Another STRAIGHT Republican Senator Nabbed in a Men's Room- Page 3

[romantico]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 11:29am

Couldn't he just call Jeff Gannon? He services all the Republicans in DC

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 11:41am

Editorial in today's Idaho Statesman:

===

August 28, 2007

Our View: Sen. Craig owes Idahoans an explanation

Sen. Larry Craig has spent 27 years in Congress — with rumors about his sexual orientation following him almost from the outset.

Now, after the report of Craig's arrest at a Minnesota airport restroom, Idaho's senior senator must speak candidly with the people who have hired him for more than a quarter of a century. He owes this to voters — no matter how difficult that may be for him and for his family. And voters owe Craig a chance to explain himself.

Craig was arrested on June 11 by a plainclothes officer investigating lewd conduct complaints, the Washington, D.C., newspaper Roll Call reported Monday. According to Roll Call, which obtained a police incident report, Craig's behavior signaled that he wished to engage in lewd conduct. Craig pleaded guilty on Aug. 8 to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct; he paid more than $500 in fees and fines and was sentenced to one year's probation. A 10-day jail sentence was stayed.

This bizarre case now moves into the court of public opinion, where Craig has a lot of explaining to do:

• If Craig's actions in the restroom were misconstrued and he was not involved in any inappropriate conduct, as he said in a statement Monday, then why did he plead guilty?

Craig says, in hindsight, he should not have pleaded guilty and "should have had the advice of counsel in resolving this matter." On the surface, it seems implausible that any educated professional — much less an elected official — would face criminal proceedings without hiring an attorney.

• Did Craig try to use his title to make the case go away? According to the police report, Craig handed the plainclothes officer a U.S. Senate business card during an interview with police, and asked the officer, "What do you think about that?"

This suggests an inexcusable abuse of power. Craig was elected to represent Idaho's interests in the Senate — not to use the title of U.S. senator in his own self-interest during a police interrogation.

• Why did Craig not come forward after the June 11 arrest? Did he honestly think this would never become public? For Craig to keep this from his constituents, for 11 weeks, is not merely bad public relations. It's an unacceptable breach of trust.

• Craig has said he is not gay — repeating this assertion, categorically, in a May interview with the Statesman. Does he maintain that today, or has he been lying, blatantly and repeatedly, to his constituents? Elected officials have a right to privacy, but also an obligation to tell the truth about who they are.

Yes, we have pointed questions, as many Idahoans surely do. But there's a difference between asking hard questions and making snap judgments. We ask Idahoans to await the answers before passing judgment.

We are sad for Craig's family, and yes, for Craig. This is a painful time, made worse by the fact that Craig so far has been less than forthcoming. And his statement Monday, at a spare and vague 56 words, raises more questions than it answers.

Eight times since 1980, Idaho voters have elected Craig to Congress, five times to the House and three times to the Senate. In exchange, voters now deserve the full story from their senior senator.

"Our View" is the editorial position of the Idaho Statesman. It is an unsigned opinion expressing the consensus of the Statesman's editorial board. To comment on an editorial or suggest a topic, e-mail [e-mail].

Our View: Sen. Craig owes Idahoans an explanation

[romantico]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 11:51am

I suppose in a way I should feel sorry for this man. A self loathing gay man on the inside and a homophobic Republican Senator on the outside. Just wait. I bet he will go into rehab or a camp where they convert you like they did Hagert (or was it Foley? Man, I get them all confused)I would be surprised if he resigns.

Posted: 8/28/07 at 11:59am

i wonder how many times he's been busted in the past & been released when he revealed he's a senator/congrressman. in the detailed report, the officer mentions how Craig pulled out his business card & said to the officer "what do you think of that?", & it gives me the impression that he's been in that situation before...& showing his credentials was enough to get him released.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 11:59am

They always go into seclusion with their families, and then emerge pale, shaken, and oh-so-remorseful to announce a religious conversion, a substance abuse problem, or preferably (from an image repair standpoint), both.

