http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/6253341.htm Posted on Tue, Jul. 08, 2003
Congressman, nudists exchange views
Foley calls for background checks
WEST PALM BEACH - (AP) -- U.S. Rep. Mark Foley asked organizers of a nudist summer camp for children to strengthen their background checks of employees Monday after meeting with leaders of nudist organizations that were defending the camp.
A coalition of groups representing recreational nudists asked to meet with Foley, appealing to him to respect the privacy of the families that choose to send their children to the camp.
Foley called attention to the camp last month when he asked Gov. Jeb Bush to investigate whether the summer program was illegal.
Bush staff members responded that they found no indication of illegal activity, but they said they would check to see whether any complaints had been filed.
The weeklong summer camp run by the American Association for Nude Recreation outside Tampa allows children ages 11 to 18 to get together for games and sports and discussions about their choice to stay in the buff.
''I want to make sure that they're properly regulated, properly secure and that they're not going to have kids come in contact with undesirables,'' said Foley, a West Palm Beach Republican who is running for U.S. Senate.
Nudists who met with Foley said they wanted him to stop harassing the camp, now that state officials said it was legal.
''It's a fundamental freedom in this country to make such personal choices,'' Shirley Mason, executive director of BEACHES Foundation Institute, a group that supports clothing-free beaches, said in a statement.
She accused Foley of criticizing the camp to gain publicity for his Senate run.
Foley said his concern is for the children's safety.