Posted on 09/28/2006 3:21:37 PM PDT by slowhand520
Sixteen-Year-Old Who Worked as Capitol Hill Page Concerned About E-mail Exchange with Congressman September 28, 2006 3:06 PM
Rhonda Schwartz and Maddy Sauer Report:
A 16-year-old male former congressional page concerned about the appropriateness of an e-mail exchange with a congressman alerted Capitol Hill staffers to the communication.
Congressman Mark Foley's office says the e-mails were entirely appropriate and that their release is part of a smear campaign by his opponent.
In the series of e-mails, obtained by ABC News, from Rep. Foley (R-FL) to the former page, Foley asks the young man how old he is, what he wants for his birthday and requests a photo of him.
THE BLOTTER RECOMMENDS Congressman Ney Pleads Guilty to Accepting Lavish Gifts NY Moneyman Arrested in Teen Sex Scandal Check out the Brian Ross Webcast on Home Page The concerned young man alerted congressional staffers to the e-mails. In one e-mail, the former page writes to a staffer, "Maybe it is just me being paranoid, but seriously. This freaked me out."
Foley's office acknowledges that Foley wrote the e-mails to the young man but says they were completely innocent and that Foley is at most guilty of being "too friendly and too engaging" with young people.
The e-mails were sent from Foley's personal AOL account, and the exchange began within weeks after the page finished his program on Capitol Hill. In one, Foley writes, "did you have fun at your conference…what do you want for your birthday coming up…what stuff do you like to do."
In another Foley writes, "how are you weathering the hurricane…are you safe…send me an email pic of you as well…"
The young man forwarded that e-mail to a congressional staffer saying it was "sick sick sick sick sick."
Foley's office says it is their policy to keep pictures of former interns and anyone who may ask for a recommendation on file so they can remember them.
The Congressional page program was started in the 1800s. In its current form, juniors from high school work on Capitol Hill after school or over the summer. The young man in question did not work or intern for Foley's office.
Elizabeth Nicolson, Foley's Chief of Staff, said they believe the e-mail exchange began when the page asked Foley for a recommendation and that the subsequent exchange was totally innocent. She said Foley's office believes the e-mails were released by the opposition as part of an "ugly smear campaign."
And they knew that Foley would just happen to ask him for an email picture and about his birthday and how he managed during the bad weather? Oh, yeah! That is "Karl Rove brilliant!"
Freudian slip? ;-)
Based on the info presented, I don't think so. I could be proven wrong with more data, but I just think it is hysterics at this point.
Wait a minute. If the boy wanted a recommendation, then Foley had every right to ask for his photo. He did keep "photos" of all his interns on file.
"How about asking what they wanted for their b-day? C'mon now, you know you wouldn't."
I can't argue that point..LOL.
sw
I'm totally confused. The kid asked for a recommendation from a guy he didn't work for? The guy, who just happens to be up for reelection is so stupid that he contacts the kid and ask what can only be considered "gay" questions? The whole thing is really, really weird. The timing is extremely suspect.
There is a difference between making it a practice to photograph interns on the first or last day for an official picture and casually asking in an otherwise personal sounding e-mail for a picture.
It could be innocent. I'd like to see the whole e-mail. But the way it reads here sounds creepy.
.
Maybe if Foley is a known homosexual, the rats set the kid as bait and caught their fish. It is still inexcusable.
How is it different from the behavior of a homosexual who is not interested in a minor, but would like to seduce a young man of legal age?
But you're not discussing the infomation provided; you're mocking the story by talking about something you may or may not do once in a while.
I hope you don't have children; if you do, I hope you're as openminded when some 52 year old asks them for their picture and what they want for their birthday.
In the series of e-mails, obtained by ABC News, from Rep. Foley (R-FL) to the former page
"series of e-mails" says it all folks. Why is it we don't see the rest? But even the one they did release, what exactly is wrong? Some of the responses to this story is absolutely unbelievable. I think we have amongst us some people who see the worst in all aspects of life.
Give me a break. Unless all the emails are released which reenforces inappropriatness I don't see any problem here. The fact that only SOME text is released should be cause for suspicion of the motive(s)
GOOD GRIEF ALREADY!!!!!
Did any thong get snapped? If not, this is purely innocent stuff. If so, it not the old man's fault, it is the kid who is guilty you know./sarcasm
Apparently so........LOL...or maybe just typing faster than my brain works.
Because this could be standard operating procedure as his office says and they knew this?
and how he managed during the bad weather?
That they wouldnt know. Is it possible that the kid told him about "the hurricane" first?
"In another Foley writes, "how are you weathering the hurricane…are you safe"
One thing is missing from this story: The kids emails. It would better fill in your questions.
GASP!!!
*snicker, snicker*
If he was a Democrat, then there'd be no question that he's a pervert. ;-)
Thanks for that. ;-) And why would he want a photo of the kid, who it appears he knows fairly well, because the kid wants a recommendation? I've been asked for recommendations before and, at no point did I feel the need to ask for a photo of the person, who was usually a teenager applying for college. And, the boy wasn't one of his interns.
Creepy, ick, ick, ick!
That movie was wrong on so many levels, but funny as all get out..."Excuse me, I can speak jive."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.