Voters turn against Republicans over Foley sex scandal

[milmor_1]

Voters turn against Republicans over Foley sex scandal
By Andrew Buncombe in Washington
Published: 10 October 2006

The scandal over a Republican Congressman's sexually explicit e-mails to teenage interns has seeped outside Washington and fixed itself in the minds of voters across the country - helping to give Democrats a genuine chance of ending Republican control of Congress.

A new poll suggests that more than half of voters will have the scandal over Mark Foley in their minds when they come to vote in November's crucial mid-term elections.

The poll, carried out for the Associated Press, found that about two out of three voters will vote for a Democratic candidate rather than a Republican - based partly on a belief that Democrats will be better placed to deal with corruption.

Of particular concern to Republican leaders will be the finding that even some Republican groups are split over which party can better tackle corruption.

In the early part of last month, Mike Simpson, the Republican Congressman from Idaho, told the AP that he was confident his party will retain both the House and the Senate. But, following the revelations about Mr Foley and his pursuit of teenage Capitol Hill interns, or pages, he was no longer "confident" Republicans will retain the House, where they currently hold a 15-seat advantage. "From Thursday it went from fairly confident we were going to keep the majority to a real toss-up," he said.

The Foley scandal has the potential to be especially damaging to the Republicans not simply because it relates to the taboo of sexual behaviour with young people, but because it raises serious questions about the failure of the party's leadership in the House to address the issue.

The House Speaker, Dennis Hastert, under intense pressure, has insisted he only learned of the e-mails after Mr Foley resigned, but a number of other Congressmen and their aides have said they informed the Speaker's office of their concerns months before.

One Republican who is going to switch his vote for the first time this election as a result of the scandal is Lawrence Nuccio, a 78-year-old from Glen Cove, New York. "I'm a registered Republican, but when I turn around and see them trying to cover-up - and that's what they're doing - and try to pass the buck to the Democrats, that's not right," he said.

He added: "You have elected officials who are running the country and you assume are doing the right thing, but they're not."

The scandal over a Republican Congressman's sexually explicit e-mails to teenage interns has seeped outside Washington and fixed itself in the minds of voters across the country - helping to give Democrats a genuine chance of ending Republican control of Congress.

A new poll suggests that more than half of voters will have the scandal over Mark Foley in their minds when they come to vote in November's crucial mid-term elections.

The poll, carried out for the Associated Press, found that about two out of three voters will vote for a Democratic candidate rather than a Republican - based partly on a belief that Democrats will be better placed to deal with corruption.

Of particular concern to Republican leaders will be the finding that even some Republican groups are split over which party can better tackle corruption.

In the early part of last month, Mike Simpson, the Republican Congressman from Idaho, told the AP that he was confident his party will retain both the House and the Senate. But, following the revelations about Mr Foley and his pursuit of teenage Capitol Hill interns, or pages, he was no longer "confident" Republicans will retain the House, where they currently hold a 15-seat advantage. "From Thursday it went from fairly confident we were going to keep the majority to a real toss-up," he said.
The Foley scandal has the potential to be especially damaging to the Republicans not simply because it relates to the taboo of sexual behaviour with young people, but because it raises serious questions about the failure of the party's leadership in the House to address the issue.

The House Speaker, Dennis Hastert, under intense pressure, has insisted he only learned of the e-mails after Mr Foley resigned, but a number of other Congressmen and their aides have said they informed the Speaker's office of their concerns months before.

One Republican who is going to switch his vote for the first time this election as a result of the scandal is Lawrence Nuccio, a 78-year-old from Glen Cove, New York. "I'm a registered Republican, but when I turn around and see them trying to cover-up - and that's what they're doing - and try to pass the buck to the Democrats, that's not right," he said.

He added: "You have elected officials who are running the country and you assume are doing the right thing, but they're not."

Independent Online Edition > Americas

[Woodmonkey]

Time will tell and this mess with Korea just might change things for the better for the Republican Party.

[Snowden]

Originally Posted by Woodmonkey

Time will tell and this mess with Korea just might change things for the better for the Republican Party.

The funny thing is that, had it been a Democrat, the story would have been a blip at most.

[las47032]

Food for thought.

Foleygate starting to unravel?

