CNN: Page's family: Leave our 'hero' son alone (statement)

[DeepModem Mom]

Page's family: Leave our 'hero' son alone
October 5, 2006

(CNN) -- The family of a Louisiana teenager who reported "sick" e-mails from former Rep. Mark Foley called their son a hero Thursday and said they want reporters to go away.

Foley resigned last week after Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a left-leaning watchdog group, posted some of the e-mails he exchanged with the former male page in 2005, who was then 16 and had worked for Rep. Rodney Alexander, a Louisiana Republican....

***

From the family's statement:

"There has been much media inquiry regarding our son and his time as a house page. Although our son bravely came forward with information regarding Congressman Foley, his experience as a House page was not marred by the kind of wrongdoing that appears to have occurred with respect to other House pages and Congressman Foley....

In the fall of 2005, as soon as Congressman Alexander became aware of the e-mails received by our son, he called us. He explained that his office had been made aware of these e-mails by our son and that while he thought the e-mails were overly friendly, he did not think, nor did we think, that they were offensive enough to warrant an investigation.

Rather, we asked him to see that Congressman Foley stop e-mailing or contacting our son and to otherwise drop the matter in order to avoid a media frenzy. He did so. If we had any other knowledge or evidence of potential impropriety, we would have asked for the matter to be treated differently. For instance, we were not aware of the instant messages that have come to light in the past few days.

These instant messages, which have only recently surfaced as a result of the news of the ambiguous e-mails received by our son, are separate matters...."

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/05/page.statement/index.html

[Ian David]

1. I admire the kid... but the parents sound like brainwashed bush-bots

<snip>

In fact, we are pleased that he had the opportunity to serve as a page in the U.S. House of Representatives and if given the opportunity, he would serve as a page again.

We would like to express our support for our congressman, Rodney Alexander, whose office sponsored our son's position as a House page. As far as we know, Congressman Alexander's conduct in this matter has been beyond reproach. He has tried his best to do what we have asked him to do from the very beginning: Namely, to protect the privacy of our son and family from the intense media scrutiny we are now having to endure.

<snip>

As a young man with integrity who had the courage to question the intention of the e-mails, we respect and honor our son as a hero. Despite his courageous actions, he is becoming a victim due to the harassment by some of the media. Please honor our request that we be left alone. There is nothing more that we can contribute to this ongoing matter. He is not the story, and we feel this intense media scrutiny could endanger our son and family.

More:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/05/page.statement/index.html


---


Uhm.... no.

It's not the MEDIA that's trying to smear your son.

It's THE REPUBLICANS who are trying to smear your son, you hopeless, brainwashed, braindead, useless wastes of skin Republickers!

[LiberalArkie]

17. Geez people, read the news.. The e-mails were not bad at all

However the IM's were the filthy things. The e-mails said things like, how are things going? etc
They more than likly asked for his IM name.. E-Mails are kept on servers, IM's are not. Foley was smart enough to know that.

[Roy]

28. Ignoring these (non-filthy) emails led directly to the FILTHY IM's

This lady deserves no privacy and her son no hero. They could have prevented the abuse of, (there is no telling how many) other kids.

Even now her interest IMHO is getting this out of the news to shift daylight from the republicans.

She seems a little too satisfied that her son received non filthy emails and not outraged enough that her son was the target of a potential pedophile intent on using the power of his office to exploit her son.

Doesn't sound like any mother that I know. Mine would know by now the whereabouts of Mr. Foleys' supposed undisclosed location, and would most likely be arraigned already.

[kath]

32. Uhh, hell-ooo! The filthy IMs were in **2003**.

The ambiguous e-mails to the Louisiana kid were in late summer of 2005.

[Cha]

30. I'd say foley was devious

enough to know that.

[shawn703]

34. Not bad at all?

You must be very trusting. If I find out some 52 year old guy is corresponding with my teenage son or daughter and asking for pictures, the last thing that would go through my mind is that he's just "overly friendly." That's why I can't believe Hastert - or any parent for that matter - would think those emails are okay and not smoke indicative of a larger fire.

[Scairp]

39. Exactamundo!

This old man had no business whatsoever contacting this teenage boy and asking him for pictures and personal information. He didn't sponsor him, and the fact that he was emailing him at all was very suspicious. The kid knew something was up with this perv, why these assholes couldn't figure it out is beyond me. I know everyone thinks that Republican leaders knew about Foley and just covered it up, but I am not entirely convinced they aren't just plain stupid and didn't realize that Foley was in the process of softening up his potential targets with these more or less innocuous emails.

[Debi]

43. I agree here

Anyone not a relative who asked for b-day, photos, future plans that couldn't do it in front of me or at least w/my knowledge would be considered suspect and I would have had a FIT!

[sandnsea]

35. they "questioned the intention of the emails"

They were responding to obvious red flags, not just reporting a nuisance. Most likely this page had heard the rumors and was shocked to find out they were true. The reason his parents see him as a "hero" is because he was brave enough to stand up to this Congressman and whatever else came his way, they knew the accusation he was making. The parents were actually selfish because they were willing to put other kids at risk as long as they could convince themselves they had "protected" their own. Most peopl would either go all the way with a full investigation or decide it wasn't bad enough to even pick up the phone.

