As if the Larry Craig affair wasn't surreal enough, now he's gone out and stated in a press conference: "I am not gay. I never have been gay." He might have just as well called the dogs out on himself.I don't care if he's gay. I do care if he does stupid things like cruise public men's rooms looking for anonymous sex. It's a scandal, and blackmail, just waiting to happen. And after the Mark Foley kerfuffle, it's even stupider than it usually is.
There have been questions about Craig's sexuality for many, many years. It started after his first divorce, when he was investigated by the FBI for possible involvement in the abuse of male Congressional pages (remember Gary Studds). The latest incident happened last year, when a gay activist blogger claimed that he had relations with Craig in, of all places, a public men's room!
In this day and age, it was foolish for Craig to think that he could plead out the current case to a lesser charge, and no-one would find out about it. Not if you're a Republican, at least. I'm surprised that it's taken so long to come out (no pun int...oh, never mind).
Democrat Senator Gary Hart was running for president in 1988 when he was asked about his womanizing ways by reporters (he was supposedly happily married at the time). Hart never directly answered the question, but rather challenged the press to provide evidence of his discretions. That was like throwing red meat to a pit-bull. The press proved it, and Hart left the campaign.
Craig has essentially done the same thing today by denying that he is, or ever was, gay. I'm assuming that his denial includes bisexuality. The press is going to have a field day with this.
The best line of this whole thing comes from The Politico's Mike Allen, who had a Republican acquaintance tell him this morning: " On the bright side, we Republicans are running out of incumbents to embarrass us.'"
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Ha... gary hart had a beautiful blond woman on his lap..
This freak is wiping @#$% off his chin...
Manfred at 10:51PM on Aug 28th 2007
2. Senator Hart's problems did not involve hiding a plea to a criminal conviction, and then denying guilt after the conviction became public. Hart apologized for his conduct on national television. He paid a huge price for what many of today's presidential candidates and political leaders do on a regular basis. Hart has stayed married to Lee Hart, and is 70 years old and continues to devote his time to public service, albeit as a private citizen.
It's time for the press to stop using Gary Hart as a Dicken's figure everytime an issue of infidelity or in Craig's case a plea bargain to a criminal charge that initially involved lewd behavior in a public place makes the news.
Hart has paid his dues more than any other politician in the last century for his mistake. Leave him alone already.
Neal Taslitz, Esq.
NTaslitz at 11:42AM on Aug 29th 2007
3. I agree with Neal's sentiment. First of all,Patrick has his facts wrong about the Gary Hart incident. The Miami Herald's invasion of Sen. Hart's privacy occurred prior to publication of his supposed challenge to "the press to provide evidence of his discretions (sic)." The Herald was acting solely on an anonymous tip and, in the end, never found any actual wrongdoing. Second, Hart left the campaign to retreat to his family, which has remained intact for almost 50 years now. That was 20 years ago. Give it up, for God's sake! Leave the good man alone.
Tomas at 2:10PM on Aug 29th 2007
4. I agree with Neal's sentiment. First of all,Patrick has his facts wrong about the Gary Hart incident. The Miami Herald's invasion of Sen. Hart's privacy occurred prior to publication of his supposed challenge to "the press to provide evidence of his discretions (sic)." The Herald was acting solely on an anonymous tip and, in the end, never found any actual wrongdoing. Second, Hart left the campaign to retreat to his family, which has remained intact for almost 50 years now. That was 20 years ago. Give it up, for God's sake! Leave the good man alone.
Tomas at 7:11PM on Aug 29th 2007
5. Senator Larry Craig is an American Hero! He's also my babysitter...
Senator Larry Craig deserves a Second Chance
Randy at 7:32PM on Sep 11th 2007