A journalist friend of mine saw this story about Alan Placa and assumed that the news that Rudy Giuliani has long employed a known child molester must be breaking news. After all, if that had come out earlier, surely it would have destroyed him by now. I was trying to explain that, no, he'd weathered this unscathed because . . . but I really can't come up with anything. Where are you Fred Thompson? Mitt Romney? Doesn't someone think the GOP needs to be involved in fewer sordid sex scandals?
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The Child Molester Factor
24 Oct 2007 10:33 am
Comments (39)
A journalist friend of mine saw this story...surely it would have destroyed him by now.
And there's your media bias.
Sure, in the old days, it would have been considered unseemly for a candidate to employ a known child molestor, but 9/11 changed everything.
I heard the Islamofascists are anti-child molester. And--so fucking typical--so is the traitorous Left.
Don't you know that child molestation is only bad when homosexuals do it? When priests and Republicans do it, it's perfectly acceptable. In fact, it's practically a tradition in those latter two groups. That's what they mean by "traditional family values."
"We give some of the worst people in our society the presumption of innocence and benefit of the doubt," [Giuliani] said.
I wonder where Rudy would stand on the question of resolving the issue of his "good friend" Placa's innocence or guilt with a little "enhanced interrogation", like, oh, say, waterboarding. And stress positions. And sleep depravation.
I kinda figured the other GOP candidates arent mentioning it because they couldnt stand the scrutiny themselves.
Birds of a feather and all that...
Re Alan Placa
Is this the same Mr. Yglesias who likes to quote pedophile Scott Ridder as an authority?
The story says "accused" not " known"
We give some of the worst people in our society the presumption of innocence and benefit of the doubt," [Giuliani] said.
OTOH, they give some of the suspected worst people in society a bit of the old broom handle probe.
Again, imagine the Fox News headlines if this were Obama or Clinton. Like O'Reilly or Hannity would laud them for their loyalty and hang their hat on the "suspected" aspect of the story.
The story says "accused" not " known"
See, in the Reality-Based Community, "accused" = "known". Unless you are a Democrat or a friend of a Democrat.
the priest, Monsignor Alan Placa, a longtime friend of Giuliani and the priest who officiated at his second wedding to Donna Hanover
This guy's obviously cool with divorce as well.
Matt, why the anti-Catholic bias?
From Wikipedia:
...Msgr. Alan Placa, a former priest employed by Giuliani Partners despite having been suspended by the Catholic church after a grand jury accused him both of sexually molesting numerous children and of covering up molestation by other priests.
Clearly, the allegations must've been completely baseless if he lost his job over them.
Actually, as far as "accused" versus "known" goes, right in the story it says:
The grand jury report concluded that a Priest F, who Tollner says is Placa, abused the boys sexually "again and again and again.""Priest F was cautious, but relentless in his pursuit of victims. He fondled boys over their clothes, usually in his office," the report said.
The report concluded that Priest F, and several other priests under investigation from the same Long Island, N.Y. diocese, could not be prosecuted because the statute of limitations had expired.
So, if "Priest F" is Placa, as Tollner says, then he's only an "accused" child molestor instead of a "known" one by virtue of legal technicality - he gets by on the statute of limitations technicality that so many of the priests involved in this scandal have been skating by on. Disgusting - they should all have their day in court and there really should be no statute of limitations for child molestation.
Folks, we can easily resolve this "accused" versus "known" question about Placa with a little waterboarding. As Rudy, Dead-eye Dick and GW know, either you are with us or you are with the pedophiles.
Yup, when a grand jury accuses somebody of something, it is known to be true.
Like those three Duke lacrosse players who, according to the likes of Yglesias and NonyNony, are "known" rapists.
Vote for Rudy so Priests can make love to the Altar Boys, just as Bush has created better conditions for the Ob-Gyns to make love to their patients.
So what would count as proof in such cases Al?
Are you willing to give all the child molesting priests who couldn't be prosecuted because their deeds date back too far or it is one word against another a free pass?
The part about the "The priest, Monsignor Alan Placa, a longtime friend of Giuliani and the priest who officiated at his second wedding to Donna Hanover,..." is especially amusing.
