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."
One would think that with all the swirl about Foley, he would be particularly sensitive about not putting himself in the position he put himself in. You just don't ask for photos of 16 year old boys, even if you just want them for your "collection."
Sounds like the kid should put some ice on that.
Where is the rebuttal? It should have been out immediately.
On the other hand, if this is another smear, there's a hell of a "war room" operating in D.C. right now that we haven't had a whiff of.
Where is Ben Chao anyway? And that little dweeb that broke the Bush had a DUI story? Can't remember his name.
I'm not a Congressman, but I correspond with children I don't know all the time. We get emails all the time from 'young balloonists'. Ballooning is a dying sport and the only way to keep it alive is to encourage young people to get involved and to participate. I have even asked for photos, so I know who I am talking to. I also talk to their parents if it is an ongoing conversation. I want to make sure there is NO question of my intentions. We will be leaving for Albuquerque for the Fiesta in 4 days. One gentleman I talk to is 13 years old. Because of the correspondence we have had, he will be helping us crew for 2 weekends... I have even mailed him things just because I want to encourage him in his interest.
I am reserving judgement on this Foley thing.
I am probably just an old fuddy duddy that hasn't figured out the ways of the world...
Howlin, no offense intended in this post, but I'm at a loss that this is even an issue.
Two words: Bill Clinton.
Ahem......you mean besides other vibes I might get or also, like others you know who have Gay-dar?????
Honestly Pissant I'm not quite sure how to answer your question.LOL
That's because there has never been any question about your intention, nor are you in a job where "page scandals" should make your hair stand on end.
And I'm betting money this guy didn't talk to his parents.
A (not guilty) possibility: This was a set up by the Dems and they gave it to the kid (being enemies of Foley, his email address is the very least of what they know about him)
Or possibility number two: Foley's email address has always been well known at least amongst the other Washington interns, which this kid was one.
and why did he ask for a recommendation when he didn't even work for him?
Here is what I was told:
People get recommendations from people they have never worked for all the time. The kid probably worked with someone who knew Foley and said he would put in a good word to Foley. Happens all the time.
Though getting a recommendation from someone he never worked with does fit in with my "set up" theory.
I found two more articles that give some more details, one shows 3 emails sent to the boy, but it doesn't show the emails the boy sent.
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001627.php
This article adds a little more to the confusion because it repeats that he didn't intern for Foley, but says this -
"Foley's spokesman released this statement: "The emails in question were a response to a handwritten thank you letter from a former page. There have not been any allegations made by anyone except by Tim Mahoney and the Democrats who are attempting to misrepresent a series of innocent communications to prop up a failing political campaign."
A handwritten thank you letter from a former page?
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/09/rep_foleys_oppo.html
One way or another there is more here than meets the eye and I think we would be able to form a more educated opinion if we saw the original letter/email that started the exchange and all the emails on both sides.
This stupid kid has a long way to go before he is Monica Lewinsky. But leave it to the media to take the idiotic bait. Sure Foley is a fudgepacker, but this seems innocuous. I often ask people to send me their latest pix. The media is hitting fresh lows all over the place in 2006. First "Maccaca" and the "N-Word" with Allen and now this crap with Foley.
You may be correct... but I am going to hold judgement. . I don't know Foley from anyone.. but I do know that the media gets it so wrong, so often and is so liberal that I can't condemn this guy at this point. I just can't.
I don't know anything about pages.. Tonight I learned that pages are under 18 and interns are over 18.. . I think I got that right.
But Howlin, did you notice that there were no exerpts from the boy's emails to this Congressman? The boy evidently mentioned he had a birthday coming up and that is something I might also ask out of courtesy. The boy is asking for a recommendation and the guy asks him what he likes to do. Hobbies, activities, etc. are on many applications. For years, I interviewed 50 - 60 people per week and I had trouble connecting faces/names.....wish I had been able to use photographs to clue me in. And since boy did not work for Foley - even more reason to ask for photo.
Anyway that's my 2 cents about a situation that I don't even know the people involved. :o)
You forgot Pirro
This is interesting:
Update: Foley's opponent has called for an investigation, noting, "It is our understanding that a complaint was filed by the alleged victim, and that complaint should be fully investigated." Foley's office told ABC that "there is no official investigation into the matter and that Foley is only guilty of being friendly."
Worth considering, for sure.
"Mahoney's campaign spokesperson, Jessica Santillo, said the campaign only recently became aware of the e-mails between Foley and the page."
I can't get my pdf viewer to work on these emails. Can you post the content?
I apologize in advance. I'm sorry, but I have to do this...
I think the congressman wanted to get anal about it in the first place.
subject: email 2
glad you home safe and sound...we don't go back into session until Sept 5...si it's a nice long break...I am back in Florida now...it's nice here...been raining today...it sounds like you will have some fun over the next few weeks...how old are you now?
subject: email 3
I am in North Carolina..and it was 100 in New Orleans...wow that's really hot...do you miss DC...it's raining here but 68 degrees so who can argue...did you have fun at your conference...what do you want for your birthday coming up...what stuff do you like to do
subject : email 5
how are you weathering the hurricane...are you safe...send me an email pic of you as well
The annoying dots were in the original emails, I didn't add them...lol In email 5 Foley says send me an email pic of you as well. Could this mean that the boy asked Foley for an email pic and he sent him one and then asked for the boy to send him one "as well"?
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