Republicans aren't gay bashers?

Yesterday on FOX news Newt Gingrich excused House Republicans for their failure to discipline or investigate Florida Congressman Mark Foley when it first became apparent that he was having inappropriate contacts with pages. Gingrich said the GOP doesn't want to be accused of "gay-bashing."

This remark should take the prize for the most ironic and absurd statement of the year. The GOP has actively worked for years to achieve its reputation for "gay bashing." "Gay bashing" is one of their top policy objectives. Just look at GOP efforts around the country to pass legislation barring same-gender marriage.

Newt Gingrich's remark itself is another example of "gay bashing" in that he wants to turn an issue of criminal exploitation of minors into a "gay issue"--the same game the Vatican is playing in their pedophile priest scandals.

Look, the issue was never one of sexual orientation. The issue is one of sexual exploitation of minors. Foley should have been investigated and disciplined. He should have been investigated in a bipartisan manner. Instead the GOP, not wanting to endanger an otherwise safe GOP seat, engaged in cover-up. Now the truth begins to come out at the worst possible time--when will they ever learn?