Rep. Mark Foley drops out of race [Fox: also resigned]

[processing please hold]

When did the Democrats know about this? If Foley is a child predator and the Democrats found out and sat on it until it benefitted them politically, then how many children did they put at risk for their political gain?"

They get our soldiers killed for political gain. They put American citizen lives at danger for their political gain. They don't care about children, they favor murder in the womb.

[MikefromOhio]

"4)(a) In the event that death, resignation, withdrawal, removal, or any other cause or event should cause a party to have a vacancy in nomination which leaves no candidate for an office from such party, the Department of State shall notify the chair of the appropriate state, district, or county political party executive committee of such party; and, within 5 days, the chair shall call a meeting of his or her executive committee to consider designation of a nominee to fill the vacancy. The name of any person so designated shall be submitted to the Department of State within 7 days after notice to the chair in order that the person designated may have his or her name on the ballot of the ensuing general election. If the name of the new nominee is submitted after the certification of results of the preceding primary election, however, the ballots shall not be changed and the former party nominee's name will appear on the ballot. Any ballots cast for the former party nominee will be counted for the person designated by the political party to replace the former party nominee. If there is no opposition to the party nominee, the person designated by the political party to replace the former party nominee will be elected to office at the general election. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "district political party executive committee" means the members of the state executive committee of a political party from those counties comprising the area involving a district office."

[NinoFan]

This has nothing to do with being naive. Resignation does not equal admitting guilt to any illegal or immoral act. It's entirely possible that people with huge imaginations and dubious political motives have turned this into something that looks bad, even when it's not, and yes, considering the guy was an anti-porn advocate, I could see that being enough for a resignation.

I refuse to condemn this man until I know more details.

[trumandogz]

Cindy dropped alot of rain and knocked down some trees in LA but was not deemed a hurricane until a month or so later.

[floriduh voter]

It's the IMs that abc reported that are worse than the emails in today's paper.

[ichabod1]

Bill Frist.

[boxerblues]

Do you know how easy it is to fake AIM records, especially chat transcripts

Its extremely easy, yet there must something to it seeing how Foley resigned. The Feds would be able to get access if needed, AOL has a very good archival and has cooperated with the Feds on previous kiddie porn cases

[Dianna]

Then the question becomes: When did the Democrats know about this? If Foley is a child predator and the Democrats found out and sat on it until it benefitted them politically, then how many children did they put at risk for their political gain?

This ought to be the reponse that every Republican gives on the subject. Especially since it looks like the e-mail are more than a year old.

We are absolutely committed to child safety! Mark Foley is not welcome in the Republican Party and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. But these e-mails are over a year old. How long ago did the dems find out that Foley was a predator? Why didn't THEY blow the whistle and help us remove this guy before we exposed MORE children to him?

[zbigreddogz]

Exactly.

But don't tell that to the Tancredo crowd. They still think Graf is gonna win in a blowout.

:sigh:

It's gonna be a bad year. How bad? Not quite sure, but bad.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Well, Frist at least has a beard. Graham and Foley don't.

[jazusamo]

I'd take it personally, except that I see you act this way towards everybody.

That's a pretty tall statement for a newby of less that two months. Can you back that up? If not, you'd better move on.

[Howlin]

Resignation does not equal admitting guilt to any illegal or immoral act.

Why don't you tell us what it does mean.

[floriduh voter]

There were way too many canes in 2005. It wasn't as bad as 2004 but almost.

[mom4kittys]

That is true. It is really odd about the July date then.

[Txsleuth]

I know how you feel....I am disappointed that he didn't stay and fight.

BUT, we truly don't know the whole story...maybe he has some "plan" that is better???

[ichabod1]

There was more to it than the MSM with Delay. He could have gotten reelected. They had to have something else on him and blackmailed him out of Congress with it. Fortunately, it may be that we pull that one out with Shelley Sekula-Gibbs.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

No his name stays on the ballot. Votes cast for him will be counted for a replacement candidate named by the GOP!

[boxerblues]

The e-mail is dated July 29, 2005 but mentions the "hurricane" (Katrina) which hit Louisiana on August 29, 2005

you are looking at a string of emails, its possible they span several weeks

[GatorGirl]

That's what makes me so angry. The timing reveals cold political calculation.

There is no evidence that he ever engaged in sexual acts with children, either!

I agree he should have resigned due to the IMs (not the emails) but this being such a blatant politically calculated move to reveal it now is absolutely outrageous!

[LWalk18]

We are weeks away from an election, where every House seat counts. No one is going to resign merely because he was "embarassed" by false allegations- the chance of the seat flipping to the Dems is too high for that. Something gravely inappropriate must have happened for him for resign now.