IWA for Sunday October 1, 2006

Hey folks

This one is a no brainer. You take a politician, shoe in to win re-election, who has served for YEARS. Seemingly has it all, and he does something like this? Of course I’m talking about Mark Foley, Representative of the Sixteenth Congressional District in Florida, member of the Ways and Means Committee, and a rising star in the Republican Party.

So what does he do? He sends "over-friendly" email to a kid. The "overly friendly" description is from Speaker Dennis Hastert office who said that they were concerned months ago about Foley sending inappropriate messages to a teenage boy. Hastert's office said aides referred the matter to the proper authorities last fall but they were only told the messages were "over-friendly."

I have read excerpts of these and I agree, they are "overly friendly". I do not feel that they crossed the line of the law, just plain creepy. Both the kid and Foley clearly state that nothing happened. He could have easily fended these off, dismissed them, saying that the release of them around 41 days prior to a major election as dirty politics. But he resigned. No questions asked. No defense. Even an apology to his family. There HAS to be more to this.

According to USA Today

"WELLINGTON, Fla. — The mention of disgraced congressman Mark Foley throughout his former district put a grimace on people's faces.

Foley, a one-time rising Republican star, resigned Friday after it was revealed he exchanged sexually explicit e-mails with a teenage boy, a former congressional page.

"I do not want to talk about that" was a common answer from his former constituents Saturday.

Those who did speak expressed disappointment, shock and disgust for a man they had elected six times to Congress and were poised to send back to Washington in November. Foley had made a name for himself on Capitol Hill championing legislation against sexual predators and was chairman of the House caucus on Missing and Exploited Children.

"I don't feel sorry for people who say that kind of thing is a disease. You have to be able to control yourself," said Wellington, Fla., elementary school teacher John Cesta, 50.

"It's horrible. He should face criminal charges," said Eric Wenderoth, 35, who owns a landscaping company in The Acreage. "And resigning that fast makes it look even worse. Not even a formal apology?"

Foley said Friday he was "deeply sorry" in a three-sentence statement released by his office, and he apologized to his family and constituents."

The rest of the article talks about how Republicans were ready to defend him thinking it was merely dirty politics and feel duped by Foley himself. It also talks about Rep. Joe Negron, an attorney from Stuart who chaired the House appropriations committee in Tallahassee the past two years, will be running in his place. Negron is a good guy. I’ve met him and think he could be a good choice.

I truly believe there has to be more to this than we know now. There NEEDS to be an investigation into Foley. At the very least, for FORMER Congressman Mark Foley, to throw everything away, for an "overly friendly" email to a kid, IS just plain stupid. Congratulations Mr Foley, you ARE the Idiot of the Week. What are you hiding Mr. Foley?
Peter