Hastert should have done more sooner

A majority of readers who responded to a Beacon News QuickPoll question said House Speaker Dennis Hastert should have asked for a federal investigation immediately upon learning former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley sent "overly friendly" electronic messages to a teenage congressional page. A number of readers said Hastert should resign.

A strong minority, however, believe the unfolding scandal so near the election is a set-up by Democrats to make Republicans -- and GOP leaders like Hastert -- look bad. Hastert has said he asked for a federal investigation last week -- months after House leaders knew of the e-mails -- when he learned the full extent of the electronic exchanges, messages he called "vile and repulsive."

Here's what readers had to say:

• "I think Hastert has done a good job. This is just another hatchet job."

• "We can in Yorkville be very thankful that the speaker is no longer a teacher because this is a red flag and he ignored it for political reasons. Shame on his office for saying John whoever-his-name (Laesch) used it for political (reasons). And you know what, I'm not a Democrat, I'm a Republican and I am furious."

• "I think Congressman Hastert did all he could. He cannot babysit everybody in the world."

• "This is just another example of how the Republicans, or any party, will do anything to preserve a precious House seat. This is disgusting, and Hastert should resign."

• "I think that the speaker of the House does a great job considering the amount of matters that he has to handle, and I think that The Beacon News has taken an unfair potshot at him."

• "Hastert's conduct on this issue is reprehensible. I'd be ashamed to have a placard with his name in my yard."

• "I am friends with Denny Hastert, and I know he is the kind of man who would have gotten to the bottom of this had he known what was going on. I feel that this is strictly political."

• "Hastert's protection of a pedophile is a complete betrayal of the public trust."