So here is what disgraced Senator Larry Craig did. He placed his bag down in front of the airport bathroom door. He went tap, tap, tap with his foot. He reached over with his left hand and touched the leg of the fellow in the next stall. After that he did...well, nothing. The officer confronted him and accused him of soliciting, and Craig pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and paid the fine.
Here, to get a little perspective, is what Congressman Barney Frank did several years ago. He answered a personal ad in the Washington Blade in which a male prostitute, Stephen Gobie, drew public attention to his "hot bottom" and "large endowment." Frank began to pay Gobie for sex and even invited Gobie to move in with him. When the arrangement soured, Gobie revealed to the press that he had been running a full-service prostitution ring out of Frank's Capitol Hill apartment.
Why then is Craig on the ropes while Frank continues as a Congressman in good standing? Certainly the difference isn't homosexuality, which seems to be a common factor in both cases. Nor can the explanation be found in the gravity of the offense involved. Craig's is much less serious, since the worst he did was proposition another adult to have sex, not exactly the first time in history that this has happened. Frank, by contrast, was employing a male hooker for paid favors and providing operating facilities for a D.C. prostitution ring.
I suppose the difference is that Craig has been a champion of moral values--which makes him vulnerable to the charge of hypocrisy--while Frank is a libertine which means he gets to do as he pleases. (Bill Clinton and Ted Kennedy are also given free passes for similar reasons.) Another difference, as far as the mainstream media is concerned, is that Craig is a Republican. If you're looking for two-faced people who abuse their power, Craig may not be the greatest offender here.
Reader Comments ( Page 4 of 12)
46. The Senator sat on the throne, the cop was to his right and the Senator used his LEFT hand to make contacft with the Cop? I mean why would he get into an awkward position while using his LEFT hand to reach over to the RIGHT stall? Cop said he saw a wedding band.
I am beginning to think that this whole story as told by the cop is BULL@@@@!
basbleu at 9:10AM on Sep 1st 2007
47. The difference, to me anyway, is that THESE politicians....Duke Cunningham, Mark Foley...(Florida Republican Senator that headed up the caucus for the fight against internet predators then got busted for BEING an internet predator) David Vitter...(Louisiana Republican Senator who used "the sanctity of marriage" and "family values" as his platform for re-election, then went on to make the headlines when he was connected with the D.C. Madam....coincedentally, Vitter has NOT resigned) and now Republican Senator Craig, all speak out publicly AGAINST gay rights, and FOR "family values". (Let's not forget the "honorable Reverend" Ted Haggard, although he wasn't a politician, he WAS instrumental in shoring up the evangelical vote in 2004, participating in weekly meetings with George Bush, preaching from his pulpit that homosexuality was a sin. This married father of five went on to have an affair with a Colorado "massage-therapist" who also supplied the fine Reverend's crystal meth.) The entire Republican party used Christianity and religion as a platform in the 2004 elections. That's what bothers me the most. When you announce to the world that you belong to "God's party", when you insist on mixing politics and religion, this is what happens.
Penelope at 9:12AM on Sep 1st 2007
48. The claim that Frank had knowledge of what his then paramour was doing out of that apartment is highly questionable. Frank, a single gay male who never pretended anything approaching Larry Craigs hypocracy.
Now a 1982 case is being revisited, in which a then teen page claimed to have had 'S-E-X' with Craig, the lawyer is opening up that boil on the arse of the now much reviled Craig.
Yes D'Souza, seems the Dems are great Christians, very moral in that they do not, like their Republican oh so conservative, moralistic, braces on the brain rivals throw their fellow under the bus, totaly disavowing any and all past friendships.
Much as I hate to say it, Craig served his party extremely well. His voting record would seem to support his far right leanings which are fully in line with the most conservative of them. That poor guy is now reviled by those demonstrating no compassion for what may be a compulssion. Poor Craig and his family, confilicted, demoralizedd and repulsed.
Meanwhile on the Dem side, oh so Frank is -G-a-y, BFD! And the sun shines, the birdies sing and all is well with the world---tra la, tra la- tra la!!!!
Steve at 9:18AM on Sep 1st 2007
49. Comparing Barney Frank to Craig is like comparing an objective journalist with you. Barney Frank is a confessed homosexual while Craig is a wolf in sheeps clothing. He persecutes homosexuals legislatively,even marries, all to get elected, while secretly living a life contrary to what comes out of his mouth. He has been caught before. You in the same way talk about truth while spewing out right wing propaganda for your own gain. The right is always looking for the Rush Limbaughs and the Ann Coulters to lie and invent their verbal garbage for the ignorant and the callous. Seig heil Mr D'Souza !
Rick at 9:26AM on Sep 1st 2007
50. The big difference is, that no matter what the odd behavior, Democrats circle the wagons to protect their perverts, we Republicans do everything we can to oust our perverts. There is no hypocrisy, every time a Republican does something morally wrong, it ends his career, and if it were a couple hundred years ago, Craig would have been physically driven out of washington by an angry mob. By contrast, Dems either try to cover up or justify their party's weirdos. This is why the Democrats have become tainted and are dying from within. If you had cancer, would you just say, "Cancer is a part of natue, and entitled to destroy my body", or would you seek medical treatment to have it removed, so you could be healthy? Duh!
Dave at 10:01AM on Sep 1st 2007
51. The reason libertines get a pass, my superficial observer, is that they promote freedom of the individual. The other side promotes my enslavement to their life choices, not the freedom to practice my own. Thus, libertines do not abusse their power. That is the real difference. Having said that, it is indeed rediculous that Craig is getting "screwed." It should be strictly between him and God, Him and his family and friends, and between him and the voters. That would be the consistent "libertine" approach.
