Foley Fallout Reflected In Polls

53 Percent Want Democrats To Win Control Of Congress In New Poll

(CBS/AP)  More than half of Americans don't believe the House GOP leadership in the Mark Foley online message scandal and an upstate N.Y. congressman, once engaged in a tight race for re-election, is now faced with a double-digit deficit, according to two new polls released Saturday.

Fifty-two percent of those surveyed in a Newsweek poll say they believe House Speaker Dennis Hastert was aware of the former Florida Rep. Foley's inappropriate messages to teenage House pages and tried to cover them up. Hastert has said he was not aware of Foley's inappropriate conduct until the story broke publicly late last month.

Also, 42 percent say they trust Democrats to do a better job of handling moral values, while 36 percent say they trust Republicans more.

The Newsweek survey says 53 percent of Americans want the Democrats to win control of Congress next month, including ten percent of Republicans. That compares to just 35 percent who want the GOP to retain power.

Meanwhile, Rep. Thomas Reynolds, R-N.Y., is trailing behind his Democratic opponent after being connected to the scandal involving Foley.

The poll, performed by Zogby International for The Buffalo News, showed businessman Jack Davis leading Reynolds 48 percent to 33 percent.

The poll, which surveyed 402 likely voters in the 26th Congressional District on Wednesday and Thursday, found 325 respondents were following the Foley story and 57 percent disapproved of how Reynolds was handling the situation. Only 25 percent approved.

Democrats have been trying to capitalize on the negative momentum of Republicans. On Saturday, Democrat Patty Wetterling, a candidate for an open House seat in Minnesota, continued the attack.

The Democrats could take the House, the Senate or both. In the House it would take a gain of 15 of the 435 seats being elected, and a gain of six of the 33 Senate seats at stake would swing control of that chamber to the Democrats.

Reynolds said fellow Congressman Rodney Alexander told him last spring about "overly friendly" e-mails from Foley to a teenage former Congressional page. Though Reynolds said he didn't see the e-mails, he then alerted his boss, House Speaker Dennis Hastert.

Foley resigned Sept. 29 as it was revealed he had sent sexually explicit instant messages to other former pages.

Only 2 percent of those surveyed in last week's poll said they view Reynolds more favorably since news of the scandal broke, while 50 percent said they think less favorably of him.

Those whose opinions remain unchanged stand at 47 percent. The poll had a margin for error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

In a new ad campaign defending himself, Reynolds said referring to Foley, "Nobody's angrier and more disappointed that I didn't catch his lies."

The television commercial appeared Friday on stations in Buffalo and Rochester. "I trusted that others had investigated. Looking back, more should have been done, and for that, I am sorry," Reynolds said.

Reynolds, head of the House Republican election effort, has come under attack from Democrats who say he did too little to protect a page from Foley.

In an editorial board meeting Friday with The Buffalo News, Reynolds said he could not remember several details about his involvement, including exactly when he learned of Foley's e-mails to teenage congressional pages or when he told House Speaker Dennis Hastert about them.

However, Reynolds said Sept. 30 that he had told Hastert months ago about concerns he had about Foley's messages.

"In relation to what everyone knew when he found out in the spring, (Reynolds) took the appropriate action for what he knew at the time," Reynolds spokesman L.D. Platt said. "But knowing what he does now, he clearly feels there is a little bit of 'parent guilt."'

Reynolds already was in a tough re-election race against businessman Jack Davis, his rival from 2004.

Reynolds aides said his campaign will spend about $200,000 on the new commercial.

"I never saw a single e-mail," Reynolds says in the ad. "Not one."

Reynolds said his position in the House leadership has not been compromised.

He also told the newspaper editorial board his former chief of staff, Kirk Fordham, never discussed with him any concerns about Foley, even though Fordham previously worked for Foley for a decade. Fordham resigned this past week.

Fordham said in an Associated Press interview that he warned Hastert's aides more than three years ago that Foley's behavior toward pages was troublesome. That was long before GOP leaders acknowledged learning of the problem.

Fordham's claim drew a swift, unequivocal denial from Hastert's chief of staff. "What Kirk Fordham said did not happen," Scott Palmer said through a spokesman.

