http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/29/5112.aspxFrom NBC's Mark MurrayFlorida Rep. Mark Foley (R) has announced that he's resigning from the House, effective today. The motivation: The recent release of personal e-mails he sent to a male teenage page on Capitol Hill. Foley in his statement: "I am deeplyen-USCommunityServer 2.0 (Build: 60608.1)http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/29/5112.aspx#5117Fri, 29 Sep 2006 20:50:18 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:5117DeeNot only should he resign because of approaching an underage BOY, although an underage girl would be just as heinous, he should resign due to stupidity. What an idiot to leave an electronic paper trail! Ah yes, the Republicans. What beacons of morality!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/29/5112.aspx#5121Fri, 29 Sep 2006 21:02:27 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:5121Lee SteeleI thought he said there was nothing "inappropriate" about the emails? Then why is he resigning without a hearing? Does your first reaction to every situation need to be to lie when you're a U.S. politician? (Oh - I spot the "MS" part of MSNBC - "e-mail.")http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/29/5112.aspx#5136Sat, 30 Sep 2006 02:06:53 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:5136Nick, Juneau, AKemails were suspicious, but IM were salacious and explicit, and to multiple pages. Foley is toast, not just politically, but legally. The pages were/are minors. Moreover, Hastert knew much about this months ago. Where was the investigation then?http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/29/5112.aspx#5144Sat, 30 Sep 2006 04:06:11 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:5144Chuck SticklandRepublican House Speaker Denny Hastert has some serious explaining to do, after today's revelations that they knew about ex-Congressman Mark Foley's sexscapades a good year ago, and did nothing. why did Hastert permit Foley to remain in the House GOP leadership for almost a year after they knew he was having sex talk with minors online, minors he met on the job?http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/29/5112.aspx#5146Sat, 30 Sep 2006 04:12:48 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:5146Tom CohenFoley is one sick man. Here are two of his emails: Maf54: What ya wearing? Teen: tshirt and shorts Maf54: Love to slip them off of you. Maf54: Do I make you a little horny? Teen: A little. Maf54: Cool. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/29/5112.aspx#5147Sat, 30 Sep 2006 04:15:26 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:5147Rick Price, Trenton, NJI just can't beleive that Republicans are actually defending Foley's actions. This is disgusting and criminal, trying to blame it on liberals or twist it around for political reasons just shows how low the corrupt GOP has sunk.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/29/5112.aspx#5155Sat, 30 Sep 2006 12:47:46 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:5155C Bullock, Canton, IL What happened to "presumed innocent"? Maybe he resigned to try to protect his family and his party from all the mudslinging that's already started? We should pray for him and his family. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/29/5112.aspx#5158Sat, 30 Sep 2006 13:05:17 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:5158AFM, Baltimore, Md.Oops - another case of mistaken morality by a Republican. Just proves that neither party has a lock on values. Focus on the Family's, James Dobson, and the Family Research Council's, Tony Perkins, made voting Republican their main issue at the fundamentalist boy's club meeting in DC last weekend - I wonder if they can now recognize their stupidity ...nah .. why change now!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/29/5112.aspx#5162Sat, 30 Sep 2006 14:49:16 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:5162gary loar, cresson, paand again another REPUBLICRIT comes falls down to the corruptness of thier GOP party what morons republicans are don't do as i do but do as i say is the way of the republiCRITS aka republicans http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/29/5112.aspx#5165Sat, 30 Sep 2006 16:45:59 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:5165Harry L. Moyer, Des Moines, IowaThe "surprise" about Mark Foley turns out not to be a surprise at all. It's been known for over a year that he was having inappropriate contact with this page. If it wasn't inappropriate, he wouldn't have been told to end it. The excuse that the "extent of the impropriety wasn't known", or that "Mr. Foley was less than honest", is just more CYA. This Republican controlled congress has always been loath to investigate any of their own people, whether it be congressmen, senators, or in particular this administration.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/29/5112.aspx#5168Sat, 30 Sep 2006 18:43:57 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:5168Olivia Elizabeth Burdon, Peoria, Ill.At least all Rep. William Jefferson did was be caught with "cold hard cash" in his freezer...Before he cleans it out, I'd like to see the FBI search Rep. Foley's office and his computer...they'd probably find some really "hot stuff"!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/29/5112.aspx#5180Sun, 01 Oct 2006 00:34:00 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:5180Jim Frego, Grants Pass, ORA famous US President once said: " If you harbor a child predator or molester, If you provide shelter for a child predator or molester, If you provide financial aid to a child molester or predator, If you become an attorney or and advocate for a child molester to lobby for their defense you are a CHILD PREDATOR or MOLESTER even though you personally did not commit any predatory acts, we will hunt you down, kill you, put you in prison in a foreign country for life without a trial." "While in prison you will be physically and mentally tortured! Your hands and feet will be amputated and pictures of young children will cover your cell". "The only way you will be able to have sexual gratification will be if you can stick your nose up you anus". "Child predators or molesters are worse than TERRORISTS and deserve at least the same tough treatment." Well there goes Foley and the entire Republican Leadership in Congress. