So he has checked into a rehab facility...going for the addicted to booze defense??....not much else to hide behind..pathetic!

Some who speak for the "Moral Majority" are apparently telling their right-wing followers that the age of consent in Washington DC is 16, so therefore Foley is innocent!

However Foley used the internet so federal law should apply, not DC's predator-friendly laws?

This guy is seriously sick. Stuff happens though and it is nobody's Fault but his own.I don't feel a bit sorry for him.He knew what he was doing was wrong.He needs to be locked up like the rest of those sick perverts!!!!

How & from whom did ABC receive these copies? Are they ISP records, or are they from the pages' computer files?

Maybe I'm overly sensitive to Republican's stupid arrogant remarks, but the reference to Gay Bashing as the excuse for not pursuing either sexual predator or sexual harrassment charges is ludicrous...

I'm not sure it's fair to say he "posed" as a crusader against internet porn. That's assuming a lot. Without condoning Foley's actions, it is possible that this may be a case where the man was consumed with a battle where his enemy often got the better of him. The battle against online pornography and child pornography is one that needs to be very, very carefully fought so as not to slip into it yourself. Let's be careful to doubt the sincerity with which Foley fought for his cause by calling him a "poser." I can personally attest to the struggle with genuinely hating a sin yet in times of weakness, regrettably, engaging in that sin and mourning over that poor choice. Foley's actions are wrong and he will pay the due penalty for them. My prayer is that Foley hears this as a call from God to repent.

This guy is an animal with two legs. They had to take control of thoses
animal around people.

They talk about clinton being a liar.He's an amatuer comparatively. His lying did'nt get 2700 americans killed. The republican party cant stop lying about the war for oil, what they knew about osama binlaudin, & now a pedifile working for years in there midst. Money makes strange bed fellows. I'm glad I cant spell pedafile.

This is the typical cover-up that the so called "Party of Family Values" usually does. Where does sending sexually explicit material to someone under age, or having IM Chats with them constitue any kind of Family Values? Our Congressmen and Senators are supposed to be upstanding individuals and a parent shouldn't have to worry about there child being subjected to this kind of pedophilia by one of them. I am so appalled by this I want everyone that knew about Senator Mark Foley's behavior to be held accountable, as far back as this goes which may be 5 years. They need to RESIGN! An should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law for their part in the cover-up. I say to all of them - YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO OUR COUNTRY, GET OUT OF OUR GOVERNMENT NOW!

I feel like it is the Catholic Church all over again.

Mr. Ross,

I find it extremely hard to rationalize how anyone could expect the leadership of either party to be responsible for the conduct of its members. Some helpful hints, counseling etc. might be in order if anyone knew of such activities. If laws are broken we have police, state, federal and local to handle such matters. In the final analysis, the voters of a Congressman's District are the ultimate decision makers on his political fate, as it should be.

It is unbelievably disturbing that the GOP leadership left this man co-chairing the missing and exploited children caucus when they had even a hint of inappropriate behavior. Even if they didn't know of the true scope (highly unlikely, given the light-speed acceptance of the resignation), not removing Foley from the chairmanship is unforgivable.

I am absolutely convinced that Hastert and others knew exactly what was going on but were covering their butts in anticipation of tough mid-term elections coming up. Too bad the lid got blown off before November 7th! Now, conveniently, they have lost their memories about conversations on this matter. Unbelievable! These conversations would have been highly memorable given the huge ramifications. If these guys truly did forget them, how can we possibly trust 'em to remember enough to run the country???

hummm... Why can't politicans who work to make laws, uphold them? Ethics is just unknown in Washington. I say Term Limits for all!

I am disgusted by this. It embarrasses me to say I proudly serve a country where its leaders do something like this! I love my country and always will, and will always fight for its freedoms. But our leaders have gone too far. Not just the actions but the cover up. Both are equally wrong.

How ironic that those who preach the loudest about family values are often the ones who are lacking in family values...

Sylvester,the cat got caught trying to seduce the canaries! Now, Sylvester the cat is claiming that he was drunk and disorderly, and that he is "sorry! for those salacious e-mails to the Tweetie Birds! Of course he is sorry, not because of what he did, but because he got caught! And, where were those other cats from Illinois, New York, and Ohio, supposedly looking out for the canaries? Eating the congressional ostrich?

just plain sick

Don't you dare to let Hastert express HIS outrage when he covered this up1

What has happened to our incredible, beautiful, courageous country? Is America paying attention? I grew up in the 50's and 60's and I believed all that stuff about America the Beautiful; truth, honesty, courage, speaking out against the wronged. What happened America? All silent from the pulpit of the religious right??? I am not a Bible thumper but I could open the Holy Book at random and find a passage that foretells that this was in the making thanks to the brutal authoritarian powers wounding our Republic.
Mr. Pat Robertson, Mr. Bill Frist, Christian Coalition you are silent? A sheep in wolf's clothing alludes to the fairy tale that our congress has become. We have become a mockery, an evil fairy tale run by the King with no clothes and guarded by child molesters

Mr. Ross,

Do we know if Rep. Foley was assigned to the subcommittee on child abuse and exploitation, or did he request the seat?