[exusmcsgt]

Suit yourself huskerarmy, but I am old enough to remember when both parties at least feigned an interest in the common good and it's been way to long in my opinion, since we've had any of that.

Unabashed lobbying and no campaign reform do not bode well for us at all, in my book. Who's lobbying for America?

[drgoodwin12]

Here is a link to all the republicans who have had sexual relations with minors,http://www.armchairsubversive.com/ The names and details on this list are to long to print here.This is the party of morals?

[huskerarmy]

"Both major parties have sold us down the river to special interests."

There seem to be a lot of folks posing as pragmatists on this issue. It sounds good to blame both sides but in reality. There is much evidence now of Foley's behavior and obvious effort to cover it up. At this point, any allegation the Dems knew are stricktly speculative.

To some degree we all belong to a "special interest." As a WASP male, for example, it would be wholely disingenuous of me to claim that I am part of the only interest group that is not a "special interest." The term has been vastly overstated for political purposes. It is not a panacea and we should be detailed when using it.

[exusmcsgt]

newsthought1-

Agreed. If the public would simultaneously get fed up with the Dems' self-serving nature as well, we might finally get the opportunity to vote in a third party that actually puts America first instead of its own interests.

Both major parties have sold us down the river to special interests. As it stands now, it's only a question of which special interests drive the bus depending on which party's bus is favored by the masses at the moment.

[huskerarmy]

blancadebree,

...the Dixie Chicks are vehind this? Say it ain't so! Somebody please tell me blanca was joking. Please...

[mjv2944]

VOTE OUT ALL IMCUMBENTS!!!!! This do nothing congress has done nothing but hurt the USA. None of them deserve to go back. Hopefully the ones running against them will watch and learn. The days of these slick media and politically correct hacks are done.

[searingtruth]

"Children should not know fear, or death, or suffering, for it is not their lot to know. Theirs is a time for joy, and wonder, and a time of great discovery. Let them never despair, or hurt, or want. This should be our highest calling, and our most sincere dedication."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[drgoodwin12]

Here is another link http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2543789 that show us just how much we can trust the republicans.this story is not about Foley but it does have to with integrity.

[drgoodwin12]

Here is a link that dates his behavior back to 2000 http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2543915&page=1 The source is a republican.Alot of skelotons in this closet.Time for the people to call for resignations.There is a clause in the house which allows us to do so.I will be posting it later today.

[searingtruth]

"The Senator from Wisconsin cannot frighten me by exclaiming, 'My country, right or wrong.' In one sense I say so too. My country; and my country is the great American Republic. My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right."
Senator Carl Schurz, remarks in the Senate, February 29, 1872. The applause in the gallery was deafening.

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[newsthought1]

Enough is enough!

Between the corruption, fraud, and influence peddeling of Abramoff, DeLay, Scanlon, Burns, Reed, and Ney; Bush's buddy Ken Lay and the Enron fiasco; plus Bush, Rumsfeld, Cheney, Scooter Libby, and Rove lying to get us into Iraq, running lawless with warrantless surveillance, torture, and the CIA leaks, while making Halliburton rich from ripping off the U.S. and failing to supply our troops; plus trying to sell out port security to an arab company; and now the sleaze and cover-up of Foley, Reynolds, Boehner and Hastert... the republicans have had their turn to show us their idea of government. Stop the greed, the lies, and stop giving America a bad name!

It is TIME FOR A CHANGE!!

[mh4cbs1]

blancadebree:

You gotta be kidding! You are blaming Democrats for Foley's emails! You are blaming the 9-11 Widows? Did Michael Moore draft the emails?

Some people will ignore all FACTS and TRUTH in their quest to follow their Leader. Hitler, Stalin, Bush, Cheney, Rove are masters of manipulation.

Do you really think that Bush gives a whit about you or our troops? (and I'm not letting those Democrats who are corrupt and/or spineless off the hook either -- they represent corporate America same as the GOP. Look at what Bush DOES not at what he SAYS. Get a clue. You're a Chump for the Chimp.

[mh4cbs1]

Look how the Republicans melt under a scandal like Foley.

