Nancy Johnson's attempt to connect Democrats to timing of Foley messages should be challenged

by: ctblogger

Mon Oct 09, 2006 at 12:31:01 PM EDT

Take a look at Nancy Johnson's statement regarding the Mark Foley scandal. Pay particular attention to the item in bold.

If any leader from either party tried to cover up this information at the expense of the safety of our children, then they should resign their position immediately.

It would be reprehensible if any Republican leader intentionally covered up the full facts of the case, and it would be equally reprehensible if Democrat leaders sat on this information for a year in order to release it 30 days before an election.

I want an investigation to go forward to find out answers to these questions.

Although there is mounting evidence that House Speaker Dennis Hassert and other Republican leaders did indeed attempt to put Foley's situation under the rug, Johnson somehow feels the need to paint House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) as people who timed the release of this information just in time for the November elections.

Oh yeah, lets not forget the fact that the person who gave the messages to the media is a Congressional aide who's a lifelong registered Republican. I guess Nancy didn't get that memo.

Johnson's statement echoes those of other Republicans who've been making the rounds on the various talk shows. The most outspoken has been Freshman Rep. Patrick McHenry and when the Congressman was grilled by Wolf Blitzer about his accusatons and asked to provide evidence to support his claim (A TOTAL OF FIVE TIMES), McHenry was rendered speechless.

MCHENRY: The question remains, though: What person, group or political entity had these nasty instant messages and possessed the e-mails in order to solicit this story? And in a partisan environment like we’re in right now in Washington, four weeks out from a national election, that question must be asked.

BLITZER: So what you’re suggesting - and correct me if I'm wrong, because you've been doing this for the last few days - that Democrats are behind the timing of the release of this information? Is that your accusation?

MCHENRY: Well, look, all the fact points lead to one question: Did Rahm Emanuel or Nancy Pelosi have any involvement on the strategic or tactical level? This morning on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," the question was asked of Rahm Emanuel. His reaction was he did not see the instant messages or e-mails. He repeatedly said, he did not see. I've asked him to testify under oath to assure the American people that he was not involved in this issue in any way, shape or form.

BLITZER: Do you have any evidence at all that Democrats or others might have been behind the timing of this scandal?

MCHENRY: Look, let's be honest…

BLITZER: Do you have any evidence to back that charge up?

MCHENRY: No, no, actually, if the Democrats had any issue with saying this, putting all the facts out on the table, they would say, certainly, I'll testify under oath that I had no involvement in it. They’ve said no.

BLITZER: Well, you don't have any evidence, though, right?

MCHENRY: Well, look at the fact points.

BLITZER: Yes or no, do you have any evidence, Congressman?

MCHENRY: Do you have any evidence that they weren’t involved?

BLITZER: I'm just asking if you're just throwing out an accusation or if you have any hard evidence.

MCHENRY: No. It's a question, Wolf. The question remains, were they involved? And if they were not involved, they need to say clearly. And it's a question. It's not an accusation.

Like Congressman McHenry, Johnson should be treated to the same round of questions by members of the media and the public at large. Republicans like McHenry and Johnson should not be allowed to freely give the impression that Democrats are somehow behind the timing of Foley's messages without citing any evidence to back up their baseless claim.