Foley Interviewed About Page Last Year; Democrats Not Told-Ethics Inquiry

[kskiska]

Ethics Inquiry Ordered

Ex-Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.), who resigned Friday after reports of his improper communications with a former male House page were made public, was interviewed about some of those contacts by the chairman of the House Page Board and the then-Clerk of the House last year.

And late Friday night, the House passed a resolution directing the ethics committee to begin an inquiry into Foley’s behavior.

(snip)

Both Hastings and Berman declined to comment when asked if they would look specifically into leadership and when they knew information about Foley.

At least four Republican House Members, one senior GOP aide and a former top officer of the House were aware of the allegations about Foley that prompted the initial reporting regarding his e-mail contacts with a 16-year-old House page. They include: Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Reynolds (N.Y.) and Reps. Rodney Alexander (R-La.) and John Shimkus (R-Ill.), as well as a senior aide to Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and former Clerk of the House Jeff Trandahl.

more…
http://www.rollcall.com/issues/1_1/breakingnews/15259-1.html

[Erika]

1. The Republicans who knew and did nothing should be

prosecuted. Here, a very powerful House member was intimidating young boys, and they did nothing?

[rodeodance]

16. yes,

[Pachamama]

19. Foley was CO-CHAIRMAN of the Caucus for Missing & Expoited Children!!!

SURPRISED ANYONE?????

Here, now "cached" by Google since Foley's site has been scrubbed:

"...In addition to his committee assignment, Congressman Foley serves as a member of the House leadership as a Deputy Majority Whip. He is also Co-Chairman of the Missing and Exploited Childrens Caucus..."

[Joe Bacon]

26. How many other Republicans did the same thing?

I want to know how many other Republican Congressmen did the same thing as Macho Mark!

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

2. Eeeeexcellent

I can only hope that's the same headline that will be picked up by the news outlets.

Recommended.

[Dem2theMax]

3. I feel so very bad for the kids involved,

and hope that their personal lives are respected and that they get any counseling they may need to deal with this situation.

But as for the 'sex scandal' itself, reading all those names: "They include: Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Reynolds (N.Y.) and Reps. Rodney Alexander (R-La.) and John Shimkus (R-Ill.), as well as a senior aide to Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and former Clerk of the House Jeff Trandahl."

Why heck, I'm going out on an limb and guess that this might just be the gift that keeps on giving.
:evilgrin:

[htuttle]

5. "If your Boehner lasts more than 4 months, consult a doctor immediately"

[Dem2theMax]

6. Here's hoping he doesn't even last two more weeks! LOL.

Along with the rest of the scumbags who didn't stop this when they first found out about it.

[pk_du]

7. and if you need help getting rid of it then "See Alice" n/t

[0007]

27. When you're extra large 'ya can't take chances

[Straight Shooter]

4. Boehner. Mr. High-and-Mighty.

Why can't the House Repubs choose an honorable person as their majority leader?

Oh. Wait. Nevermind.

[beyond_the_pale]

14. Exactly, Boehner still convinced Iraq was behind 9-11

He was on Hardball this week and even Chris Matthews was speechless listing to lines from the 2003 playbook. "Iraq was behind 911, Saddam had nukes, the intel was reliable, war justifiable and necessary." Very dangerous man in my opinion. Probably on the short-list for the next vice president!

[skids]

8. Why am I not surprised?

Republicans put draft dodgers in charge of wars, some guy who thinks the UN should be disbanded in as ambassador, corporate whores in as heads of OSHA and the mining safety agency, a guy who paves over wetlands and wants the EPA to let the states do all the work in as, yes you guessed it, head of the EPA, and oil moguls in charge of energy policy.

And hundreds of other examples I'm too tired to catalogue right now.

Why should we be surprised they'd have a pedaphile as chair of the House Committee on Missing and Exploited Children?

[Carla in Ca]

9. That really takes the cake, doesn't it?

Why should we be surprised they'd have a pedophile as chair of the House Committee on Missing and Exploited Children?

That is just absolutely stunning. My God, these people have no shame.
All we have to do to get rid of these people is ban pornography. That'll send them packing!

[The_Casual_Observer]

10. I'll bet there isn't much data about this on the freeper sites.

[oasis]

11. Special treatment for GOP pals eh! No surprise.

[AIJ Alom]

12. Kicked and Recommended....House Leadership Implicated, Democrats not told.

This story has gotten bigger.

[rodeodance]

18. yes, The Dem on the comittee not told:

Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Mich.), who serves on the page board, was never told of the interview with Foley.