[gratuitous]

18. I do agree that their son is not the story

And they don't specify what might endanger him or the family because of the media scrutiny. Maybe I'm inclined to a more charitable reading, but not many people are equipped to deal with the full weight of the American media coming down on them, and this family didn't do anything to merit what's coming for them.

I do agree, however, that any added danger this young man or his family will face will be from the crazed followers of the cult that's running (or should that be "ruining"?) our country.

[Tarheel_Dem]

42. My thoughts exactly gratuitous....

I, too, feel that the kid & his family have probably been threatened by followers the rightwing wackos they now seek to protect. in hindsight, some people are sure what they would have done. Me, I'm not so sure. It may sound selfish, but your main concern is your child. And I'm giving the parents the benefit of the doubt here...I'll take their word that it's the child they're trying to protect, and not Rodney Alexander.

The House Leadership should have done more no matter what the parents wishes.

[Cronus Protagonist]

19. They're hoping Foley witll turn the page

:evilgrin:

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

2. COVER UP SPIN SPIN SPIN SPIN SPIN SPIN SPIN SPIN SPIN

These Sons Of Bitches just DON'T GET IT!

[Ian David]

5. I bet KKKarl Rove wrote the letter that's alegedly from the family

Then again...

Maybe it's Karl Rove's son?

[NVMojo]

6. hopefully, they haven't been paid off

[Mind_your_head]

15. 'Favors'......one doesn't need to be paid off in cash, per se.....

there's the "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours someday" thing. "Favors" now owed in play here, me thinks. That's a large part of how things have escalated to this current sick condition.

Peace,

M_Y_H

[uppityperson]

3. k&r for teenagers and their families.

[reality based]

4. Too late Republicans, the horse is already out of the barn. n/t

[ShortnFiery]

7. I'm sure the Pages that were IM'd unwanted Sexual Suggestive comments

are "so happy" that these parents only cared about THEIR son. This man is a predator, and as such they are obsessed with minors for SEX. :puke:

Yeah, that was very selfish of the Parents because they allowed Foley to continue on with his Perversion. :thumbsdown:

[uppityperson]

8. can't people understand that media harassment will make it LESS likely

for others to come forward? Yes, there are those who want media attention. BUT many people who have been in abuse situations won't come forward unless they can do so anonymously. Give it a break people, give them a break and quit harassing them.

Edited to add: Go find Foley and harass Hastert. Those guys deserve it.

[jus_the_facts]

9. Here's a couple o'local links to news about this....my post in GD....

http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061005/NEWS01/610050324

www.knoe.com

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2325994&mesg_id=2325994

Alexander was also thrust into the national spotlight when he changed from a Democrat to a Republican two years ago, but that firestorm didn't compare with this one, Terry said.

"The number of media requests for this issue outnumbers the party switch by two to one," Terry said.

[DoYouEverWonder]

10. Then I assume they are the ones that sent copies

to the Miami Herald, FAUX News and the St. Petersburg Times?

If they didn't want a media frenzy then why did they bring it all up in the first place?

I think someone got them to see the light between then and now.

[bpeale]

11. I don't get it....

Just what has this kid done to be called a hero? That certainly demeans anything our armed forces does, doesn't it?

[daleo]

38. I think "hero" in the sense of JFK's Profiles in Courage

He wasn't putting himself in (obvious) physical danger by coming forward, but he certainly took a chance of being slandered and of his future prospects being put under a cloud by important people looking for payback.

[anitar1]

40. Who in their right mind would send their highschool kid to

DC for 8 months ? No way would I have sent one of my children off somewhere . I was never trusting of turning my children over to anyone. Too many pedophiles and sex abusers around even when I was growing up.Just more of them now.Most of them in your own family or a family "friend."

[mom cat]

12. The "kid" is a hero. He spoke up and got the ball rolling, even though

his parents helped drop it along with Alexander the useless.

[Blaq Dem]

13. Shouldn't the parents be more pissed at the GOP????

Their son was verbally molested by a sick crusty ol' pedophile! They should ought to be marching down to Florida with pistols.

[arewenotdemo]

41. like most Catholic parents whose sons have been buggered by priests

In some cases they are aware of (or suspect) the sexual abuse at the time. Or they may find out after the fact.

In either case they usually don't leave the Catholic Church. Their religious indoctrination (brainwashing) prevails in the absence of effective deprogramming.

[Mind_your_head]

44. Don't forget that ole' "whatshisshotintheface" Harry Whittington

APOLOGIZED after getting shot in the face by a 'probably drunken' vice president, Dick Cheney.

These people may be totally *pissed*/victimized, but they know(?) what kind of power they're dealing with. They won't "cross their masters" too much.

That's what "We, the People are trying to deal with here".

Peace,
M_Y_H

[rzemanfl]

14. K & R. n/t

[bpeale]

16. you don't...

become a hero by getting molested, outing your molester or whatever. i can see why WE would think he's a hero, why do his parents think that? seems like they are all for this administration as long as their son doesn't have to endure foley anymore. he is NOT a hero. he's a kid who was molested.

