Where is the Pro-Family Lobby Now?

As of the time of writing for this blog, Focus on the Family has said nothing on its website, and Family Research Council and Concerned Women for America both issued only cursory and confusing statements late this afternoon about Congressman Mark Foley's sexually explicit communications with young boys who worked in his office.

No mention of White House Press Secretary Tony Snow saying essentially that Foley's comments were okay because others have done worse. No mention of the top House leadership collectively dodging resposibility for the children entrusted to their care during the summers.

As of the time of writing for this blog, Focus on the Family has said nothing on its website, and Family Research Council and Concerned Women for America both issued only cursory and confusing statements late this afternoon about Congressman Mark Foley's sexually explicit communications with young boys who worked in his office.

No mention of White House Press Secretary Tony Snow saying essentially that Foley's comments were okay because others have done worse. No mention of the top House leadership collectively dodging resposibility for the children entrusted to their care during the summers.

Instead, both groups try to blame Mark Foley's abuse of power on "the homosexual lobby." CWA dives right into Mark Foley's sexual orientation, passing quickly over the children involved. And FRC has explicitly tried to distance itself from him, essentially saying on the blog that he wasn't really a conservative in the first place. Neither group even mentions the importance of protecting these children, nor do they issue calls for accountability.

At the same time, these groups call Democratic leadership to task when their Republican counterparts fail to come through for them (aka balking on the only anti-abortion law this session). And if the Democrats can't be blamed for anything, well then they'll blame the gays… So much for accountability and responsibility.

There is nothing pro-family about the way they are handling this situation, and if anything, they seem to be showing their true colors — extreme partisan politics cloaked in the language of faith and values.

Editorial Update: FRC released a press release while this was being posted.  They blame the incident on "aberrant sexual behaviors" and a society that values diversity and say nothing explicit about the House leadership, but they do get around to saying they think children should be protected…