'Democratic operative' shopped Foley e-mails
WorldNetDaily: 'Democratic operative' shopped Foley e-mails

'Foley problem' surfaces for Ohio Democrats
WorldNetDaily: 'Foley problem' surfaces for Ohio Democrats


Foley’s lewd AOL instant messages, was it an online caper that went haywire?

As reported or stated by two people buddy‑buddy with former page Jordan Edmund contend the prank erroneously wound up in the hands of political workers advantageous to Democrats. http://www.drudgereport.com/page.htm

And according to the Washington times article, http://washingtontimes.com/national/20061005-114612-7581r.htm the FBI is centering their attention on Jordan Edmund. Edmund is surmised of participating in chats with Foley as a ludicrous amusement and is shared the instant messages with a few youthful politicians. Edmund’s attorney, the same person who defended McVeigh repudiated the prank claim when inquired by CNN, but he remarked the claim isn’t being ruled out. http://mikesamerica.blogspot.com/


Witch hunt McCarthy Style Mike Rogers Fatwa” against GOP gays.

Mike Rogers a Democrat gay activist has posed a threat and has looked into disclosing high level congressional staff members. But why wait until now? 'Gay' activist held info about Foley http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52270 Rogers’ blog states he began to report on Foley in March 2003 http://www.blogactive.com/2006/09/no-harboring-our-enemies-from-within.html he posted in 1996 a gay news magazine The Advocate outed Foley. Or Is it merely a happenstance Rogers indicated such events in March? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15156532/ And 4 March 2005 Rogers stated on BlogActive Real Truth, Direct Action he has seen the enemy. http://www.blogactive.com/2005/03/i-have-seen-enemy.html Yet, gay activists and Rogers sat on the information for a year. http://www.macsmind.com/wordpress/2006/10/02/foley-setup-part-i/ Was it a mere coincidence that he foretold such events back in March? http://www.blogactive.com/2005/03/mark-foley-anoteher-closeted-anti-gay.html

Rogers got the ball rolling Mr. Speaker, I have a point of information... http://www.blogactive.com/2006/10/mr-speaker-i-have-point-of-information.html

Rogers posted on his bog Kirk Fordham was a danger to homosexuals two years ago. According to Rogers Fordham was the person in charge of finances for Sen. Mel Martinez’s campaign, and the senator compared marriage equivalence to living in authoritarian Cuba. Rogers further states Fordham is gay, but he was lying low regarding his sexual practice and helping Foley’s activities.

Rogers objective is to expose additional undisclosed staff personnel.

Rogers wished every individual look into the Foley issue examining other staffers who hasn’t come out of the closet and could have been responsible to Foley’s actions which Rogers says is a “national disgrace.”
Rogers has carried out his threat beginning the week of 9 October 06. http://www.blogactive.com/blogactive/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvHUMC7t0o0 http://www.washblade.com/2004/7‑9/news/localnews/outed.cfm http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15156532/ He his going to out senior congressional staff personnel who have come out of the closet disclosing they are homosexual, and he is expecting and wishing individuals looking into the Foley matter will carry through incorporating the staffers in the investigation, and Rogers hopes the Fourth Estate will do the same. Rogers believes it’s time to eliminate from the government people who would “harm us.”

Also, Rogers plans to bring to light an earlier event from his web site, and he asks people to join him in sending emails to the media and ethics committee regarding congressional staffers who Rogers believes they are placing the steadiness of the government.

He further states his objective isn’t about getting rid of gays in the government and it’s not about homosexuals. It’s about purging anti gay closet cases helping the extreme right wing, and it’s about duplicity. http://www.blogactive.com/blogactive/

Foley wasn’t the only target. Responsible for helping in the continuing outing movement, and of them was Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski. Done prior to the Senate vote on the Federal Marriage Amendment barring homosexual marriage. Washington Blade Online http://www.washblade.com/2004/7‑9/news/localnews/outed.cfm

Too boot, Rogers had Foley on a "target list" of 20 people, and he shared information with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC ) Washington Blade Online http://www.washblade.com/2004/7‑9/news/localnews/outed.cfm

Busy, busy, busy. Rogers sent a letter to religious leaders of the Buffalo region regarding the part of Republican Rep. Tom Reynolds in the Foley scandal. Proud of Who we Are http://www.proudofwhoweare.org/

Rogers’ interview with Tucker Carlson. In addition to his other comments, Rogers claims http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15156532/ he got the emails simultaneously as StopSexPredators http://stopsexpredators.blogspot.com/

Apparently Stop Sex Predators is a phony blog according to Radar Online http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2006/10/the-bogus-blog-behind-foleys-fall.php depicts Stop Sex Predators http://stopsexpredators.blogspot.com/ as bogus paladin on‑line journal abundant with cribbed information, hurriedly put together comments. It appears nobody has gotten wind or knows about the blog, and the person operating the web site has a dubious understanding how the news cycle works. Stop Sex Predators only purpose is set in motion the Foley scandal.

