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The Tribune blog “The Swamp” has an unusually good piece today dissecting letters released by House Speaker Denny Hastert calling for a federal investigation of the Congressman Foley sexual predator scandal.
The letters are interesting because they seem to reveal an emerging damage-control strategy that Hastert may use to defend House Republicans in their handling of the Foley matter. It boils down to saying House Republicans did more than the media did when faced with the same Foley emails. […]The other interesting thing about the letter is Hastert’s call for an investigation into who had copies of the sexually charged IMs which forced Foley’s resignation. ABC News reported the existence of those IMs and got them from somewhere.
Hastert appears to be suggesting that whoever had those IMs and didn’t go to law enforcement first may have committed a crime. Who knows, maybe it was some Democrat dirty trick meant to embarass House Republicans before the mid-term elections?
Read the whole thing.
Meanwhile, you’d think that if Congressman John Shimkus’ spokesman told at least two Illinois papers a different story than the congressman himself told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch you’d see a follow up today in both of those papers.
The spokesman said Shimkus hadn’t seen any e-mail exchanges between Foley and the teenager. The Post-Dispatch reported that Shimkus said he did see the e-mails.
For more info, go here. I’m gonna close comments on that other post to bring people to today’s.
Also, perhaps Congressman Shimkus should peruse his own state’s Abused and Neglected Children’s Act. If he were a school janitor here, he might be in big legal trouble.
*** UPDATE *** From the Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire:
In the talk shows today others chimed in on this theme too. Sen. Mike DeWine and Rep. Sherrod Brown, in a “Meet the Press†interview on their Ohio Senate race, couched their language carefully, but they said if anyone in the House leadership knew of the emails and failed to act they should resign. Seeming to refer to Hastert, Brown said anyone who knew about the emails but failed to act jeopardized the safety of House pages and forfeited the public trust.
*** UPDATE 2 *** AP:
“As a parent and speaker of the House, I am disgusted,” Hastert, R-Ill., told reporters after holding a meeting at the Capitol in the wake of the disclosure of the e-mails in 2003 to a page, which led to Foley’s resignation last Friday. The page’s home state was not immediately cited. […]Hastert, who did not take questions from reporters, called on any person who was aware of the 2003 instant messages to speak to law enforcement authorities. He said no Republican leader in Congress was aware of those exchanges until Friday, when ABC News reported it had questioned Foley about them. […]
Shimkus, appearing with Hastert, said new measures would be implemented to keep pages safe and said they include a toll-free hotline for pages, former pages and their families to confidentially report any incidents.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Hastert’s complete statement is here.
*** UPDATE 4 *** Man, Shimkus was totally snowed by this guy.
In a June 7, 2001, speech [to the House pages], Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill., the head of the page board, referred to Foley as someone “who I know has a vested interest in taking time out to make sure he talks with you and visits with you and he gets to know you.”“That is a personal trait that you should emulate. He has been successful, and I know it is from his heart,” Shimkus said.
*** UPDATE 5 *** Copley:
The two lawmakers [Hastert & Shimkus] read their statements and then walked away, ignoring questions shouted by a throng of reporters.After Hastert and Shimkus spoke, [the lone Democrat on the House page board] Kildee issued a statement saying he was “outraged to learn” that changes were being proposed in the page program without Democratic input.
“Once again, I was not informed of the meeting today, nor was I consulted in any way about any proposed changes,” Kildee said. “In my 21 years as a Member of the House Page Board, every decision has been made on not just a bi-partisan basis but on a non-partisan basis, with our main concern always being the safety and wellbeing of the young teenagers who serve the U.S. House as pages.
[Emphasis added]
*** UPDATE 6 *** Durbin wants Shimkus to step down from board.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., called on Rep. John Shimkus to step down as chair of the House Page Board, a role that has put the Collinsville Republican at the center of the controversy. Durbin said Shimkus hadn’t acted aggressively enough to investigate the matter, and that his failure to inform others on the board smacked of “a cover-up.” […]
Congressman Shimkus did not aggressively investigate these allegations concerning Rep. Foley’s inappropriate contact” with pages, said Durbin. “And the fact that he did not share this information with other members of the Page Board on a bipartisan basis is very troubling. . . . It has every indication of containment and cover-up.”
*** UPDATE 7 *** Hastert held a press conference after Shimkus was whisked off to an undisclosed location. The Swamp has the plahy-by-play:
Q Mr. Speaker, looking back on that conversation between Congressman Shimkus and Congressman Foley, can you think of any positive construction to put on an e‑mail message in which a 50‑year‑old man asks a 16‑year‑old boy for his picture? I mean if you had been in the room can you think of a positive way to look at an e‑mail message like that?Mr. Hastert. I think that is apparent that would raise a red flag. Evidently it raised a red flag with the kid, with the page and that is what triggered this response.
Q Do you know ‑‑ do you think then that Congressman Shimkus didn’t have a good detector on there? How did he ‑‑ do you agree with his decision having questioned Congressman Foley then to relay that now.
