Democrat to launch ad on Christian radio criticizing Republican amid scandal

(AP) A Democratic candidate accuses her Republican rival of not doing enough to stop disgraced former Rep. Mark Foley and his cybersex exchanges with teenage males in an ad for Christian radio stations.

Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy is challenging seven-term Rep. Deborah Pryce, a member of the GOP House leadership, in one of the more competitive races. Kilroy's weeklong ads begin Saturday.

"What is going on in Washington? ... Deborah Pryce's friend Mark Foley is caught using his position to take advantage of 16-year-old pages," says the ad, which will air on Christian and Clear Channel Communications Inc., stations in central Ohio.

The spots cost Kilroy's campaign $5,000.

Foley, a former Florida congressman, helped Pryce get elected Republican Conference secretary, then Conference chairwoman _ the No. 4 position in the House leadership. Last month, in Columbus Monthly magazine, Pryce named Foley one of her five friends in Congress.

Pryce said she was out of the loop about complaints that Foley had sent improper messages to teenage male pages until after the congressman resigned Sept. 29.

"I was dumbfounded," she said.

Since then, she has angrily called Foley "sick," has criticized fellow Republicans for not reporting the problem to Democratic lawmakers before it became public and has called for investigations into Foley's behavior.

Kilroy spokeswoman Amanda Wurst said the campaign chose Christian and conservative radio stations because their listeners are concerned about values.

Pryce spokesman John DeStefano, who saw an advanced copy of the script, said Kilroy "has crossed the line with her reckless, irresponsible accusations."

The ad also blames Pryce for standing by House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill, complaining that he looked the other way when warned of Foley's behavior.

Hastert said Thursday he did not know about the sexually explicit messages sent by Foley until last week, but he also took responsibility for the matter.