Think Progress

Snow on Foley Scandal: ‘Simply Naughty Emails’»

This morning on CNN, Soledad O’Brien asked Tony Snow why “any communication between a 16-year-old and a congressman” didn’t “raise red flags — major, massive red flags” with Speaker Dennis Hastert and others who have known about the communications for months.

Snow responded, “I hate to tell you, but it’s not always pretty up there on Capitol Hill. And there have been other scandals, as you know, that have been more than simply naughty e-mails.” Watch it:

Screenshot

Americablog, which first noticed the segment, has more.

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Transcript:

O’BRIEN: I would assume everybody would want to know, including the president. I mean, we’re not talking about any old person. We’re talking about the leadership of the Republicans in Congress.

Why would he not hear something that’s disturbing, or his office — over-friendly — when I see that word as a parent — and I think any parent would say, Whoa, over-friendly? Any communication between a 16-year-old and a congressman, why doesn’t that raise red flags — major, massive red flags?

SNOW: Yes, look, I hate to tell you, but it’s not always pretty up there on Capitol Hill. And there have been other scandals, as you know, that have been more than simply naughty e-mails.

You know, look, again, I reiterate my point. I think it’s important to protect these kids and make sure that they have a good experience. And look, like you (inaudible) want to find out what happened. But before we prosecute, let’s figure out what all the facts are. That’s probably the most important thing to do is to be fair to all parties.




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119 Responses to “Snow on Foley Scandal: ‘Simply Naughty Emails’”

  1. PJF Says:

    Foley Enters Rehab…

    You don’t say?

    “I feel no pity for Rep. John “Mark” Carr Foley. Countdown to admission of drinking problem and abuse by priest as a child…” Yours truly - 9-30-06

    Will the sexually abusive priest claim enter from stage right or left?

    http://patrickjfitzgerald.blogspot.com


  2. Current Era Blog » State of Denial: Hastert’s Living A Lie Says:

    […] Snow on Foley Scandal: ‘Simply Naughty Emails’ Would Snow say that if it was his son? […]


  3. bluefish Says:

    If O’Brien were actually a journalist, perhaps she might have followed up Snowjobs non-answer with, “Again, why didn’t Rep. Foley’s behavoir raise some major red flags, and if it did, why did it have to come out before something was done about it?”


  4. DJShay Says:

    I keep waiting for the wingnuts, Malkin, Powerline, etc to blame the kids. They’re so good at blaming the victims.


  5. Margaret Says:

    “there have been other scandals, as you know, that have been more than simply naughty e-mails”

    He’s got that right!!

    Like constantly lying to the American people and starting illegal wars and bankrupting the treasury to enrich war profiteers for a start.


  6. budpaul Says:

    Yeah, they’re just naughty emails, just like rape is a naughty handshake.
    America’s Least Wanted


  7. Jebus+loves+me Says:

    I was waiting for an October surprise.

    Who would have know it was gonna hurt the GOP.


  8. unitynow Says:

    Entering rehab is a good beginning - for Foley. Now let’s get to the bottom of this “rotten barrel” of smut, shall we? Let’s take a long hard look at the “Foley enablers” for openers…..Hastert, Boehner, and anyone else who knew he was a predator of minors. No doubt there were many predecessors to this minor since the warnings went out to kids attending this Page Program before him. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire….hiding something criminal only means that those involved were doing their own version of CYA - wonder what they’ve been up to?


  9. No mas Says:

    Q. Yes, Tony. Over the last six years there have been so many bad things our brave president never seems to know about.
    Would you describe this as lying…or simply incompetence?


  10. unitynow Says:

    O’Brien’s a lame excuse for a serious reporter. She’s young and naive and probably incapable of handling something of this magnitude. Her vocab and IQ aren’t the greatest and she puts her foot in her mouth when she’s “off the cuff”…..but cut her a break for the above reasons I guess.


  11. GodfryDaniel Says:

    Obviously, the kid’s a terrorist. Foley was just trying to get some pix of his secret weapon.


  12. unitynow Says:

    And it’s not legally called “simply incompetence” - it’s called “plausible deniability” or “culpable negligence” in jurisprudence.


  13. El Perro Patron Says:

    Snow is truly scum on shit. Whores and used carsalesmen cross the street in order to avoid being seen with this cretin.


  14. B.J. Says:

    They should banish them to this place, that strange military site found via Google Earth:

    http://regmedia.co.uk/ 2006/ 07/ 19/ huangyangtan_wide.jpg

    http://bbs.keyhole.com/ ubb/ showthreaded.php/ Cat/ 0/ Number/ 484568

    That’s the place in the middle of the desert where the Chinese Army has constructed a scale-model replica of the entire region of Aksai Chin (occupied by China since the 1962 war with India). At 1:500, it’s still 700 by 900 meters big ( = several football fields). Next to it is a base with dozens of troop transporters seen coming and going. The duplicate shows everything: rivers, lakes, roads and snow-capped mountains. It’s basically a landscape within a landscape.

    The problem is that nobody has been able to figure out the function of this thing. The world’s biggest miniature golf course, perhaps? China’s own Area 51? That’s why it’s the subject of so much discussion in the blogosphere.

    Any ideas?


  15. unitynow Says:

    I guess they can’t use their typical DARVO (Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim & Offender) on this one or they’d have to attack and blame the minor! Hoist on their own pitard!!


  16. No+mas Says:

    Let me guess, He entered rehab for an alcohol problem…. no one previously knew about.


  17. chimpeach Says:

    Snowjob: But before we prosecute, let’s figure out what all the facts are. That’s probably the most important thing to do is to be fair to all parties.

    Translation: “But before we prosecute, let’s figure out how we can get this thing under investigation quickly so that the president and everyone else in the GOP can say ‘I can’t comment on something that is currently under investigation.’”