What these cases -- irony intended -- consistently do is reinforce Lavender Scare 50's hysteria that equate normal gay sexuality with extreme shame and an Advise and Consent-like secret "lifestyle." As much as I loathe McGreevey and his coming out under duress, at least the jerk admitted he's a real c--ks--er. ("once, you're curious, twice, it's a coincidence, three times you LOVE it!" Let's hear for those who love it.) On the scale, that gives him a slight -- only the slightest -- edge.

Otherwise, we get red state voters tsk-tsking about their elected hypocrites, but still clinging to their sanctimonious view that gays are deep down just good straight folk who morally strayed (exhibit A: Rev. Ted). We can savor the humiliation, and see the role these scandals play in elections, but I fear they don't help the gay cause as much as anyone would hope.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 12:09pm

They don't necessarily help the gay cause, but they certainly hurt the anti-gay cause.

Updated On: 8/28/07 at 12:09 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 12:17pm

The arresting officer. Now we know what sets Larry's toe a-tapping...

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 12:29pm

That officer looks like he could be Larry's son!

..Interesting.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 12:34pm

Lindsey Lohan has invited Craig to join him in rehab.

Also, his plane first stopped in Colorado so he could get some guidance:


Updated On: 8/28/07 at 12:34 PM

[madbrian]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 12:43pm

This link has many of the details of the arrest, some of which have been already posted, but this seems pretty comprehensive:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/28/craig.arrest/index.html

[Auggie27]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 12:49pm

I've always wanted to see the training film/manual for vice cops like the gentleman above. Does it include grooming tips?

Are they taught by retired (!) tea room queens, or some straight but curious blokes who broke the code?

And by the way, it's time for the good Senator to at least watch the first 20 minutes of FAR FROM HEAVEN. ("The cops should've gotten that ... that LOITERER!") The movie is set in the 50s, where his shame-based approach to his yen remains.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 1:09pm

Later, when he was interviewed by police, the senator said "he has a wide stance when going to the bathroom" and that was why his foot may have touched the officer's, the report said.

------------------------------

After Craig ran his hand underneath the partition wall three times, Karsnia held his police identification down by the floor so the senator could see it, the report said.

"With my left hand near the floor, I pointed towards the exit. Craig responded, 'No!'

"I again pointed towards the exit. Craig exited the stall with his roller bags without flushing the toilet," Karsnia wrote.

------------------------------

Give me a F*CKing break. What a stupid pathetic F*CK. Jesus, this has been going on since 1982. This man must hate himself so much.

Updated On: 8/28/07 at 01:09 PM

[DG]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 1:53pm

No sympathy here. At all.

His voting record is part of the reason I live a restricted life. Get him out of office NOW, and anyone else like him.

What happens then is of no concern or interest to me.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 2:30pm

And here is a news report recreating the encounter!
Sex in the bathroom

[robbiej]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 2:39pm

I mean...

There was so much wrong with that news report, I don't know where to start.

Yes I do.

THOSE SANDALS!!!

[Calvin]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 2:40pm

He even LOOKS like Idaho: whitebread, non-descript and you couldn't pay me to go there!

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 2:40pm

Although, from the previous reports, I got the impression that Craig was standing.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 2:45pm

JohnBoy--you're "straight" and a Republican.

Tell us how you guys have bathroom sex.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 2:51pm

PalJoey, you keep confusing me with someone else. I voted Republican once, in my entire voting life (a long time), and that was for Frank Rizzo when he re-ran as Mayor of Philadelphia. That's it. So, your obsession with Republicans and their sexual habits will have to be sated by someone else.

[robbiej]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 2:54pm

Sorry, Johnboy, but it's like SHOWBOAT.

One drop of Negro blood...

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 2:56pm

JohnBoy is a Gay Octoroon!

[Calvin]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 3:00pm

I voted in a Republican primary once (don't ask) but have not yet gotten my loo-tryst urges. When should I expect them to begin?

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 3:01pm

Sorry, Johnboy, but it's like SHOWBOAT.

One drop of Negro blood...

LOL!! Please, however, do NOT associate me with that do-nothingest of parties, the Democrats!

Posted: 8/28/07 at 3:04pm

THERE'S A PRESS CONFERENCE COMING!

Place your bets- is it Resignation & Rehab or Denial and Denunciation?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 3:06pm

I vote for rehab.