"I became aware of it this afternoon when came by my office. I think we should have had a page meeting right away," Kildee said, referring to last year's discovery of Foley's e-mails.

When asked if was upset about being excluded, Kildee said yes, adding, "I've been on the page board for 20 years."

"I'm the chairman of the page board," Shimkus said when asked why he didn't include Kildee. "The Clerk and I addressed this issue."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who introduced a privileged resolution friday night to require an ethics probe, criticized Republican leaders, who she said, "have known of the egregious behavior of Congressman Mar......

[Vidar]

13. Breaking: Republicans to provide earthquake relief to

San Fransisco for 1906.

[rodeodance]

15. I wished i had seen Pelosi on the House floor with this.

[rodeodance]

17. Look at this:

......Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Mich.), who serves on the page board, was never told of the interview with Foley.

"I became aware of it this afternoon when came by my office. I think we should have had a page meeting right away," Kildee said, referring to last year's discovery of Foley's e-mails.

When asked if was upset about being excluded, Kildee said yes, adding, "I've been on the page board for 20 years."

"I'm the chairman of the page board," Shimkus said when asked why he didn't include Kildee. "The Clerk and I addressed this issue."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who introduced a privileged resolution friday night to require an ethics probe, criticized Republican leaders, who she said, "have known of the egregious behavior of Congressman Mar

[Pachamama]

20. Did Tom Delay know???

:eyes: Maybe they knew and they all kept Foley on because he would be a good boy and do as he was told???

http://www.dccc.org/news/foley_crony/

Foley Takes Thousands of Dollars in Campaign Cash from DeLay; Puts National Party and DeLay Ahead of Florida Families.....

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced that Florida Congressman Mark Foley (FL-16) is the newest Tom DeLay "Crony of the Week." Foley was named "Crony of the Week" for loyally toeing the party line and always following his ethically challenged leader, Tom DeLay, in Congress. Congressman Foley will be featured for his cronyism for the next seven days on the DCCC's website: Tom DeLay’s House of Scandal (www.houseofscandal.org). Mark Foley plays follow-the-leader, in this case with Republican leader Tom DeLay, on nearly every issue. In fact, Foley is so closely allied with DeLay that he votes with him 89% of the time including dozens of measures that have hurt Florida families. Congressman Foley has also taken thousands of dollars in campaign cash from DeLay – yet another sign that he fights for Tom DeLay and the special interests and not Florida.

Floridians can learn the truth about Mark Foley, by logging on to the DCCC's website, www.dccc.org or www.houseofscandal.org. Here's a glance at what voters in Foley's district will see when they look into his record:

# Mark Foley has taken more than $8,500 from DeLay’s political action committee, ARMPAC .
# Foley voted against immediate relief at the pump and a stop to gas price gouging. In 2005, Foley voted against an energy plan that would bring immediate relief to consumers at the pump, increase the nation’s investment into renewable fuels and energy efficiency and crack down on price gouging. This vote was also against a measure that would have, directed the Federal Trade Commission and Attorney General to exercise vigorous oversight over the oil markets to protect the American people from price gouging and unfair practices at the gasoline pump.

# Foley puts partisan politics ahead of the 16th District of Florida – Foley voted with DeLay 89% of the time since 1995 .

# Mark Foley voted to weaken the House Ethics rules in a move that many say served only to protect Tom DeLay. Recently, House Republicans including Foley voted to restore the House ethics process -- but only after an enormous public outcry .

# Tom DeLay has been admonished a record three times by the House Ethics Committee for his unethical behavior, and will likely face the committee yet again -- meanwhile, Mark Foley continues to stand by his leader. "While Congressman Mark Foley has lined up behind his ethically challenged leader, Tom DeLay, Florida families have had to line up for the most expensive gas ever," said Bill Burton, communications director of the DCCC. "It is long past time that Floridians had a Member of Congress who put their needs and their values in front of partisanship and support for the special interests. Mark Foley should spend less time fighting for Tom DeLay and more time fighting for Florida."

For more information about Tom DeLay, Mark Foley and their ties to other ethically challenged individuals, visit our website, found at www.houseofscandal.org, or at www.dccc.org.

The truth about Mark Foley's ties to Tom DeLay:

1 Contributions from ARMPAC: www.tray.com $8,531

2 Voting percentage with DeLay: calculated through: www.cq.com 89%

3 Vote to weaken ethics rules: H Res. 5, Roll Call #6, 1/4/05 YES

4 Vote to repeal weakened ethics rules: H Res. 241, Roll Call #145, 4/27/05 YES

5 Vote to table Democratic solution: H. Res. 153, Roll Call #70, 3/15/05 YES

[AlCzervik]

21. of course they knew, they just couldn't figure out what to do with him

is all.

