any more excuses? so let me get this straight he's an alcohlic sexually abused gay man. why can't people be accountable for their own actions and not blame it on real problems and a way of life. one thing's for sure he is totally sick in the head! and he needs more than a slap on the wrist!

HMMMM...it sounds like,"I DID NOT HAVE SEX WITH THAT LEWINSKI WOMAN" to me. same old .....different day!

How convient for there to have been a pedophile priest in Foley's background that he can use as an excuse for being a dispicable human being! How clever of him to tell us of his alchohol problems and to sign into "rehab" and have this come out at such a convient time. I'm sorry, I don't buy it either. The man is a perv and a typical politician - voting for legislation that would make internet contact with minors a crime - while committing that same crime as he goes along. If you ask me - the republicans are going to cover this up, like they cover up everything else that happens under their watch AND I AM A REPUBLICAN! I'm ashamed of my affiliation, and more ashamed that people KNEW this was occuring a year ago, and let it go on and on.

for GOD sake...vote Democratic so we can get these bozos out!

What's important to remember is that we can only make judgements about what we KNOW not how we choose to connect the dots. The guy clearly was into lascivious with chatting young boys, and we can make a judgement about that. But, so far, there is nothing other than a reference to San Diego that indicates it went any farther than that. So all those who choose not to connect just existing dots, but imaginary or hypothetical dots as well, are doing not Foley but justice a disservice. Maybe the guy got off talking naughty on the net but didn't take it further--who knows . . . we certaintly don't. And while there is certainly something perverse about nasty messages, there's a huge gulf between that and real life behavior. Let's judge this guy by what we KNOW he's done, and hold off condemning for what he MAY HAVE done until we get facts there.

If those same facts show that the people in charge of things on the hill knew what this guy was up to and looked the other way--which again is still not certain--then they should be slammed hard as well.

He makes me physically ill. It's the public relations version of using civilians - especially children - as a bunker shield. Hiding behind the labels "gay man" and "victim of priest abuse." McGreevey was a gay man, but while he did cheat on his wife-and is an idiot-, he didn't engage in acts of child sexual abuse. A victim of clergy abuse? "Hey! Look over there! It's a pedophilic priest!" (exit Foley stage right)

That former page said it correctly, "sick, sick, sick..." (ad infinitum)

I find it wierd that he already has a cival atty.Is more comming?????

Apparently this party can suspend habeus corpus, lead America into an occupation of Iraq, condone torture, hand out corrupt military contracts, run up a huge deficit, etc. etc., but it takes a pedophile to bring them down. What does this say about our nation that only sex gets people's attention?

This is a joke. I agree with the previous comment... this seems to reinforce the belief that all gay men are pedophiles and/or were abused as kids. Foley is not a gay man. He is a pedophile, he is an adult who sought to be involved with an underage boy. A pedophile, just like a man who seeks to be involved with an underage girl. Alcoholism and previous abuse are just cheap excuses. He lied to our faces a few days ago... how can he expect people to believe THIS?

I dunno - Mr Foley makes a point of 'splaining how he was victimized (and we assume, traumatized) as a young teen by a person of authority and trust, then dismisses his own actions because he didn't have a "hands-on" encounter (we are to believe)?

Honestly, as the parent of a sex offender, I am more than familiar with the "its-not-my-fault" mentality. Sexual predation is not a black and white issue, but real responsibility for one's actions is definitely the best first step!

Sorry, but this is another example of the "Values" party showing that they are just like the rest of us (heathen Democrats included).
Cut the morals crap GOP - you don't wear it as well as you would have us believe!

gee, what a nerve -- so now He Is a Victim? 'been a bad boy because he was molested by a priest'? - I don't believe it for a second!

It's ridiculous the way Foley's people are trying to pass his repugnant behavior off as that of a man molested as a child. To say it's part of his "recovery" when he's been in that recovery for two days is an insult to our intelligence. Is he suddenly on Step 9 now? We need less spin and more of him taking responsibility for his actions. I write this as a gay person who is appalled. His behavior is shameful.

Mark Foley's situation is identical to the scores of Roman Catholic priests who are arrested developmentally and emotionally. These pedophiles prey on the goodness and innocencce of youth, then manipulate them for sexual control. The young page said it all..."sick, sick, sick". But the Republicans who were there to protect the pages preferred not to listen to him be in denial rather than jeopardize their power and control.
Lock 'im up!

Mark Foley's situation is identical to the scores of Roman Catholic priests who are arrested developmentally and emotionally. These pedophiles prey on the goodness and innocencce of youth, then manipulate them for sexual control. The young page said it all..."sick, sick, sick". But the Republicans who were there to protect the pages preferred not to listen to him be in denial rather than jeopardize their power and control.
Lock 'im up!

How many times, people, how many times? Let's all say it together one more time, "The moral majority is neither."

Mr. Foley's behavior is part of a larger societal trend - taking no personal responsibility for your actions. Like so many other people, he chooses to blame some other event or other person when in fact, he is the real culprit and 100% responsible for his own actions. AND by the way, a homosexual man loves other men, pedophiles love underage boys!

I'm just glad to know that Republicans do have sex no matter if it's gay or straight. I th0ought they didn't. However, this scum is a perverted pedofile. Pedofile is the key word here. He used his office to abuse children -- 16 year olds are children. Even republicans knwo that.

This man resigned and checked into a facility to HIDE ; nothing else. He is a coward and so are his co hearts in the congress who knew this about him. Hasert DID KNOW. Did he participate? He didn't report it. You repubs do recall Monica Lewinsky don't you. AT LEAST SHE WAS GROWN!

Where there's smoke, there's fire! I think someone will come out of the woodwork eventually and tell of their inappropriate sexual relationship with Foley. Foley is a predator and didn't just develop an attraction to boys within the last few years. To think that he only satisifed his sexual urges with instant messages and e-mails would be niave. Foley knows those he abused and knows that if they come forward to tell their story then he is definetly going to jail. This is a man who is desperate and I wouldn't be surprised if pressure has already been put to those he abused to keep quiet.

I was molested when I was six years old and I have never molested other children. Nice try Foley, but this isn't going to work. If anything, you would have know how deep the scars run from being a victim and you wouldn't have victimized other children yourself. The fact is that you are a pedophile and you used your power to groom teenaged boys so you could gratify your own desires. You are a sick man, but I don't feel sorry for you. Blaming this on alcohol and being a victim this late in the game makes you more despicable than I already thought you were. You are trying to hide behind the walls of a rehab facility and blame your troubles on someone other than yourself. How typical from the party that spews moral values not to practice what they preach. And for Hastert, Boehner, Reynolds and the other who have sheilded your disgusting sexual appetites, there will be no hiding either. Americans see right through all the lies and excuses and you are all done. We've had enough of the corruption, lies, and cronyism to last a lifetime. At least be a man and own up to harming countless children who went to DC hoping to learn how our government works, with the hope of future careers in politics. Your diseased contact with these kids will be like ripples in a pond and I hope that they will realize how badly they've been used by you and seek to ensure it doesn't happen to others.