Top Republican law-maker a pedophile: the Mark Foley scandal

[Little Dreamer]

Republican leadership tried to cover it up for fear of loosing the 2006 elections. And this comes from the party of family values, opposition to gay mariage, and impeachment of Clinton. Their hypocrisy and deceit of the American public trully knows no shame and no limits! They were knowingly protecting a pedophile!

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/...its/index.html

ASHINGTON (CNN) -- House Speaker Dennis Hastert has asked the Justice Department to investigate how lawmakers handled allegations that a Florida congressman exchanged sexually explicit messages with teenage congressional pages, the speaker's office said.

The rare move followed calls by Democratic leaders in the House and Senate for a swift inquiry earlier Sunday, questioning whether the GOP leadership in the House had improperly squelched concerns about former Rep. Mark Foley's contacts with pages.

Meanwhile, two government officials told CNN that the FBI has begun a preliminary investigation of Foley to determine whether any federal laws have been broken.

The Florida Republican resigned Friday amid scrutiny of his e-mail and instant-message contacts with pages. The six-term Florida congressman was co-chairman of the Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus and a prominent backer of legislation to crack down on online predators and criminalize child pornography on the Internet. (Watch how politics inspired Foley at age 6 -- 2:44 )

The House voted to launch an investigation of his dealings with pages. But in a letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Hastert urged the Justice Department to look into who knew about the content of any sexually explicit messages involving Foley "and what actions such individuals took, if any, to provide them to law enforcement."

"I request that the scope of your investigation include any and all individuals who may have been aware of this matter -- be they members of Congress, employees of the House of Representatives or anyone outside the Congress," Hastert wrote.

Justice Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said the department will review "whether we can conduct an investigation."

Hastert, an Illinois Republican, also asked the Justice Department and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to investigate whether the former lawmaker violated federal or state law.

Earlier Sunday, White House Counselor Dan Bartlett said he expected a criminal investigation. The administration was unaware of the Foley allegations until last week, he said.

"The White House and the president were just as shocked as everyone else," Bartlett said on CNN's "Late Edition."

Top House Republicans have said they were aware months ago of e-mail contact between Foley and a teenage male page, but that they had no knowledge of sexually explicit messages that have subsequently come to light.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said the case should not be handled by the Republican-led Congress.

"Under laws that Congressman Foley helped write, soliciting sex from a minor online is a federal crime," the Nevada Democrat said. "The alleged crimes here are far outside the scope of any congressional committee."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said House Republican leaders knew of the Foley allegations and "chose to cover it up rather than to protect these children."

In a letter to the leaders of the Ethics Committee, the California Democrat said that GOP leaders should be questioned under oath immediately and that a preliminary report should be issued within 10 days.

After Hastert's request for an investigation, she said the Ethics Committee still needs to look into the actions of the GOP leadership. "Congress must not pass the buck on investigating this cover-up," she said.

Rep. Christopher Shays, a Connecticut Republican, also called for an investigation of his party's leadership.

"If they knew or should have known the extent of this problem, they should not serve in leadership," Shays said Sunday.

Too graphic to report

In a brief resignation statement, Foley apologized to his own family and constituents but did not mention the allegations. He has made no public comment since his resignation.

After the e-mails were publicized, ABC News released instant text messages allegedly sent by the congressman to other teenage male pages in 2003. (More details)

The chamber's three top Republicans -- Hastert, Majority Leader John Boehner of Ohio and Majority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri -- said in a joint statement Saturday that Foley's "improper communications" were "unacceptable and abhorrent."

The scandal comes just weeks before the November 7 midterm elections. Republicans are hurriedly trying to find someone to replace Foley. (Watch how the handling of the scandal puts the GOP on the defensive -- 2:40 )

Foley had been favored to defeat Democratic candidate Tim Mahoney and win re-election to a seventh term.

