After admitting sex crimes, former House Speaker headed to prison

They were exercising the common practice of presumptive innocence. Are you SERIOUSLY suggesting that anyone who sent a letter of support of Hastert is in favor sexual misconduct? Is it then fair to say that Democratic Senators that voted against removing Bill Clinton from office after his impeachment are in favor of perjury? NO IT IS NOT FAIR. If you're attempting to make an logical and persuasive argument for LGBTQ rights you haven't. If you're trying to impugn the arguments of opponents of transgender use of public restrooms, you haven't.

Maj John Bell - Oh come off it. Hastert plead guilty in October. What "presumptive innocence" are you referring to in these letters?

LT (Join to see) - Pleas for compassion based on his age and health. But, I personally think one "aw shit" wipes out a thousand "atta boys" and that he is not only not deserving of compassion, but should get hammered harder because of his abuse of public trust. But pleas for compassion do not equate to endorsement of the conduct.

Once again, are you SERIOUSLY suggesting that anyone who sent a letter of support of Hastert is in favor sexual misconduct? That sexual misconduct is a plank of the Republican platform?

Maj John Bell Yes. Any politician will not support a admitted molester in any way whatsoever. Even a hint of that isolates the individual

SSG Michael Hartsfield - Are you referring to specific Republicans who wore their Christianity on their sleeve and were then engaged in sexual misconduct? If so, who? Or are you stating that because Republican A engages in sexual misconduct that it impugns the Christianity of Republican B? Do you maintain that similar anecdotes cannot be found in the Democratic Party. Can the Democrats legitimately claim to be the party of civil rights when they produced Robert Byrd?

SSG Michael Hartsfield - I don't care about the skeletons, but if you mess with my porn collection we are going to have problems!

As I've said, democrats are angels either. The difference is Republicans are the only political group that tour their Christian religion and beliefs as a reason as to why they are better leaders and better people than Democrats. I'm with PO3 Steven Sherrill in feeling that Washington is a joke and the vast majority follow a "do as I say, not as I do" mindset, but it's Republicans on the whole that think their relationship with their God will make any transgressions they commit more forgivable. Yes, The vast majority of DC politicians are more concerned with keeping their job instead of doing their job but if Christian values are the platform you base your party on, then you'd better make sure EVERYONE is on board because, yes, it does and will impugn the whole

SSG Michael Hartsfield - I am not aware of any case where the Republican Party, not individuals, the party has laid claim to Christianity as the basis for claiming to be "better leaders and better people than Democrats", or that :...their relationship with their God will make any transgressions they commit more forgivable". What politicians and citizens should do is talk about issues without such a high interest in delivering a slap in the face. The next time a Democrat engages in misconduct, I'll extend the intellectual honesty to you and to Democrats that it reflects on the individual, not the integrity of the Democratic Party.