[philosophie_en_rose]

20. It's brave & heroic for anyone (esp. teen boy in the US) to disclose abuse

Being abused doesn't make anyone a hero, but standing up to a sexually harassing congressman is heroic. especially considering the backlash.

[Anakin Skywalker]

21. My Son Is a Bigger Hero Than Your Son! My Son Can Beat Up Your Son!

LOL. A take on "My dad can beat up your dad".

[Canuckistanian]

22. There's that "overly friendly" again

I heard Reynolds use those words about 20 times in a PBS interview this morning.

[saracat]

23. There is something not right here. Any parent would question such emails,

coming from a much older person congressman or not. Even the innocuous ones are cause to question.If they weren't a big deal, why did they want them to stop and why is their son a "hero" ? Hmmmm?This dog doesn't hunt.

[bpeale]

26. i think ...

that the boy came forward because his parents didn't believe him ... and that's why they want to be left alone. he has embarrassed them. i don't think the parents are thinking of their child either.

[marshall]

31. Aren't they two separate boys?

I thought the Louisiana boy is the email boy, and the California/Oklahoma boy is the IM boy.

[sandnsea]

36. I agree

See #35. Those parents knew what those emails meant. They just didn't care enough to protect anybody elses kids.

[Straight Shooter]

24. So now all it takes to be a hero is to do the right thing?

The Repubs really have caused America's moral ethics to deteriorate if the norm is to do the wrong thing, and where simply doing the right thing gets you labeled a hero.

It does take courage to stand up for yourself, especially against someone powerful, I'll admit that, but being a hero means you stand up for other people, too. Whether the kid is a hero or not is up for grabs, but the parents fall short of the definition. Now is the time to teach their son what being a hero is truly all about.

[w4rma]

25. Right wingers have been sending this former page death threats.

I would like these terrorist right-wingers to stop.

And I think that this family ought to procecute the senders of those threatening emails.

[Peace Patriot]

27. Boy, there's a lot going on beneath the surface here, and I don't think

we can know much at all about it, from this, or other pieces of news. I'd strongly suggest not calling these parents names, or making assumptions about them. Their desire to be quiet about it, now and in the past, may have motives that we know nothing about. Please bear in mind how dangerous and unscrupulous and powerful the Bush Junta is. We may fault these folks for being Republicans, and even blind-as-bats Bushites (we really don't know, do we?), but they are also parents, and are surely concerned about their son caught up in such a wild and politically explosive situation. They may not have done the right things, and may not be doing them now--how can we know? But we should give them some benefit of the doubt. Also, the corporate news monopoly circus are such a nut-house, it is an extremely difficult situation to suddenly have the full glare of it on you, if you have no experience with it. It's even hard for people who are used to it. As for our corporate media, and the way they treat subjects of a story, and their behavior in general, as well as their key role in nearly killing our democracy, I have nothing but contempt for them, and fully distrust them even when they SEEM to be rightfully pursuing a story, which they almost never do. I'd say we should be just a bit wary on this story, and always remember WHO is reporting on it, and what they have done in the past, to Democratic candidates, to us, the people of this country, to other victims of the Bush Junta--to torture victims, to the tens of thousands of people who are dead because of their war propaganda--and to future generations, who will be inflicted with fallout from this regime for many decades. For all we know, this story may be cover for the bombing of Iran, or designed to smother worse things that have already emerged (about 9/11, the war and the economy) or are about to be disclosed. And who may the Bush Junta possibly be lining up as successor to Dennis Hastert (3rd in line of succession to the presidency), should Hastert get the boot, and should other things lead to a Bush-Cheney resignation (always possible, considering just the crimes we know about). Just beware, is all I'm saying. We have NO reason to have faith in the corporate news monopolies!

[Cha]

29. So with foley where there was Smoke

there's was Fucking Fire.

[yellowcanine]

33. "These instant messages,...are separate matters...." No they are not.

So they want to protect their own kid but making sure other kids are safe is a "separate matter." What a morally degenerate and selfish attitude to hold.

[LetsThink]

37. Why Aren't the Parents Outraged?.....Why Didn't Hastert ......

...ask more probing questions? That is-- he sent a guy to talk to Foley but that was it.

WHERE'S THE LEADERSHIP in all this? What happened to all the R talk about 'morals', personal responsibility, etc.? I mean-- here we have someone abusing their position of power (& taxpayer resources) to basically push themselves on vulnerable individuals. And, then Hastert's response is "..hey, I didn't do anything wrong...I'm not responsible." WELL, YES- YES, Hastert DID have responsibility here too! This happened on his watch..... He failed to effectively deal with the situation when it was brought to his attention...... He closed his eyes, ears and took the ".....I don't hear cries; don't see any bad stuff..."

THAT'S NOT LEADERSHIP !! He could slide by if he were like the other sorts up there on the Hill- but he's SPEAKER! Isn't that like 3rd in line after the Pres & VP? Is THAT what Rs are all about: "not me" ?