Last but not least, according to Dick Morris stated the Democrats knew about Foley for some time. http://www.floppingaces.net/2006/10/04/the‑foley‑scandal‑redux/


More untangling of the Foley scandal. Stuff that makes you go ahem.

Google the name of Robin Katsaros get the following results. Find out a lot about her. http://www.google.com/search?as_q=&num=30&hl=en&newwindow=1&btnG=Google+ Search&as_epq=Robin+Katsaros&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=lang _en&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_nlo=&as_nhi =&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&as_rights=&sa fe=images

Robin Katsaros is writing a book about pages. Her work is still in progress. http://mikesamerica.blogspot.com/ http://www.floppingaces.net/index.php?tag=page

Her son Christopher was a page around the time Edmund was, and Christopher was appointed by Pelosi. http://strata-sphere.com/blog/index.php/archives/2650 http://www.macsmind.com/wordpress/2006/10/06/foley-setup-part-xiv-putting-it-together/

Katsaros have quite influential leftist affiliations. Hosted house parties in 2005 for Conyers. Brought in some “Impeach Bush” kingpins. http://www.johnconyers.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7BC7702677‑B627‑4F51‑A 186‑0A1567F91D4B%7D http://www.baltimorereporter.com/?p=2956 http://www.floppingaces.net/index.php?tag=page http://mikesamerica.blogspot.com/ http://forums.therandirhodesshow.com/index.php?showtopic=59140


CREW and ABC

CREW headquartered in Washington, D.C., the organization maintains they battle, campaign against the lack of integrity or honesty, as well as the use of a position of trust for dishonest gains by U.S. government officials. CREW operates in accord with additional leftist non-profit groups in DC.


In 2001, Melani Sloan founded CREW. She is a former aide to Rep. John Conyers and Sen. Charles Schumer. Also, CREW operates the website JackInThe House http://www.jackinthehouse.org/ concentrating on Jack Abranoff. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_for_Responsibility_and_Ethics_in_Washingt on

CREW homepage http://www.citizensforethics.org/

CREW withheld Foley emails since April.

The liberal watch dog group furnished the FBI dubious Foley emails. The organization has differences of opinion the FBI for not acting more aggressive and requested the Justice Department Inspector General Glen A. Fine to look into the way the FBI handled the case.

According to law enforcement officials, Foley’s emails didn’t furnish enough proof for a probable crime justifying a complete inquiry.

Unknown FBI and Justice officials informed reporters Foley emails were furnished by CREW and to a great extent the communication was altered. CREW refused to fork over the unaltered versions to the FBI. The FBI told the Washington Post they believe CREW could have gotten the emails as early as April and CREW declined to tell the FBI how they got the emails.

CREW’s director Melanie Sloan said she sent original email copies to an FBI agent confirming receipt of emails and asked if one of the parties was Foley.

Sloan mentioned CREW sent unchanged emails to the FBI for the reason they wanted the bureau to start an investigation. Sloan further commented they were kind of incensed the FBI stated anything otherwise. CREW requested Fine’s office to investigate FBI’s assertions.

Justice Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse abstained from mentioning the matter but spoke in the defense of the FBI's managing of the authentic e-mails because the online correspondence did not consist of criminal grounds to warrant the FBI to proceed or go forward in an probe. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/05/AR2006100501657.html

Besides, it appears CREW sat on the information letting out their heavy October surprise shortly before the mid term elections so they could do the major impairment. And timing with Michael Rogers’ threat to out Foley in March.

Had the FBI had investigated finding out the emails lacked intent or the capacity to inquire CREW would be the first to yell homophobic witch hunt.


Discrepancies.

