Washington (CNN) - Mark Foley may have departed the House of Representatives under a cloud of controversy in 2006, but the former Republican congressman is slowly reentering the political game in Florida.
Foley, who resigned from the House when it was revealed he sent lewd messages to male congressional pages, headlined a meeting of the Palm Beach County Young Republicans last week. According to the group's president, Foley was met with a warm response.
"His speech was wonderful," Young Republicans President Jackie Fay told CNN. "He spoke about the slate of freshman officials in the House and the Senate, how the American public will hold them accountable and not accept things as they were."
Foley also touched on government debt and the importance of the Young Republicans to the national party.
As first reported by the Palm Beach Post, not all of the reaction was positive; in the lead-up to the meeting, the group was criticized on Twitter for inviting the scandal-plagued politician.
"I thought it was incredibly close minded and petty," Fay said of the negative response. "The man resigned from office, served his time away from the public eye and wasn't demanding to be let back into everyone's good graces, he seems to be accepting opportunities that are extended to him.
After Foley resigned from the House in 2006, he entered treatment for alcoholism, and all but disappeared from politics. He recently began hosting a radio show in Palm Beach, and according to the Palm Beach Post, recently appeared at an event with newly-elected congressman Allen West (R-FL).
From CNN Politics
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Just what we need. A pervert giving morality speeches. That's like Ben Roethlisberger giving a safe sex lecture.
This man has no shame, another Republican hypocrite
Why are all these past politicians so religious about fiscal responsibility? Why now? Were they ingnorant "then"? That guy in the White House never gets a break. Every time there's a 5 minute lull in the rhetoric sound chamber, someone new "celebrity face" pops up to resume chatter, but about what? I hear a bunch of criticisims abut President Obama's ways forward, but no decent solutions. Only that he's wrong on everything. Not only that, Foley's poisoning young, already-poisoned minds. No? You'll notice that all of the would-be audience did not agree with participating in Mr Foley's goat rope. Either that or those who did were polite enough to provide audience or...already-poisoned minds.
how many of the attendees did he ask out afterwards? Maybe not so many since they were probably to old for this disgusting hypocrit
Mark Foley speaking to a group of YOUNG Republicans? The jokes just write themselves...
He's a liar and a predator. He should be shunned, not embraced. He should go back to a quiet, private life.
Why not, he fits well in the Republican party where there are many in the closet gays and I find nothing wrong with being gay.
Why would any parents of a young republican let their kids within 50 yards of this monster?
Well... of course he's speaking to YOUNG Republicans... The old ones would tell him they're not his kind...
of course he like young republicans....the male ones.... just like barneuy frank likes young male democrats ... there both homosextuals...
With his past record seems a little strange he would be speaking to "young" people. Guess the "religious right" approves of this-smell a little hypocrisy??
Who better to speak to Young Republicans better than someone that killed his political career by chasing Young Republicans?
What's next, Rush adressing the Young Dominican wing of the RNC?
Oh irony....you are soooooo sweet.
You're kidding me, right? I wouldn't let this guy near anyone with "young" as a description. How do these creeps keep creeping back onto the political stage?
Young Republicans, huh? He must be looking for new "buddies".