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The Republicans are trying to change the Foley scandal argument. They are suggesting that attacking Foley or those who protected him is the equivalent of Homophobia. Republicans have always attempted to equate being gay with Pedophilia/being a Pedophile. There is really no comparison.A gay adult is interested in having an intimate emotional, intellectual and physical relationship with another adult of the same sex. Aside from the legal and ethical issues, for the same reason a heterosexual adult doesn't want to have a romantic relationship with a child, a gay adult also does not want to have a romantic relationship with a child.
A pedophile has an intense and often obsessive attraction to children. According to the Medem Medical Library site at http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZUZRUZGLC&sub_cat=355 :
According to the DSM-IV definition, pedophilia involves sexual activity by an adult with a prepubescent child. Some individuals prefer females, usually 8- to 10-year-olds. Those attracted to males usually prefers slightly older children. Some prefer both sexes. While some are sexually attracted only to children, others also are sometimes attracted to adults.
Pedophiliac activity may involve undressing and looking at the child or more direct physical sex acts. All these activities are psychologically harmful to the child, and some may be physically harmful. In addition, individuals with pedophilia often go to great lengths to obtain photos, films or pornographic publications that focus on sex with children.
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The above description does not fit normal straight or normal gay people. We as Democrats and Progressives need to avoid falling into the trap of seeming to equate homosexuality with pedophilia. Portraying Republican pundits as hypocrites for protecting a 'gay' person (i.e. the suggestion being Foley) is a mistake. They aren't protecting someone for normal gay behavior. They are protecting a pedophile. Lets not forget that.