    “That’s probably the most important thing to do is to get this thing out of the spotlight by saying there’s an ‘ongoing investigation.’”

    Yeah, Tony, I’m sure the base is still dazzled by your amazing feats of spin. You’d better hope they are.


  18. Marie+Roget Says:

    Does anyone doubt that if this was a situation involving Dems instead of Repubs Tony Snowjob would be using language more akin to that used to describe Monicagate? I don’t recall “naughty” being in the lexicon…


  19. ScrewBush Says:

    October Surprise!

    Foley + State of Denial + Powell was fired + Iraq + Afganistan + …

    I love autumn.


  20. Jason+Baddo Says:

    its eerie how America is following the same path of decline as ancient Rome. The rot of decadence. immorality, military overeach, overspending, lying and every other vice thrown in hastens the demise of what was once a great country.


  21. Bob's+Your+Uncle Says:

    Now if only Snow could tie this story to the war on terror…


  22. michael Says:

    Knowingly covering up for a pedophile. Wow. Can it get any more twisted than this? Yes it can…I’m sure the kid isn’t a patriot, probably smoke pot once and has watched internet porn.


  23. Comandante Agi Says:

    just like the Catholic Church, the GOP likes covering up for pedophiles…


  24. Bob's+Your+Uncle Says:

    …and has watched internet porn.

    Comment by michael — October 2, 2006 @ 10:59 am

    In a public library!!!


  25. Will OBGYN for Food Says:

    I just can’t get into this story. I simply do not believe, as bad as the Republicans are, they could cover for a pedaphile.


  26. Badmoodman Says:

    Snow: “there have been other scandals, as you know, that have been more than simply naughty e-mails.” - - This administration sure has a woody for all things Clintonesque.


  27. Captain Kangaroo Says:

    Obviously it was Bill Clinton’s fault.
    At least Foley entered an alcohol abuse program. Everything is alright now. That is what these Republicans do. They distroy the country and enter a alcohol abuse program. Maybe they should just not start to drink.


  28. chimpeach Says:

    #4
    I keep waiting for the wingnuts, Malkin, Powerline, etc to blame the kids. They’re so good at blaming the victims.

    Will Ann Coulter grace us with her wry wit and crack a funny about killing the pages? Gawd how I love that Republican humor.


  29. lw Says:

    Grand

    Old

    Perverts

    The denial and self-hate among members of the party of anti-gay crusaders will keep psychologists in business for a long time.


  30. TampaCT Says:

    A clip of Snow calling them just “naughty emails” should be posted and distributed to every source one can think of…blogs, media, “family (hate) organizations”. Such a clip could be the single most damaging thing in a long time. Right below it should be the text where he says how 7 1/2 is such a good size, or tells him not to work out too much and destroy his mental picture, or when he ask him….there’s just too much material to put with this, but the Snow quote and the Text should appear on the same page!
    The right’s base can rationalize torture, lying, budget deficits, outing of agents…but a homosexual pedophile could actually be the one thing that would drive them away.
    Someone post a clip of him making this statement. It HAS to be distributed to as many sources as possible! Immediately! Before tonight’s news!


  31. paul Says:

    tony snow is not defending the actions of foley. foley has resigned, entered rehab, and will be investigated. if you’re trying to make this into a party wide conspiracy, good luck. sometimes, its better to sit back and let someone dig their own hole. just remember how the republican party looked when they drove the lewinsky issue into the ground.


  32. Blue in a Red State Says:

    You’ve got to read this article at counterpunch.org:

    An Analysis

    The Socially Conservative Male

    By BEN TRIPP

    counterpunch.org/tripp09302006.html

    Here’s a portion:

    My subject is the so-called conservative male, by which I mean the social conservative, not the fiscal conservative; fiscal conservatives are mean-spirited sons of bitches, but are not necessarily psychotic. Both groups should stop breathing, but while one of them would be performing a courtesy in so doing, the other would be securing the future of the species. The depravity of the conservative male is in exact counter-proportion to the degree of righteousness towards which that conservative pretends. Or to put it another way, show me a pillar and I will show you a pervert. These are not healthy people.


  33. Jeffrey Stewart Says:

    If I was in charge of the Democratic Campaign Committee I would start running ads in heavy TV rotation. The commercial would have that disgustingly porcine hastert’s face while next to it would be the litany of republican scandals with foley in the lead position. Flashing in between each scandal-scarred person’s face would be “CULTURE OF CORRUPTION!”

    Please send my fee for the idea.


  34. pgw Says:

    i’m very concerned that snow’s comments are emboldening the terrorists


  35. nofltwlt Says:

    Why are republicans offering support to a sexual predator?

    Why does Tony Snow think it is ok to discuss masturbation with a sixteen year old boy?

    Who is Tony “spanking the monkey” with via IMs?


  36. ShamRockNRoll Says:

    Its official: Republicans are soft on pedophiles


  37. Jmiles Says:

    I posted under LiberalElite over at Redstate on this and GOT BANNED for the post here :http://www.redstate.com/blogs/rick_moran/2006/oct/01/the_website_that_started_it_all_strange_but_true#comment

    Talk about fascist. They can’t stand a little criticism, they had to squash any voice of opposition


  38. GSD Says:

    Is Rush Limbaugh “soft” on child predators?

    -GSD


  39. Bob's+Your+Uncle Says:

    tony snow is not defending the actions of foley…

    [snip]

    Comment by paul — October 2, 2006 @ 11:11 am

    He’s not defending Foley’s actions, but he’s not exactly denouncing them either.