Mr. Hastert. Well, I am talking about something I didn’t have firsthand knowledge of, but what I am telling you is from the concern of the parents were just to have this cease and desist. That is exactly what Congressman Shimkus did. With my understanding, without even letting Mr. Shimkus or I am not even sure the Clerk know what the actual substance of the message was.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 9:05 am
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So this is why Shimkus broke his term limit pledge? So he could keep turning a blind eye to a colleague preying on a boy entrusted by parents to the supervision of our elected officials?
Talk about a guy who has “gone Washington.” Voters of the 19th Congressional District should throw this bum out this year - over this latest betrayal of trust AND for betraying his term limit pledge.
Comment by RealClear Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 9:16 am
I do not see traditional PR hacks prepared for the 21st Century. They still live in a newspaper world, not a blogging one. Their background is in papers, or TV, not the new world. As a result, they are a serious beat behind when news is being made.
There is no excuse why Shimkus’ spokesperson blew it. It is their job to release official statements. When things like this happen, they lose credibility for good reasons. Any candidate not speaking directly to their spokesperson first before speaking to any media is a fool.
As to the story of the day: Under no circumstances should the Republican Party have allowed Foley to run for re-election. If they knew about these e-mails, they should have asked for his head before now. The very idea that they sat on their hands while this pervert runs under their banner is disgusting. They have no excuse.
What saves them is the timing. It looks like a timed scandal unleashed by the Democrats. As a result, there will be a confusing dust up that involves a lot of charges and counter-charges. Spin-spin-spin-ick-ick-ick.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 9:23 am
Democrats-
Clinton, Stubs and Franks-actual sexual activity with interns. Repeatedly reelected by their Democratic constituencies. Franks and Clinton considered folk heros by many Democrats.
Crane and Foley - Tossed on their ears by their Republican constituencies.
Comment by True Observer Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 9:46 am
In the last thread someone was saying that the kids should have gone to the police, as though not doing so somehow absolves the Republican leadership of blame, which is just ridiculous.
The parents of a boy went to their Congressman who in turn reported it to the head of the Page program (Shimkus) as well as the Republican leadership (Hastert, Boehner, et all) and they covered it up so that this pervert could continue. They confined their investigation to exclude the Democrats or the legal authorities and swept it under the rug.
They even left this guy in charge of the committee to protect children. Unbeliveable.
It’s just disgusting and it needs to be repudiated.
Comment by Snark Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 9:49 am
At least Crane didn’t cry “I’m an alcoholic.” How the heck did Foley get into treatment so fast? Have you actually tried to get someone into rehab recently? It takes days to be evaluated and then weeks for a bed to open up.
Comment by Shelbyville Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 9:50 am
I said they should have gone the police. But I had their parents in mind.
Anyone though, including the R leadership, should have gone to the police if they were aware or sensed something wrong. That’s the great failure here.
It was a huge mistake if house leadership felt they could investigate themselves, that they somehow had that perogative on criminal affairs which is what Hastert was alleging with the search of Jefferson’s office.
If Hastert new something, he should have called the FBI and had Foley’s office, car, etc searched. It’s not about letting him run for office again. This is an allegation of a crime and it should have been treated that way.
It’s worth noting anyone remotely involved in their kids lives has undergone training on how to handle these cases through school programs, church, boy scouts. Anyone with a job pretty much has gone through harassment training and probably involved in a case in some way. Voter’s aren’t going to be surprized or unaware of how people in responsiblity should act here.
Comment by Bill Baar Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 9:58 am
This incident and the Republican leadership’s treatment from the get go has the capability to split the Republican Party - permanently.
Interesting point. The key item is the 16 year old. If he were 17, the statutory prohibition could not be applied and and Foley would be a Garry Stubbs Jr., who had a consenual relationship with his young man.
Comment by Truthful James Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 9:59 am
To begin with this goes to both sides of the isle.Foley isn’t the first Congress person to do this.It has been happening for years with both male and female.The system is broke and needs fixed and all these people can do is finger point or try to use it to swy someones vote.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 9:59 am
Crane did fall back on Alcholism as I recall.
Comment by Bill Baar Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 10:00 am
John Shimkus would never turn a blind eye if he thought a young person was at risk. No way. I must presume when all the facts are known we will learn that Foley was only suspected of being over-enthusiastic in his interest in young people. We all know some adults who fall in that category…usually coaches, teachers, etc. The sexually explicit stuff and the recognition of Foley’s (alleged) perversion is undoubtedly more of a shock to Shimkus than anyone.
I must agree, however, that anyone who had knowledge of Foley preying upon young people and sat on that information rather than turning it over law enforcement is guilty of a crime.
Comment by Middle Majority Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 10:10 am
Rich:
Your feigned indignation over this story would be much more believable if you had actually covered the REAL Madison County-based sexual predator story…the one where Attorney General Lisa Madigan (and a host of other law enforcement officials/agencies) failed to investigate the accusations against DNC member Tom Lakin.
