Petrelis Files

Foley, 2003: "If I Were Going to Federal Prison ..."

Bob Norman's blog on Florida politics, The Daily Pulp, on October 1 noted an interesting puff profile on Foley in the Palm Beach Post that ran after he dropped his misguided 2003 quest to become a U.S. Senator. This quote caught my eye:

“If I were going to federal prison, they would stand outside the gate and say, ‘Do good, get a job in the library,’ ” Mark says fondly.

Norman also provides us with these further tidbits of information reported in that Palm Beach Post article:

"There’s also references to the family’s close relationship to a Catholic priest at Cardinal Newman High School where his dad coached football, a marijuana arrest at 17, and his wish to quit high school and go to New York to help manage an apartment building for a male friend."

I didn't know he once was arrested for a marijuana-related offense, something he didn't mention in a letter to a constituent who wrote to him for his support to end federal arrests of marijuana users.

From the NORML web site:

December 4, 2003

Ms. Cathie XXX
XXXS St.
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418-1507

Dear Cathie,

Thank you for contacting me with your support for federal legislation designed to stop the arrest and prosecution of marijuana smokers. I appreciate hearing from you on this issue, but must disagree with you on its merits.

As you know, marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug. According to the 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, marijuana was used by 76 percent of current illicit drug users. What is even more surprising is that an estimated 37% of Americans aged 12 or older had used marijuana or hashish in their lifetime.

These numbers are very disturbing, as ins the general lack of understanding about the harsh effects of this drug. Marijuana abuse is associated with frequent
respiratory infections, impaired memory and learning, increased heart rate, anxiety, and panic attacks. What is worse is that the effects of marijuana smoking are
more devastating on younger users.

I have and will continue to do everything in my power to stop all forms of drug use - including marijuana. We must all begin to take responsibility for this epidemic and fight to save our children.

Again, thank you for contacting me with your thoughts on this matter.
Sincerely,
Mark Foley
Member of Congress

Fight to save our children, presumably from the evils of pot, right? Well, ABC News reported today on some new IMs exchanges Foley had with a young adult male.

From one of the newly released IMs, as reported by ABC:

Maf54: we will be adjourned ny then
Teen: oh good
Maf54: by
Maf54: then we can have a few drinks
Maf54: lol
Teen: yes yes ;-)
Maf54: your not old enough to drink
Teen: shhh…
Maf54: ok
Teen: that's not what my ID says
Teen: lol
Maf54: ok
Teen: I probably shouldn't be telling you that huh
Maf54: we may need to drink at my house so we don't get busted

I don't get the sense Foley was all that concerned about fighting the epidemics of teenage drinking or drug use with the teenager, do you?