Get Out Your Big Chief Tablet and Crayons

3 October 2006

Representative Diana DeGette
600 Grant Street, Suite 202
Denver CO 80203

Dear Congresswoman DeGette,

As of late last night, the conservative newspaper The Washington Times is now calling for Speaker Dennis Hastert to step down, in the wake of the Mark Foley scandal.

I am writing, as a voter, to thank you for yesterday's statement admonishing Mark Foley and the Republican leadership. I ask that you take your anger over the situation to the next level and lead the calls for a thorough investigation into what appears to be a cover-up by senior party leaders.

Chief among those who should be the target of this investigation is Speaker Hastert. He's made a mockery of his leadership position. His recent comments seem to be confused and contradictory, and it appears someone knew something, and I suspect that list includes Speaker Hastert, Rep. Boehner, Rep. Shimkus, and others.

The situation with Rep. Mark Foley and underage pages is bad enough, but what is even more astounding is that it appears the party leadership may have been protecting him, rather than stopping Foley's bad behavior and removing him from any sort of position where he would have contact with pages.

Whether Speaker Hastert saw the more disturbing IMs or just the "less troubling"” emails to underage pages, it appears to the casual observer that some sort of cover-up was in play. Comments such as "Would have, could have, should have"” from Speaker Hastert indicate that he does not understand the gravity of the situation, nor his role and responsibility in it. Is protecting the party and its majority more important than protecting minors?

Regardless of political party, there must now be a full investigation of any inappropriate behavior amongst members of Congress —and underage pages. Chief among the questions that must be asked is what happened to the emails sent in July to the FBI by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). (Source: Houston Chronicle, 10/2/06)

Sadly, it appears that Republican party leadership tried to protect Mark Foley, rather than protecting the young men and women under their charge. This is disgraceful and I hope you'’ll be leading the efforts to investigate and bring any appropriate resignations and/or criminal charges. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Kay in the 303

(P.S. For a complete list of Representatives, visit the House of Representatives website: http://www.house.gov/)