lives. The bill left it open where the ones with power and position, and or wealth can walk away with probation, and the poor, not so connected ones may receive harsh punishment. No minimum sentences set for harm to our children over 12 years old. Why do you think that is, Southerngirl?

[southerngirl]

I think Jessica's bill is a start and no matter what age it was set at you would attack it. I gave up a long time ago on this blog falling into the arguing mode because everyone hwere is so split that they would criticize Blunt if he got up on the left side of the bed instead of right or the other way around. I think Jessica's Bill was better than no bill, and we all start somewhere. Thanks for input anyway..

[John Evans]

Southern Girl I don't understand what Willy Nelson, Bill Clinton, or Ted Kennedy have to do with these Pedophiles in the Republican Party. Why would you say Willy is not Patriotic?

[Political Moderate]

The simple reality that Southerngirl cannot "get" involves the connections among a tight group of Republican operatives in Washington and Jefferson City.
How else can we explain a contribution from a Congressman representing a district in southern Florida?
Hence, the call to responsibility for the Foley affair published in today's conservative Washinton Times editorial trumpets the need for ALL participants to be made a part of the repairs needed in America.
We need an old-fashioned housekeeping. We need to flush the system to purge it of the culture of corruption that has weakened America.
This November, we need to be united in our resolve to prevent panderers of wrong to continue to have positions of leadership.
Dennis Hastert, Roy Blunt, Sam Graves and Jim Talent all need to be ejected from office.

[VetThatVotes]

I claim to be neither a Democrat nor a Republican. I am simply a Missourian and an American. I served my country as a member of the US Army and try to vote in every election. For the first time in my life I will vote a straight Democratic ticket even though I detest Clair, I will do the same even if Hillary runs for president! I do this because I have come to believe the Republican Party does not have my best interest at heart and that they have caused great harm to this state and to this country. Everything they do is orchestrated to ensure they remain in power. They sell out their own the minute public opinion turns against them and they will sell all of us down the river to stay in power. I truly believe that their goals are self-serving and everything the do reflect that. This is just one more example.

[southerngirl]

Ah John- Ted Kennedy was responsible for a girls death and laving the scene among other things and the drug arrest of Willie Nelson certainly does not speak well for him upholdling the laws of the country including the tax ones. Whether you agree with a law or not it is just that..and then there is Bill, while Monica was of age, it was still power over her by a person in authority who lied to his family and nation.

So just remmeber bad and good people come in all parties or are you delusional enough to think that all dems are honest law abiding citizens....

[CRD]

"are you delusional enough to think that all dems are honest law abiding citizens...."

I think that most people realize that people in power too often tend to abuse that power, if given a chance. That's why it's so distressing to many when we see Congress cede the power to reinterpret torture and designate pretty much anyone an "enemy combatant" solely to the executive branch with no oversight from Congress -- and while abolishing any right to habeas corpus. That's too much power for any president to have -- be it Bush, Hillary Clinton, or Abe Lincoln.

We should find common ground in demanding transparency -- both with regard to this sexual predator preying on Congressional pages, and with regard to protecting our basic liberties and due process guarantees.