From CNN Congressional Correspondent Andrea Koppel

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- House Republicans sought to put Democrats on the defense over the Foley House page scandal Friday, asking House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Illinois, to appear before the House Ethics Committee investigating the matter.

Vice Chairman of the Republican Conference Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Georgia, along with several of his GOP colleagues, said the page scandal "should not be a partisan issue," in a letter to the top Democrats.

"Just as it must be determined whether any Republican Members or political operatives were aware of and attempted to conceal Mr. Foley's activities, it must also be determined whether any Democrat Members or political operatives were aware of, and attempted to conceal these same activities," Kingston wrote in the letter.

But a spokeswoman for Pelosi accused Republicans of "misleading and trying to distract on this issue."

"Republicans still don't get it," said Jennifer Crider, Pelosi's spokeswoman. "Every mother in America is asking how Republican's could choose partisan politics over protecting kids, and the Republicans are asking who could have blown their cover-up. If we had seen Mark Foley's inappropriate e-mails or instant messages, we would have immediately acted to protect these kids."