Seriously, Matt absolutely should edit his post to reflect the fact that Placa is an accused child molester. What the heck is the matter with you people?
The fact that he's an accused child molester (and there appears to be substantial evidence that he's quilty) is enough for the press to ask serious and legitimate questions of Giuliani.
So what would count as proof in such cases Al?
Something more than mere accusations.
Also, Rihilism, Giuliani had his first marriage annulled, so the priest officating at the second wedding is not against church doctrine, as far as I'm aware.
I'm confused -- given how Rudi Giuliani cozes up to the Neocons, why would throwing one or two child molesters into his entourage make any difference?
Ok Al how about this.
He can't be prosecuted because of statute of limitations. But the church doesn't operate under them, they investigated and found enough evidence to fire the guy.
In these cases that is about the best you are gonna get.
"Also, Rihilism, Giuliani had his first marriage annulled, so the priest officating at the second wedding is not against church doctrine, as far as I'm aware."
Yes, Al, and technically Bush is a Christian. I said I thought is was amusing, not heresy...
The newz isn't that Rude-boy has a child molestor on staff, but that he has only ONE child molestor on staff.
so, first thing:
This IS making news. Hell, in the article it stated very clearly that this story was on Good Morning America. The fact that it's not controling the cycle is interesting i suppose, but theres no coverup or conspiracy here folks.
second: What did Scott Ritter do?
Re willie
Scott Ridder was caught in a sting operation trying to solicit sex from a teenage girl. Much like the types of operations seen on Dateline with host Chris Hanson.
Re SLC's comment "Scott Ridder was caught in a sting operation trying to solicit sex from a teenage girl"
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The girl wasn't named Monica Lewinski, by any chance?
Or maybe Cheryl Hanin? Hee hee
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheryl_Bentov
See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badger_game
They don't teach you these things at Harvard.
Well, not unless you have a cool English teacher who lets you read Herman Melville's "The Confidence Man" instead of that stupid shit "Moby Dick".
Re Don Williams
1. Neither Cheryl Bentov or Monica Lewinsky were teenagers.
2. I guess that Mr. Williams is accusing Chris Hanson of also engaging in extortion. Apparently, Mr. Williams has no problem with old men like himself soliciting sex with teenage girsl (or boys) over the internet. Maybe he to has such a yen.
Well, actually the story says he is accused, not convicted, and it's one of the accusers who say "Priest F" is Placa. You can't do anything much, when there is no conviction.
Re SLC's comment " Apparently, Mr. Williams has no problem with old men like himself soliciting sex with teenage girsl (or boys) over the internet. Maybe he to has such a yen."
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"Apparently" is such a NICE word, isn't it SLC? Lets one skate right to the edge of slander -- then move safely away. Did a lawyer teach you that trick?
Hmmm. Let me try it out. "Apparently, SLC has no problem with people having carnal knowledge of goats. Maybe he too has such a yen."
Ha ha ha. I like it. I like it.
Sorry for the delayed response -- but Scott Ritter was arrested in ALBANY , New York. Home of New York's State Legislature.
When I realized Albany's police had actually arrested someone on a morals charge, I was temporarily overcome with helpless laughter. Took a while for me to gasp and get my breath back.
See, e.g, http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C07E7D7173FF935A25756C0A9629C8B63
A legendary place. Note the "Bear Mountain Compact".
Scott must have really pissed someone off. Wonder if it was New York's junior Senator?
Since when do Repubs give any suspected child molester the benefit of the doubt? Aren't there prisoners in Gitmo that are 'suspected' of crimes? Where's the waterboard, the sensory deprivation, extreme temperature exposure or plunger handle treatment for this sick freak?
Oh, I forgot, conservatives have a great respect, understanding, and sense of fairness for those simply 'accused'.
...and thank you Statute of Limitations!! Phew!
http://www.youtube.com/cyberak
Visit this channel to see the media stampede the pedo before taking 10,000 photos of him (3 videos)
Comments closed November 07, 2007.
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Heads in the Sand
As long as the media refuses to cover them, why should they really care?
Posted by Soullite | October 24, 2007 10:47 AM