Forgive me while I state the obvious.

The GOP spin: House Republican leaders didn’t investigate Foley’s email exchanges because they weren’t “of a sexual nature” and were just “over-friendly,” or “simply naughty.” They didn’t know about the more sexually graphic IM messages.

The IM messages: They are clearly indicative of a man who was trying to arrange a hook-up with a kid.

Maf54: I want to see you
Teen: Like I said not til feb…then we will go to dinner
Maf54: and then what happens
Teen: we eat…we drink…who knows…hang out…late into the night
Maf54: and
Teen: I dunno
Maf54: dunno what
Teen: hmmm I have the feeling that you are fishing here…im not sure what I would be comfortable with…well see

The Obvious: If House Republican leaders had taken seriously the fact that Foley had been sending “naughty” emails from his private account to a teenage boy and done the logical investigation, they would have uncovered the IM messages about which they instead had to learn via the media.

Not knowing about the IM messages isn’t an excuse. It’s the whole point.