CALL ME SNAKE

Much has already been written or said about the Mark Foley situation, and I have nothing to add except, perhaps, a few small remarks. First off, isn’t it interesting how–at the first sign of trouble these days–people check themselves into an alcohol rehab facility? Admitting alcoholism (or drug addiction or sex addiction), it seems, is invariably the first line of defense. Second (just a question): Would Foley be in as much trouble today if the pages he harassed happened to be girls rather than boys? Would the NPR reporters still have called his instant messages (which I have yet to see) “disgusting” or would they merely be considered “offensive”? Third, he sure picked a good time to “come out,” now didn’t he? Almost enough to give coming out a bad name. Fourth, credit Foley with a P.R. coup on the priest molestation charge. You can be sure that Foley’s record/background will be gone over with a fine-tooth comb. But claiming that a priest molested you is one allegation that can never, ever be disproved. A brilliant stroke. (By the way, does anyone know his publicist? I might need to hire that genius someday.)