Foley’s Former Chief of Staff Says Foley’s Behavior Was No Secret to Speaker Hastert
EmailAs the FBI investigation picked up steam, with agents contacting former pages across the country, there were new allegations that Foley’s suspect behavior towards pages was no secret to the Speaker of the House and his top staff for at least three years. Kirk Fordham, former chief of staff for Foley, told ABC News today that sometime in late 2003, he told the Speaker’s chief of staff that Foley was getting too close to young male pages. Fordham says the Speaker’s aide, Scott Palmer, then met with Foley. Fordham also said the Speaker knew about the meeting. Fordham says there had been a series of warnings from page supervisors that Foley was spending too much time with the pages in ways that were inappropriate and would not stop. Pages themselves say they had been warned by Republican staff to be careful around Foley. "It was a slight cautionary statement, you know, ‘Don’t get too wrapped up in him being too nice to you,’ and all that kind of stuff. You know, ‘He’s a nice guy but he’s a little bit odd,’" said Matthew Loraditch, a former page and now president of the U.S. Page Alumni Association. Fordham made his allegations today on the same day he was forced to resign as the chief of staff for another Republican congressman, Tom Reynolds of New York. In response to a reporter’s question at a press conference, "But should somebody take responsibility for what seems to have been a breakdown besides Foley?" Congressman Tom Reynolds (R-NY) answered, "I’m taking responsibility for what I did." Reynolds said he personally told Speaker Hastert himself earlier this year that there were potential problems with Foley. "When I found out about this whole instance for the first time in the Spring of ’06, I reported it to my supervisor, like anyone would in an office circumstance. I took it to the Speaker of the House," Rep. Reynolds said. Reynolds says it wasn’t until he saw Foley’s sexually explicit instant messages on ABC News that he decided tougher action was required. "When I saw the despicable and deplorable e-mails that no child, no person should have to see, then I said he’s gotta go. And can we get his resignation?" he said. A spokesman for the Speaker’s office today denied that anyone from Foley’s office made contact about Foley’s contacts with pages. Fordham says he did not want to talk on camera because he plans to contact the FBI tomorrow to tell what he knows.
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lol, the plot thickens, i guess fordham is working for the dems, adding them to the list of conspirators. i saw fox reporting this story, maybe the dems got to fox too!!!!!
Posted by: mike | October 4, 2006, 7:06 pm 7:06 pm
EACH CONGRESSMEN SHOULD BE INTERVIEWED UNDER OATH AND FIND OUT WHO KNOWS WHAT. WE TRUST THEM AND THIS IS WHAT WE GET.
Posted by: charlie | October 4, 2006, 7:33 pm 7:33 pm
Does Dennis Hastert know what is going on in the halls of power?
According to page 186 of the Speakers own book, Dennis Hastert has a very low ear to the ground.
“Reading is not my strong point… I’m not comfortable with computers… I need to be focused on what’s going on in the room and who’s saying what to whom. I base most of my knowledge on listenting to people. I get a lot of briefings and have good people working for me. Some say I have an incredible memory or recall for exactly what happened when and who said what to whom. I do listen pretty diligently, more than a lot of people listen, and I do pick up on facts that way.”
On the Foley matter, his ear must have been UNDER ground along with his head.
Posted by: Anthony | October 4, 2006, 7:52 pm 7:52 pm
OMG, give the republicans a break. Its bad enough that they are incompetent, proverts, and morons.
Posted by: ken | October 4, 2006, 8:03 pm 8:03 pm
I guess solicting young pages is a democrat conspiracy, not like any republican would do such a thing…lol…moron
Posted by: alex | October 4, 2006, 8:04 pm 8:04 pm
Is it possible for Republicans to ever tell the truth? My ballot in November will be straight Democratic, and I’m a registered Republican.
Posted by: Rod | October 4, 2006, 8:22 pm 8:22 pm
When is someone going to take personal responsibility for this crime? Heads should roll. Instead, they suspend the page program?? BRILLIANT! Blame it on the kids! Take away their opportunities. And the incompetent, negligent lawmakers get to keep their jobs!