  40. RUCerious Says:

    In honor of Foley’s contribution toward a Democratic sweep of the 2006 elections, I’d like to open a contest to name a medal to be awarded to him.
    How about:
    The Iron Dick medal with Lotion clusters.


  41. TampaCT Says:

    In the State of Florida, if a teacher knew of an adult doing this and did not report it, or only reported it to their principal or superior and not law enforcement then they would be breaking the law and would at a minimum be stripped of their teaching certificate. Is congress held to a lower standard than public school teachers?

    Foley is sick…but the people who knew and did nothing? They are culpable and should be hounded until they resign.


  42. Will+OBGYN+for+Food Says:

    Snow’s remarks are those of someone who knows the truth and is attempting to downplay it, not someone who is concerned and is hungering for the truth.


  43. osage Says:

    Right! Pedophiles are naughty. And Richard Dahmer had an eating disorder. Another day in the fantasyland of Bush family political values. These unprincipled whores turn my stomach. How can decent human beings still support the depraved GOP leadership?! How is pedophilia “naughty”, when a consensual BJ is impeachable?


  44. shoeshineboy Says:

    Those pages were asking for it…did you see what they were wearing?!


  45. TampaCT Says:

    How is pedophilia “naughty”, when a consensual BJ is impeachable?

    consenual BJ WITH AN ADULT!


  46. crackwhore Says:

    Well, it seems obvious to me that the best way to find out what happened is to declare Foley an enemy combatent and torture the facts out of him.

    That should satisfy Tone Snow’s desire to be ‘fair to all parties’


  47. Tom Says:

    Bad pun warning …

    It seems like Hastert and Snow are on the same page.


  48. American+Nightmare Says:

    I saw this interview. O’Brien tried to take a hard line with Snow but he used his bully tactics to avoid answering questions and kept accusing her of trying to start fights forcing her to digress from the interview. It ate up all the time and since American Morning is just about entrainment there was no way she was going to debate him on the show. She tried and it was evident that she was pissed off. It was sickening to watch. Snow is garbage.


  49. katy Says:

    …I simply do not believe, as bad as the Republicans are, they could cover for a pedaphile.
    Comment by Will OBGYN for Food — October 2, 2006 @ 11:01 am

    wow… well, sorry, for you…
    it’s party over country… party over EVERYTHING !!!

    but also, by saying this is not a pedaphile problem plays into that denial…
    they are masters of the spin… you must be dizzy…


  50. Bob's+Your+Uncle Says:

    On July 29th of this year, Foley was one of 225 House Republicans to vote in favor of the so-called “Deleting Online Predators Act” (DOPA). This legislation requires recipients of universal service support for schools and libraries to block access to commercial social networking sites like myspace.com and online chatrooms through which minors may “be subject to unlawful sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or repeated offensive sexual comments from adults.”

    I wonder what was running through Foley’s mind as he cast his vote.


  51. Badmoodman Says:

    Bob: “I wonder what was running through Foley’s mind as he cast his vote.” - - Buck naked pubescent boys?


  52. Ohio 2nd Blog » Simply Naughty Emails (UPDATEDx2) Says:

    […] UPDATE 2: Think Progress has the video: […]


  53. DallasNE Says:

    Snow has a point, though it is a minor one.

    When compared against the lying that got us into an unnecessary war that has cost 2,700 American lives and 20,000 severe injuries, let alone the tens of thousands of Iraqi’s that have been killed, a pedophile Republican Congressman is small potatoes — except for the 5 boys involved.

    From the standpoint of scale, Snow is correct. Why he would want to make that point is an entirely different matter though.


  54. Marie Roget Says:

    Have most of you read the IMs Foley sent to these boys? Truly disturbing stuff you probably WON’T hear quoted on CNN:
    (I cribbed this site addy from HuffPost)

    http://pageoneq.com/news/2006/foley_093006.html


  55. MyRightWing Says:

    I’ll submint that, upon further review, Mark Foley was trained in his
    predatory tactics by Jeff Gannon!
    Why was he allowed to ‘dress up’ like a reporter?
    Why was he allowed into the White House?
    Who was he screwing? Foley? Hastert? Boehner? All of them?
    C’mon folks, The Grand Old Pervert party has more under the bed, just
    keep looking.
    At least Clinton got BJ’s from a woman.


  56. Klaus Says:

    I don’t think I’ve ever been so amused as I was the moment that I realized that the Republicans, as a party, are actually going to try to spin this.


  57. unitynow Says:

    Spinning pedophilia will take a herculean effort by the GOP. Regardless of what they do, they’ll come out with a HUGE black eye on this one. DARVO won’t work for them - reversing victim & offender won’t work in this case….they’re “cooked”, as they say.


  58. Tom Says:

    #17 chimpeach hit the nail on the head. They’re passing this to the AG and FBI and there will be no comments on the “ongoing investigation” until after the election. End of story?


  59. Tom Says:

    #17 chimpeach hit the nail on the head!

    They have passed this off to the AG and FBI. Now they will say that they’ve done everything they can and “can’t comment on an ongoing investigation.” End of story?


  60. unitynow Says:

    Snowjob’s another GOP whore - he’s gotta go now! Downplaying sexual predation and/or pedophilia is reprehensible of him!


  61. unitynow Says:

    We’re tiring of these investigations which go no where….the time to impeach for “culpable negligence” is right NOW!


  62. linda Says:

    If O’Brien were actually a journalist,

    #3 — if obrien were actually a journalist, she wouldn’t have the highly visible and coveted job of cable anchorette at cnn.


  63. Ann Althouse Says:

    It was Clinton’s fault. Did you see how fat he got? A clear indication that he’s molesting kids.


  64. Rosencrantz Says:

    True…they are just naughty emails.