"The Republican leadership knew this was going on, and they had to make a choice," Mahoney said. "They decided to try to hold on to a seat."

Reynolds informed Hastert

Rep. Tom Reynolds said over the weekend that he told Hastert about the initial complaint -- that Foley had been e-mailing a 16-year-old Louisiana boy who had served as a page, asking for a picture of the teen and asking what he wanted for his birthday.

The New York Republican chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, which is the election campaign arm for House Republicans.

Reynolds said that when Rep. Rodney Alexander, a Louisiana Republican, told him about the e-mails, he said the teen's parents didn't want the matter pursued. Alexander was the boy's sponsor.

After an initial denial, Hastert's office said Reynolds brought up the issue of the e-mails in a meeting with the speaker earlier this year.

Reynolds told Hastert in that meeting an investigation had been done by Rep. John Shimkus and the clerk of the House, who manages the work-study program for youths under 18. Shimkus is an Illinois Republican and chairman of the House Page Board.

Rep. Dale Kildee, the only Democratic member of the House Page Board, insisted Saturday the board did not investigate Foley.

Boehner learned about allegations against Foley from Alexander in the spring, said Kevin Madden, the majority leader's spokesman.

Murtha: Finish probe before elections

Shimkus said Foley told him he was only mentoring the teen in the first complaint and was concerned about his fate after Hurricane Katrina.

Shimkus said he warned Foley "to cease all contact with this former House page" -- and he said Foley assured him the e-mails would stop.

The actions taken against Foley were not sufficient, Democrats said Sunday.

"I think this should be investigated objectively. I think the Democratic leadership should have been told 10 months ago," California Rep. Jane Harman told "Fox News Sunday."

"I gather that basically nothing was done, except that Foley was warned."

Rep. John Murtha said an investigation should be done before the November elections so that those involved could be held accountable for any wrongdoing.

"It has to be a very quick investigation. We have to protect these young people," the Pennsylvania Democrat told ABC's "This Week."

"It really makes me nervous that they looked like they tried to cover it up," he said.

[LLFHS]

Republican leadership tried to cover it up for fear of loosing the 2006 elections. And this comes from the party of family values, opposition to gay mariage, and impeachment of Clinton. Their hypocrisy and deceit of the American public trully knows no shame and no limits! They were knowingly protecting a pedophile!

But....but....but.....Clinton lied about a blowjob. Kerry threw his medals away. Carter's a pussy. Hilary's ugly! Democrats are godless.....Ann Coulter said so!

[wham bam will rock]

But.....Republicans love nobody but their wives, love Jesus, are pro-life, would never hurt a child and HATE, I said HATE porno (especially EVH porn)....

Guess he must have thought there was some sort of a tax break for bein' into child porn.


Guess this ol boy is a Republi-can't!


Guess I'll just have to keep on guessin' one time I say.....a lil drums and bass guitar and ass-less chaps for our friends out there Alex.....

[wham bam will rock]

They were knowingly protecting a pedophile!
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said House Republican leaders knew of the Foley allegations and "chose to cover it up rather than to protect these children."

Hey...

Sounds like the Catholic church!


www.deliverusfromevilthemovie.com

[MikeL]

This is just one ugly individual that kept his depravity hidden from his party. The Party is an upstanding group that would never condone such things and would never help a Member conceal such perversions, even if it may appear that the liberal media is attempting to spin it that way. All they do is spin. Spin, spin, spin.

Now Democrats, those dirty Democrats... they're all wanna-be child molesters! All of them!

Man, do politicians in this country absolutely suck, or what? All of them are the same, no matter what party they're a part of.

We need better men and women in office, regardless of ideology.

[loveevhsince79]

This is just one ugly individual that kept his depravity hidden from his party. The Party is an upstanding group that would never condone such things and would never help a Member conceal such perversions, even if it may appear that the liberal media is attempting to spin it that way. All they do is spin. Spin, spin, spin.

