In Brief - October 2nd, 2006
Here is today's quick news digest (Mark Foley Edition):
- ABC News correspondent Brian Ross reveals that Rep. Foley repeatedly sought meetings with the pages he was chatting with online (a federal crime). In one message, he even says "I would drive a few miles for a hot stud like you." The FBI is also opening an investigation. It's sick to think that just a few days ago this child molester was a Congressman.
- The right wing Washington Times, of all editorial boards, calls for the resignation of Speaker Dennis Hastert over his mishandling of the Mark Foley scandal, which Haster kept under wraps for months.
- It was confirmed today that NRCC Chairman Tom Reynolds' (R-New York) chief of staff, Kirk Fordham (formerly the chief of staff for ex-Rep. Foley), attempted to get ABC to agree to a deal not to release the extremely damaging and inappropriate instant message conversations that Foley had with underage congressional pages.
- It has also been confirmed that the Chairman of the Congressional Page Board knew about the Foley IM conversations but did not tell the other two committee memebrs (Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, and Rep. Dale Kildee, D-Michigan) - both of whom are naturally furious.
- Tony Snow (and, apparently George W. Bush) think the Foley scandal is no big deal. Snow actually downplayed the scandal as "simply naughty emails". (This is actually incorrect - the messages are not emails, but instant message conversations - and there is a difference. Snow is an ignorant mouthpiece)
- Josh Marshall discusses the implications the Foley scandal has on the upcoming midterm elections, which take place in just over a month.
- USA Today analyzes Mark Foley's rapid fall from grace after the scandal that House Republicans tried to cover up was revealed.
- Meanwhile, Matt Drudge has the best Republican response yet - he's blaming the pages. In Drudge's words "They are 16 and 17 year old beasts" and they're responsible. Now that's just appalling.
