Dennis Hastert knew about Foley practises since October, 2005:

House Republican leadership knew about Foley's predatory practices. We know they turned a BLIND EYE. Amongst all the questions, there's one obvious one -- why? 

And the answer, more than anything else, shows how morally bankrupt the GOP has become.

Foley represented a moderately conservative district, FL-16. In 2000, Bush beat Gore 53-47. In 2004, Bush beat Kerry 54-46. It was a district which Foley had represented since 1994, with his worst showing his first election with a 58% victory. In 2002 he won with 79%, in 2004 with 68%. This was a safe Republican district. Foley also raised a lot of money, and as the recent $100K gift from Foley to the NRCC attests, the party needed his fundraising skills. 

Then 2006 rolls around. The GOP is facing a tough reelection with history, Bush, and their own incompetence weighing down their chances. The DCCC has had a banner fundraising and candidate recruitment year. And suddenly, Foley faces the GOP's worst nightmare in Tim Mahoney -- a Democratic challenger who 
1) was a former Republican, and 
2) is worth $8 gazillion and can self-fund his race. 

Mahoney announced his candidacy October 12, 2005, right around the time the House leadership was trying to figure out what to do about Foley's predatory practices.

Without Foley on the ticket, not only would the GOP suddenly face a competitive contest in a relatively safe district, but it would cost them $2-3 million to defend -- money that they no longer have available. 

So they made a decision. They were going to look the other way despite knowing about Foley's predatory actions against the House's pages, and in return, Foley would keep them one seat closer to the majority and save them millions.

Forget about Foley. He's done. What's incredible about this scandal is the lengths this Republican Party will go to maintain their majorities. Power trumped everything for these guys. But coddling a child predator merely to save some cash and protect a single House seat. 

They should've been protecting the kids working the House instead. Dennis Hastert knew about Foley practises since October, 2005:

House Republican leadership knew about Foley's predatory practices. We know they turned a BLIND EYE. Amongst all the questions, there's one obvious one -- why? 


And the answer, more than anything else, shows how morally bankrupt the GOP has become.


Foley represented a moderately conservative district, FL-16. In 2000, Bush beat Gore 53-47. In 2004, Bush beat Kerry 54-46. It was a district which Foley had represented since 1994, with his worst showing his first election with a 58% victory. In 2002 he won with 79%, in 2004 with 68%. This was a safe Republican district. Foley also raised a lot of money, and as the recent $100K gift from Foley to the NRCC attests, the party needed his fundraising skills. 


Then 2006 rolls around. The GOP is facing a tough reelection with history, Bush, and their own incompetence weighing down their chances. The DCCC has had a banner fundraising and candidate recruitment year. And suddenly, Foley faces the GOP's worst nightmare in Tim Mahoney -- a Democratic challenger who 

1) was a former Republican, and 

2) is worth $8 gazillion and can self-fund his race. 


Mahoney announced his candidacy October 12, 2005, right around the time the House leadership was trying to figure out what to do about Foley's predatory practices.


Without Foley on the ticket, not only would the GOP suddenly face a competitive contest in a relatively safe district, but it would cost them $2-3 million to defend -- money that they no longer have available. 


So they made a decision. They were going to look the other way despite knowing about Foley's predatory actions against the House's pages, and in return, Foley would keep them one seat closer to the majority and save them millions.


Forget about Foley. He's done. What's incredible about this scandal is the lengths this Republican Party will go to maintain their majorities. Power trumped everything for these guys. But coddling a child predator merely to save some cash and protect a single House seat. 


They should've been protecting the kids working the House instead. 



Dennis Hastert knew about Foley practises since October, 2005:


House Republican leadership knew about Foley's predatory practices. We know they turned a BLIND EYE. Amongst all the questions, there's one obvious one -- why? 


And the answer, more than anything else, shows how morally bankrupt the GOP has become.


Foley represented a moderately conservative district, FL-16. In 2000, Bush beat Gore 53-47. In 2004, Bush beat Kerry 54-46. It was a district which Foley had represented since 1994, with his worst showing his first election with a 58% victory. In 2002 he won with 79%, in 2004 with 68%. This was a safe Republican district. Foley also raised a lot of money, and as the recent $100K gift from Foley to the NRCC attests, the party needed his fundraising skills. 


Then 2006 rolls around. The GOP is facing a tough reelection with history, Bush, and their own incompetence weighing down their chances. The DCCC has had a banner fundraising and candidate recruitment year. And suddenly, Foley faces the GOP's worst nightmare in Tim Mahoney -- a Democratic challenger who 

1) was a former Republican, and 

2) is worth $8 gazillion and can self-fund his race. 


Mahoney announced his candidacy October 12, 2005, right around the time the House leadership was trying to figure out what to do about Foley's predatory practices.


