Say Anything Blog

World Net Daily

“Speaker Hastert had knowledge of Congressman Foley’s inappropriate behavior and chose to protect a potential pedophile and powerful colleague over a congressional page,” said David Bossie, president of conservative advocacy group Citizens United, today.

“This inaction demonstrates a lack of leadership on Speaker Hastert’s part, and calls into question both his judgment and character. If Speaker Hastert was willing to sacrifice a child to protect Rep. Foley’s seat and his own leadership position, then he surely does not share our American and conservative values,” said Bossie.

Hastert today called for investigation of the circumstances that led to Foley’s terse resignation last week.

But organization spokesman Stephen Manfredi said there was an obligation there when the information first became known to follow through.

“We’re hearing a lot of talk now about an investigation,” he told WND. “Where was the talk about an investigation when there was a problem.”

The situation was akin to an oil pressure light flashing on a car. Someone who sees it should check it out. “That’s a very good analogy,” Manfredi said.

Foley’s “inappropriate, perverse and illicit communications” with a teen-age page were known to several leaders, yet no one followed through with an investigation, the group noted.

Hastert “has already failed in his duty to investigate and prosecute this matter before it became a public relations problem,” the organization said.

“This lack of leadership is not only morally repugnant, but it may cost Republicans the House in November. Mr. Hastert should resign immediately,” Bossie said.

Michael Reagan, a nationally syndicated radio show host and chairman of Citizens United’s Faith and Family Project, agreed.

“Any member of Congress who was aware of the sexual e-mails and protected the congressman should also resign effective immediately,” he said.

Citizens United is a Washington-based conservative grassroots advocacy group dedicated to restoring the government to citizens’ control, the group said.

It “seeks to reassert the traditional American values of limited government, freedom of enterprise, strong families, and national sovereignty and security.” Its goal is the restore the Founding Fathers’ vision of a free nation, guided by honesty, common sense and good will of its citizens.