You Knew It Was Coming

The GOP couldn't let this Foley scandal go on too long without a 'Dems did it too!' narrative coming out. Here it is, via the First Coast News:

ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- Some Florida Democrats call Kevin King a rising star amongst the ranks of Democrats, but others, like the head of the Pinellas Democratic Party, Ed Helm, have doubts.

King was arrested in 2001. A judge ordered the St. Petersburg Police Department to seal all records regarding the arrest. King admits that the arrest stems from when he was a substitute teacher. He was arrested for computer solicitation to commit a lewd and lascivious act and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

According to published reports, King sent e-mails or instant messages to two female students, aged 14 and 15, trying to get them to skip school and drink alcohol with him. In addition, the reports say that King also asked the 14-year-old to perform a sexual act on him.

King, who admits he was arrested, insists he did nothing wrong and points to the fact that the records were sealed and he was not found guilty of anything.

First let me say that I find the soliciting of children for sex a horrible offense and any person, rich, poor, Democrat, Republican, powerful or otherwise, that is found guilty of such a crime should be held to the fullest extent of the law.

That said, let's examine what's different about Foley and King. First, Foley is a U.S. Congressman, Kevin King is a Democratic Committee Member in Pinellas, Florida. Second, King was not the subject of a cover-up. He was arrested, charged, and had his day in court. The judicial process found King not guilty. Public records show the accusations against King and public records show that he was found innocent.

King's arrest came in 2001. His election came two weeks ago. Voters presumably knew of the events in King's past and, understanding the not guilty verdict, elected him anyway.

Contrast that with Congressman Foley.

Right wing shills will try very hard to use this story to prove that Democrats are just as bad as Republicans. It doesn't pass the sniff test. We must call out media sources that try to pass this story off as anything other than what it is - an attempt by the right to muddy the waters and shift blame.

Mark Foley Kevin King Sex Scandals