    False…that the situation is anything even close to being “simple.” The fact that more info has come out shows that this is a pattern, and we probably have yet to see how bad this situation really is. Frankly, the fact that the White HOuse press secretary is doing damage control tells me that this is deep and they are serious about covering it up. If it was simply an embarassing “email” trist then the WHITE HOUSE and the whole Republican party wouldn’t need to run damage control. They could just toss the guy out and say “good ridance, we’re glad this kid came forward.”


  65. ForTruth Says:

    Guess US congress people are not legally bound reporters, like a Dr, a teacher, a counselor, a psychologist, a social worker etc. Maybe that should change too.


  66. Neal Says:

    What ever happened to Jeff Gannon?


  67. Linda Says:

    People know these things. People whispered and made jokes for years. People knew this and no one had the guts to stand up. They knew for at least 5 years and let a pedophile run the program to protect the children. Who ever knew and didn’t stand up, who ever covered up should be punished. The hypocrisy of this party is not only unbelievable but intolerable.


  68. bs Says:

    figure out the facts? wtf. i thought this administration doesn’t like facts. as we all know. it’s gotta be bubblegum icecream.


  69. unitynow Says:

    Whatever happened to Scotty-what’s-his-name who was Snowjob’s predecessor??


  70. edrie Says:

    O’Brien may be an bad journalist but it isn’t because she’s young. She has shown on many different occasions that she will not do follow-up questions to Republicans or the Bush Administration. She’s the female equivalent of John Stossel; no one says he’s a bad journalist because of his age. It’s about his, and her, bias.



  71. Blog of the Moderate Left » Naughty Emails Says:

    […] Today you referred to the emails sent by Rep. Foley to 16-year-olds as “naughty emails.” You seem to have some confusion as to what that term means.  So as a public service, I’d like to help you understand what is and is not a naughty email. […]


  72. PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC) Says:

    sexually predatory e-mails = naughty
    violence in Iraq = comma in history

    Republicans losing control of both houses of Congress and a chance to reclaim the morality and democratic values of our country = priceless


  73. Jay Randal Says:

    NO it’s NOT just naughty emails! They are sexually explicit emails and IMs soliciting sex from underage male Pages! Plus Foley met some of them, took them out to lunch or dinner, drove them around in his BMW car, and most likely had sex with them too!

    Tony Snow > tell us about Bush and Jeff Gannon doing the nasty!


  74. doug Says:

    Clearly, the Republicans have difficulty in planning as we have seen in Iraq and now in organizing Page services in Congress. Now that they have failed terribly with the existing Page service they need to fix it up like they are doing for the People of New Orleans who no longer have a home in New Orleans.

    They need to redifine who qualifies to be a Page. I suggest that Pages ought to be:

    Male, and not good looking.
    Over 27 years old.
    Perhaps ex-football players.
    Special talents, “like spanking the puppy,” should be posted so Members and Senators can be selective in their choices.

    The Republicans need to put someone as designated head, who has now authority, but in case of problems in the service the Republicans are willing to toss overboard like “heck of a job Brownie.”


  75. Squidbilly Says:

    If sending provocative and explicit e-mails to underage kids is “”naughty,” then what is bad behavior?????

    Bush Administration “values” are wierd!!!


  76. Sly Fanatic Says:

    I guess being a Press Secretary for bush means you have to have your testicles removed.


  77. LGreene Says:

    Snow is a shameless propaganist and a complete jackass. Why anyone cares what he has to say is a mystery.


  78. Squidbilly Says:

    The right wingers are spreading ideas of altered e-mails.

    Wierd, if that was the case why did he resign??

    http://hotair.com/ archives/ 2006/ 10/ 02/ were-foleys-e-mails-altered/


  79. Citizen+Dad Says:

    FOR THE RECORD:

    1983: Rep. Gerry Studds (D-MA) represented Massachusetts in the House from 1973 until 1996 [See, Wikipedia]. In 1983, the aptly named Studds admitted having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old male page 10 years earlier. In other words, Studds began preying on young male pages as soon as he entered Congress. The House was entirely controlled by Democrats during those years, and they not only did nothing, they re-nominated Studds for re-election in 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992 and 1994.

    1990: Barney Frank (D-MA) has represented Massachusetts in the House since 1981 [See, Wikipedia]. In 1990, it was discovered that Steve Gobie was running a prostitution business from Frank’s apartment. It was also discovered that Frank had fixed nearly three dozen parking tickets for Gobie. In other words, as soon as he got to Washington, Frank allowed his personal appetites to override his official duties and his judgment as a public servant. There were widespread calls for Frank to resign, but he refused. The House [then controlled entirely by Democrats] voted 408-18 to reprimand Frank on the grounds that he “reflected discredit upon the House.” The Democrats then re-nominated Frank for re-election in 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006. His seat is one of the safest in the House.

    1998: Bill Clinton (D-42nd President) was president from 1993 to 2001 [See, Wikipedia]. He was plagued by allegations of extramarital affairs [See, Gennifer Flowers] during the 1992 primary campaign, but Hillary Clinton “stood by her man” and the Democrats nominated him to run for president. After his election, there were more allegations of sexual harrassment [See, Kathleen Willey] and sexual assault [See, Juanita Broaddrick], one of which Clinton settled for a cash payment of $850,000.00 [See, Paula Jones]. Clinton also began a sexual relationship in 1995 with White House intern Monica Lewinsky - who at the time was barely older than his own daughter, Chelsea. Hollywood even made a satirical movie based on his sexual misconduct [See, Wag the Dog]. Yet Democrats renominated him in 1996. In 1998 Clinton was impeached for perjury and obstruction of justice, charges against which virtually all Democrats, with the exception of Joe Lieberman, defended him. They excused Clinton’s “lying about sex” and insisted that the nation should just “move on.” [Thus was MoveOn.org born] Clinton was fined and disbarred for contempt because he lied to the federal judge in the Paula Jones case. Yet Democrats - inclluding all the TP Clintonistas - defend him to this day.

