The Foley Affair: A metaphor of Republican corruption

By Michael J.W. Stickings

From The Washington Post (h/t: Kevin Drum), it seems that The Foley Affair is best understood in metaphorical terms:

[M]any strategists in both parties believe the scandal might echo principally as a metaphor for a GOP leadership that over the past year has drawn more attention for ethical lapses and partisan turmoil than legislative achievements.

To be sure, "the calculation in both parties is that the Foley scandal is unlikely to reshape the basic dynamics of the Nov. 7 elections, which still seem to hinge on voter attitudes toward Iraq, the economy and President Bush," but in a close race -- and many of the races for both the Senate and the House are expected to be extremely close -- Foley's sexual predation and, more to the point, the Republican denial and cover-up thereof, could tip the balance to the Democratic candidate. Regardless, the entire scandal is not just a metaphor but the thin end of the wedge that pries open public awareness of Republican corruption more broadly.

And that can only help the Democrats. And rightly so.

(Read the whole WaPo article for more on the Foley fallout.)