Without Foley on the ticket, not only would the GOP suddenly face a competitive contest in a relatively safe district, but it would cost them $2-3 million to defend -- money that they no longer have available. 


So they made a decision. They were going to look the other way despite knowing about Foley's predatory actions against the House's pages, and in return, Foley would keep them one seat closer to the majority and save them millions.


Forget about Foley. He's done. What's incredible about this scandal is the lengths this Republican Party will go to maintain their majorities. Power trumped everything for these guys. But coddling a child predator merely to save some cash and protect a single House seat. 


They should've been protecting the kids working the House instead. 


Dennis Hastert knew about Foley practises since October, 2005:


House Republican leadership knew about Foley's predatory practices. We know they turned a BLIND EYE. Amongst all the questions, there's one obvious one -- why? 


And the answer, more than anything else, shows how morally bankrupt the GOP has become.


Foley represented a moderately conservative district, FL-16. In 2000, Bush beat Gore 53-47. In 2004, Bush beat Kerry 54-46. It was a district which Foley had represented since 1994, with his worst showing his first election with a 58% victory. In 2002 he won with 79%, in 2004 with 68%. This was a safe Republican district. Foley also raised a lot of money, and as the recent $100K gift from Foley to the NRCC attests, the party needed his fundraising skills. 


Then 2006 rolls around. The GOP is facing a tough reelection with history, Bush, and their own incompetence weighing down their chances. The DCCC has had a banner fundraising and candidate recruitment year. And suddenly, Foley faces the GOP's worst nightmare in Tim Mahoney -- a Democratic challenger who 

1) was a former Republican, and 

2) is worth $8 gazillion and can self-fund his race. 


Mahoney announced his candidacy October 12, 2005, right around the time the House leadership was trying to figure out what to do about Foley's predatory practices.


Without Foley on the ticket, not only would the GOP suddenly face a competitive contest in a relatively safe district, but it would cost them $2-3 million to defend -- money that they no longer have available. 


So they made a decision. They were going to look the other way despite knowing about Foley's predatory actions against the House's pages, and in return, Foley would keep them one seat closer to the majority and save them millions.


Forget about Foley. He's done. What's incredible about this scandal is the lengths this Republican Party will go to maintain their majorities. Power trumped everything for these guys. But coddling a child predator merely to save some cash and protect a single House seat. 


They should've been protecting the kids working the House instead. 



Dennis Hastert knew about Foley practises since October, 2005:


House Republican leadership knew about Foley's predatory practices. We know they turned a BLIND EYE. Amongst all the questions, there's one obvious one -- why? 


And the answer, more than anything else, shows how morally bankrupt the GOP has become.


Foley represented a moderately conservative district, FL-16. In 2000, Bush beat Gore 53-47. In 2004, Bush beat Kerry 54-46. It was a district which Foley had represented since 1994, with his worst showing his first election with a 58% victory. In 2002 he won with 79%, in 2004 with 68%. This was a safe Republican district. Foley also raised a lot of money, and as the recent $100K gift from Foley to the NRCC attests, the party needed his fundraising skills. 


Then 2006 rolls around. The GOP is facing a tough reelection with history, Bush, and their own incompetence weighing down their chances. The DCCC has had a banner fundraising and candidate recruitment year. And suddenly, Foley faces the GOP's worst nightmare in Tim Mahoney -- a Democratic challenger who 

1) was a former Republican, and 

2) is worth $8 gazillion and can self-fund his race. 


Mahoney announced his candidacy October 12, 2005, right around the time the House leadership was trying to figure out what to do about Foley's predatory practices.


Without Foley on the ticket, not only would the GOP suddenly face a competitive contest in a relatively safe district, but it would cost them $2-3 million to defend -- money that they no longer have available. 


So they made a decision. They were going to look the other way despite knowing about Foley's predatory actions against the House's pages, and in return, Foley would keep them one seat closer to the majority and save them millions.


Forget about Foley. He's done. What's incredible about this scandal is the lengths this Republican Party will go to maintain their majorities. Power trumped everything for these guys. But coddling a child predator merely to save some cash and protect a single House seat. 


They should've been protecting the kids working the House instead. 



letters@honoluluadvertiser.com, letters@wsjournal.com, letters@latimes.com, letters@macleans.ca, letters@news.oregonian.com, letters@newsday.com, letters@newsweek.com, letters@nypost.com, letterstoeditor@bostonherald.com,letterstotheeditor@northjersey.com, ocregister@link.freedom.com, opinion@charlotte.com, postedits@cincypost.com, readers@forbes.com, senator@collins.senate.gov, senator_dewine@dewine.senate.gov, senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov, senator_reid@reid.senate.gov, senator@dorgan.senate.gov, senator@levin.senate.gov, senator@wyden.senate.gov, weedit@wichitaeagle.com, william.delahunt@mail.house.gov, yourviews@oklahoman.com



}