Posted on 09/29/2006 12:25:43 PM PDT by lauriehelds
WASHINGTON - Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., submitted a letter of resignation from Congress on Friday in the wake of questions about e-mails he wrote a former male page, according to a congressional official.
Foley, 52, had been considered a shoo-in for re-election until the e-mails surfaced in recent days.
Campaign aides had previously acknowledged that the Republican congressman e-mailed the former Capitol page five times, but had said there was nothing inappropriate about the exchange. The page was 16 at the time of the e-mail correspondence.
Foley's election opponent, Democrat Tim Mahoney, has called for an investigation.
(Excerpt) Read more at montereyherald.com ...
a 52 year old man asking a 16 year old boy for pictures is awfully suspicious.
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If my son rec'd a request such as this from a 52 y/o man, I'd be a bit more than suspicious.
Foley hadn't laid a hand on the kid. Until he made an advance on him, I'm just assuming he was being overly-friendly. The difference between 16 and 23 is not so wide as the difference between sending an e-mail and having an employee give you a bob job. Foley should have shown better judgment, but I really think it's kind of sad we live in a society now where if you're friendly with anyone underage, you must be a predator.
I agree with you a tad on this. I am going to withhold alot of judgment till I get all the facts. The gay political groups have been wanting this to happen for years.
It's not an issue of a crime, but it looks terrible and for good reason, so he's resigned rather than run and lose.
The "age of consent" here in Florida is 16, as long as the older person isn't more than 5 years older. Foley is obviously older than 21...........
I don't know what Foley's intentions were. If they were sexual in nature, then shame on him and good riddance. But I think we're beginning to create a situation where adults can't have any communication with kids not their own without fear of being seen as a predator. There needs to be a happy medium somewhere between protecting kids but also not creating a situation where people are afraid to even interact.
remember at the time of the Frank scandal, (1983-84?) there was a Republican from Illinois who'd had an affair with a female page ... he lost his seat. Barney is still there!
That is true.
If I am reading the statute correct, it looks like the GOP can replace him on the upcoming ballot
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0100/SEC111.HTM&Title=-%3E2006-%3ECh0100-%3ESection%20111#0100.111
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
It probably is best he resigned to ensure the seat remains in GOP hands. And of course he should have exercised better judgment knowing we live in a society that now looks on any adult-child interaction as predatory. I don't know what his intentions were. If he was looking to prey on this kid then f him and good riddance. But I'm not prepared to make that conclusion.
different standards? LOL
The Dems do NOT have standards, it's a free for all.
If it were only thank you notes and emails, it's highly unlikely Foley would have resigned. Unfortunately, it seems there's more to it and Rep. Foley offered up one more safe seat in the House to Nancy Pelos & Co.
as to residency: didn't Hillary move to Chappaqua the day before or day of her Senate election ? And, wouldn't you love to know just how much time she's actually spent there outside of campaign season ?
This seat is safely GOP. It won't change hands. Foley was overly-friendly. Sad that's a crime in today's America.
I did read my own post #109 wrong.
Since it is past primary certification the above statute says that Foley's name will remain on the ballot but all his votes go to the replacement candidate.
"I said lick my erection not wreck my election"
age of consent in fl is 16 HOWEVER that does not bypass sexual deliquency of a minor issues.
Homosexual activists will say this is not reaaaaaaly a homosexual recruiting effort because it was a minor.
Yet another good reason homosexuals are not allowed to adopt children in FL.
Hours earlier, ABC News had read excerpts of instant messages provided by former male pages who said the congressman, under the AOL Instant Messenger screen name Maf54, made repeated references to sexual organs and acts.
Stick a fork in him he's done.
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