What e-mails did Foley send?

[FormerMarineGuy]

All over the news now (thankfully replacing all of the bad news about student and cop killings) is the story about Rep. Mark Foley (from my home state of Florida) resigning because of e-mails he sent to a young male. Just in case you have not heard, here is a link on CNN.com .

Rep. Mark Foley, R-Florida, resigned from Congress on Friday, effective immediately, in the wake of questions about e-mails he wrote a former male page.

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.

I watch and read the news daily from when I wake up, throughout work, and prior to going to bed. Does anyone know what happened, or what the context of the e-mails were?

[FormerMarineGuy]

Moderator, I meant this to be put in GQ. Sorry, please move!

Thanks.

[Green_Cymbeline]

My initial thought is that this was blown way out of proportion…

First of all, from the article:

The e-mails were posted Friday on Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington’s Web site after ABC News reported their existence.

I tried to get on CREW’s web site but it is down… maybe too much traffic?

Also from the article:

[The boy said] said Foley asked for his e-mail when the boy gave him a thank you card. The boy also said Foley wrote that he e-mailed another page.

“He’s such a nice guy,” Foley wrote about the other boy. “acts much older than his age…and hes in really great shape…i am just finished riding my bike on a 25 mile journey now heading to the gym…whats school like for you this year?”

In other e-mails, Foley wrote, “I am back in Florida now…its nice here…been raining today…it sounds like you will have some fun over the next few weeks…how old are you now?” and “how are you weathering the hurricane…are you safe…send me an email pic of you as well.”

“They have taken these e-mails out of context in order to smear a good man,” said Kello, who described the exchange as “nonchalant, casual.” He said Foley didn’t save his e-mails or the boy’s response.

[The boy said], “I thought it was very inappropriate. After the one about the picture, I decided to stop e-mailing him back.”

OhhhhKaaay… so he sends emails with idle chit chat, and suddenly he’s a gay pedophile? Sounds like a campaign smear tactic to me. We’ll have to wait and see what the rest of the emails say…

[Governor_Quinn]

@FormerMarineGuy

Does anyone know what happened, or what the context of the e-mails were?

This link includes quotes from the e-mails to this particular page

ABC News claims to have e-mails of Foley’s to other pages that were sexually explicit in nature

[ivylass]

I think it’s more the IMing that was done. From what I’ve read about the e-mails, they were kind of innocuous.

But it doesn’t look like the instant messages were. What an ass. At least he had the decency to immediately resign. I hope they press charges.

[FormerMarineGuy]

@ivylass

But it doesn’t look like the instant messages were. What an ass. At least he had the decency to immediately resign. I hope they press charges.

Yes, the e-mails look innocent enough. I wonder if the Instant Messages will be made available under the Freedom of Information Act.

I agree that at least he resigned right away, and I my guess is he was told to by his fellow Republicans. Pressing charges would be the right thing to do, assuming that the instant messages were sexual in nature, but chances are very little will happen. No matter what he is a well-known Republican and the powers that be will probably make sure as little negative publicity is allowed. The quieter he goes out, the better for future campaigns.

[Cervaise]

“a / s / l / pac?”

[Wee_Bairn]

What reason would an adult male his age need with pictures of a young male not related to him?

[FormerMarineGuy]

@Wee Bairn

What reason would an adult male his age need with pictures of a young male not related to him?

According to the article, it states that it is customary to keep pictures of interns on file.

Foley’s office says it is their policy to keep pictures of former interns and anyone who may ask for a recommendation on file so they can remember them.

How true is this? I have no idea. I am sure Democrats will respond if they do no such thing, or if it is considered abnormal.

[The_Hamster_King]

The emails themselves are plenty skeevy: Asking for a picture. Asking what he wants for his birthday. Totally inappropriate questions coming from a stranger. The kid himself was certainly creeped out by them.

Now ABC has a PDF up with excerpts from the IM conversations. Stuff like “What are you wearing?” and “Strip down and get relaxed.”

I can’t link to them directly, but you can find them on the Brian Ross page.

[FormerMarineGuy]

@Pochacco

The emails themselves are plenty skeevy: Asking for a picture. Asking what he wants for his birthday. Totally inappropriate questions coming from a stranger. The kid himself was certainly creeped out by them.

Now ABC has a PDF up with excerpts from the IM conversations. Stuff like “What are you wearing?” and “Strip down and get relaxed.”

I can’t link to them directly, but you can find them on the Brian Ross page.

I am definitely not going to defend the guy, not at all. But the guy might have a legitimate defense asking for the picture, if what his office says is true (about having pictures of all interns on file). BUT it is probably not his job to ask for such picture, I am sure he could have one of his staff handle that.

I could not pull up the PDF file for some reason. “Strip down and get relaxed”?

What were Foley’s stances on homosexuality, child abuse, etc.?

[The_Hamster_King]

@FormerMarineGuy

I am definitely not going to defend the guy, not at all. But the guy might have a legitimate defense asking for the picture, if what his office says is true (about having pictures of all interns on file). BUT it is probably not his job to ask for such picture, I am sure he could have one of his staff handle that.

Since he’s already resigned in shame I think we can safely assume that the emails were NOT innocent.

I could not pull up the PDF file for some reason. “Strip down and get relaxed”?

It’s under a link titled: “Read Some of the Internet Exchanges with Foley”.

What were Foley’s stances on homosexuality, child abuse, etc.?

He was chairman of the House Caucus for Missing and Exploited Children. There have been rumors for years that he was a deeply closeted homosexual.

[FormerMarineGuy]

Pochacco, thanks for your reply.

Since he’s already resigned in shame I think we can safely assume that the emails were NOT innocent.

I agree they were probably not innocent. When I said But the guy might have a legitimate defense asking for the picture, I meant he might be able to PRESENT a legitimate looking defense.

**It’s under a link titled: “Read Some of the Internet Exchanges with Foley”. **

I could not pull up the PDF file, I think something is wrong with my computer.

He was chairman of the House Caucus for Missing and Exploited Children. There have been rumors for years that he was a deeply closeted homosexual.

I just saw that when I read a story on foxnews. The homosexual part does not bother me one bit. I am a republican that is not anti-homosexual in any way. I am curious as to what his views are on homosexual marriage, internet predatory laws, etc.

[Green_Cymbeline]

From the ABC site here: http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/09/exclusive_the_s.html

Parts of the IM conversation:

Maf54: You in your boxers, too?
Teen: Nope, just got home. I had a college interview that went late.
Maf54: Well, strip down and get relaxed.

Another message:

Maf54: What ya wearing?
Teen: tshirt and shorts
Maf54: Love to slip them off of you.

And this one:

Maf54: Do I make you a little horny?
Teen: A little.
Maf54: Cool.

[Frank]

@FormerMarineGuy

Moderator, I meant this to be put in GQ. Sorry, please move!

I think this forum is fine, for the time being at least.

[FormerMarineGuy]

@Frank

I think this forum is fine, for the time being at least.

Now it is, thanks!
nyctea scandiaca, thanks. Wow, that is some crazy stuff. No defending that.

[Walloon]

Foley voted for the Defense of Marriage Act (which, in fairness, President Clinton signed, and his wifestill supports). But he also voted for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (EDNA). The latter vote really bothers the conservative Concerned Women for America.

[Walloon]

Er, ENDA. :smack:

[levdrakon]

I read the article in the NYT. I came here looking for the inevitable thread prepared to defend the poor guy.

He sent emails to the kid. So? He worked for him as a page.
He asked for a photo. So? He worked for him as a page.
He asked what he wanted for his birthday. So? He worked for him as a page.
He asked him if he made him a little horny and said he’d like to slip his t-shirt & shorts off. So…

What what WHAT??

Fucking freak. I’m with ivylass. Fry his ass.

[The_Hamster_King]

Here’s a disturbing detail from the latest ABC story:

One former page tells ABC News that his class was warned about Foley by people involved in the program.

And from the Associated Press:

Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-La., who sponsored the page from his district, told reporters that he learned of the e-mails from a reporter some months ago and passed on the information to Rep. Thomas Reynolds, R-N.Y., chairman of the House Republican campaign organization.

This deserves further investigation. What did the Republican House leadership know about Foley and when did they know it? Why were pages being warned about him without any sort of official action being taken?