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/29/5112.aspx#5185Sun, 01 Oct 2006 04:51:07 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:5185Jane, Southern MississippiAnd to think that he was on a committee to keep children safe from predators! And now other GOP members knew about this for a year and nothing was done to get rid of him. What hypocrits. And to say pray for HIM amd HIS family (he's single)? I'd say pray for the boy and his family, and the other boys he's been "friendly" with and their families. This Republican party is just so corrupt in so many ways, and to think they were thought of as the party of GOD and FAMILY VALUES! They told us enough times they were, but actions speak louder than words.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/29/5112.aspx#5193Sun, 01 Oct 2006 11:53:50 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:5193Johanna, Lake Mary, FLInteresting watching all the dems twist themselves into pretzels while they negotiate the P.C. knife edge they're on vis a vis homosexuality and sexual predation. This Foley is a pervert and deserves to be kicked out of Congress on that basis. If sexual predation is really the issue, then the Kennedy family alone outbalances anything the Republicans can offer as members-gone-bad. As if Ted Kennedy and his entire clan weren't enough, then you've got Bill "I love Monica, no I don't" Clinton and his infamous and rapacious sexual appetite. You've also got several other rather frisky Congresspersons from the Democratic party over the past several decades. So, no democrat is in ANY position to call names. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/29/5112.aspx#5197Sun, 01 Oct 2006 17:09:25 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:5197Lee in CAJohanna: that's just sad. "Ignore the child predator at hand because other people in history have been less than God-like in their behaviour. Because of these past indescretions by people in history, the Congressional leadership has no obligation to protect underage pages, even when knowledge of sex crimes is present." How much does Rove pay for you for that bilge, because I can do much better.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/29/5112.aspx#5201Sun, 01 Oct 2006 18:35:39 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:5201Pinkney Saxton, Portland, OregonLeave those boys alone. It is their business to do as they wish. Rep Foley is old enough to take care of himself. He was doing a good job in Washington, so be it. A few of us are not going to stop the boys from playing around.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/29/5112.aspx#5211Mon, 02 Oct 2006 01:51:58 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:5211Jane, Southern MississippiJohanna, it was probably Bill Clinton's fault, right?http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/29/5112.aspx#5213Mon, 02 Oct 2006 02:33:21 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:5213John J. St. Augustine Fl.All us Dems twisted up like pretzels as Lake Mary Fl. said,will certainly enjoy watching all the Repugs stammer and choke on that Morality that the party of PEDOPHILES toss out there. As if we really believe them. It's terrible when you really think about what they say and what they do. How could anyone DEFEND them? AMERICA,it's time for a CHANGE.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/29/5112.aspx#5217Mon, 02 Oct 2006 03:56:20 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:5217Joe Gladden; White Bear Lake, MN It strikes me as a bit odd (and only slightly coincidental..."cough, cough"), but WHERE is the leadership of the "oh so vocal" Religious Right on this one?? I mean, hasn't the Republican Party become the "Religious Zealots Party"??? Of course it has. One would have thought these institutionalized gay bashers would have been out front and center on such an heinous revelation....chastising "anyone" involved in such a lurid affair -- regardless of their political affiliation, because they have the moral high ground??? I mean, it seems here that the greater Republican Party in Washington is clearly involved in some sort of cover up of sexual impropriety with one of its own members. Where is Lord Falwell and all his "infinite wisdom" to weigh in on this one? Where is that moron who keeps embarrassing himself by making public death threats to leaders of other countries that he doesn't agree with...oh yeah..."Sir Pat Robertson"?? Where is that "Osteen Character"... the one on TV that hurls insults at gays and lesbians on a weekly basis, while simultaneously managing to keep "his roots done" with his very own choice of flaming red #1 hair dye? Where is that really fat one...the one that reminds me of Speaker Hastert....hummm.... what's his name...you know...the one that could take a few pointers from his own hate speech and outlandish diatribe about sins and sinners and LAY OFF THE COOKIES AND ICE CREAM from time to time!!! After all..."Gluttony" is one of the seven deadly sins...oh yes..The Earl of Hypocrisy himself, Sir John Hagee?? Where are all these "characters" on this story??? If Mark Foley was a Democrat, they would be out there in full force saying the Democratic Party was the party of Gay pedophiles. Yes of course I am sorry for the young boy and how he may be traumatized, but the way this has come to light serves the Republicans right if they actually did try and cover it up. Disgusting!