Former Georgia Sen. Zell Miller said Thursday he supports the FBI investigation into the actions of Congressman Mark Foley on Capitol Hill.

"It's a disgraceful situation," he said but warned Republicans not to "cry criticism" as Democrats endured the same processes during a similar scandal involving New Jersey Rep. Gary Stubbs. Miller said as more details come to light, the party may need to take further action to preserve democracy.

Miller, a Democrat known for his conservative political conversion, was in Salt Lake City to speak at a fund-raising dinner hosted by Parents for Choice in Education at the Sheraton City Centre downtown. He said his primary reason for being involved in the cause — which focuses on students rather than the system — is his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

"We have a choice for everything else in life, why can't we choose where our child goes to school?" he said. "Imagine if we were all assigned which grocery store we could shop at because of where we lived."

He spoke of his experience as a professor of history and quoted many of America's great authors and leaders, providing examples of what students could learn by those historic examples and legacies.

The senator, who resigned his position in 2005 after splitting from his party to support President Bush in the 2004 election, defended the war on terrorism and various other stances he took on recent political issues, but mostly addressed the current state of education in America, drawing recurring applause from an audience of nearly 400.

"It is not a one-size-fits-all solution," he said. "Nowhere is a policy change needed more, but also nowhere is it more difficult to achieve."

Other event speakers included Utah Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Children First Utah executive director Leah Barker and Jose Vidal, a parent who was able to choose his daughter's school with the help of private funding.

Nancy Pomeroy, PCE communications director, said the group hoped to raise $80,000 Thursday, which she said will go toward campaigns for legislative candidates.

There are 20 programs offering parental choice in education in 13 states. The Carson Smith Scholarship is Utah's only program, giving funding to special-needs students to help them get an education that fits their needs.

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E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com