Representative of Mark Foley from Florida has caused quite a stir, hasn’t he? The 6 year veteran of the United States House of Representatives had maneuvered himself into the position of chairman of the Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus.

Not long ago he sponsored legislation to “protect” children from exploitation by adults over the Internet.

He is quoted as saying, “I am deeply sorry and I apologize for letting down my family and the people of Florida I have had the privilege to represent.”

Representative Foley of Florida reportedly is reported to have had these exchanges with little boys that parents send to Washington, DC to work as pages and messengers :

Representative Foley : “What ya wearing?”

Little Boy : “Tshirt and shorts.”

Representative Foley : “Love to slip them off of you.”

He was made one of the Republican party’s deputy whips by the now disgraced Tom DeLay, a one time pesticide salesman from Texas who was the Republican Leader in the House.

Mr. Foley was single and reportedly called his sister, Donna his “surrogate wife.”

According to news sources the sexually charged electronic messages and other contacts began in August 2005.

On September 29, 2006 Representative John Shimkus, Republican of Illinois and chairman of the House Page Board, admitted knowing about the first e-mail messages way back in “in late 2005.” Shimkus took the bold move of telling Foley not to contact that specific page any further. It seems John Shimkus is either naïve or worse. It seems clear to me the entire episode did not seem to upset him much.

Rep. Rodney Alexander, Republican from Louisiana who was apparently responsible for the page recently accosted electronically by Foley claimed he was directed by the little boy’s parents not to pursue the issue and that is why he did not seem to act in any responsible manner in regards to this serious issue.

For his part Representative Alexander passed the buck and said that, apparently even after promising the parents to drop the issue, he gave all the information he had about the issue to Representative Thomas Reynolds, Republican of New York who apparently did nothing himself apparently even though no one requested him to do nothing.

Hastert, also from Illinois, just as is Representative Shimkus (Chairman of the House Page Board) said "We want to make sure that all our pages are safe and the page system is safe."

Among other quotes attributed to Foley :

"Do I make you a little horny?"

"You in your boxers, too? ... Well, strip down and get relaxed."

Healso asked the boy to send a photo of himself.

"…he's such a nice guy…acts much older than his age...and he’s in really great shape...i am just finished riding my bike on a 25 mile journey now heading to the gym ... What’s school like for you this year?"

"I am back in Florida now...its nice here ... been raining today ... it sounds like you will have some fun over the next few weeks ... how old are you now?"

"…how are you weathering the hurricane ... are you safe ... send me an email pic of you as well."

Seemingly following in Florida Foley’s Freaky Footsteps Speaker Dennis Hastert sent out a press release on August 29, 2006 entitled, “Hastert Drives Effort To 'Keep Kids Safe In Cyberspace' Congressman leads community meeting addressing Internet safety”

Parents take note : Another Representative is stepping up to the plate in an open bid to ‘protect’ their children.