    These are only three prominent examples of how Democrats have excused and overlooked publically known sexual harrassment and sexual assault by their leaders. By contrast, when sexual misconduct by a Republican becomes public, that Republican is gone within a very short periood of time - even if no actual sexual contact took place [See, Mark Foley].

    So let’s put this into proper context, okay? Foley was investigated by the House leadership, counselled, and put on a form of private “probation” (according to the young man’s family’s wishes). When he violated that probation, he was forced out of office, despite the political harm to the GOP. That was the right thing to do. If Foley had been a Democrat, he would still be in office, because Democrats have always put party politics above the ethics and integrity of doing the right thing. This year is no exception.


  80. VJB Says:

    Red flags? That would commie. Not even pink flags; that would be homosexual. That leaves us green and yellow. Kind of mixed there. Couldn’t connect the republicans with green any which way. But yellow?


  81. Republicans Are The Fear And Smear Party Says:

    “simply naughty e-mails”??? Trying to minimize them to “naughty” is like trying to minimize miliatry deaths in Iraq to just “a number.” These scumbags have got to go!


  82. Good Citizens Says:

    I hope all you brave posters actively supported Jessica’s law and are not hypocrites and opportunists. Why couldn’t you good people support a Jessica’s law that covered victims up to 17 years old?

    There are levels to all crimes; otherwise all murderers should be put to death or all murderers should be freed. The devil is in the detail which most have conveniently ignored in these illogical rants.

    However, if we have to kill all monsters I do have a fine line of clubs and torches that I would be willing to part with at a discount to you good citizens.

    I say throw him out, get the facts and prosecute him. If your just starting to notice there are other real victims out there that could use your help.


  83. Lee Gordon Says:

    Wait….. I think there is a difference between the Republican and Democratic response, and I am also not sure I am accepting of this glossing over of history, by distilling it to a few Democrat focused facts. What of George Bush Sr’s mistress, or Eisenhower, Nixon’s and LBJ and JFK legendary seuxual piccadellos, blablabla. I think the real moral dilemnia is that Republicans are often ranting in the public square over the immorality of others, trying to pass constitutional ammendments against homosexual marriage and rights, while engaging in the most inappropriate behavior as soon as everyone’s (they think) back’s are turned. Me thinks Denise H and many of those guys (K. Mellman) give me the uh-oh feeling.


  84. Marie Says:

    Naughty e-mails? That’s how the snowjob describes it? No wonder Bush&Co hired him on to be their mouthpiece — so he could come up with euphemistic gems like this! They knew they needed someone slick to defend them.


  85. Bluedog49 Says:

    CitizenDad, let’s add something else to the record: according to FBI and Secret Service records a male prostitute using an assumed name checked into the Whitehouse 14 times at night when there was no press meeting scheduled and there is no record that he checked out.

    And, let’s also add to the record the fact that Barney Frank and Bill Clinton had sexual relationships with consenting adults, not 16 year olds.


  86. Tony Snow Calls It “Naughty E-Mails” - Liberal Values - Defending Liberty and Enlightened Thought Says:

    […] The White House is usually so good at misinformation and spin, but this time they sure slipped. During an interview on CNN, Tony Snow brushed off John Foley’s emails to the sixteen year old page as “simply naughty e-mails.” A portion of the transcript follows: O’BRIEN: I would assume everybody would want to know, including the president. I mean, we’re not talking about any old person. We’re talking about the leadership of the Republicans in Congress. […]


  87. big+papa Says:

    For the record:

    Citizen Dad (# 81) obviously supports pedophilia…

    …especially Republican pedophilia…

    …I feel sorry for any children Citizen Dad might have…

    …and hope he has supervised visitation…


  88. IraqVet Says:

    #81…

    You’re trusting Wikipedia, because you cannot look up the factualdata to support your flawwed claims? No wonder this country is in trouble…

    First…STUDDS

    The House voted to censure Studds in July 1983. Although there was some adverse reaction in his district, a poll of registered voters conducted by the Quincy, Massachusetts Patriot Ledger revealed that 65 percent favored his remaining in office while only 28 percent thought that he should resign and 7 percent expressed no opinion.

    He stated he was openly gay and that THIS conflict of a PERSONAL relationship caused his CENSURE. He disagreed and there were NO CRIMINAL implications from his disclosure. DUMB MOVE, DAD!

    Second…Frank
    Barney Frank’s boyfriend, Stephen Gobie, was running a prostitution ring out of their house. He claims he didn’t know, which may well be true. But if that is true, Barney cannot claim he is as brilliant as he would have you believe. His being gay is not an issue–in the case of his pal Gobie, all we needed to know was whether Frank was involved in Gobie’s criminal activity. A FULL investigation was held and there were no findings of wrongdoing on the part of Frank! Attempts to expel or censure Frank failed; instead the House voted 408-18 to reprimand him. There weren’t 408 DEMOCRATS in congress that year, was there?

    He was tried, questioned, investigated, and put up for CENSURE, and mearly a third of the REPUBS in that Congress decided that he did nothing wrong! Kind biased are you, Dad?

    Third…CLINTON
    The old failsafe!!! EVERY time something happens within the REPUBLICAN party, it is somehow linked to or blamed on CLINTON! C’mon now, is there something that you can get THAT is ORIGINAL!