ABC News releases the earlier news account regarding the emails that first showed upon the Stop Sex Predators site. http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/09/sixteenyearold_.html Also, Democracy Now transcript, a conversation between ABC News Producer Maddy Sauer and Amy Goodman. Sauer explains how they got the information from a source of hers, and the informant from the Hill who is not from or conncected with Democratic campaign. When Sauer and company talked with Foley’s office regarding the emails, Foley personnel appeared to be aware of the electronic correspondence, and tehy thought it was not all that important, and Foley being excessivley piquant. Foley worked with the page program and he was quite chummy with the pages. http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/10/03/142231
Divergence in CREW Emails

Stop Sex Predators publishes emails. Their version. Emails from Congressman Foley to 16 Year Old Page!!!! http://stopsexpredators.blogspot.com/2006/09/emails-from-congressman-foley-to-16.html

Copies of the same emails are published in PDF format by CREW. Their interpretation. http://www.citizensforethics.org/filelibrary/FoleyEmailExchangeUpdated.pdf CREW requests an ethics committee investigation into Rep. Foley http://www.citizensforethics.org/press/newsrelease.php?view=161

CREW busy, busy, busy. Brag list http://www.citizensforethics.org/activities/legalaction.php

Notice they filed complains against Republicans. Didn’t see any Democrats and Independents.

[Snowden]

No Early Foley Complaints, Head of Pages Says Brendan Smilaowski/Getty Images
Representative John Shimkus after his testimony Friday.


By JEFF ZELENY
Published: October 14, 2006

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 — Representative John Shimkus, who has been chairman of the Congressional page program since 2001, said Friday that he was unaware of previous complaints about Mark Foley.

Mr. Shimkus, Republican of Illinois, said that had he known of the complaints about Mr. Foley, he would have handled concerns about Mr. Foley’s e-mail messages to a page from Louisiana differently.

“There is stuff that everybody would have done differently,” Mr. Shimkus said after testifying under oath for more than three hours before the House ethics committee. “Having 20/20 hindsight, a lot of things would have been different.”

Mr. Shimkus said that he learned of concerns about Mr. Foley last fall and that he and the clerk of the House confronted Mr. Foley at a meeting in Mr. Foley’s office.

Mr. Foley, a Florida Republican, resigned last month after a separate series of sexually explicit messages became known.

The ethics committee, which held a closed session, is investigating whether Republican leaders, particularly those inside Speaker J. Dennis Hastert’s office, had warnings before last year that Mr. Foley had a history of being overly friendly to pages.

A longtime adviser to Mr. Foley has testified that he asked Mr. Hastert’s office to intervene at least three years ago, an account that the speaker’s aides have denied.

As Mr. Shimkus left the hearing room in the Capitol basement on Friday afternoon, he declined to give details of his testimony, which was given to a bipartisan panel of four representatives and a team of investigators.
But speaking to reporters, Mr. Shimkus said, “The first time I had any indication that I needed to address Congressman Foley” was after being alerted to the e-mail exchange with the former page from Louisiana.

When asked whether Republican leaders had told him to exclude other members of the page board — a Republican, a Democrat and the House sergeant-at-arms — when ultimately confronting Mr. Foley last year, Mr. Shimkus replied, “I made the decision.”

He did not elaborate.

It is the meeting in Mr. Foley’s office late last fall, which Mr. Shimkus said ran no more than 45 minutes, that is of particular interest to the ethics committee. Mr. Shimkus said after the hearing on Friday that he and the clerk of the House, Jeff Trandhal, showed excerpts of the e-mail messages to Mr. Foley, who in Mr. Shimkus’s account recoiled and promised to stop contact with the Louisiana teenager.

After the meeting, Mr. Shimkus said, he thought that Mr. Foley did keep his distance.

“I had no reason to believe there wasn’t changed behavior,” Mr. Shimkus said. “We would always do an end-of-the-year ‘bye-bye’ to the pages on the House floor, but Congressman Foley did not show this year. Historically, he always did.

“But this year, he wasn’t there. So we thought the intervention may have been successful.”

It was sexually explicit messages from years earlier, however, that led Mr. Foley to resign after ABC News acquired them. Those exchanges were a maddening disclosure, Mr. Shimkus said, and they have piqued his curiosity about whether anyone was familiar with previous reports of Mr. Foley’s behavior.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/14/us/14foley.html?ref=us