Still The One?
EmailRep. Sue Kelly, R-NY, was chair of the Congressional Page Board in 1999 and 2000. Yesterday at an editorial board meeting alongside her Democratic challenger John Hall, Kelly erupted when Hall said that the GOP House doesn’t take responsibility, raising her former position on the Page Board as evidence.
The Times Herald-Record, bless its soul, videotaped the meeting and posted the video online…
"I just can’t believe! That you would accuse me! A wife, a mother, a grandmother, a teacher of doing something that would harm children," Kelly said. "I have fought for children all of my life! You have no shame!" She said Foley didn’t start any of his shenanigans until 2001 when she was no longer on the page board.
Kelly is widely favored to win the seat, which is North of Manhattan, though the race gotten more competitive in the last few weeks. The anti-Iraq-war Hall was leader and chief songwriter for the rock group Orleans ("Still the One") and won the Democratic primary against a more moderate candidate (a former Republican, in fact) favored by DC Democrats.
CPAC: Romney Struggles to Convince Voters 
Obama Backs Off Birth Control Battle?
I have yet to see any news organization with a soul. Black Heart, yes Yellow dog, yes, but never a soul.
As for politicians, no soul, no heart, no scruples, no tact, and certainly no fairness when it comes to a smear.
Posted by: flyover | October 17, 2006, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
Mr. Hall’s comments seem to have, shall we say, touched a nerve with Rep. Kelly. Being the curmudgeonly cynic that I am, I suspect the third of the following reasons for her reaction:
1. Rep. Kelly was truly outraged at the charges made, presumably which she had no involvement in, and felt she had to respond emotionally. (Possibly, but politicians expressing outrage nowadays are a dime a dozen, so such expressions are no longer very effective or memorable.)
2. Rep. Kelly is “pulling a Bill Clinton” by becoming righteous, emotional, and accusatory to “energize her base.” (Possibly, but unnecessary given her lead in the polls.)
3. Rep. Kelly is in high dudgeon to emphasize that she would never have knowingly countenanced such behavior during her term on the Page Board, and would have dealt with it swiftly and decisively. (Bingo! She not only expresses her moral outrage and her concern for children, but also separates herself from the current Foley mess by reminding people that Foley’s detestable behavior occurred after 2001 when she was no longer on the board.)
But Flyover’s second paragraph said all of this far better than I ever could.
Posted by: chuck | October 17, 2006, 1:32 pm 1:32 pm
Sue Kelly STRONGLY favored to win…perhaps you should take your head out of the sand?
As to John Hall’s accusations….let’s review a few of the FACTS in the Foley Scandal.
1. Sue Kelly claimed nothing WRONG happened during her term as the Chairwoman of the Page Board…we now know for a FACT that this is a false statement.
2. Sue Kelly then recalibrated, and released another statement saying NOBODY TOLD HER, or she would have taken STRONG ACTIONS. First, we know that a page went to her SECOND IN COMMAND on the Page Board, Congressman Kolbe with accusations.
Secondly, we know that Foley arrived at the Page Dorm in the year 2000 and tried to FORCE his way into the building will DRUNK. Has any one in the press bothered to see if and INCIDENT REPORT was generated for that night, and if so, WHO GOT COPIES of it?
Lastly, supppose you would have the voters in the 19th Congressional District believe their was no attempt of a cover up in 2000, when exposure of the Foley Scandal that year would have meant NO BUSH IN THE WHITE HOUSE?
Posted by: Porgie Tirebiter | October 20, 2006, 6:27 pm 6:27 pm