    MONICA LEWINSKY = ADULT
    RELATIONSHIP = IMMORAL, but CONSENTED
    CRIME = ADULTERY
    PUNISHMENT = BAD NIGHTS WITH HILLARY & IMPEACHMENT
    CONGRESS = BI=PARTISAN for IMPEACHEMENT

    ==================================================

    FOLEY VICTIM = MINOR (by Law)
    RELATIONSHIP = PEDOPHILE/STALKER/HOMOSEXUAL
    CRIME = CHILD PORNOGRAPHY (minimum)/ENDANGERING a MINOR
    PUNISHMENT = Cover-Up for Several years/RESIGNATION/REHAB
    CONGRESS = PARTISAN UNITY in downplaying the incident

    So by your definition, YOU would be fine giving your email to this guy??? There is NO COMPARISON that can be made for this guy. IF A DEMOCRAT does something like this, THEN FRY HIS/HER Azz!!! I ave NO BEEF WITH THAT!

    But to insinuate that one crime has anything to do with the other, then that would mean that BUSH is guilty of 130,000+ murders in Iraq!

    SO where is your voice now, Dad???


  89. katy Says:

    a “dad” using the childish standby - “but they did it too!” ???
    oh, my… really grasping straws…

    but of course, the “facts” are all wrong also…
    imagine that…


  90. n69n Says:

    i miss Ari Fleischer.
    If Ari was still around, he wouldnt try to downplay the emails or IMs…his spin would be that *WE* should be ashamed to read such smut!!!


  91. Citizen+Dad Says:

    Check out this conservative condemnation of the GOP Gouse leadership at http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=17337. The key graph:

    “Any member of Congress who was aware of the sexual emails and protected the congressman should also resign effective immediately,” [Michael] Reagan said.”

    Republicans care about integrity and moral behavior. As I pointed out above [#81] Democrats don’t. They only care about playing politics.


  92. Prudesh Says:

    Citizen Dad,

    Thank you for pointing out the obvious flaws that Democrats and Right Wing Nuts so often ignore. When it’s a problem in their house, it’s okay. When it’s a problem in the Republican house, it’s the end of the world. I find it highly intriguing that a group that espouses the least morality, i.e. lack of Christian values/morals, gay marriage, etc, spout off that the Republicans are evil.

    And, of course, these are the same people that believe that Iraq was no threat, that Iran is just a happy-go-lucky country looking for nuclear capabilities for reasons other than to annihilate Israel and blame Americans for 9-11. For a long time, there was a phrase that said “those who can’t… teach.” Now, I think it’s become apparent what the phrase should have been all along - “those who can’t… vote Democrat.”

    I apologize Citizen Dad that so many people have attacked you for supporting your leaders and knowing that was is wrong is wrong on both sides of the aisle. If Foley did it, then it was wrong, but when their representatives and senators do it, it’s okay. It reminds me of a drive this girl once took with Teddy Kennedy. Does anyone remember her? The dive team probably does.

    Abuse is wrong no matter what. I think the guy was just saying that Foley is now being punished and the Dems slip by without even that. But, then again, when you embrace a party with no moral qualms, why would they care when their leaders are accused of sexual harassment? Bill was a good guy; he just didn’t love his wife enough to only sleep with her. Dem or Repub, they’ve all found themselves in bed with the wrong people. Dems are just mad because Republicans can admit it and get help while Dems just get book deals and wives as senators.


  93. Sexual Politics » Blog Archive » Naughty emails Says:

    […] The Foley scandal gets better. White House spokesperson, Tony Snow, tells us that there are more pressing scandals than “Naughty emails.” See him say this on cnn, via Think Progress. […]


  94. Phoenix+Woman Says:

    Not just “naughty e-mails”, but actual solicitation of a minor:

    http://blogs.abcnews.com/ theblotter/ 2006/ 10/ emails_show_fol.html


  95. Jim+Source Says:

    How does the defendant plead?

    Naughty, your honor. Very, very naughty.

    Bailiff, whack his peepee.

    I love how the GOP is morphing into a Cheech and Chong routine.


  96. African American Opinion Says:

    […] Source: thinkprogress.org […]


  97. IraqVet Says:

    #93

    You are very funny!

    YOU ACTUALLY WROTE THIS: Republicans care about integrity and moral behavior. As I pointed out above [#81] Democrats don’t. They only care about playing politics.

    Which ones? Michael Reagan? Oh yeah, he is a BIG influence on policies…NOT! They couldn’t even get DUMBYA to approve stem cell legislation!

    So, who? Can you give me a hint as to whom YOU are talking about? Tell me what time frame (IN THIS CENTURY) that you have seen this integrity and moral behavior?

    Was it TOM DELAY? Or does robbery and sloth not make your top 10?

    Was it Jack “Pay ‘em off” Abramoff?

    Was it Pat “I Talk to God All the Time” Robbersome (Oops, Robertson!) The man who condoned killing someone or a man having a stroke!

    Was it Bill Frist…Failing his oath as a doctor by making a diagnosis without an credible medical evidence?

    Was it BUSH…who played a guitar while the people of New Orleans were drowning but took time from his vacation to fly back to D.C. to sign a bill that allowed him to interfere with a man’s marriage?

    Was it Michael Brown, Michael Chertoff, George Tenet…

    Who exaclty are we talking about? DEMS have their issues, and I’ll call them to the carpet first hand. JEFFERSON should have been expelled for his crime, and with the REPUBS in power, why was THAT not done? Did he have some dirt on them? YOU bet he did! They would have made the BEST SELLER list with a BULLET! And the ONLY one to ask him to step down was PELOSI! Imagine that!

    But, “if” YOU are a DAD, then you are giving US (those who are REAL men and protecting of their children) a bad name to know that YOU would pacify a response that should not be degraded into a partisan debate on ethics. FOLEY was a representative that was in a position of influence and power. His victim was a MINOR that could have been manipulated by those circumstances.

