Rehab isn’t Repentance
When one is a public figure who has behaved badly and been caught, the standard strategy seems to be to check into rehab after making a tearful confession about alcohol or drug addiction. Mark Foley is no exception. Just like Mel Gibson, the predictable cry of “I’m an addict and am going to rehab” splashed across the news this morning.
If he has a problem with alcohol, good for him for getting help. But let’s not confuse issues here. There are lots of alcoholics who don’t overtly make efforts to seduce teenagers, and there are lots of pedophiles who are not addicts. One is not an excuse for the other.
Foley is clearly a conflicted man. He served a party of homophobes, yet was is homosexual. He championed the cause of child abuse and predatory practices, yet engaged in the same behavior. He is so morally bereft that at this point he sees rehab and public confession as the easy out to outrageous behavior.
Personally, I think Foley is the tip of the iceberg. And it’s not a partisan problem, either. I’m sure there are some Democrats who would make similar juicy headlines if they were outed. But for now, the outed one is Foley, who should not be treated any different than any other adult who trolled the Internet for teen sex and thrills.
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