Yes, the same Tom Lakin who is “the judge, the sheriff, the everything” in Madison County. The same Tom Lakin who is Jay Hoffman’s law partner and a million-dollar lifetime contributor to the Democrat party in Illinois.
I guess accusations of cocaine-induced sex parties where minors are involved with adults of the same sex is nothing compared to this e-mail scandal?
The local media took Hoffman at his word that he had little ties to Tom Lakin. Why shouldn’t the local media take Shimkus at his word that (without the hindsight of knowing all of this additional information) Shimkus took the word of a popularly-elected colleague that this wasn’t a big deal.
I welcome the formal start of your Lakin coverage, as you gave it just a small mention in the past. Remember that the charges in the Lakin case are much more substantial, so I’m sure the questions you’ll be asking Lisa Madigan, the State Police, the local Sheriff and State’s Attorney, Jay Hoffman, etc., will be of the caliber that you (today) are expecting from your colleagues at the Post-Dispatch.
Also, after looking at the state code you mentioned above, what is the liability of the law enforcement officials within the Attorney General’s office in regard to their Lakin accusations?
But, if you (and your colleagues) took Jay Hoffman and Lisa Madigan at their word on this scandal, why is it not plausible to take Shimkus at his word? The sad part is that the Lakin accusations are MUCH worse and the charges were allegedly MUCH better reported to local, state and federal authorities with no action and little real investigation.
But, this national media opportunity does give all you local media vultures the opportunity to pluck at the honest people that actually make it to Washington.
If only your sincerity on this issue were believeable, Rich. But, good try.
Comment by Madison County Watcher Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 10:27 am
Actually, I did cover the Lakin story here, here, here, here, here, here and in the Capitol Fax.
Please, get your facts straight before you engage your ridiculous partisan fingers. A quick search for “lakin” in that little search box on my blog would have given you those same results.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 10:36 am
The main theme that will be carried away (I hope) is that the Republican Party is the party of selfishness.
Selfish in their tax cuts. Selfish in their term limit pledges. Selfish in going after a young page. Selfish in their energy policy. Selfish in their efforts to undermine labor unions. Selfish in their handling of this current scandal. They think about themselves
They swept the whole afair under the rug. When Shimkus reported to Hastert that the emails were “Overly friendly” that should have raised a flag. But since the person in question was a Republican then just telling him to not talk to THAT ONE kid sufficed.
If he did it to that kid, how many others will come forward?
This story has some mighty long legs.
Comment by Political Insider Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 10:36 am
Rich,
The search feature doesn’t work. I tried the “Lakin” search and nothing. However I wish that all the facts would come to rest before all of those leaders in question get indicted with wrongdoing. If after the investigation there is something that does involve them, then they will need to respond to the voters of the district.
Comment by anon Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 10:41 am
I was wrong didn’t realize you must access the search from the main page, is there a way that you can fix it so that, when one searches on a post then it will come up in the same manner…
Comment by anon Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 10:44 am
lol
Sorry, but your incompetence and over-eager partisanship in attempting to defend the indefensible is not something that I can easily program for.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 10:52 am
Having a smidge of family experience with West Point, I believe John Shimkus does not represent the Academy well. A previous poster said he broke the cadet oath that says “A Cadet will not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate those who do.” Shimkus promised he would serve in Congress for only a certain number of terms and he has now broken that promise - a lie. He tolerated Foley’s lies and Shimkus knew he was being lied to. He’s a poor representative of West Point and what it stands for. You failed Mr. Shimkus and for that, you deserve to be returned to the private sector. Remember you put yourself up on that pedestal, not the voters.
Comment by Little Egypt Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 10:53 am
This Republican Congress is such a disappointment. So many of them came in around 1994, like John Shimkus, under the premise they were going to change things, and be better than the Democrats had been in leadership.
Instead, we get Hastert’s people turning a blind eye to almost every scandal, like those of Tom Delay, Jack Abernoff, Duke Cunningham, Bob Ney, Ralph Reed, and Grover Norquist. Now we get this latest cover-up that’s put children at risk.
Of course Hastert probably finds it hard to lecture anyone else on ethics while he’s getting rich flipping farmland real estate, whose value skyrockets with the help of highway projects he pushes through Congress.
The whole crew is paralyzed to do anything because they all have competing dirt.
Hastert and Shimkus can pretty much do whatever they want thanks to a largely lapdog press back in their home state. Blago can only dream of having the media wrapped around his finger like Hastert does.
Comment by RealClear Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 10:54 am
Shimkus & Foley are buddies. Have been for years. Blaming this on a failed system or thinking Shimkus is more shocked than anyone is lame. He needs to take responsibility for turning a blind eye. Instead of doing that, he hid with Hastert & counsel for 6 hrs. to get the spin straight. FACTS:
Foley — a Catholic — is a sexual predator preying on young boys. He has broken the Adam Walsh Law. The GOP on The Hill have known this for years! Even Foley’s words in the Congressional Record were a red flag.
The pages KNEW.
Shimkus — a high school teacher & West Point graduate (albeit, BARELY) — acts like he has a warped sense of the Cadet Honor Code (â€A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.â€) & changes his story to fit the audience!!
The pages had NO REASON to trust Shimkus with a formal complaint.
Madison County Democrats refuse to support the 19th CD candidate so they really support Shimkus. Remember —> VOTERS have the power to remove Shimkus from office — like they should’ve done years ago!!!
Comment by Philosophe Forum Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 10:59 am
Did anyone catch the photo on Drudge Report with Congressman Foley and “Guatemala’s Favorite Son-in-Law” Jerry Weller? Classic!
http://www.drudgereport.com
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 11:01 am
John Shimkus is a friend and a father of young boys like I am. I just don’t believe he would knowingly let any minors be placed in a situation where they could potentially be harmed. I’m not about to throw him under the bus with this Foley guy (who deserves it) without a lot more.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 11:02 am
And one other thing. How is this any different from the Catholic Church sweeping all of the pediphiles under the rug? I’d also like to see statistics on straight men/women who sexually abuse children versus gay men/women who do the same. Sorry Rich, I’m really not interested in being politically correct on this subject so I won’t be offended if you chooe to delete this comment. But I’m really tired of tip-toeing around the pedophile issue.
Comment by Little Egypt Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 11:04 am
Bill - I believe you are mixing up Dan Crane with Phil Crane. Phil did finally receive treatment for alcoholism.
It really doesn’t matter at this point, I guess.
My son was a congressional page in the class of ‘01. I am furious about Foley, Shimkus, and Hastert. How dare the IL. Republicans lose site of what is important here.
I am betting that the whole story is yet to surface. Aren’t you?
Comment by Shelbyville Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 11:11 am
Corruption Playbook:
1. Cover-up.
2. Deny.
3. Downplay.
4. Parse the Facts.
5. Throw Mud on the Other Party.
6. Blame the Media.
7. Propose Closing the Barn Door after the Horses are out.
8. Hope Voters Don’t Realize the Barn Door is still Open.
I’m still waiting for Speaker Hassert to institute the sweeping reforms promised in the wake of the Abrahamoff scandal and the windfall profits by his buddies in the petroleum industry. And waiting.
MEANWHILE, back at the ranch, this should serve as a major wake-up call for Republicans in Springfield. Republicans have long hidden behind their cloak as the Morality Party, but voters have finally started to realize that the emperor wears no clothes. In fact, the latest poll by the Pew Center gives Democrats an edge over Republicans when it comes to providing moral leadership.
Some Republicans in Springfield have hidden behind this cloak to prey upon young staff, and in the worst case, pages. It’s an open secret. One GOP state Senator has been repeatedly warned that it is not a good idea for him to continue to go out to private and expensive dinners with young interns. A GOP state Rep. has a long reputation for hitting on young staffers from both parties, even pages, with the notorious greeting line “Hi little girl, how are YOU today?” Hint: he’s not looking at their eyes.
I’m not suggesting that Democrats are beyond reproach, because they aren’t flawless. But the most egregious offenders I know of in Springfield come from the other side of the aisle.
If the Conference of Women Legislators really wants to provide some bipartisan leadership in Springfield, they’ll stop turning a blind eye to this behavior and demand that their leaders clean the stables.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 11:26 am
ABC News http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/10/gop_staff_warne.html
is reporting that only Republican pages were warned. That’s a pretty ugly little detail.
Comment by Still Anon Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 11:29 am
Was Shimkus helping to arrange for Foley to meet pages he wouldn’t otherwise meet?
Was Shimkus getting any favors from Foley for his services?
If so, what’s the difference between what Shimkus was doing and being a pimp?
Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 11:29 am
and by the way, PF, Foley’s religious beliefs don’t seem to be crucial to the story. I know there are parallels here to the priest scandal, but your observation just looks like run-of-the-mill Catholic Bashing.
Comment by Still Anon Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 11:31 am
True Observer… so your defense of a pedophile is that Democrats have inappropriate relations with interns?
Huh?
Mark Foley was asking 16-year-olds to get a ruler and measure themselves… You’re defending that?
The Republican leadership knew about this as far back as 2001 because they were warning pages to stay away from Foley… You’re defending that?
This is about security, nothing more, nothing less. The Republicans failed to keep Congress’ 16-year-old pages safe from a known pedophile. How on earth can we trust them to keep us all safe, especially in light of the Republican failures with Katrina, the Dubai ports deal and Iraq planning???
Yet you’ve got partisans — pure, blatant partisans — like “True” Observer defending pedophiles with weak-in-the-knees “other people do it too.” This isn’t a partisan, conservative-or-liberal issue. This is a security matter — a window into how Republicans choose to “protect” us. The answer is, Republicans choose political expediency first and foremost.
They rush overnight to pass and sign a bill to stop a brain-dead woman’s machines from being turned off but they don’t do anything for five years to stop a pedophile.
Rep. Studds (don’t know who “Stubs”), a Democrat, was censured by the Democratic House when the revelations came to light 10 years after the fact.
Rep. Dan Crane (Phil Crane’s brother), a conservative Republican, was ousted by his Republican constituents after having an affair with a 17-year-old page.
President Clinton was impeached and was not eligible for reelection as it was. His likely successor, VP Al Gore, lost; likely due in part to Clinton’s sins. Democratic Sen. and 2000 VP candidate Joe Lieberman was one of Clinton’s harshest critics.
How are those not consequences for inappropriate action? The difference between the Democrats is that they punished those that they knew had done wrong and then left it to the voters to decide fates. Republicans didn’t punish anyone (Foley resigned on his own) and not only didn’t investigate five years ago when this problem was obviously well-known among conservative circles but Hastert is still trying to thwart an investigation by delaying the Ethics Cmte’s investigating — there is no current House investigation despite the internal requests for one to be started.
Comment by NW burbs Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 11:32 am
Ron Burgundy, what if being in Congress and playing the GOP game has turned Shimkus into the kind of immoral #%@& that would trade introducing a page for political leverage?
And maybe Shimkus has his own kinky proclivities that he was having protected while he was protecting Foley.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 11:36 am
Re: Philoshophe Forum @10:59
What in the hell does Foley being a Catholic have to do with being a sexual predator? I do not appreciate your biggoted remarks and would hope that in the future you keep your anti-catholic views to yourself. There are billions of Catholics in this world that faithfully uphold all of tenents of christianity and are equally sickened by these allegations.
Comment by Smooth Move Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 11:37 am
This is about a pedophiliac and should not have anything to do with politics. Anyone who knew anything about this and did not tell proper authorities should be charged with a crime. I don’t care if it is Speaker Hastert or Minority Leader Pelosi or anyone else. This is a disgusting crime and anyone who let it go on should be criminally punished the same way anyone else in society would or could be.
Comment by HANKSTER Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 12:01 pm
Hankster, but it has everything to do with politics. Foley was allowed to play his games because he brought something to the table that satisfied the GOP.
Why do you think the GOP leadership basically likes having someone like Foley around? When the GOP leadership needed Foley’s vote on a close bill, don’t you think Tom DeLay knew how to subtly tell Foley that he could stay protected if he voted the right way?
Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 12:10 pm
I know it does have everything to do with politics, I just think that this is far too disgusting and criminal for politics to take part in it. And those who covered it up for any reason, political or otherwise, should be held responsilbe.
Comment by HANKSTER Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 12:16 pm
True Observer 9:46 - Clinton el al did not have sex with UNDERAGE pages - they were adult interns. That does not make it right but it does put it in a different category than paedophilia.
Comment by Way Northsider Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 12:26 pm
The GOP shouldn’t have played politics with the Iraq War or the Bush torture bill either, but they did. Because that’s the kind of people they are.
Why be surprised Hastert is trying to use the FBI to go after potential witnesses, not investigate to what extent the GOP leadership was engaged in an active cover-up?
Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 12:31 pm
Sorry, PF, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck. Ironic? Hypocritical? Redundant? Would you have mentioned his religious affiliation had it been your own? I think not.
Comment by Still Anon Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 12:33 pm
Sorry Still Anon, you’d lose the bet. 12 yrs of Catholic school, too. Would’ve gone to Quincy College (now Quincy U.) had I not enlisted Regular Army immediately after graduation.
Comment by Philosophe Forum Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 12:43 pm
Yellow Dog’s Corruption Playbook and 8 points listed above is an outstanding post. Dog, you’re light years ahead of the game. Too bad both parties aren’t listening to you. Unfortunately this IS a political nightmare. It should have been only a criminal situation if handled appropriately. However, I don’t believe that either party is a party of morality.
Comment by Little Egypt Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 12:45 pm
Rich,
Good point about the national media driving the reporting and the Illinois media falling behind on this story. Hastert and Shimkus are obviously the major connections to Illinois, but there are other Illinois connections that IL papers’ DC bureaus could and should explore.
For example, a quick look at Foley’s FEC reports at FEC.gov and opensecrets.org shows Foley used his campaign committee funds to pay for his AOL email account, which he used to send the perverted and possibly illegal emails, and for his 7/3/2002 meal at Mortons, which may or may not be the private meal with an underage page that he brags about on CSPAN with Shimkus.
Abbott Labs, Allstate Insurance, the Chicago Board of Trade (AMPAC/CBT), the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and a number of other PACs of IL companies have given thousands of dollars that fund this campaign committee.
Question: Foley’s campaign committee has approx $2.7M cash on hand; will these IL PACs ask for their money back ?
On a related matter, if Foley used his $2.7M campaign committee to enable his possibly criminal enterprise (e.g. to pay for his AOL account, private meals and other possibly predatory contacts with minors), will federal law enforcement officials ask a court to freeze the campaign committee’s assets and prevent inappropriate disbursements, citing USA Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s successful asset freeze of the campaign committee of former IL Gov George Ryan ? As someone not running for reelection, Foley would be hard pressed to oppose the asset freeze.
Again, the IL press has a chance to shine and remind folks it can work a national story involving their own IL Members.
Comment by Scott Fawell's Cellmate Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 2:11 pm
It turns my stomach to think that some could compare this story with Monica Lewinski and Clinton. Monica Lewinski was not in High School, she was 22. To think that someone is able to confuse the two issues is a true sign of depravity and what makes it somehow excusable for Foley to blame the predatory activity on alcohol. I have been drunk many times before but I’ve never had the urge to sexually abuse children.
Comment by Anon Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 2:44 pm
Drudge is dredging up Clinton’s pardon of Mel Reynolds over on urban legends.
Comment by Bill Baar Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 3:10 pm
Bill Baar at 3:10:
What the h*ll does another website talking about Clinton’s pardon of Mel Reynolds have to do with this ?!
Can you please at least TRY and stay focused here ?!
Damn, man, its like you’ve got some sort of political ADD.
Comment by Bill Baar's Physician Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 3:27 pm
There seems to be a lynch mob frenzy here. But consider the following.
This story has legs. According to his (Google cached at http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:tX6A_GCiso0J:www.house.gov/foley/about/bio.htm+Mark+Foley+bio+deputy+whip&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1&client=firefox-a) congressional bio, Foley was in the Republican leadership:
“In addition to his committee assignment, Congressman Foley serves as a member of the House leadership as a Deputy Majority Whip.”
For this and other reasons, I think this story will have legs for national Republicans.
Temper that with the fact that what he was doing was sending dirty emails to 17 year-old and older former pages. Immature and juvenile stuff. It will be hard for Democrats who compromised themselves by defending Clinton with an active intern, Gerry Studds, and Barney Frank to point fingers at someone who had no physical relationship with long departed 17 year-olds.
Children? No. Physical sex? No. Employment/page/intern relationship? No. Bungled handling? Absolutely.
I’m hoping this will cost the Republicans a chamber. Then let the subpoenas fly!
Comment by Solid Yellow Line Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 3:37 pm
Hastert, who did not take questions from reporters, called on any person who was aware of the 2003 instant messages to speak to law enforcement authorities. He said no Republican leader in Congress was aware of those exchanges until Friday, when ABC News reported it had questioned Foley about them.
If it’s not bullpuckey… it must be elephantpuckey.
Why were pages warned by Republican Congressmen in 2001 (two years before these 2003 emails)?
Republicans, if they haven’t already, are going to lose the trust of mainstream Americans across the board. The only people left to support them will be the 36 percenters that would follow an elephant off a cliff.
Why do they continue to defend a pedophile and their own covering up on behalf of that pedophile???
Comment by NW burbs Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 4:00 pm
It looks as if there were not very many Republicans speaking up on this issue today. This whole episode is very shameful and a black eye on our party right now. I hope that this investigation produces hard conclusive evidence, it needs to be conducted outside the halls of Congress. Clearly Foley needs to dealt with criminally, but again as was said earlier its very hard to think that Shimkus would take this lightly or even sweep it under the rug if he knew the whole story. If he did know the whole story back in 2005, then he needs to come clean now!
Comment by anon Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 4:10 pm
There is a lynch mob frenzy.
An Illinois Congressmen convicted of sex with a minor. Eventually pardoned by Illinois has been here before and worse.
I’ll give Hastert benefit of the doubt until the FBI get to the bottom of things.
If that’s ADD, well, I’m ok with it.
I’ll wait a bit here.
Comment by Bill Baar Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 4:10 pm
If he did know the whole story back in 2005, then he needs to come clean now!
Republicans can’t hide behind no comment becasue their is a criminal investigation. They need to come clean fast even if it jeprodizes the case against Foley.
Democrats are at risk of overplaying as evident from the posts here.
Comment by Bill Baar Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 4:13 pm
Here is another idea for those trying to financee campaigns with Hastert campaign $$$:
Ms. Duckworth charged that House GOP leadership “has been involved in keeping Foley’s secret†and called on Mr. Roskam to return the $40,000 in campaign donations he’s received from Messrs. Hastert, Shimkus and other leaders.
Ms. Duckworth also noted that Mr. Roskam’s campaign has received heavy donations from the House Republican Campaign Committee, to which Mr. Foley gave $500,000 over the past decade.
“This is the type of leadership Roskam would look
Is Aaron working on that refund check
Comment by BonVoyageJohn Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 4:29 pm
“There is a lynch mob frenzy.”
Congratulations, Bill Baar at 4:10, you and the rest of the GOP win the award for Hypocrites of the Millenium.
After wasting $70M+ and years of Congress’ legislative time and resources on Monicagate, Whitewater, Travelgate, and every other failed GOP “investigation” and “hearings” in the 1990s, the GOP now sides with alleged sexual predator Mark Foley and says after 3 days we should really ease off and let cooler heads prevail.
Wow.
This is a very basic issue. The House leadership knew about — and covered up for — a child sex predator inside their very building. There’s no “spin” that’s going to make that go away.
And in talking with other parents, I have to tell you — anyone who is a parent is out for blood on this one. We can “disagree” over whether or not America should torture prisoners. We can “dispute” whether or not the President should be allowed to classify American citizens as “terrorists” based only on his own say-so, and lock them away without evidence or trial. We can “argue” over whether or not Tom DeLay’s money laundering and the money laundering that has a goodly portion of the rest of the Republican House locked in ongoing scandal and indictment was only accidentally criminal, or astonishingly criminal.
But in the end, at the end of it all, you don’t COVER UP FOR A CHILD SEX PREDATOR.
No. Matter. What.
What part of that does the GOP not understand? How do you get to the point where you are that depraved, that you think a man soliciting sexual information and meetings from sixteen year old kids over the internet — and meeting them in person — is “just another scandal”? Tony Snow? Brit Hume? Any of you folks, you wanna take that one on?
Hastert had better figure out damn quick that the rest of the country isn’t messing around on this one. I don’t know exactly how he got his GOP-style version of “morality” so twisted and decomposed that even this doesn’t faze him, but he had better at least have the common sense to stand the hell out of the way.
Comment by Bill Baar's Physician Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 4:35 pm
BBP - could not have said it better. And I don’t think anyone else posting here could either. You are absolutely right. There should NEVER be a cover up for a child sex predator, period.
Comment by Little Egypt Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 4:52 pm
From ABC News, below is the latest IM string from Foley, in which the former co-chair of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children mentions having been together with the teen in San Diego and in the end shows the teen is uncomfortable with Foley’s aggressive approach:
****
Maf54: I miss you lots since san diego.
Teen: ya I cant wait til dc
Maf54:
Teen: did you pick a night for dinner
Maf54: not yet…but likely Friday
Teen: ok…ill plan for Friday then
Maf54: that will be fun
Maf54: I want to see you
Teen: Like I said not til feb…then we will go to dinner
Maf54: and then what happens
Teen: we eat…we drink…who knows…hang out…late into the night
Maf54: and
Teen: I dunno
Maf54: dunno what
Teen: hmmm I have the feeling that you are fishing here…im not sure what I would be comfortable with…well see
****
Foley here defines online sexual predator towards minors, and the proposed solution from Hastert and Shimkus is - a 1-800 number for children to report misconduct.
Wow. The man third in line for the Presidency of the United States of America dealt with this pervasive problem by calling Sprint and getting a new phone line.
Of course, Hastert and Shimkus might not get many young people to call.
The geniuses made the number 1-800-GOFOLEY.
Just kidding.
Comment by Bill Baar's Physician Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 4:54 pm
Of course it’s a scandel.
And the cops have been called. I think the FBI will get to the bottom and Hastert and Shimkus could face some hard time if what’s all been said here is true. Reynolds certainly did.
And unlike Clinton, I don’t think Bush is the kind of guy to issue pardons.
Comment by Bill Baar Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 4:55 pm
Bill Baar at 4:55 pm:
“I don’t think Bush is the kind of guy to issue pardons.”
No, Bush is the kind of guy to give Foley a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Comment by Bill Baar's Physician Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 5:05 pm
BB’s Dr. … If you’re going to quote from Hunter at Daily Kos at least give credit, and preferably a link.
While I agree with Little Egypt that your post was apropos to Bill Baar’s partisan head in the sand mendacity, plagiarism ain’t cool.
Bill, face it. You’re defending a pedophile and those who would choose to cover up for a pedophile. Asking a 16-year-old boy to ‘measure how long he is’ is much more than “overly friendly”.
Dubai Ports Deal. Katrina Cluster%$@#. Iraq Lack of Planning.
The Republicans in power can’t even protect 16-year-old pages, and you and they want us to continue trusting they can protect the rest of us?!?
We’d have to be nuts!
Comment by NW burbs Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 5:14 pm
BB’s Dr. … If you’re going to quote from Hunter at Daily Kos at least give credit, and preferably a link.
While I agree with Little Egypt that your post was apropos to Bill Baar’s partisan head in the sand mendacity, plagiarism ain’t cool.
Bill, face it. You’re defending a pedophile and those who would choose to cover up for a pedophile. Asking a 16-year-old boy to ‘measure how long he is’ is much more than “overly friendly”.
Dubai Ports Deal. Unsecured Nuclear Plants, Chemical Factories and International Ports. Katrina Cluster%$@#. Iraq Lack of Planning.
The Republicans in power can’t even protect 16-year-old pages, and you and they want us to continue trusting they can protect the rest of us?!?
We’d have to be nuts!
Comment by NW burbs Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 5:15 pm
Rich — feel free to delete one of those duplicate posts.
Comment by NW burbs Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 5:16 pm
NW burbs at 5:14 and 5:15:
Guilty as charged. I apologize for the plagarism and the failure to drop a link to another blogger’s post.