    Your arguments are IGNORANT and FOOLISH, and I would expect more from some man who pretends to know anything but an affiliation…

    What kind of DAD are you?


  98. African American Opinion Says:

    […] ThinkProgress has the video of the Bush White House defending a child sex predator. […]


  99. Wretched+Refuse Says:

    THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LOOOONNNNNNNGGGGGGGG TIMEhttp://www.thelawparty.com/FranklinCoverup/franklin.htm


  100. JPark Says:

    So…citizendad…I am guessing that you are ok with sexual predators? Otherwise I would think that you would be just a little angry that your Rethugs covered this up for so long. Are those your Republican family values? Maybe your children will forgive you on your deathbed if you are lucky.


  101. TimmyBLOG » links for 2006-10-03 Says:

    […] Think Progress » Snow on Foley Scandal: ‘Simply Naughty Emails’ (tags: politics video) […]


  102. detepe Says:

    I’m sure law enforcement and the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children love that the official spokesman for the White House is trivializing the behavior of a sexual predator.

    Someone needs to send Tony to talk to a social worker so he can get a lecture on what damage predators who start with “naughty emails” can end up inflicting on their victims.


  103. Wretched+Refuse Says:

    THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LOOOONNNNNNNGGGGGGGG TIME

    http://www.thelawparty.com/FranklinCoverup/franklin.htm


  104. buffalordr.com » Blog Archive » Que? Says:

    […] Anyhoo, I do know one thing: simply naughty e-mailgate has no traction at all. I couldn’t believe that I heard this right this morning- HT to ThinkProgress for the catch. […]


  105. Eric Smith Says:

    Citizen Dad:

    I guess we’re in agreement then: this whole case should be pursued with the same tenacity of the Lewinsky scandal.

    aliberaldose.blogspot.com


  106. David Conrad Says:

    #4, DJShay, asks how long it will take before they start blaming the kids. Well, Matt Drudge has already gone there:


    http://mediamatters.org/items/200610020015

    DRUDGE: … You’re not going to tell me these are innocent babies. Have you read the transcripts that ABC posted going into the weekend of these instant messages, back and forth? The kids are egging the congressman on! The kids are trying to get this out of him. … These kids were playing Foley for everything he was worth. … you know, they were talking about how many times they’ve masturbated, and oh, they didn’t do it with their girlfriends this weekend. All this — all these things and these innocent children. And this poor congressman sitting there typing about, “Oh, am I going to get any?”


  107. Becky Says:

    Isn’t it funny how these perverts always have some pitiful excuse such as addictions or history of child abuse of some sort. This slimey devil is being paid with the hard earned tax dollars of the American people he is supposed to be working for! Folks, there are those tax dollars at work! He is probably just the tip of the iceburg. I believe in the constitution, there is a part that says if the government gets corrupt the people have the right to disban it and begin anew. I will look it up. We need to do something. It really does not matter who was egging who on. The point is this man is an elected official, and a minor is still a minor. No matter who was willing to do what, he is the one who should know better. All those kids did was bring to light what the man really is……A PERVERT.


  108. Crashweb.net » Blog Archive » More Foley Says:

    […] First up is the white house trying to downplay the whole thing by calling it “simply naughty emails” yeah THIS is a bit more than “simply”. It is disgusting really. Think Progress has a video of it as well HERE. I love how Snow (huge dick) says “there have been other scandals, as you know, that have been more than simply naughty e-mails” woooahh the Clinton card, never saw that one coming. The difference is that yes Clinton committed adultery but that was with somebody who was OF AGE. This current thing is between a 50 some year old man and a 16 year old boy. I love how they try to change this back into a debate that was solved almost 10 years ago. Fess up damn it. Oh this is good too: […]


  109. Diane Davis Says:

    I love, love, love it that the rethugians are circling the wagons and name-calling and finger pointing and covering up and lying and trivializing pedophilia and blaming the next guy (and former presidents) in a weird circle jerk of shrugging off any responsibility for their own (in)actions. Face it, it’s been a republican White House, a republican Senate and a republican House for the past five years and the game was always theirs to lose. Who could have imagined it would fall apart for the ruling elitists so breathtakingly fast? It’s vastly amusing to watch each one shovel faster than the next one, never realizizing s/he is just digging a bigger hole. If my reps in this next Congress don’t vote to impeach dumbya, I will campaign against their next opponent.


  110. More educated than YOU Says:

    Just throwing my 2 cents in:

    I’m really surprised at how everyone is throwing the word “Pedophile” around. Below are 2 diff. links to 2 different words everyone is confusing as the same. Feel free to pass the information on…

    “ped·o·phile (pd-fl, pd-)
    n.

    An adult who is sexually attracted to a child or children.”
    http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=pedophile

    When this is clearly a case of “Ephebophilia”

    “Ephebophilia, as most strictly defined, refers only to an attraction, not to actual love relations or sexual activity (although these can be involved).”
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephebophilia


  111. Truthdetector Says:

    Diane, you are pathetic as most liberals are. These Ims and e-mails were SAVEd by whom? they go back to 2003. Who saves sexual e-mails and IMs? Why? I’m not condoning Foley’s actiona and nobody else is either. Cover up? these pages could have easily sent these saved e-mails and IMs to Pelosi, CNN, ABC, the like for over 3 years if they wanted to take action. This is obviously a reprehensible act by the disgraced Foley and he should be out on his ass. Let’s look at the timing of these E-mails and IMs “suddenly” coming out about a month from the election. C-mon even you know this stinks. Oh, and as far as republicans protecting a pedophile, let’s remember the cases of Stubbs and Reynolds.

    Stubbs actually had sex with a minor page and he wasn’t forced out, he got reelected. Reynolds was CONVICTED of sleeping with a minor campaign worker and his sentence was commuted by, President Clinton.