Imagine what would happen if CBS and the mainstream media reported the scandal detailing the FACTS of how Bush&Cheney LIED us into a War on Iraq. This is a scandal that has cost tens of thousands of lives, $300 Billion, and made us far less safe! Our poor and middleclass troops are being used like cannon fodder in this needless War of Agression. Do you think the wealthy and the politicians who aimed to profit from this War have their kids in Iraq??

Why won't CBS cover the truth behind Iraq? We need a Walter Cronkite or an Edward R Murrow, not a Cutsy Katie Curric to distract us with the usual corporate fluff abd spin.

[wearybones]

The Republicans want God on their side? They better be trying to get on His Side, especially now! I wrote and called a Congresswoman's office recently, urging her to please sign a Petition, Blocked in Committee, that would have helped thousands of our own. After the "dam" broke, she wrote me a page full of excuses as to why she did not sign and felt that it would have hurt our chances more than helped. If only a small minority of them had signed the Petition, I might have given her statements some validity.
However, when every Republican sitting in the House refused to sign and the Chairman of the Committee who had the Issue Blocked in Committee had declared he would never let it out and she tells me that she worked closely with him and that she would not give up until the bill was passed, then I would not believe anything she said or wrote! I don't have time to re-register as a Democrat but I can certainly mark a Democratic Ballot on Nov. 7. and work hard for them from now until then. I'd rather have a Donkey than an Elephant gone berserk! WearyBones,
H. Lewis, FL

[pendragon679]

First of all, to all those right-wing knee-jerkers, the Foley scandal (not "scandel") was broken by REPUBLICANS, not Democrats.

SharnCedar: Rumor has it that Osama bin Laden is being held in a secret basement in Langley, VA, so that the Bush administration can trot him out in time to suspend the Constitution before the 2008 elections...;-}

[sharncedar]

This Foley thing is losing steam. The Democruts may have timed it too far from the election. Americans can't remember what happened yesterday, let alone two weeks ago. The Repugnants may have again shown their better quality of flack, if they now spring their October surprise right about now. I think better timing, who will remember Foley in two weeks, not even his last boyfriend.

Anyone have a notion or prediction what the Repubics October surpise will be? MAybe something about terrorism, hmmm, the obvious is to announce they got Bin Laden, will that play in Peoria.

I can't think what, but I'm not paid millions, anyone have a rumour or a guess?

[clydeharris]

And the hits keep on coming to the righteous right. This has all the elements of a political thriller, the only thing we don't have is a body floating in the Potomac.

We ought to have a lottery to see what the next scandel will be. Clyde L Harris

[rbird8728]

Although almost 500 people, the House tends to be a close knit group in spite of the political differences. Consequently, there are very few personal "secrets" that at least two/three other members do not know about. Basically, they all know (or suspect) who the alcoholics are, those that are adicted to pain relievers, and the ones who regularly use the services of call girls, etc. So, many people knew about Mr. Foley as gossip runs rampant in the House and Senate. It is my estimate that most members of our legislature are accomplished liars to the point of possibly passing a poligraph test. This is one of the requirements for the job.

[searingtruth]

"Once again, here's how it goes. First, a tyrant 'suspends' just a 'little' liberty, to protect democracy. Then, a tyrant monitors everyone, everywhere, all the time, to assure freedom. Finally, a tyrant imprisons or executes all those observed in abeyance of authority, to uphold liberty. No step may proceed without the other, the accomplice of a complacent people, and the corruption of a civil state."
SearingTruth

"Republicans are in a unique historical position. They are the first group of people raised on this land, who call themselves Americans, that openly proclaim the virtues of torture, secret prisons, extrajudicial abduction, universal surveillance, and dictatorial government."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[harrison3653]

*** scandels are no more unusual in congress than in any large body of people. What makes me want to throw out all the republicans has more to do with the degree of corruption, greed, outright plundering of America we are just beginning to see. I shudder to think of the arrogance of these people - robbing my America of the moral high ground we have always strived to maintain - shrouding their crimes in holier-than-thou religious rightiousness and running roughshod over our constitution.
God help them if the democrats win... imagine the investigations into the Halburton contracts alone...