Stuart Steinman at 1:35PM on Sep 2nd 2007
52. [[Furthermore, I think it is fair to say most Democrats don't think there is anything wrong with being gay.]]
Probably most Americans DO frown on running a prostitution service out of your home, though. Otherwise they would do it themselves in order to pay for college, say.
OomYaaqub at 10:21AM on Sep 1st 2007
53. Well Duh (I tend to say this a lot when reading Dinesh), Frank is still there because he did not resign and was lucky enough to live in a district where he will be re-elected. He could have killed the male prostitute and probably still been re-elected.
davi at 10:29AM on Sep 1st 2007
54. [[If conservatives want to do Larry Craig a favor they would quietly wait for it blow over.]]
No pun intended, of course.
OomYaaqub at 10:24AM on Sep 1st 2007
55. This D'Souza guy has an annoying habit of not reading and/or presenting all the details and facts of a case, thereby making false arguments. His statement that Frank ran "operating facilities for a D.C. prostitution ring" is completely WRONG. D'Souza first assumes that the prostitution ring happened and then that Frank was complicit. Both of these things have been refuted by third-party sworn testimony (Frank's landlord and the telephone company). http://mediamatters.org/items/200708300008
When Frank found out Gobie was bringing clients back to his house Frank ended the relationship and reported the incident to the House Ethics Committee and even REQUESTED them to initiate an investigation. After a 10 month probe the committee found no evidence that an escort service was being run out of Frank's home. On the contrary, they found evidence that contradicted Gobie's claim of a prostitution ring and cleared Frank of this accusation.
So it didn't happen. But D'Souza wishes it did.
Frank freely admitted everything that happened. Craig is covering everything up with pathetic lies and denials and has shown everyone his dishonesty and lack of integrity on how he handles the situation. His audio interview with the undercover cop really is an embarrassment to anyone with half a brain.
But D'Souza really likes to go way back in time to make a point doesn't he? Frank's incident occurred in '89. Why doesn't D'Souza give a more recent example that's also comparable to Frank's scandal as well? David Vitter. He and Frank both hired hookers. Why isn't D'Souza asking why Vitter is still in office? Because you can't attack one of your own, of course. Purely partisan politics.
And why did they give Vitter a standing ovation after his guilty admission of marital infidelity? That seems very bizarre considering their platform of family values. Maybe they were moved by the brutal honesty of the confession, since telling the truth is so alien to most of them.
george at 10:36AM on Sep 1st 2007
56. Weak men are weak men, no matter what party they represent and whether they're gay or straight. Since you've chosen to approach this as a partisan issue, so will I. Seems to me most democrats don't care about politicians personal pecadillos as long as they don't impede their ability to run the country. On the other hand, the republicans seem more concerned with the way a politician conducts his personal life than how he conducts his job (with the possible exceptions of Guiliani and Fred Thompson).
The only people who have rushed to judgement on this one are the Republicans themselves.
So your question is specious at best.
queenie at 10:51AM on Sep 1st 2007
57. you can almost hear ol' DD talking to himself:
DD1: it's not fair that a conservative such as larry craig has to resign for doing something icky in a men's room and liberal barney frank, who did the same kind of thing, is still in office.
DD2: well, larry craig doesn't have to resign if he doesn't want to. nobody's expelling him from the senate.
DD1: but craig is under intense pressure to resign; it's almost like being expelled.
DD2: but the pressure on craig to resign is coming from conservatives, not liberals. liberals are being real quiet on this one.
DD1: liberals are being quiet because they have no family values. they're the ones who let icky barney frank stay in office.
DD2: but i thought you said that the pressure on craig to resign is unfair.
DD1: it is! barney frank isn't being pressured to resign.
DD2: but the pressure on craig to resign is coming from family-values conservatives, not from permissive liberals.
DD1: i know. that's why i like family-values conservatives. they won't put up with icky people like sen. craig.
DD2: then why do you think the pressure on craig to resign is unfair.
DD1: i dunno. gimme a minute to think...
[repeat in endless cycle until next blog deadline]
slowbadhands at 10:52AM on Sep 1st 2007
58. Slowbands - great comment! You are funny and smart, and would be a far better commentator than Dinesh.
Conservatives always think its unfair that they can't dictate everyone's morals, behavior and thoughts. They end up shooting themselves in the foot over it.
JWinn at 11:20AM on Sep 1st 2007
59. The repubs want him out because him staying around would exposed them as the hypercritics they are instead of the moral party they are not. Frank is in because he never called out someone of their morals like this loser did when he and Ken Starr made it their life work to impeach Clinton for lying about his little thing with Monica. Clinton should have told the truth and been finish with it. Craig is stating "he ain't gay" because he got "caught with his pants down" in a public place. Now he want people to believe that he sleeps with his wife. Please, Craig, stick a fork into yourself because you are done, dude!
Ray at 11:40AM on Sep 1st 2007
60. Dinesh you are a hoot. Attributing the demise of Craig's career to democrats is patently false. Which of course is SOP Standard Operating Procedure for republicans. Attempting to justify the actions of Craig By making comparisons to otherws indiscretions is flawed and immature. I guess your mommy never taught you that two wrongs don't make a right. The Republican s devoured Craig because they know he will be replaced by a republican in the senate because the Governor of Idaho is a republican. If the Governor of Idaho were a democrat; I have no doubt the GOP would rally around the old pervert.
Soothesayer at 11:54AM on Sep 1st 2007