Can’t wait to vote them all out of office.
Posted by: Jean | October 4, 2006, 8:39 pm 8:39 pm
Did you read Drudge? I can’t believe he is protecting Republicans. ABC – get them out of office, whatever it takes.
Posted by: Blane Schmitt | October 4, 2006, 8:59 pm 8:59 pm
Fun Time!
Posted by: ben ito | October 4, 2006, 9:05 pm 9:05 pm
And they all think they are so pure,bunch of crooks
Posted by: tina | October 4, 2006, 9:05 pm 9:05 pm
Drudge is trying desperately to spin a story that’s basically unspinnable. The goo has hit the fan and there’s not a Republican who hasn’t got some of it all over him or her. Hastert changed his story probably more times than he’s changed his underwear.
Posted by: Ted | October 4, 2006, 9:06 pm 9:06 pm
Blane — you can’t believe that Drudge is protecting Republicans? What planet are you from?
Posted by: Ted | October 4, 2006, 9:08 pm 9:08 pm
Drudge is hysterical. Only the Republicans would try to spin pedophilia.
Posted by: Lou Dabbs | October 4, 2006, 9:18 pm 9:18 pm
My ballot in November will be straight Democratic.
Posted by: Ted Deason | October 4, 2006, 9:33 pm 9:33 pm
I bet what angers Republicans most is that they can’t continue their behavior. Yes, they’re mad they got caught. Yes, they are ticked that the elections might be flipped as a result. But I think they are thoroughly dissapointed that they’ll be watched around little kids.
I think all Republicans should be forced to register as sex offenders.
Sick, sick people those Republicans.
Posted by: addfafa | October 4, 2006, 9:34 pm 9:34 pm
Hastert out by Friday via the Friday news dump.
Posted by: i have sinned | October 4, 2006, 9:37 pm 9:37 pm
Why would this ever be a Democrat or Republican debate? That man is sick. He was using his position of power to molest children. If anybody, including the speaker, knew of this they should all be charged with aiding child molestation. This is not a party debate. This is a debate about whether a man should have been allowed to molest children. One question I have is will WE still be paying him his congressional “retirement” and medical benefits?
Posted by: Becky | October 4, 2006, 9:42 pm 9:42 pm
I love being a Dem. Nobody freaks out when someone from our party gets caught. They just can’t help themselves.
Posted by: John | October 4, 2006, 9:47 pm 9:47 pm
I can’t believe there are so many naive people in the world? If Foley has been a problem for 11 years, There is no way Democrats did not know about this. They and the press are doing their best job to blame the Republicans. There are lots of people who want to believe it too, amazing. The focus needs to be on protecting the kids, not who is to blame. We have a political system out of control. Our elected representatives and candidates on both sides are a desperate bunch of people. It is time to end this crazyness. While we are arguing among ourselves, there is a group of people in this world planning to kill us all and we are not paying any attention. How stupid we all are….
Posted by: Bill Brown | October 4, 2006, 10:09 pm 10:09 pm
But don’t forget that Foley is a Democrat–I know because Fox told us so. Right up there on the screen t said “Mark Foley (D Fl)! And Fox is the one reliable island of truth in a lying and corrupt world!
Posted by: Jack Pyne | October 4, 2006, 10:13 pm 10:13 pm
I agree with Becky – the hill overall is corrupt in every aspect of life. I hate to say it, but this is small potato’s to the crap that power has brought to the hill – Dem or Rep. Morons are those who believe that voting one way or the other will change it – try voting principle for once.
Posted by: thebull | October 4, 2006, 10:21 pm 10:21 pm
Why has it taken almost a week to secure Foley’s office, documents, and Computer’s??? To allow time for the evidence to be destroyed??
Posted by: Linda | October 4, 2006, 10:24 pm 10:24 pm
What am I doing spending time reading this garbage?
