Evangelicals stand by Republicans

NORFOLK, Va., Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Evangelical Christians in southeastern Virginia said they have not been discouraged from voting Republican by the Rep. Mark Foley pages scandal.

The Christian voters, interviewed by The New York Times, said the Florida Republican's sexually explicit messages to teenage male pages were the result of his own personal morality and institutionalized corruption.

"This is Foley's lifestyle," said Ron Gwaltney, a home builder, interviewed outside a Christian rock concert in Norfolk. "He tried to keep it quiet from his family and his voters. He is responsible for what he did. He is paying a price for what he did. I am not sure how much farther it needs to go."

The Democratic Party is "the party that is tolerant of, maybe more so than Republicans, that lifestyle," Gwaltney told the Times, referring to homosexuality.

However, some in the same concert-going crowd said the revelations about Foley have raised concerns about his party.

"The Republicans need to tighten up their ship," said Wade Crane, a Republican-leaning voter who told the newspaper he has soured on the party in recent months. "They need to stop covering themselves, using their power to protect themselves."