Now Democrats, those dirty Democrats... they're all wanna-be child molesters! All of them!

Man, do politicians in this country absolutely suck, or what? All of them are the same, no matter what party they're a part of.

We need better men and women in office, regardless of ideology.

A post that I can agree with!

[Filthy 150]

Man, do politicians in this country absolutely suck, or what? All of them are the same, no matter what party they're a part of.

We need better men and women in office, regardless of ideology.

That is the real problem.

I remember a professor in a Poli/Sci class go on for an hour on the fact that the people best suited to run our country are too successful(or too smart) to go into politics.
His main point was that most politicians are failed attorneys.

[smithjc]

Man, do politicians in this country absolutely suck, or what? All of them are the same, no matter what party they're a part of.

We need better men and women in office, regardless of ideology.

I agree with this 101%. But where to find such men and women?

How hypocritical (this whole mess). Who knows what to believe anymore? I agree tho. Politics suck. It all depends on how much money you can raise to buy your way into office.

IMO of course.

[FORD]

Real campaign finance reform would be a good first step. Shut down the lobbying industry. Particularly the gun lobby, AIPAC, the oil industry, and others that have way too much influence on politics.

No former elected officials can be employed as lobbyists, and no lobbyists can be elected to public office.

If any member of your immediate family was President, you are automatically disqualified from running. In other words, FUCK Jeb AND Hillary. (Too bad we didn't have this law 6 years ago to keep Chimpy out)

NO corporate funding of political parties or elections. Candidates will be given equal time on network television. Debates will be sponsored by the League of Women Voters or similar non-partisan group, and they won't be scripted and rehearsed. If you're candidate is too fucking stupid to answer questions on the spot, he's got no business running for office. And no fucking earpieces either!

The fairness act will be restored, and the telecommunications act of 1996 repealed, restoring some sanity to the media and forcing the break up of the mega corporations.

I'd say that's a good start......

[smithjc]

OMG that whole election fiasco which coicidentally just happened to be in bro Jeb's state was too much.

But I'm not gonna get started on that crap. I'm just gonna hope that the term ends quick, fast and in a hurry.

[FORD]

OMG that whole election fiasco which coicidentally just happened to be in bro Jeb's state was too much.

But I'm not gonna get started on that crap. I'm just gonna hope that the term ends quick, fast and in a hurry.

Seems like EVERY political story from Florida involves corruption of one kind or another. Same with Ohio. I don't know how people can stand living in either place.

[smithjc]

And it's so blatantly obvious. Not to mention corrupt and unethical. Why don't people see that?

But I rarely debate politics here b/c I'm only here for the Halen. Just hadda get that one out once and for all.

Our political system sucks. And we wanna push democracy on to other countries? How about starting here at home?

Okay I'm done now.

[chefcraig]

Seems like EVERY political story from Florida involves corruption of one kind or another. Same with Ohio. I don't know how people can stand living in either place.

Well...on the plus side, Florida has yearly hurricanes.

[cokemach1]

I love it when this stuff happens. One side tells the other side "I told you that you are bad, we are the good side". Clinton with the BJ, now this.

Sorry, but both sides are morons (I always say it and that won't change). One side is NOT better than the other (see it EVERY DAY where I work).

If you guys on here that are big right-wingers saw how your tax dollar is spent every day (like I do), you'd freak. On the other hand, the left-wingers would have done the same thing back in the Clinton days.

I respect everybody's opinion on here, just tough to see some people argue for "one side over the other" when they are all frauds.

[Otis5150]

All I know is, this incident and the Mel Gibson thing should make everyone seriously consider quitting drinking. Apparently, it can turn you into a racist, a pedophile, or both! Don't you just love how this guy and Gibson immediately checked them selves into rehab for booze, as if that was causing their problems.

I've been pretty hammered, but it never caused me to molest children or spout racial slurs at cops. Maybe I'm just not making enough of an effort....