E-mail case ‘disgusting,’ says Capito, 1 of 3 in House who oversee pages

Charlston Gazette ^ | 10-2-06 | Scott Finn

[dogbyte12]

Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., says she was not told about suggestive e-mails that a Florida congressman sent to a 16-year-old former Capitol page, even though she is one of three representatives who oversee the page program.

Several high-ranking House Republicans have known about the e-mails for months, including Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill., chairman of the House Page Board.

Late last year, Shimkus met with Foley about the e-mails. But Shimkus never told Capito or the board’s other member, Rep. Dale Kildee, D-Mich., about them until Friday, according to all three.

“There’s only three of us on the page board. I feel that we should have been informed,” Capito said. “I’m absolutely disgusted by what I’m hearing. I was caught totally unaware.”

Capito said she would have been very concerned if she had read those e-mails.

“I don’t think it would pass the sniff test,” she said. “Even asking those questions — that is not normal between a 52-year-old adult and a 16-year-old. It’s not like they’re family friends or anything. I think it would raise some serious questions. But I wasn’t given that opportunity.”

[dogbyte12]

Why Shimkus didn't inform her I don't know. She sounds like a good sense person here. She would have fixed this problem if Shimkus bothered to invite her to the meeting with Foley.

[CharlesWayneCT]

Maybe when you are accusing someone of nefarious acts, but there is no real evidence, you don't bring everybody into the process.

If the IMs didn't appear, most of us would be defending Foley based on just the leaked e-mail, even though we too would feel a little "odd" about it's wording.

[dogbyte12]

I don't see how the page board can meet to discuss this with only 1 of the 3 members talking to Foley. Even to CYA. If Foley was just being "overly friendly" this would probably be ok, but if there was more to it, excluding the other two members from the board from hearing about it, makes it bad.

The reason why it is bad is because of what she said here. She found it really creepy herself, and she would have done more than take his word for it. This could have been over last year, with a new candidate in Foley's spot now.

[Suzy Quzy]

Don't forget Democrat Mel Reynolds UnDER-AGE scandal and then Clinton HIRED him for something.

[dogbyte12]

Here is the problem. Dems are expected to be pervs. It's all expectations. It's the dog bites man story. Republicans are for moral values, so when we screw up, it's news.

If a democrat bought big shares in an oil company that roasted spotted owls, the dems would flip. We would say no big deal.

That is why the story is getting play. We ARE the party of morality. When we mess up, it gets play.

[SirJohnBarleycorn]

If a democrat bought big shares in an oil company that roasted spotted owls, the dems would flip

Actually they wouldn't, there are lots of rich Democrats with politically incorrect investments, starting with Kerry and Gore - there would be no interest in it, it would go down the memory hole. The hypocrisy by the Dems is total.

[Glenn]

The "Good Old Boy" network is alive and well in D.C.

I hope they roast the lot of them. It is purely disgusting that anyone would argue for quarter based on what the Dems have done in the past.

If Hastert knew (how could he not?) then he should be ejected immediately. It's criminal behavior.

[MineralMan]

"The "Good Old Boy" network is alive and well in D.C.
"

It is, indeed. More evidence that most politicians are scum, in my opinion, whatever their party. Those who seek political power should not be allowed to have it. That's what I think.

[Enchante]

ALL of the Demagogues everywhere should be extremely supportive of Foley -- he was merely confused, he thought he was a Democrat and he just wanted to follow in the ennobling traditions of Gerry Studds, Barney Frank, Mel Reynolds, Bill Clinton, et al in taking full advantage of his position to score some hot sex.

I despise Foley, but the Demagogues should rally around him the way they ralley around their own drooling, lustful scumbags:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1712184/posts

[nj26]

“I don’t think it would pass the sniff test,” she said. “Even asking those questions — that is not normal between a 52-year-old adult and a 16-year-old. It’s not like they’re family friends or anything. I think it would raise some serious questions. But I wasn’t given that opportunity.”

Couldn't agree more. Capito sounds like the sort of sensible representative that we need in the leadership.

[okstate]

IT's not "bringing everyone into the process."

She's a member of the PAGE BOARD. This involved a page. Shimkus is beyond stupid for not telling her and Kildee.

[nj26]

"Don't forget Democrat Mel Reynolds UnDER-AGE scandal and then Clinton HIRED him for something."

Are you suggesting that the GOP ought to emulate the moral standards of the Democrats?

Mel Reynolds was arraigned in September 1994... two months before GOP landslide. Just a thought.

[CharlesWayneCT]

I agree, I'm just saying it isn't as shocking to me that they didn't, nor does it indicate a cover-up to keep power to me.

It's just a stupid decision not to have the entire page board.

I believe there's a democrat on that board. I am betting the democrat would have had the same position as everybody else who saw this, meaning they would have done nothing.

But if we had gone through that process, the democrats would not be able to attack the republicans for a coverup, because their own side would have had the information.

Note that the democrats most certainly DID have this information, and access to the e-mails, because several newspapers had the information, and there's no way it wasn't leaked to them.

[okstate]

Yes, the Democrat is Dale Kildee from Michigan. It's not really shocking to me. I also don't know if the Dems knew about the e-mails (except for the Democrats in the media)... because the person that leaked the e-mails and then the IMs to ABC News were the pages themselves, I believe.

[no dems]

Dear God, I'll be so glad when November 7 has come and gone.

It seems like the GOP is doing everything in their power to give the Dems control of both Houses.

Tonight Bill O'Reilly called on every Congressman in a leadership position who knew of the e-mails to resign NOW!!!

[oceanview]

I am giving up on OReilly through this election period based on his performance today.

[Just mythoughts]

Wait a minute, liberals really know their opposition better than we know them.

NOW the parents requested they only wanted the emails to stop they wanted NO attention drawn to their child. This is exactly what was done, stop Foley and protect the identity of this kid.

Now exactly HOW was this to be done if everybody in the HOUSE was informed about the emails? Yet somebody had access to the emails and turned them over to the press, was that an insider of the HOUSE or was it somebody monitoring Foley's computer.

Point is that somebody was either spying on Foley's computer, had access to his computer or was on the chat with Foley and saved the IMs and held them until they could time the dirty little bomb for maximum benefit, retaking the House.

The only people thus far that I can see looking out for this kid are his parents and those who told Foley to stop emailing him.

We really need to get a grip here and not become tools of liberals who hate US as much as the terrorists around this globe do.