[bronxiteforever]

22. Its like the Catholic Church Priest Scandal!!! (eom)

[jayfish]

32. Remember This?

http://www.catholic.org/featured/headline.php?ID=30

It is startling that those in the media and academia appear most disturbed by this aberrant behavior, since they have zealously promoted moral relativism by sanctioning "private" moral matters such as alternative lifestyles. Priests, like all of us, are affected by culture. When the culture is sick, every element in it becomes infected. While it is no excuse for this scandal, it is no surprise that Boston, a seat of academic, political and cultural liberalism in America, lies at the center of the storm.

..and this

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/13/AR2005071302332.html

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) led a phalanx of Massachusetts politicians yesterday in demanding that the third-ranking Republican in the Senate, Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, apologize for blaming the Catholic Church's sex abuse scandal on "liberalism" in Boston.

I wonder what's responsible for this incident? Conservative Christianity?

Jay

[bronxiteforever]

33. ah yes-I am looking forward to a senate without little Ricky!

excellent points!

[MGKrebs]

23. The Shimkus Investigation:

"Shimkus said when he questioned Foley about the e-mails, the congressman assured him that he was "simply acting as a mentor" to the former page and that "nothing inappropriate had occurred."

Foley was advised to have no further contact with the former page and "to be especially mindful of his conduct" with pages in the future, Shimkus said.

Unbelievable! The head of the Page program, when faced with potential child abuse, merely asks the accused what happened and then closes the file, and doesn't even involve the rest of the committee. Outrageous!

[Recursion]

34. Rookie blunder by Shimkus

Seriously, that's a bush-league mistake. If he had given Kildee a white-washed version of what happened, today he could be saying "Well I told Dale and he agreed there was nothing we needed to do", and his ass would be much more covered than it is now.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

24. Rep John Shimkus (R-ILL)

is the key jerk. He sat on this info for a year. and hid it from Dems on the Page committee.

if you want to e-mail him, use 62234 zip code and pick an address on main street.

[Uncle Joe]

29. Shimkus is talking out of both sides of his mouth

"Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Mich.), who serves on the page board, was never told of the interview with Foley.

"I became aware of it this afternoon when came by my office. I think we should have had a page meeting right away," Kildee said, referring to last year's discovery of Foley's e-mails.

When asked if was upset about being excluded, Kildee said yes, adding, "I've been on the page board for 20 years."

"I'm the chairman of the page board," Shimkus said when asked why he didn't include Kildee. "The Clerk and I addressed this issue."

<snip>

Following is the full statement issued by Shimkus.

“As chairman of the bipartisan House Page Board in late 2005, I was notified by the then Clerk of the House, who manages the Page Program, that he had been told by Congressman Rodney Alexander about an email exchange between Congressman Foley and a former House Page. I took immediate action to investigate the matter."

What the hell does birpartisan mean, if you don't tell the other party?


:shrug: :puke:

[ChairmanAgnostic]

30. it means, buy partisan , or Bye, partisan.

shimkus should suffer greatly, but, many in his district would absolve him of anything except a live boy or a dead girl in his bed.

[JerseygirlCT]

25. Would you trust your children to the Republicans?

They'll prey on them, or send them to be killed in a ridiculous war of choice.

If you care for your kids, you'll vote Democratic!

[indepat]

28. It was the Repukes little secret

[Rose Siding]

31. The latest gop chapter in "What do I have to do to get fired?"

Incredible.

[mhatrw]

35. We will make no distinction between pedophiles and those who

harbor them.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2272741&mesg_id=2272741

[Giant Robot]

36. I caught half a second of some news program on TV

and thought they said a Democrat had known about this as well and had done nothing. I know I was really descriptive there about the source. I can't find this anywhere right now. Anyone heard anything about that? I would just so love this to be solely a Republican scandal with no possibility of Democrats being mentioned a la Jack Abramhof.

[Hepburn]

37. Geeeeeeez, check out this WH comment:

White House aide Dan Bartlett said the allegations against Foley were shocking and that President Bush had not been informed previously about the e-mails. Bartlett said there was no need for an independent outside investigation.

http://www.onelocalnews.com/whiterockreviewer/ViewArticle.aspx?id=11122&source=2

I wonder if the WH position on this would have been different if the Boosh Twins were 16-year-old pages and one or both of them got those emails and IMs from Foley? Still no need for an outside investigation ~~ i.e., something done by law enforcement?

Sheesh! :hide: