Very appropriate. I would venture to think that this man, who many defend would stand up and talk about morales! How dare he! I always remind my nieces and nephews "beware of wolf in sheep clothing!"

like we tell our kids, if it feels creepy then it is....you need to get away from that person and report it to an adult.

He should resign, that young man that brought it out should get the Person of the Week.

Remember what happened in Colorado two days ago. Perverts are perverts. Some are killers.

Well, guess it's not just a smear tactic afterall... Hmm, politician is a closet homosexual. Color me surprised.

Comming soon to the Onion: Gay man tearfully admits to being US Congressman.

Eww.

One less upstanding pro-family Republican Senator "Value Voters" can cast their vote for.
Bet he was also against same-sex marriage. The closet can be a terrible place.

Well Brian ...guess this wasn't a BS story after all.

hhahahhahaahah

Dayum. There are about 250 people who ranted about "witch hunts" and left wing conspiracoies on this site yesterday who need to order up a big ol' plate of crow and dig in.

I thought republicans stood up for Family Values.

This one goes out to all those naive people who commented yesterday "what's wrong with a person just being nice nowadays" and "being nice isn't a crime - give the guy a break". There is corruptness out there where it should be but none the less it IS. Aren't we suposed to raise our children to "TELL SOMEONE" and when they do you all rally behind the politian. How sad it that?

With this GOP, it just keeps getting better and better. Amazing. Where do they get these people?

VOTE THEM OUT.

How appropriate, foley was the chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children.
How long will it take before people realize that republican and sexually twisted are synonyms.

See, Republicans? Now you can stop with the "But Clinton!" crud... One of your own has trouble keeping his pants on as well, and this one was propositioning minors, making him (in many states) a paedophile internet-predator. Far worse than any shenanigans Clinton pulled.

The republicans are supposed to be the party of values?? Every day I hear about another republican who is either going to prison or under investigation. This is not the republican party that I voted for in 2000, and you guys will not get my vote this November. I can promise you that.

Owned.

All I can ask is that the now former Congressman be treated EXACTLY like any other US Citizen who would be accused of the same thing. We either PUNISH ALL who go after children (I support), or we don't, no double standards.

GOP:can't contend with this portion of the story? Are the 'left-wing lies' the cause of Mr. Foley's resignation today? We all know 1/2 the time a 'republican' comments it's usually a GOP aide anyway.

How do I explain this to my children when they ask why I took AOL IM off the home computer?

Thank you for breaking this story. This cretin should be under FBI investigation; I hope that comes next. Thank you thank you thank you - for not marching lockstep with most media like CNN who won't touch this stuff....

"...the chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children..."

"...sexually explicit internet messages with current and former congressional pages under the age of 18."

Why is it I'm no longer suprised by these people?

Republicans in congress look for sex with minors and Democrats hide money in their freezers. Vote the bums out, let's get some decent people to represent us.

Ah yes, The Hypocritical Republicans, again! Truth Out!

Um, looks like "liberal" ABC wasn't jumping the gun. And they did have more than idol chatter. Looks to me like they probably kept the "sexually explicit" language out of the first report in deference to his family. Either way, he's quit congress the day this broke.How can you nut jobs out there spin it now? Maybe Foley was so revolete by the Lewinski scandal that it turned him gay. And into as pedophile. Damn that Bill Clinton!

Where is all the people calling this a left-wing smear campaign?Hope none of them are parents.

This is just a left wing smear... HAHAHAHA

and just the tip of the iceberg. These people are sick, sick sick.

Let me be among the first conservatives to condemn this alleged behavior. WTH is wrong with him, McGreevy, etc. I am sickened and so very angry with the selfishness of politicians.

Is there no end to this sickness. This man gave no thought to the harm he was doing to these young people and to his family.

Innocent Foley email everyone said yesterday. Where are you today?

strange, so many righty's on the last Foley post did'nt think this news worthy.

What an idiot--of course all Congressmen are.

If the allegations about Mark Foley are indeed true, he should not be allowed to resign. This creep should be tarred, feathered, and run out of Washington on a rail. Not only was he the chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children, but he clearly does not understand the absolute lack of privacy and enduring record that is inherent in an email. Besides the fact that he is a sanctimonious pedophile of the worst kind, he is stupid enough to commit his illicit desires to a media that is easily exposed and, theoretically, survives forever. How do these people get elected to Congress in the first place? Oh, wait, he is from Florida. Enough said.

Degobah from So Cal

Foley, the chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children??

Why aren't they vetting people placed in positions that deal with children more carefully? Has his chairmanship placed him in a position to exploit the very children he was assigned to protect?

Typical of the Family Values Party. Just add Foley to list of Tom DeLay, Duke Cunningham,Bob Ney, Abramoff,and the rest of Team Bush who have lied, cheated, spy on Americans, and torture prisoners, (Who Happen to be human beings, not deserving of such treatment).