    NO republican has defended Foley the way the dems defended and aided the above mentioned perverts. Oh, and let’s not forget Barney Frank’s male prostitution ring that was run out of his office. No outrage from the media then or from the democrats.

    The timing of this stinks since these Ims and E-mails go back 3 years. No cover up existed here because the E-mails and IMs could easily have been sent to police, the media or democrats if the pages who allegedlly saved them wanted to. and democrats don’t seem to have a problem giving pedophiles a pass as long as they’re democrats.


  112. minvolved.com » Clarification Says:

    […] Tony Snow: “I hate to tell you, but it’s not always pretty up there on Capitol Hill. And there have been other scandals, as you know, that have been more than simply naughty e-mails.”Dennis Hastert: “Overly friendly,” Republican House Speaker Hastert called Mark Foley’s creepy emails in his letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.GOP Rep John Shimkis: “In the e-mail, ‘Foley asked about the former Page’s well-being after Hurricane Katrina and requested a photograph,’ Shimkus said. […]


  113. don't blame me Says:

    As if all of this was not bad enough, he came out with the statement (from his rehab suite) that he had sexually been molested by a clergyman when he was younger. Apparently he liked it and saved it as his get out of jail free card. Give me a break. Now they are all still trying to point fingers with their one hand while trying to zip the pants with the other.


  114. don't blame me Says:

    #81 Citizen + dad
    This may be all true and everyone realizes there has been sexual scandals in the Whitehouse since it began. They have been committed by both Democrats and Republicans. This situation is tremendously different because this party claims to be the moralistic party. A party with strong morals and family values. Foley was the head of “Missing and Exploited Children”. He gave a tearful speech about protecting children from online sexual predators and returning to family values as he was one of the predators himself.

    Also we are not talking about the past. We all know the people on the right have been keeping score. This is not a political issue but more of a moral issue that they swore to uphold.
    You can’t represent to keep children safe and be a predator yourself. What about children that have also been sexually abused and already doesn’t trust anyone. Do you think they will still call MAEC for help?
    Probably not


  115. shortyD Says:

    #94 Prudesh
    What planet are you on. This is what the republicans are best know for. Turning things around and pointing fingers at everyone else.
    Waaa,waaa,waaa.

    I find it highly intriguing that a group that espouses the least morality, i.e. lack of Christian values/morals, gay marriage, etc, spout off that the Republicans are evil.

    Wow. These are the Christian values your party MADE UP to gain the conservative Christians. Now the truth is finally being told. Everything they have stood for is a total lie.
    That’s what happens when you use God for your own purposes and try to force that on others. Sound familiar? Is that not one of the things happening in the Middle East? You will follow Allah! Everyone has their own beliefs and it is not up to any government to say who and who does not have morals. This is is personal to each individual and belongs no place in government. Remember seperation between of state and religion. Check your history books about why our forefathers came to this country to begin with. I think religious freedom was one. Of course the Rep. have ammended the constitution so much that they probably over looked that one. What exactly does your God say about values, morals, gay marriages etc? Stop trying to justify values, insult others that do not believe exactly like you and your perverted party.
    This is not about politics as much as it is about protecting our children.
    Take your morals to your church because nothing about this resembles morals.Especially from a party that is so HOMOPHOBIC!

    Your 2nd paragraph is total ignorance.
    We all know the FACTS about all the things you mentioned. You are so committed to upholding false values that even a lie looks like the truth to you.

    I think the guy was just saying that Foley is now being punished and the Dems slip by without even that.

    Oh please, you people on the right always use the Clinton and Monica scandal
    whenever a moral issue comes up. Most of us only care about how he ran our country and what he did for the American people not his sexual habits.
    Bush’s list of helping the American people.
    1. Katrina
    2. Iraq
    3. Lying about WMD
    4. Wiretapping
    5. Keeping Americans in fear
    6. Child Predators are O.K. if they are republicans.
    I could go on and on but you get the picture
    and last but not least the most ignorant statement you made although they were all pretty weak and lame

    Dems are just mad because Republicans can admit it and get help while Dems just get book deals and wives as senators.
    Did the Republicans admit this before the media got it? Is your Speaker of the House admiting any responsibility? Do you honestly think that some great book deals will come out of this as well? Give me a break


  116. demstuckin Texas Says:

    Teach by example
    moral=republicans
    immoral=the rest of us
    Stop pushing YOUR morals on us. It is pretty presumptuous of you to label millions of Americans immoral. If snowjob calls exploiting children online as simply naughty e-mails then I’ll be immoral.


  117. meandmy Says:

    Gottal love snowjobs latest comments.
    I’ll be glad when we get this out of the way, so WE CAN MOVE ON TO OTHER THINGS. Just like a republican, let’s just sweep the dirt under the carpet.
    In other words this situation is not worthy of all the attention. War is more important than an online predator.
    WTF


  118. Truthdetector Says:

    Mean, LOL the demos knew about this for months, The media knew about it for over a year, and liberal goons were shopping these E-mails to news outlets before that.

    Also, 1 page has admitted that he knew who Foley was and played along as a joke.

    Foley never touched anyone and resigned. Rightfully so.

    Where was this outrage from the media and the left when Gerry Stubbs actually had sex with a male Page who was a minor?

    Where was the outrage from the left when Clinon commuted the sentence of a former congressman who was CONVICTED of having sex with an underage campaign worker?

    Foley is out of office, an investigation into who knew what and when is slowly showing that the dems knew about this for months and waited to release it, and the demos still haven’t offered any plans to defend america and defeat terrorism 5 years after 9/11. Yet you guys criticize Bush who has kept the US free of attacks since 9/11.

    Pathetic



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