Posted by: T | October 4, 2006, 10:32 pm 10:32 pm
Congress Should Investigate ChickenHawkGate
I think we should do what the Republicans did in the 90′s. I think we should spend 80 million of taxpayer dollars and hire an Independent Counsel to hold hearings that will shift the focus off terrorism and allow the Taliban to regroup and prepare for a new attack.
I say this with much sarcasm. I can’t believe some of the comments I have been reading about it is not a Republican or Democratic issue. And I somewhat agree, the difference is the hypocrisy. Isn’t the Republican party the poster child for ‘Family Values’? Aren’t they the Christian ones? Sure both parties have sex scandals, it just makes it the height of irony that the party that is supposed to be holier than thou is actually nastier than all.
Posted by: John | October 4, 2006, 10:34 pm 10:34 pm
This is also a time, for the closets to be opened. There is a much bigger issue here; mainly a cover up by gay Republicans.
Stay Tuned.
Posted by: Joy | October 4, 2006, 10:39 pm 10:39 pm
I belive Speaker Dennis Hastert need to resign now . because he let HR5680 (Ethiopia Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights Advancement Act of 2006) to be delayed untill the mid term election is over . and by then he will find some thing eles to delay the bill again. i hope the ABC news ask him why he is doing that. and we Ethiopians deserv good repaly from the speaker of the house . and i wish good luck for all Democrat and Repuplican in the house and Senate who are supporting the human right bill HR5680
Long Live America !!!!
Posted by: Ato Hailu | October 4, 2006, 10:55 pm 10:55 pm
I WILL vote a straight Democratic ticket in the upcoming November elections. I’m tired of the Republican BS. Enough is enough!
How disgusting to cover up the acts of a child molester for the sake of power. And Mark Foley had the audacity to be on a committee for exploited children!! How dare him!!
Posted by: justice58 | October 4, 2006, 11:09 pm 11:09 pm
This whole story is about to come down like a house of cards. Before I explain why, Let me note that I’m not defending Foley hes a pervert and am glad he resigned.
However this page that the whole brew haha is about turns out was not underage at the time of this IM exchange. If this is all ABC has got then it turns out there was nothing illegal done here.
Now to understand why no action was taken on Foley even if this information was out. The answer is simple Gay Political Correctness which democrate can thank the small but powerful gay lobby.
Posted by: Josh | October 4, 2006, 11:09 pm 11:09 pm
Looks like Brian Ross needs to investigate Brian Ross and ABC for characterizing IM,s between an 18 year old and Foley as someone younger than 18 and the congressman. To me it makes no difference, the behavior is reprehensible. Using one’s position of power to take advantage of an intern should be illegal, no matter what the age of the participants are. It is wrong in Foley’s case as it was in Clinton’s situation.
Posted by: Phil | October 4, 2006, 11:10 pm 11:10 pm
oh poor Matt Drudge. He hangs on until the last bum gets thrown out of Washington. He thinks he’s Winchell !! HA HAHAHAHA
Let’s face it, he is funded by the Republicans. Who really belives his garbage dump of a site?
Posted by: joezz | October 4, 2006, 11:17 pm 11:17 pm
Keep up the excellent reporting!!!! I am absolutely glued to me seat. It is like watching a train wreck, but I can’t stop watching.
Posted by: Red | October 4, 2006, 11:22 pm 11:22 pm
Becky, thebull –
You need to blink and get your focus where the REAL scandal is. It’s NOT Foley. It’s Republican House (lack of) Leadership. The best that can be said is they’re ostriches. The worst that can be said is the truth.
Posted by: Gerry | October 4, 2006, 11:35 pm 11:35 pm
You know what I think is funny? He’s an elected government official and his spelling is atrocious.
Posted by: OF | October 4, 2006, 11:37 pm 11:37 pm
Hey, but aren’t ya just glad that the party of family values is in charge??
