Republican senator Larry Craig of Idaho has quit the Romney campaign after the revelation surfaced that he was arrested in June for allegedly propositioning a plainclothes cop for sex in an airport men's room known for sexual activity. Roll Call quotes the arrest report: "At 1216 hours, Craig tapped his right foot. I recognized this as a signal used by persons wishing to engage in lewd conduct.
Craig, who is married, is now doing all kinds of backtracking and trying to defend his guilty plea on his website, but the damage is pretty much done. A YouTube video of Craig praising Romney's "family values" has been yanked.
On one hand, you have to pity a public figure so desperate that he'll recklessly endanger his whole political career and his colleagues' for a Minneapolis bathroom quickie.
And yet, Andrew Sullivan writes, "My sympathy vanishes when it comes to people who support amending the Constitution to ban gay marriage, as Craig did."
Which is a good point. So all that's left to feel is glee that such base hypocrisy has come to light.
Reader Comments ( Page 5 of 5)
61. Fox News doesn't need to dig hard for anything on Democrats. Fox News is very good in making up lies and make news out of them.
Faye at 10:17AM on Aug 29th 2007
62. Someone's private life really isn't the public business. HOWEVER, when someone like Senator Craig goes out of their way in the public realm to decry gays and lesbians for wanting equal rights to marry, his personal life in this case should be demonstrative of the fact that a)he's got issues serious enough to question his integrity in his position, hypocrisy notwithstanding and b)the fact that these people think its okay to play in the personal life and preach to the rest of us just tells me that there really isn't anything to the whole family values spiel except empty rhetoric. People who actually live by family values do not need to preach them; they lead by example! Bill Clinton certainly had his issues but he and his wife chose to stay married....a tough route in today's society considering everyone's voyeurism.
Suzanne at 10:29AM on Aug 29th 2007
63. Typical repub. Everytime when one of their high moral value members is caught doing nauty things, they bring up Hillary's or Bill's name. When are you republicans going to start taking responsiblities for your own wrong doings and stop blaming anyone or evading the issues by bringing up someone else's name. Lary Craig is guilty by his own admission or are you rebpubs blaming Democrats for that,too.
Faye at 10:29AM on Aug 29th 2007
64. pity the guy with restless leg syndrome
dicky netherton at 10:40AM on Aug 29th 2007
65. Let's get a grip. What exactly did Craig plead guilty to? Certainly not a lewd act or other sexual crime but disorderly conduct. Is this the first time a person has pled out a case to "make it go away"? It happens every day in every jurisdiction. I've read many comments that refer to the numerous rumors that have been floating around for years. Rumors are just that, I sure hope I''m not judged by rumors that may have been started by folks who have it in for me for my political or religious beliefs. Politics being what it is today, Craigs public service life may be over but I for one won't judge him on the flimsy evidence so far offered. (And yes, I've read the police report.)
Joe Edgington at 11:09AM on Aug 29th 2007
66. I heard his press conference, and what struck me as odd, as he used the statement, " I do not go cruising for men" and "I would not do it in Cheyenne, Wyoming". I find it interesting that he used Wyoming as the state where Matthew Sheppard was murdered 11 years ago. He may not have had any idea of the foot tapping "code", but to use the term "cruising for men" and the state of Wyoming is what made me think twice.
Jim at 2:39PM on Aug 29th 2007
67. Interesting thing for everyone to think about........should not police officers patrolling the airports be spending their time detecting possible terrorists and protecting our safety rather than hanging out in the bathrooms trying to catch some closeted republican looking for a quickie? I feel much safer in the MPLS airport now that I know the police on on the job looking for perverts rather than terrorists - - that will certainly make air travel safer!!!!
David at 4:02PM on Aug 29th 2007
68. Gays who slink around bathrooms staring at heterosexual men and children while they sit on the toilet ought to be put in prison where they'll learn a lesson.
Erin at 9:01PM on Aug 29th 2007
69. He's a closet gay, he just will not admit it. And he is also an enemy of veterans, saying basically that PTSD doesn't exist. He wanted to cancel benefits for veterans drawing disability for PTSD. I say we cancel his pension for being a prevert and a liar.
victor58 at 10:26PM on Oct 26th 2007
70. To all the men here, think about it. When you go into a public restroom, how do you determine if there's someone occupying a stall? You look UNDER, not through a crack. If someone put his friggin feet in my stall, I'd tell him to knock it the hell off. He pled guilty to the lesser charge so one of homosexuality wouldn't be on his record, how can anyone defend this guy, he is a pathological liar and sex addict.
victor58 at 10:31PM on Oct 26th 2007