Posted by Mark Silva at 2:45 pm CDT
Rep. Mark Foley, a Florida Republican once seen as a strong candidate for the Senate and virtually assured of reelection this year, resigned his House seat today in the midst of questions about e-mails that Foley wrote to a former male page in Washington.
Campaign aides had acknowledged that the six-term congressman e-mailed the former Capitol page five times, but had insisted there was nothing inappropriate about the exchange. The page was 16 at the time of the correspondence in August 2005.
Foley’s opponent, Democrat Tim Mahoney, a venture capitalist, had called for an investigation. The Republican Party of Florida will have to replace Foley, 52, a former state legislator and member of Congress from the West Palm Beach area since 1995, for the Nov. 7 ballot in a state whose congressional delegation is overwhelmingly Republican and faces little risk in this year’s elections.
"He did the right thing,'' said House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R., Ill.). "He did resign.''
Not long ago, Foley was organizing a campaign for Senate but withdrew to seek reelection instead.
In e-mail with the former page, Foley had asked how old he was, what he wanted for his upcoming birthday and how he was faring after Hurricane Katrina.
He also asked for a photo.
The e-mails were posted today on the Web-site of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington after ABC News reported their existence. The group has asked the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to investigate the exchange that Foley had with the boy, who served as a page for Rep. Rodney Alexander, (R., La.).
"The House of Representatives has an obligation to protect the teenagers who come to Congress to learn about the legislative process," the group wrote, adding that the committee, "must investigate any allegation that a page has been subjected to sexual advances by members of the House."
In one e-mail to the boy, Foley wrote: "I am back in Florida now...its nice here...been raining today...it sounds like you will have some fun over the next few weeks...how old are you now?" and "how are you weathering the hurricane...are you safe...send me an email pic of you as well."
Foley spokesman Jason Kello said the emails had been taken “out of context in order to smear a good man,’’ and described the communications as “nonchalant.’’
Foley is a founder and co-chair of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus.
He sponsored legislation, the Volunteers for Children Act, that gives volunteer organizations working with children access to FBI fingerprint-based background checks.
(Photo: Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., smiles during a $100 plate luncheon held in support of the candidate May 31, 2006, in Sebring, Fla. AP Photo/Highlands Today, Ben Smidt.)
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Comments
Nothing to snark at here.
Posted by: Bill | September 29, 2006 2:57 PM
After checking Mr.Foley's web page,you'll see he's very involved in childrens issues.
http://www.house.gov/foley/issues/children.htm
Posted by: Raving Loon | September 29, 2006 2:59 PM
If this was truly what was written..I see nothing inappropriate with this. But as always
the real story probably has yet to surface.
Posted by: bill r. | September 29, 2006 3:03 PM
I am sure this will lead to outrage on the part of Republicans. This is the kind of thing into which they are good at sinking their teeth. There will be hearings, I am sure. A special prosecutor will be appointed, I am sure. This kind of thing will not be tolerated.
Oh, wait a minute. The page was a boy. Never mind.
Posted by: Bud McFarlin | September 29, 2006 3:06 PM
If they were innocent correspondences, why did he resign? Is there more to this?
Posted by: jethro | September 29, 2006 3:30 PM
First thing you learn when studying politics is that when there's smoke, there's fire. Foley probably wouldn't have resigned unless there's something more to this. But we should all wait and see what an investigation reveals.
Posted by: Neil | September 29, 2006 3:48 PM
I understand the former Governor of NJ is lonely. Too Old?
Posted by: Sarcasm | September 29, 2006 4:36 PM
The article tells you a lot about Repubs.The West Palm Beach is a safe Repub district.
With 6 weeks to election,and Foley resigning because of(I think we know what's shaking here)his district is all set to re-elect a Repub candidate of un-known identity.
Deep thinkers in W.P.Beach.
PS good article Mark.How about an up-date on Sen.Allen,there's been a lot going on with him.
Posted by: Raving Loon | September 29, 2006 4:45 PM
This piece does beg the question; Why are conservative politicians so anti-gay?
Ron West, Spokane, is gay, apparently, yet ran on a gay bashing platform.
Mr. "Gannon" is a hard right wing apparatckik, yet appears in a gay dating web site.
And look at all the 'Hanz and Franz' muscle flexing by the RR.
'Me thinks they doth protest too much.'
We may be seeing self loathing homophobia on a monumental scale!
Go ahead Pat Robertson, Rush, Falwell, Frist, Denny, Rev. Phelps;
Come on out and be free!
As usual, an appropriate musical interlude: (Guess who? (Not the group)
The words I have to say
May well be simple but they're true
Until you give your love
There's nothing more that we can do
Love is the opening door
Love is what we came here for
No one could offer you more
Do you know what I mean
Have your eyes really seen
(here is where you need to come out)
You say it's very hard
To leave behind the life we knew
But there's no other way
And now it's really up to you
Love is the key we must turn
Truth is the flame we must burn
Freedom the lesson we must learn
Do you know what I mean
Have your eyes really seen
Posted by: C.Morris | September 29, 2006 5:30 PM
I've got BREAKING news on Sen. Allen.
He called some guy Maccaca!!!!!!!
WHOAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Maccaca. The nerve!
Everyone knows its culturally insensitive to call someone Maccaca because of.....you know.....because....ummmmmmmm
Anyone?
Posted by: JD | September 29, 2006 5:46 PM
Breaking FL judge ruled he has to stay on the ballot
Posted by: Dale Peters | September 29, 2006 6:50 PM
Following is taken from the ABC News website, providing a sample exchange from the former Congressman:
Maf54: You in your boxers, too?
Teen: Nope, just got home. I had a college interview that went late.
Maf54: Well, strip down and get relaxed.
Another message:
Maf54: What ya wearing?
Teen: tshirt and shorts
Maf54: Love to slip them off of you.
And this one:
Maf54: Do I make you a little horny?
Teen: A little.
Maf54: Cool.
The language gets much more graphic, too graphic to be broadcast, and at one point the congressman appears to be describing Internet sex.
Federal authorities say such messages could result in Foley's prosecution, under some of the same laws he helped to enact.
'Nuf said.
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | September 29, 2006 6:54 PM
Kenny Bunkport,
Hoisted on his own petard.
Posted by: C.Morris | September 29, 2006 7:59 PM
KennyBunkport...I understand at the time of the e-mail the page was wearing a blue shirt...call in Ken Starr and see how much money we can waste over this!
Posted by: bill r. | September 29, 2006 8:41 PM
JD,
We libs don't have a problem with him being gay, if he is.
It's his monumental hypocrisy as a conservative Republican that we find hilarious.
Posted by: C.Morris | September 29, 2006 9:30 PM
It looks like the Republicans have recently added a child predator to their roster of fine upstanding current,and former members of Congress.
Let's take a look at the most recent box score.
Ladies and Gentleman your 2006 Republican Congressional Starting Line Up:
*Republican Tom Foley - Florida - Child Predator
*Republican George "Macaca" Allen - Viginia -Proven Racist
*Republican "Duke" Cunningham - California - Convicted of taking bribe money for votes,currently in prison.
*Republican - Bob Ney - Ohio - Indicted as part of the Jack Abramoff scandal,pleaded guilty, currently awaiting sentencing,and in alcohol rehab.
*Republican - Tom Delay - Texas - Recently resigned from Congress,currently under indictment in the state of Texas,also being investigated for his involvment with Jack Abramoff.
*Republican - Bill Frist - Tennessee - Currently under investigation for shady stock dealings.
He has been holding these investigations off until the fall election season is over.
Let's all give a standing ovation for these fine Patriots,and American citizens everybody.
Job well done Fellas!!!!
Posted by: John E. | September 29, 2006 9:46 PM
From what I understand Denny Hastert and the other republican leaders knew about this last November...is this our October suprise Karl promised but a little early???
Posted by: lochnessmonster | September 30, 2006 6:48 AM
"Job well done Fellas!!!!"
John E,
Yes, they are real good fella's!
Posted by: C.Morris | September 30, 2006 12:34 PM
JD,
Another mindless post that has no relevance to the discussion at hand...another sexually perverted Republican. I guess with Boner (yes, I know how to spell this schmucks name), Hastert, etc. running the show we might want to rename the GOP as: Guardians of Pedophiles. Let's see you justify these morons sitting on this info for a year...and letting him have a chairmanship to boot. The party of family values my ass!
Posted by: neal | September 30, 2006 2:35 PM
Jd...They didn't understand your post.I'm sure what you ment was that these people knew about this a year ago and let it continue and that type of action is full of "maccaca"! Right?
Posted by: bill r. | September 30, 2006 2:51 PM
We have a congress full of criminals. And they protect each other because the perks they've given themselves are ones that they'd never get anywhere else.
Whose fault is it? Well, it's our fault, we the people who voted for them. And it's our job to get the criminals out of congress and put people in there that are decent.
Who you ask? Well, let's start by putting more women in congress. We then may see daycare on site, better wages for women, better healthcare for women, more research in women's health issues such as heart disease and cancer.
And, we may not see as many perverts in congress. And don't let their husbands stay home with the children. Congresswomen should be able to bring their children to work, yeah, set up childcare on site at the capitol! Now there's something that would reflect the real workforce and the real America.
Now is the time for all good women to come to the aid of her country!
Posted by: Mary | October 1, 2006 3:22 PM
"Go ahead Pat Robertson, Rush, Falwell, Frist, Denny, Rev. Phelps;
Come on out and be free!
Messrs. Robertson, Rush, Falwell, Frist, Denny and Rev. Phelps:
Do NOT under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES attempt to come out of your closet(s)! C.Morris' instructions to the contrary should NOT be taken as any indication you are welcome as Gay Americans.
We have certain minimum standards that we expect, and you are all quite simply too ugly and too fat to be welcomed for your looks. We do occationally accept "unfortunate-lookers" when they have unusually high mental powers or when they are exceptionally talented, but none of those qualities should be taken to apply to any of you. Simply put, you have nothing to offer anyone, at any time, anywhere.
Posted by: John | October 2, 2006 11:18 AM
John,
Nice post. Agree they are not worthy.
Posted by: C.Morris | October 2, 2006 1:32 PM