Idiot...

He is also Co-Chairman of the Missing and Exploited Childrens Caucus LOL

Mark Foley is proof that many Congressional members from both sides of the aisle have lost touch with reality and exhibit different standards that the rest of us have to follow. Congress's attitude is, there are laws for themselves and laws for the rest of us.

This is totally unexpected. I live south of the area that Mark Foley represents. This could end up being an unexpected seat pick-up for the Democrats. Wild, wild story. At first, I was not seeing what the fuss was about...the e-mails just seemed friendly. With this new facet of the story...that they were sexually explicit...I've obviously changed my tune. So bizarre...just totally unexpected.

And, I am sure he was an ardent "family values" man to boot. Another watch what they do, not what they say.

This was indeed a fox in the hen house. Hopefully, criminal charges will follow.

What happened? Where did all of Foley's defenders go? What happened to "the witch hunt"?

Oh, that's right. It wasn't one.

Wow, so many Republicans were upset about the previous story. I wonder what they have to say now. Why would a man resign if he was so innocent?

Im sorry , did someone say this story was a set up and smear campaign? I think you better talk to Mark Foley before you make your selves look like even bigger buffoons.

So, here we go again. Only more proof how corrupt Washington is! Difference between parties? What in the hell is that anyway? Yes, I am mad as hell, while America's ever more horrendous and despicable war machinery, is all over the world telling the world truly the fatest lie ever told that America is almost heaven, and killing thousands of innocent ones. Compare the above with these words: "Overgrown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to Republican liberty". George Washington as part of his farwell address. Yes, America has totally corrupted itself, just like all previous Empires.

At least he has the courage to do the right thing..

Is there an explanation as to why the press release is dated September 21?

We need to make an example of this pedophile. He should be held to the highest level of conduct possible. And he should receive the worst possible sentence.

I like how ABCNEWs takes credit for it... or is it Brian Ross? mmmm have a cookie.

Another closeted gay Republican revealed. One who by the way opposed gay rights. Another portrait in hypocracy.

To all of you who thought this was a witch hunt...ha!

and this guy was the the chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children!

Republicans are just sick!!!

So will we now hear an apology from his campaign staff after they claimed it was all part of a political smear campaign? And how about his loyal defenders who filed comments here yesterday, claiming that this was all part of a witch hunt. I'm listening....

Another winner from the party of "Family Values".

What a terrible tragedy! I've known Mark for years and he was an extremely dedicated and effective legislator. He evidently fought with demons that none of us knew about. This is a big loss for the State of Florida.

Hey its a member of the GOP. What do you expect. Nov cannot get here fast enough both for 2006 and 2008. The GOP will never see my vote again. Between Bush and Cheney and all the crap these so called Godly men do I have had my fill of there lies.

For a laugh, go back to the first story and check out the comments from readers. I hope abc feels completely vindicated for reporting this.

So where are all the folks screaming earlier that this is not news and he is just a friendly guy?

I give thanks that it is an election year. It is time to clean up the republican and democratic slime that sullies the walls of the capital.

WHERE IS THE SEXUALLY EXPLICIT PART?? IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE OUT THERE??

How is this news? And what is wrong with asking someone what they want for their birthday? I'm not saying the guy is innocent or anything, but this story says nothing-sounds like someone had to resign because they sent a text message to someone.

As much as the Repulican left has come out against gays, I'm not surprised they wantd to dump Foley, a known homosexual here in Florida. His behavior is too hot an issue. He had to go.

What's really funny is all the repubs who posted earlier about how ABC was trashing Foley out of bias or that there was no story or that Dems are pervs.

Rarely does satisfaction come so quickly.

Typical hypocritical Republican congressman: Runs his campaign on "Family Values" for the public, while in private, he seduces male teenagers. Nice.

Wake up folks, we need change. Dont believe the lies.

Given the number of people who responded to the earlier story with "these allegations are nothing but a bunch of sensationalist nonsense dredged up by the liberal media to smear Republicans!", this is hilarious.

At least McGreevey liked GROWN UPS!

Yesterday a huge number of people, presumably all Republicans, castigated this reporter and news channel for making this story up and chasing "nothing" in a "smear" attempt (presumably because they assumed ABC is a MSM haunt of liberals.

Will any of those people now apoligize, here, to ABC? Foley has long been known to be gay (even if his constituents didn't know that) and ABC was being cautious with the much greater amount of evidence they apparently had about these e-mails to teenage boys, apparently waiting until they could get the Congressman's side of the story. That's what they're supposed to do, right? Lib or Con, Dem or Rep, we all agree that that is what responsible media is supposed to do?

So, will those people who slammed ABC now say "Sorry. We jumped to conclusions based upon our own biases."

Doubt it, but we'll see.

