CBS's Borger Breaks PC Barrier, Relays Claim 'Gay Network' Protected Foley

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CBS News reporter Gloria Borger on Tuesday night broached a subject which political correctness would advise she avoid. In a CBS Evening News story about the latest developments in the Mark Foley case, she relayed the view that Foley's sexual orientation helped protect him from scrutiny: “There's a secondary story here, one that rank and file Republicans will only talk about privately: That it was common knowledge that former Congressman Foley was gay and not discreet. One senior House Republican tells CBS that there's a lot of anger at what he describes as 'a network of gay staffers and gay members who protect each other and did the Speaker a disservice.'” Borger concluded: “Republicans worry that their voters could well decide to sit this election out if they're disgusted, and that could mean the party loses control of the House.”

A transcript of Borger's story on the October 3 CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, picking up after her summary of comments from Foley's lawyer about how Foley was molested by a clergyman and how President Bush offered a show of support for Hastert:

Borger: “...But the Washington Times, a conservative newspaper, wanted Hastert's scalp, calling his management of the Foley scandal 'grossly negligent,' and accused him of 'giving phony answers' to questions about his internal investigation. Then Hastert's top lieutenant, John Boehner, jumped ship.”

House Majority Leader John Boehner on WLW Radio in Cincinnati: “In my position, it's in his corner, it's his responsibility, the Clerk of the House who runs the page program, the page board all report to the Speaker, and I believed that had it had been dealt with.”

Borger: “Sources tell CBS News that members were equally blunt with Hastert on a conference call last night in which some called for an end to the page program. And others called for him to take some responsibility, especially since Hastert's staff was first alerted to the initial Foley e-mails a year ago. 'What do I say back home?' one Republican asks. 'We need to change the subject.'

“But that's hard, especially when there's a secondary story here, one that rank and file Republicans will only talk about privately: That it was common knowledge that former Congressman Foley was gay and not discreet. One senior House Republican tells CBS that there's a lot of anger at what he describes as [text on screen] 'a network of gay staffers and gay members who protect each other and did the Speaker a disservice.' Republicans worry that their voters could well decide to sit this election out if they're disgusted, and that could mean the party loses control of the House.”