Posted by: Talkie Toaster | October 4, 2006, 11:45 pm 11:45 pm
If anybody really thinks there is a difference between Republicans and Democrats they are sadly deluded (Bill Mahr correctly identifying this festering mess as Republocrats). Peel the onion too far and Foley would doubtlessly come out one of the lesser evils.
Posted by: Frodo | October 5, 2006, 12:03 am 12:03 am
Once again this is a reaffirmation of the old adage “Power Corrupts, Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.” Foley is gone and hopefully he’ll land in prison. It’s too bad he will probably end up in some minimum security resort prison. He won’t see a day inside if the Republican Party has it’s way. He should be somewhere like Statesville in general population.
Hastert and any Congressman that allowed this to go on unpunished needs to be removed as well.
We need to remember that these Congressmen and Senators are OUR EMPLOYEES. If you do something wrong in the workplace you get fired, they should too.
So far this current republican administration has weakened our economy, reduced our civil rights, destroyed our international reputation and relationships with allies. The Middle Class has shrunk to record low levels and Higher Education is once again becoming a dream for the gifted but poor student. How much more can we take?
We need to replace the culture of corruption ad Corporate Politics with a representitive government that serves the needs of all the people.
If you vote please don’t miss this election. If you aren’t registered please get registered and vote.
Posted by: Steve | October 5, 2006, 12:03 am 12:03 am
It is time for the Christian Right to take notice. The Republican Pary does not represent their values. If Foley wasn’t enough, it now appears that everyone knew but failed to act.
Posted by: Ron | October 5, 2006, 12:28 am 12:28 am
I think ABC should do a special on what the Page Program actually is. I am a former page (class of 2004) and I know a lot of people are asking to be informed about this seemingly aloof program they didn’t even know existed a week ago.
Posted by: Ryan | October 5, 2006, 12:41 am 12:41 am
It’s time for the democrats to go. They’ve soiled this nation for too long.
Posted by: Barbara | October 5, 2006, 12:53 am 12:53 am
Not accepting comments about Brian Ross?
Posted by: Zana | October 5, 2006, 12:55 am 12:55 am
I caught a clip of Brian Ross on some talking heads show tonight saying something to the effect that NOBODY saw anything sexually explicit and damning until this past week. So, what are we to make of this?
Posted by: Bailey | October 5, 2006, 1:15 am 1:15 am
What’s with Brian Ross? He was on that dreadful O’Reilly Factor saying that he doesn’t think Hastert or anyone knew about the “sexual material” before last week.
And I also saw little Dicky Morris on Hannity and Colmes saying that a reporter told him there’s one of our Democrat leaders that knew all about this, too.
I don’t get it. ABC had better get its story straight. Do we have a campaign issue here or not?
Posted by: Valisa Wheeler | October 5, 2006, 1:27 am 1:27 am
Focus now on a PATTERN OF COVER-UP under Hastert, but not confined to him pattern. Stone-walling, refusal to investigate…Example ‘Duke’ Cunningham and his Rolls-Royces.
This was mentioned somewhere the other day, with a number of examples. The only one I remember is Randy “Duke” Cunningham, who was cruising around in his Rolls-Royce, splashing his money about. But no investigation, no way!
This must have been a collective policy of the Republican leader-ship in the House
Posted by: Brian | October 5, 2006, 2:02 am 2:02 am
He was asked to come out of the closet, he wouldn’t, .. so we helped him. .. Next ..
Posted by: alwaysthere | October 5, 2006, 2:17 am 2:17 am
Where is ken starr when he is really needed?
The moral: Don’t vote for republicans.
Posted by: Sharon | October 5, 2006, 2:17 am 2:17 am
We may never know the real story. But one thing’s for sure, this thing has sure scared the hell out of the Republicans. I have never seen so much damage control.
What I find disgusting is how Rush Limbaugh and company have tried to spin this. If it had been a Democratic Congressman, they would have waved that bloody shirt around until the election.