So much for that "ABC liberal smear campaign" the Republican's were chatting about.

Whew! What a gain for Florida in having this man out of office! Just yesterday he was saying "I'm just a friendly guy, ignore those emails". How fortunate that other young people were brave enough to come forward and expose this man as the lying pedophile he really is.

Danny and Erik, my thoughts exactly. Where are all those people couldn't find enough bad words to describe the leftist hatchet job against this upstanding GOP rep. Just goes to show you the depth of the denial they live in. Unless they see George W Bush eat a baby on live TV, they will not believe that there is anything remotely wrong with his behavior, and even then, 30% will say it's the baby's fault.

I love this. More ammo for the Dems. Good for ABC for exposing this fool.

The only difference between the perverted democrats and the perverted republicans is that the republicans resign when they get caught.

What the hell is going on? I can't find the "sexually explicit" part.

Well, so much for "innoocent until proven guilty"!

another right winger telling us how to behave, did he point his
finger and wave it. this guy is
a sleazy freak, he will probably get his pension too, next stop, key west for the village people show.

To everyone who complained about ABC running this story:

I guess its "ITS OK IF YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN" time once again. I'm glad to see that someone checked the instant message logs.

He's a sick guy, and anyone who supports him is even sicker

Well, another attempt by the dems to smear another right-winger. What did he say in the emails of a sexual nature?

You want to know whats really sad? Know one gives a rip about the kid. The only thing that matters is doing whatever it takes to embarras a congrassman (R). Let's make sure we display the "R". If there was a "D" this would be on page 6.

His personal life is nobody's business...sound familiar?

"Fought with demons?"

Looks like he lost.

Impeach Clinton for less, such understanding when it's a Republican.

Once again we have evidence that so many of these so-called "moral," "family-friendly," "upstanding" Republicans are really a bunch of sexually repressed, perverted sickos. GOP, the party for Gross Old Pigs ... Bring on Election Day!!

I wonder how long ABC News has had this information and why this is being reported 39 days out of an election. Hope you all are happy that someone else's life had been completely destroyed because he/she is running for public office and they have an R by their name..

Wonder how O'Reilly will respond to this one since he's always on the band wagon about pedophiles. Will he be as forthcoming with Republican pedophiles???

You're right, the responses to the original post are really funny. And I don't just mean the inherent absurdity of calling ABC News part of some "left wing media" after the network's recent hit piece on Clinton, etc.

I have read what little has been published of the communications and I do not see anything overtly inappropriate which cannot be explained away with context. I assume his resignation means there is damning evidence, but, I'll wait for something incriminating before drawing any conclusions!

Hey Jeff,
you might want to read the entirity of the article before making a half-truth comment.

From CNN:

Now, a GOP source tells us now that essentially Foley is worried that there are other potentially politically damaging e-mail or other messages that may be out there and he has concluded that it’s probably best for him not to seek reelection from Florida. That is what we’re told.

I'm an ardent Democrat, and have had occassion to know Cong. Foley on some overseas trips. He is a genuinely nice guy, and a smart, dedicated Member of Congress. I agree...he clearly had some personal demons that are clearly out-of-control, and will require some professional help to deal with. It is appropriate that he step down, but this is a personal tragedy that could happen to a Dem tomorrow. Human frailty is bi-partisan. Now, having said that, I sure hopw we can pick up this seat.

This not going to help the plight of gays when they're made to look like pedophiles and perverts. There are plenty of gay Republicans, Log Cabin Republicans, and only the religious right makes a big deal out of being gay. It's the being into teenagers that's the problem, if true.

Wow. Just wow. Just when I think the sociopaths in the Republican party can't get any more creepy, they outdo themselves again.

The GOP waged an effective campaign marketing themselves as Christians. The truth, they are no more righteous than anyone else. I don't glory in Mr. Foley's fall. To error is human. However, he along with the majority of his party are hypocrites.

It doesn't matter if they have an R or a D after their name, if they betray a sacred trust, they should be forced to resign and be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

"terrible tragedy"??

Hell, no! Just another hypocritical Republican perv caught and FORCED to resign.

Quote from Lee

Posted by: Lee | Sep 28, 2006 3:52:05 PM

"How warped is this kid? It is a very sad day when we must worry about being friendly to others. Without more, the words shown in this story are very innocent. It is the sick mind of the reader that reads dark messages into them. We should be aware of sexual predators, but me must not make a boogie man out of anyone being friendly."

I think Lee owes this kid apology.

People -- read the story before making comments. There have been new developments -- there are new emails:

Hours earlier, ABC News had read excerpts of instant messages provided by former male pages who said the congressman, under the AOL Instant Messenger screen name Maf54, made repeated references to sexual organs and acts.

These are not the "what do you want for your birthday" emails.

There is more stuff coming on Foley's other emails with other male pages under 18. I think ABC is sitting on them until this evenings news.