Rep. Mark Foley in trouble for creepy emails to 16yo boy

[Corvidaerex]

<!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/09/sixteenyearold_.html">blogs.abcnews.com/theblot...rold_.html</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><br>Hard to tell what's "normal" for politicians, so make what you will of it:<br>----------<br>A 16-year-old male congressional page concerned about the appropriateness of an e-mail exchange with a congressman alerted Capitol Hill staffers to the communication.<br><br>Congressman Mark Foley's office says the e-mails were entirely appropriate and that their release is part of a smear campaign by his opponent.<br><br>In the series of e-mails, obtained by ABC News, between the page and Rep. Foley (R-FL), Foley asks the page how old he is, what he wants for his birthday and requests a photo of him.<br><br>The concerned page alerted congressional staffers to the e-mails. In one e-mail, the page writes to a staffer, "Maybe it is just me being paranoid, but seriously. This freaked me out" ....<br>---------- <p></p><i></i>

[Rigorous Intuition]

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>The e-mails were sent from Foley's personal AOL account. In one, Foley writes, "did you have fun at your conference…what do you want for your birthday coming up…what stuff do you like to do."<br><br>In another Foley writes, "how are you weathering the hurricane…are you safe…send me an email pic of you as well…"<br><br>The page forwarded that e-mail to a congressional staffer saying it was "sick sick sick sick sick."</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> <p></p><i></i>

[postrchild]

Forgive me but from what I see here, theres nothing overtly creepy about this.....maybe if he had said send me a picture with your underwear or something like that, or suggested a lewd proposition for his b-day.......this is kinda stretchin it. <p></p><i></i>

[Rigorous Intuition]

It's hard to gauge unwanted attention from a distance. There might be other indicators besides Foley's words to make the page think something creepy was going on. <p></p><i></i>

[postrchild]

true...very true. Touche' <p></p><i></i>

[chiggerbit]

Some young people are less prone to sexual abuse because they have good radar. After reading these, I am inclined to say that this kid has good radar. However, what I would also need to see is the kid's end of the emails, to make sure he isn't inviting this kind of correspondence. And again, depending on the laws of the states involved, there may be nothing illegal about Foley hitting on this teen.<br><br>Here's a quick transcript. I highighted a line that caught my attention.<br><br>1 Do I have the right email<br><br>Mark Foley<br><br>2 glad your home safe and sound....we don't go back into session until Sept 5,,,,si, its a nice long break...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?...<br><br>3 I am in North Carolina...and it was 100 in New Orleans..wow that's really hot...well do you miss DC...its raining here but 68 degrees so who can argue, did you have fun at your conference...what do you want for your birthday coming up?...what stuff do you like to do<br><br>4 I just emailed will..hes such a nice guy...<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>acts much older than his age...and hes in really great shape</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->...i am just finished riding my bike on a 25 mile journey now heading to the gym...whats school like for you this year?<br><br>5 how are you weathering the hurricane...are you safe..send me an email pic of you as well<br><br> <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p216.ezboard.com/brigorousintuition.showUserPublicProfile?gid=chiggerbit@rigorousintuition>chiggerbit</A> at: 9/28/06 4:24 pm<br></i>

[chiggerbit]

And now maybe we understand why they have a page program for Congress. <p></p><i></i>

[chiggerbit]

<!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.senate.gov/reference/reference_index_subjects/Pages_vrd.htm">www.senate.gov/reference/...es_vrd.htm</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--> <p></p><i></i>

[chiggerbit]

Pretty much what I thought. He's probably gay, and he likes them young, but maybe waits till they're past jailbait age before he really moves in. In the meantime, he's already lined up a friendly relationship while he was waiting "for the fruit to ripen on the tree", no pun intended. From TPM Muckraker:<br><br>"Foley has served in the House for twelve years. He ran for Senate in 2004, but dropped out of the race, in the words of the Hotline, "after being ID'd as a homosexual by a 'gay-oriented publication.'" Foley says he left the race "because of family difficulties."'<br><br> <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p216.ezboard.com/brigorousintuition.showUserPublicProfile?gid=chiggerbit@rigorousintuition>chiggerbit</A> at: 9/28/06 5:57 pm<br></i>

[Corvidaerex]

Have learned a little more this evening. <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://brunchbird.blogspot.com/2006/09/cong-foleys-staff-we-are-confident-we.html">brunchbird.blogspot.com/2...nt-we.html</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><br>A Washington Times staffer got nabbed for going after a 13-year-old, too. Good times ... <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20060927-054303-9103r.htm">washingtontimes.com/metro...-9103r.htm</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--> <p></p><i></i>

[biaothanatoi]

'Course it's creepy. Politicians don't usually take time out of their holidays to email the kid that does the photocopying. <br><br>He is clearly attempting to establish something - hints of a present, fishes for common interests. And that's before the gay porno dialogue - "Gee, Will is in great shape ... don't you think?" "So tired from my bike ride ... now off the the gym!" <br><br>Obviously, the request for a picture is beyond the pale. <p></p><i></i>

[chiggerbit]

Exactly, biao. All the hidden messages, "you're the same level as me" (concern about the kid's welfare, interests) and then the reverse messages, "I'm the same as you" (all the barf implying physical fitness due to bike riding, etc.). Ick. Yeah, "We're equals". <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p216.ezboard.com/brigorousintuition.showUserPublicProfile?gid=chiggerbit@rigorousintuition>chiggerbit</A> at: 9/28/06 11:14 pm<br></i>

[Et in Arcadia ego]

<!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.sickle666.com/images/wickermanburns.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--> <p>____________________<br>Some are born to sweet delight, some are born to endless night.</p><i></i>

[chiggerbit]

And before I get nailed by the gay/bi/lesbians here, I would feel the same if this were a female 16-year-old page. He wouldn't get by with this if it were MY child, not a son and not a daughter. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p216.ezboard.com/brigorousintuition.showUserPublicProfile?gid=chiggerbit@rigorousintuition>chiggerbit</A> at: 9/28/06 11:53 pm<br></i>

[biaothanatoi]

I wouldn't sweat it. I'm gay and I completely agree with you. <p></p><i></i>