ABC's headline is truly misleading, bordering on libel -- saying "Sick sick sick" right above the congressman's picture. These emails are hardly sick -- maybe a bit naive, but ABC is acting like the National Enquirer on this one. I'm a lifelong Democrat, I think you crossed the line -- try focusing on the issues for once.

You know, there are adults who do not know how to avoid being smarmy when they talk to teenagers. I certainly hope that this reflects in Congressman Foley only an inability to be genuine and not, as many do fear, a disingenuous MO.

There is nothing misleading or even vaguely libelous about the ABC headline... the emails certainly suggest a come-on by Foley. The fact that he was apparently targeting a minor makes this newsworthy. Does he normally ask for the pictures of underage males not in his employ (and suggest, if off-hand, the possibility of remuneration for further contact).

As far as I can tell, Foley appears to be offering gifts for "contact" with an underage male.

As a former teacher, I can tell you that these emails are most definitely inappropriate. Personal questions like "how old are you anyway" and requests to "send me a picture" are WAY over the line.

Foley was either up to no good, or he's terminally stupid.

wow! what has this world came to. we have finished evoling and now going back to the stone age? report the news. tired of the gossip

Foley has made a name for himself as an advocate of children. "Mark strongly believes that our children are the key to the nation’s future," his Web site notes. The congressman has consistently pushed for stricter laws to track and punish child molesters and child pornographers. He hasn't yet pushed for a bill outlawing icky emails to young former subordinates, however.

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."

Totally amazing what the two political parties have become. Frankly, the democrats are as vile as the republicans. I've no use for either party. Would someone of at least minor moral fortitude please start a party the rest of us can believe in?

The democrats have become everything we used to detest with the republicans but magnified.

Sure...MAHONEY paid the kid...why is it when Republicans always screw up it is someone elses fault? Foley is a creep period.

no wonder the good ones never run for office.

Congressman Foley's enemies have been trying to drag his private life into the public arena for years, and his current opponent is no different. This is merely a case of the congressman being a clumsy letter writer on a project he should have probably staffed out in the first place, and is much ado about nothing.

This is a VERY sick individual. I can't believe people are defending this behavior!

Why are we defending this man? The whole thing is just inappropriate. Whether he is democratic, republican or any other - its just inappropriate! When are we going to hold old hard-back men accountable when they start messing with children? For those who say he's a "nice" man - maybe when he starts calling your own kids it will be wrong.

I am so tired of political individuals with their money getting away with their sexual sickness. Just because they have money, they think they can get away with anything. And we as a society wonder what is wrong with the future generation.....there are so many wonderful role models. all of the news I have read today has made me sick..literally.

Gossip? I doubt Foley resigned over gossip.

Soooooo, just like to know if this pederast's apologists still think this is a smear campaign by ABC and the liberal media?

lol

Isn't it funny how cries of unrighteous indignation are almost always followed by insincere apologies to family and constituents? Time to check the guy's computer for kiddie porn so he can go to jail.

I'm definitely no republican... way of an independent. Am I missing something here? Maybe the boy was freaked out- fair enough, but accidentally sending bad vibes is not a crime. Where is the wrong-doing?
I never imagined myself defending republicans, but unless there is a lot more going on here, this is horrible political slander to Foley by ABC (unless it turns out to be WAY more than the facts reported so far).

If hypocrisy in Congress was food, no one in the world would be starving.

If the American public was paying attention, they might notice that the relationship amidst shallow character, private funding of political campaigns, corruption, and the net results --- diastrous domestic and foreign policies --- is unprecedented even for America.

Huh? I'm not getting this. Click HERE for explicit email: "Hello, son, how are you?" Click HERE for second email: "Hello, again. How's the weather?" I don't want garbage teasers to boost the ratings for your evening news. This is either a news site or it's not. Start practicing journalism any minute now... this is not Disney World (ooops, who's your daddy, ABC?)

Definately he is a predator. I'm sure if the average Joe went online asked a kid how old he was and offer a gift that the attoney generals office would be asking alot of questions not only of the teen but a slew of others to see if he actualy had physical contact. This man is not dumb and freindly at all. He knows what is appropriate and what isn't. He worked on bills to go after pornographers and other offenders of child crime so there was no reason for him to even talk to anyone. I bet he buys his way out of this one as the other republican child molesters have. I am a hard core republican and have voted party lines all my life but im just way to disgusted with what has been happening. I think the justice department needs to investagate this .