Will Foley Cost Republicans The Election?

[dgridley]

With the upcoming elections in November, word is the (Mark) Foley gay sex scandal may cost the Republicans dearly. Fingerpointing and accusations about coverups and just plain ignoring the incidents in question are plainly tarnishing the Republican campaign trail, both on and offline.

http://campaignnews.info/2006/10/08/will-foley-sex-scandal-lose-election-for-republicans/

[Anti-Racism]

You can count on them losing the 13-year-old-male vote.

[bobbylien]

Any republican involved in this cover up should be kicked out of office. We need new republican leaders. Hastert should resign over this.

[BoogyMan]

Any republican involved in this cover up should be kicked out of office. We need new republican leaders. Hastert should resign over this.


You assume a knowledge of this event that no-one yet has Bobby.

If he knew about the lurid garbage he should be run out of Washington on a rail just before the tar and feather party, but if all the democrats have on Hastert is an email asking for a picture the democrats are truly a sad bunch of people and should drop the October surprise phase of this as it takes away from the seriousness of what Foley actually did.

[sbannon]

To address the original question, I think the Foley scandal will play a large part in quite a few elections across the country and likely cost Republicans the Senate.

While I personally want to see a change in leadership, I don't like seeing it come about in this way, so I think it's a shame that the Foley scandal will play a role.

It's kind of like watching a great football game and then seeing it decided by a blown call from the Officials in the last seconds. I'd feel better knowing that people voted on the merits--or lack of-- in candidate's records and ideas rather than the stink of a single clown's actions.

I guess you can tell I don't subscribe to the win at all cost politicking of recent years...

[Drocket]

Even before the Foley scandal, it was almost a given that the Republicans were going to lose the House. Foley has pretty much turned that into a certainty, and will without a doubt increase the Democratic majority. The real question is the Senate: there are very few competative Senate seats up for election this year, making a change in control something that's looked pretty unlikely. The Democrats have made some major gains in some key Senate races over the past month (even before the Foley scandal broke) and its POSSIBLE they'll pick up the Senate, but still somewhat unlikely, IMO.

[BoogyMan]

To address the original question, I think the Foley scandal will play a large part in quite a few elections across the country and likely cost Republicans the Senate.

While I personally want to see a change in leadership, I don't like seeing it come about in this way, so I think it's a shame that the Foley scandal will play a role.

It's kind of like watching a great football game and then seeing it decided by a blown call from the Officials in the last seconds. I'd feel better knowing that people voted on the merits--or lack of-- in candidate's records and ideas rather than the stink of a single clown's actions.

I guess you can tell I don't subscribe to the win at all cost politicking of recent years...


Commendable attitude Sbannon. We will have to get out there and vote and see what happens.

[Rider]

As polarized as the nation is at this time, I'm not sure that the Foley scandal will change many votes. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Repubs lose the house though, scandal or no.

[dgridley]

I agree.. the Republicans will lose the House anyway.. scandal or not.

[sbannon]

Rider, I don't thinks it's as much a matter of the scandal changing people's votes as it is inspiring more people who are frustrated and upset with the current Republican leadership to participate. We could see a record turn out for a mid-term next month, and I expect that the Foley scandal will play a large part in that.

It's also seeming to have the opposite effect among some more conservative voters who would typically support Republican candidates as well. In just my own small circle of close friends I know of one conservative Republican who isn't planning "to bother" voting in this election. He's got no confidence in the party right now and won't vote for Democrats, so he says he'll be voting his conscience by abstaining.

With the polarized atmosphere that you mentioned exists in America today, more participation by moderate independents upset with Republicans and less participation among core Republicans who just don't feel inspired to support their party right now could--and I believe likely will--have a major impact on races from coast to coast.

[lily]

He's got no confidence in the party right now and won't vote for Democrats, so he says he'll be voting his conscience by abstaining.

You beat me to it, sbannon. I don't see many Republicans changing to Democrats, but I do see a lot of them not voting, because they've lost faith in the Republican party.

[CheesyMuslim]

Sorry bout that,

1. But no.
2. We will not lose anything.
3. We will win more seats.
4. No matter what one mans sins are in the Rino's Party of the Republican party.
5. They are still far batter than what we will ever see in the Democratic Party.
6. Sure and these same folks said that Kerry was going to win. lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!

Regards,
SirJamesofTexas