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What does the Republican Party do? - If they defend Foley or the House leadership, they jeopardize their rationale for investigating and impeaching Clinton. - If they try to coordinate their defense with the conservative pages, they risk creating another scandal. - If they attack the pages, they risk more details being made public by the pages. - If they attack each other, they risk alienating their base. - If they accuse the media of being prurient for reporting the salacious details, they risk being called hypocrites for promoting the reporting of such details during the Clinton scandal. - If they argue that the scandal is Democratic dirty politics, they risk discrediting their dirty politics during Clinton. - If they claim that Foley did nothing illegal, they risk being seen as soft on crime or as morally bankrupt. - If they claim they didn't know anything, they risk being seen as irresponsible and incompetent. - If they spend extra time in DC to address their problems, it costs them time on the campaign and fundraising trails. - If they stay quiet, their opponents will frame the issue. - If they try to change the subject, the next most obvious subject is the disaster in Iraq.
They have so little wiggle room that even with their allies in the media and talk radio, they are screwed. Diebold is their only hope.
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