The House speaker, Dennis Hastert, is finding criticism from fellow conservatives hard to swallow. The Washington Times, a conservative newspaper, has said Hastert “must do the only right thing, and resign his speakership at once” for failing to take action against former representative Mark Foley. Hastert was made aware of Foley’s predatory emails for months or even years earlier, but insists he was trying “to do the right thing” all along. Despite the fact that the scandal is unrelated to the executive branch, Bush came out in support of Hastert as Republicans in Congress distanced themselves. Bush said, “He’s a father, teacher, coach who cares about the children of this country.”

At a time when political respect for Bush is lower than journalistic respect for Geraldo, an endorsement from the president is a definite career ender. Members of both parties have said that any congressional leader who knew about Foley’s predatory messages and failed to take action should step down. Mark Foley, showing he’s still a Republican politician at heart, has dodged all personal responsibility for his poor decisions. Foley has checked himself into a rehab clinic, using alcohol and the ever-popular molestation by clergyman excuse, as the reason for his inappropriate behavior. Foley’s attorney, David Roth, has said that “any suggestion that Mark Foley is a pedophile is false, categorically false.”

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