Posted by: Sam | October 5, 2006, 2:54 am 2:54 am
I have to agree with “thebull,” why has it taken so long to secure papers on the hill. Seems to me that becasue of the nature of the issue the FBI would have as a first action ordered that no documents be destroyed. I believe this is nothing more than a huge cover up.
As for Foley, well his behavior with the pages was/is dispicable. Perhaps this can be used as a good reason why people should come out of the closet or from the “down low” and be open about their sexuality. All this scurrying around in the gutter is unacceptable, casts a very bad light on Gay/Lesbian and Transgender people who are law abiding and just wish to live full lives with all the rights and privlages the hetro society enjoys.
This does not include sexual solicitation of people under age!
Posted by: Nubianblk | October 5, 2006, 6:29 am 6:29 am
Yes, Foley needs to be thrown in jail along with ANYONE else who knew and didn’t report this crime….that not only includes Republicans if it is proven (not alleged) that they knew, but also Democrats who sat on tnis for 2 years and released the information just in time to take the election.
Posted by: Elaine | October 5, 2006, 6:51 am 6:51 am
Priests, politicians, teachers! What profession do we need to worry about next where our children are concerned?
Posted by: Mary | October 5, 2006, 7:29 am 7:29 am
“We may never know the real story. But one thing’s for sure, this thing has sure scared the hell out of the Republicans.”
Of course it has. They immediately (and instinctively) turned to the Iraq/Middle East playbook and tried to use it for this. You know: “Warrentless wiretapping? So what?”; “Mounting casualties and no end plan in Iraq? So what?”; “Jack Abramoff? So what?”
Only thing is, when you try to do that with pedophilia, it just doesn’t quite work, does it?
Posted by: Ted | October 5, 2006, 7:36 am 7:36 am
Face it whether Republican or Democrat they are all out to gain power and keep it even at the expense of children. Instead of cleaning up their mess by tossing out the garbage they are now considering doing away with the page program. That’s as stupid as New York trying to outlaw foods with trans fats. It about time people take responsibility for their actions instead of looking for a scapegoat.
Posted by: Terri | October 5, 2006, 7:37 am 7:37 am
–ITS ALL PART OF A LEFT WING CONSPIRACY-HEAR THAT DEMS., HILARY AND ABC NEWS??? FOLEY’S ACTIONS ARE DEPLORABLE AND HE DESERVES TO FACE THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW. BUT, I JUST MARVEL AT THE DOUBLE STANDARD…NO, CORRECTON…THERE’S ONLY ONE STANDARD…AND THAT’S WHATEVER THE DEMOCRATS HAPPEN TO THINK IT IS AT ANY ONE PARTICULAR MOMENT. IN THE MEANTIME…LIFE IS GOOD, THE ECONONY IS SOARING, GAS PRICES ARE DOWN AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE STILL TOUGHER ON TERROR. THEY GET MY VOTE NEXT MONTH!
Posted by: charlie gracie, jr | October 5, 2006, 7:43 am 7:43 am
Yesterday Congressman Ray LaHood and Speaker Hastert made calls to end the Page Program, and or suspend it – All I have to say to hose remarks are: If the American Public cant trust GOP with their children, then surely the American Public shouldn’t trust them with control of Congress.
The very idea of abolishing the Page Program because the GOP can’t get their act together is sheer ludicrous.
Think about it – GOP can’t protect children on the Hill, yet they want the power of running the Country, I say abolish GOP rule, not the Page Program.
Posted by: Former Page Summer of 1998 | October 5, 2006, 8:57 am 8:57 am
The Speaker should resign i mean this is nuts. The republicans need to get their stories straight if they are going to go the tact of lying on this issue. i mean holy smokes, this has been handled so poorly its amazing. Doesn’t anyone in politics learn from past scandals. I mean what a bunch of jokers.
