Blackmail?

Written by: Keith Lammers on Oct 2, 2006 9:59 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Progressive Democracy South Jersey

Well now, this is sick, even for a Republican.

Thanks to John, at Americablog.

According to ABC News Sunday night broadcast:

A Republican staff member warned Congressional pages five years ago to watch out for Congressman Mark Foley, according to a former page. Matthew Loraditch, a page in the 2001-2002 class, told ABC News he and other pages were warned about Foley by a supervisor. Loraditch, the president of the Page Alumni Association, said the pages were told "don't get too wrapped up in him being too nice to you and all that kind of stuff."

SO, IN 2001 THEY WERE WARNING THE PAGES "NOT TO GET TOO CLOSE" TO FOLEY

Then , on June 6, 2002, well after the kids were warned to stay away from Foley, Shimkus (THE CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER IN CHARGE OF THE PAGE PROGRAM) notes approvingly that Foley has spent a lot of time with the Page Class of 2001-2002? This is Shimkus speaking at the page's goodbye ceremony,

MR. SHIMKUS: I thank my colleague. Now someone who spends a lot of time with you also, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley), would like to say a thank you.

FOLEY: John [one of the pages] was the highest bidder on lunch with Mark Foley. Maybe you all do not know this story, but John had paid considerable sums to dine with me. I had offered to take the winning bidder to lunch in the Members' dining room. Then I heard how much John Eunice paid. And I said, ``John, there is no way in the world after you committed so much money to have lunch with me that I would dare take you downstairs to eat in the Members' dining room.'' I said, ``Where do you want to go?'' He says, without reservation, ``Morton's.'' I said, ``Morton's? Like in Morton's Steakhouse?'' He said, ``Oh, would that be too much?'' I said, ``Oh, no, we'll go.'' I said, ``Call your mother, get permission, make sure she notifies the Clerk and we will go to Morton's.'' And so we proceeded to cruise down in my BMW to Morton's.

WHAT THE CHENEY?!? These creeps were actually having the politically hungry, underaged (probably pre-College Republican) little twerps BID MONEY for the privilege of having lunch with a known pervert. I wonder where the money went. Then they happily bustled this 16 year old kid off to go "cruising" downtown with a gay pedophile in his BMW to an overpriced restaurant.

Since the staffers knew about him 5 years ago, do you think they kept it secret from their bosses? Tom Delay was House leader for most of that time. He was famous for knowing the tiniest details of his friends and enemies. I suspect Foley was a very reliable vote for the party, when he needed to be.

Sometimes even my sense of cynicism can be inadequate. What a charming bunch of pustulant putrescent, excrescences on the body politic. I'm sorry "Coach" Hastert. You can't wash your hands of this one!

Keith

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Location: Collingswood, NJ 08108