And I deserved the duplicate postings of my crime.
With that said, I stand by the words:
“But in the end, at the end of it all, you don’t COVER UP FOR A CHILD SEX PREDATOR.
No. Matter. What.”
Comment by Bill Baar's Physician Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 5:27 pm
Bill Baar, are you concerned that Hastert and Shimkus did anything wrong? Why is Shimkus giving different accounts to different media outlets? Why are Hastert and Shimkus ducking questions?
Are you concerned Foley had sexual relations with House pages?
Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 5:55 pm
Carl,
Bill is a partisan through and through. He’ll just try to backpedal away from your questions now that he’s been defending a pedophile all day.
And it’s not just Hastert and Shimkus. The cover-up was pretty extensive. Apparently there are three Congressmen that are the heads of the Page Program — Shimkus is the chair, there is another Republican and a Democrat (2 R’s, 1 D). Neither the other Republican and certainly not the Democrat knew about these allegations. Shimkus hid it from them, even his little finger-wagging “Now don’t do that again” to Foley.
These guys protected a pedophile — doesn’t matter if there was any sexual contact, Foley was clearly asking lewd questions and making completely disturbed comments. Foley was asking these boys to get out rulers to measure themselves and taking them out for dinner and drinks (hi, umm, legal drinking age is 21, not 16).
I am a father — are Hastert and Shimkus and the the rest of the Republican “leaders” not parents?
Comment by NW burbs Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 6:15 pm
Shimkus should resign immediately, and Hastert should immediately announce his retirement. They have disgraced themselves too much. The GOP really can’t stand becoming more of a joke.
We now know this Foley had a well known reputation as a creep and intern stalker. Pages were warned about him years ago. So when more evidence comes to Shimkus he does NOTHINIG?!!
Don’t forget, much of Springfield is in Shimkus’ district. He comes from the old George Ryan crowd. In fact his PERSONAL choice for the 19th District’s representative on the IL GOP’s State Central Committee is BOB WINCHESTER, who was George Ryan’s former Deputy Governor. In fact Winchester was just reelected for another 4 year term to help head the State GOP. That with Shimkus’ blessing. Guys like Shimkus obviously still see nothing wrong with the George Ryan years. He wants to re-live them.
Looking the other way, blaming the messenger, and trying to cover-up scandal is the all these old guys like Shimkus and Hastert know.
Again, it’s why 6 kids burned to death in a horrible van accident in Wisconsin, and why the cover-up went on for years. It’s also why young kids have been put at risk in our Capitol for years, working around people their parents’ foolishly trusted. The same mentality that was present in George Ryan’s office is still alive and well in Shimkus and Hastert.
Keeping power is more important for Shimkus and Hastert than the safety of children. Let’s be honest.
Would rather have Blago and his investigations than these goonish Repubs who try to kill every investigation.
Thank you Shimkus and Hastert for giving America Speaker Pelosi. What were you guys thinking?
Comment by RealClear Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 6:26 pm
Shimkus is the father of THREE young boys. He’s a high school teacher, too. Like forgetting the Cadet Code isn’t bad enough. He has almost no responsibilities beyond the House Energy & Commerce Cmte. The House Page Board should’ve been a no-brainer for him, & he managed to screw that up.
Adults really only have one natural job in life: care for the young & those that can’t care for themselves. Shimkus didn’t just drop the ball. He let it crash & burn — at mach 5.
Comment by Philosophe Forum Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 6:29 pm
I can’t think of a better outcome than to have this scandal clear out Republican “leadership” dead wood.
If that means 2 years of Speaker Pelosi, so be it. There won’t be a 3rd one.
Comment by Extreme Wisdom Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 7:46 pm
Thank you Shimkus and Hastert for giving America Speaker Pelosi. What were you guys thinking?
Actually, this would not be a bad thing, as long as Pelosi’s party had the majority by a razor-thin margin.
Our recent experiences with domination of the levers of political power by one party (at both the federal and the state levels) have not been good. Things seem to go best when the majority party is hanging on by a thread, wary that a false move will fray the last cord.
As for the case of the alleged pedophile and his enablers, let justice run its course. In the court of law, and the court of public opinion.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 7:50 pm
The Washington Times is calling for Hastert to step down as Speaker. In their editorial (10/3/06) they call for Henry Hyde to replace Hastert as Speaker.
Comment by RealClear Monday, Oct 2, 06 @ 11:28 pm
The Washington Times is calling for Hastert to step down as Speaker
This will have about as much effect as the Aurora Beacon News calling for Marion Barry’s resignation. If the local fishwraps like the Trib, Daily Herald and SCN chain pick up the cause, it will mean something.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 12:14 am
“Fish wraps” - good description. For nothing better than carp however.
Comment by RealClear Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 1:13 am
Did you hear the latest thing Denny said in his own defense:
“I don’t think anyone anticipated the breach of the Levi’s.”
Comment by Marchin' Chronicle Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 2:19 am