Have the decency to resign

Along with the parents and grandparents of our community, I'm deeply saddened by the news that Rep. (Mark) Foley, R-Fla, was sending salacious e-mails to young pages of Congress.

This made so many of us feel betrayed. Not just by Foley, but also by the congressional leadership that was well aware of the situation for more than a year and did nothing to fulfill their obligation to protect these young people from this predator.

Why didn't the leaders of Congress go to the proper authorities with this terrible problem? Was it because Foley, at this period in time, contributed $300,000 to the Republican Congressional Committee? The chairman of this committee denies that this contribution had anything to do with it. Who would be naive enough to accept that answer from a professional politician?

I submit that after many people in this session of Congress had to resign in disgrace, the leadership was determined to cover up this disgraceful page situation to save their own jobs rather than protect the young people in their care.

The Department of Justice should fully investigate this whole sorry mess, and anyone who participated in this coverup should have the decency to resign.

Francis A. Kennedy

Williamsville