Posted by: Chuckie Tayler | October 5, 2006, 9:02 am 9:02 am
Kirk Fordhams’s testimony before the FBI today will spell doom for Hastert. The Speaker will resign once the criminal investigation starts. Once that happens the Dems will only have to stand back and watch as absolute power crumbles from within.
Posted by: JWard | October 5, 2006, 9:06 am 9:06 am
if fordham offered to shield foley, because of loyalty and lifestyle similarity, by cutting a deal with abc then how can he be believed after abc turned him down?
in spite of this opinion, hastert should step down. if we cannot trust the third in line for the presidency to tell the truth then he should go.
Posted by: lfs | October 5, 2006, 9:56 am 9:56 am
I know it’s very easy to get “deleted” email, but how does Mr. Ross, or anyone for that matter, find “instant messages”?
Posted by: David | October 5, 2006, 10:16 am 10:16 am
Not being a congressional expert, I am wondering what Speaker Hastert’s options might have been when he first became aware that there might be a “problem”. He probably lacks the authority that most CEO-types would have available ultimately: to have fired Foley as a U.S. Representative. Could he have imposed some other alternative approach such as referral to an “executive session” of an Ethics Committee? Would there be libel issues potentially? There must be a body of legal discourse surrounding this situation lurking somewhere that would at least attest to the questionable logic that has been applied or mis-applied.
Posted by: david sewall | October 5, 2006, 10:17 am 10:17 am
Oh my, there they go blaming the Democrats for the Republican cover-up and corruption. What spin their in.
I guess these are the same people who believe that former Rep. Foley was correctly indentified by Fox TV News as a “D-Florida”.
And the Bush admin knew nothing about the attack plans before 9/11, even though the head of the CIA (their guy)told them everything except the exact time the planes would hit the WTC.
And the moon is made of cheese.
Posted by: margaret | October 5, 2006, 11:16 am 11:16 am
Why are all these people now claiming to have prior knowledge and pointing the guilty finger at Hastert???? If I knew children were being victimized and my “Boss” didn’t want to listen to me I would go to someone else. Isn’t that what we teach our children??? To find a responsible adult to help them.
Perhaps all these people who knew this was going on and didn’t act on it should have to spend a few days in a room w/a sexual preditor…while we all hold committee meetings on who knew what and when.
Posted by: Rachel | October 5, 2006, 11:23 am 11:23 am
I want AT LEAST 80 million appropriated to investigate this. I want to know which bill was under consideration when Foley was sending his sex messages from the house floor. We need hearings, clothing items,all computers confiscated, a special prosecutor- everything the Republicans felt was needed the last time we had a scandal like this. The Dems will NEVER forget.
Posted by: lilyann | October 5, 2006, 11:30 am 11:30 am
People in these blogs keep saying that someone held on to these e-mails and IM’s for 3 years and are now puting them out just befor election time. I say bunk!
If that was the case they would have put it out just before the Pres. election. Foley would still have had to resign and the backlash in the republican party would have probably put Bush out on his ear.
So please do not blame the Dems. for putting this out just before election time because it would have been more effective 2 years ago.
Posted by: Terry | October 5, 2006, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm
Hastert’s claim that he saw no reason to further investigate, having only seen Foley’s “overly friendly” emails, is such BS.
Everybody knows that pedophiles start with innocent-sounding enticement (“When’s your birthday? What do you want? Send me a pic.”)
Who does he think he’s kidding?
I’ve voted straight Republican over the past 20 years. But I’ve had it with this crowd. I want them out!
Posted by: Keith | October 5, 2006, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
representative Hastart: I was born and raisedin Spfld,Ill (1938) and attended high school and college in Ill. My masters degree comes from the U of I. I am now ashamed of my home state and their #1 politican, namely you! Whay can’t people be honest when it comes to the people they repesent. Lets be truthfull snd proud. Thank you sir; A former state of Illinois residdent. CEH
Posted by: chuck heiden | October 5, 2006, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm
Doesn’t the blatant partianship in everyone’s responses to this (I’m talking about BOTH parties — I hesitate to name one in front of the other lest readers assume I am one or the other!) make anyone a little sick to their stomach(s)? Doesn’t anyone see the infantile behavior playing out here? He touched me first, no she did, no he didn’t, yes he did, nahnah nahnah nah nah. Do you really believe that there is a solution that can solve any one problem? People, it’s time to wake up from your dreamy slumber and take personal responsibility for your own lives and souls. Mom and Dad are coming home. Are you ready to see them?
