Mark Foley's Real Sin Was ...: Breaking America's Favorite Taboo

It's a shame that ABC News broke the story of Representative Mark Foley's lewd e-mail and instant messages to teenage pages. He would have made much better TV on Dateline's "To Catch a Predator." In the segments, the newsmagazine conducts elaborate pedophilia stings, using phony chat-room messages and underage-looking actresses to lure a parade of doctors, engineers and Marines to assignations in unassuming houses. There, guys with online handles like "sebastian_for_u" are surprised by reporter Chris Hansen, who grills and humiliates them before handing them over to cops. "Predator" is ratings gold, a jaw-dropping combination of public service and blood sport...

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