Posted by: Christine | October 5, 2006, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm
Why is this all over the news? It’s certainly interesting and gets one thinking about the reality of politics, but this story seems too perfect to have suddenly revealed itself. It’s good meat thrown into a ring of dogs with a slight twist of sexual pepper. It’s just backlash on the background of dropping oil prices.
Posted by: sledge | October 5, 2006, 6:05 pm 6:05 pm
i can not wait to have the votes counted in nov and see them all voted out of office. its time for the repulsive republicans to go.
Posted by: mary | October 5, 2006, 11:08 pm 11:08 pm
You mean to tell me that this administration’s grand spy-on-
Americans program and internet monitoring activities completely missed picking up on all of Foley’s series of IM’s and emails?
Unfortunately, we could all vote
straight Democratic for the next 25 years and not be able to undo
the damage the Republicans have done to us and this country in the past 6.
Posted by: Lynn | October 6, 2006, 2:36 am 2:36 am
“Why would this ever be a Democrat or Republican debate?” asks someone upthread. Because Hastert and the other Republican did not inform the whole Page Board, just the Republicans. And he now says that the Page Board maybe shoulda, coulda done more. That’s dishonest, as the Page Board was not even informed. Had they been, the scandal coulda been bipartisan.
Posted by: nbm | October 6, 2006, 10:09 am 10:09 am
It seems that there were definite red flags in the original emails that Hastert knew about. The fact that he believes they didn’t warrant further investigation shows me how out-of-touch he is. Any parent would have freaked out if they saw an older person asking for a photo of their underage kid! Didn’t he know what Foley’s committee on exploited children was doing??
Posted by: Chelle | October 6, 2006, 6:34 pm 6:34 pm
I just don’t remember all the Democrats going ga ga when Congressman Studds was going after every male page in the city.
What did he get a “censure” from the Democratic Leadership back in 82 or 83.
But who cares, that’s old news.
The whole Congress should resign, the entire system is corrupt. Purge it and start again.
Posted by: Mark Zinan | October 7, 2006, 4:40 pm 4:40 pm
Lynn- you said it all!!! Any good democrat who would even want to consider running for president and step into the “mess” would create doubt about him/her in my mind.
On Foley–with the increase of death and sexual crimes against the children of this country by, in most cases “repeat offenders”, one would think that any inappropriate contact with children would raise “red flags”. This would be especially true in Flordia where many of these crimes take place. Hastert is on the hot seat and should be, I wonder what Jeb Bush knew and when. As governor of the State of Florida one would think that the right hand would know what the left is doing in reference to his elected officials.The phrase’s ” I didn’t know or I wasn’t told” are being used at epidemic proportions in DC.
Bush,Rice,Rumsfeld,Hastert, you name em, they didn’t know. Makes one wonder who is running this country, who does know? The Bush Administration is by all accounts the most uninformed administration in the history of this country.
Posted by: Maureen Molina | October 8, 2006, 8:24 am 8:24 am
Y’all have to remember a couple things:
The internet protection act, headed by Mark Foley (great irony), just went into effect this July. That is what will be his downfall. It did not apply to Gerry Studds who had consensual contact with a Page who was of age (of consent) at the time and place.
The age of consent in Florida is 18. That is where some of the Foley IM’s to minors are from.
Conspiracy is any and all attempts to cover this up after the fact, including ignoring it. The penalty is only one less degree than committing the original act (the IM’s).
Posted by: tbirdsher | October 10, 2006, 3:28 pm 3:28 pm