Posted on 08/27/2007 4:39:28 PM PDT by Screamname
Sen. Larry Craig Caught With His Pants Down
The Nation -- Republican Idaho Senator Larry Craig is the latest Conflicted Conservative in Crisis to be caught with his pants down. According to Roll Call , Craig was arrested in June at a Minnesota airport by a plainclothes police officer investigating lewd conduct complaints in a men's public restroom. He has pleaded guilty to the charge.
Craig has faced pointed rumors of same-sex affairs in the past. Craig responded to these allegations with strident denials. Now, as details of Craig's recent arrest emerge, he seems increasinly cockeyed, so to speak.
This story would not matter if Craig wasn't using his position to advance the Republican Party's officially homophobic agenda. In November, 2006, Craig flamboyantly endorsed Idaho's successful anti-gay constitutional amendment, HJR 2, which banned gay marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships in his state. Pam Spaulding has more background on Craig's anti-gay voting record here. It's also worth recalling Craig's 1999 interview with Tim Russert in which he mocked Bill Clinton as a "naughty boy" for his affair with Monica Lewinsky.
Craig is up for re-election in 2008. Will his carnality in public restrooms put an end to his career in public life? Idaho conservatives may be willing to reward bigotry, but lying is another matter.
Here's the full story on Craig's men's room exploits, according to the sub-only Roll Call: According to the incident report, Sgt. Dave Karsnia was working as a plainclothes officer on June 11 investigating civilian complaints regarding sexual activity in the men's public restroom in which Craig was arrested.
Airport police previously had made numerous arrests in the men's restroom of the Northstar Crossing in the Lindbergh Terminal in connection with sexual activity.
Karsnia entered the bathroom at noon that day and about 13 minutes after taking a seat in a stall, he stated he could see "an older white male with grey hair standing outside my stall."
The man, who lingered in front of the stall for two minutes, was later identified as Craig.
"I could see Craig look through the crack in the door from his position. Craig would look down at his hands, 'fidget' with his fingers, and then look through the crack into my stall again. Craig would repeat this cycle for about two minutes," the report states.
Craig then entered the stall next to Karsnia's and placed his roller bag against the front of the stall door.
"My experience has shown that individuals engaging in lewd conduct use their bags to block the view from the front of their stall," Karsnia stated in his report. "From my seated position, I could observe the shoes and ankles of Craig seated to the left of me."
Craig was wearing dress pants with black dress shoes.
"At 1216 hours, Craig tapped his right foot. I recognized this as a signal used by persons wishing to engage in lewd conduct. Craig tapped his toes several times and moves his foot closer to my foot. I moved my foot up and down slowly. While this was occurring, the male in the stall to my right was still present. I could hear several unknown persons in the restroom that appeared to use the restroom for its intended use. The presence of others did not seem to deter Craig as he moved his right foot so that it touched the side of my left foot which was within my stall area," the report states.
Craig then proceeded to swipe his hand under the stall divider several times, and Karsnia noted in his report that "I could ... see Craig had a gold ring on his ring finger as his hand was on my side of the stall divider."
Karsnia then held his police identification down by the floor so that Craig could see it.
"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. ... Craig said he would not go. I told Craig that he was under arrest, he had to go, and that I didn't want to make a scene. Craig then left the restroom."
In a recorded interview after his arrest, Craig "either disagreed with me or 'didn't recall' the events as they happened," the report states.
Craig stated "that he has a wide stance when going to the bathroom and that his foot may have touched mine," the report states. Craig also told the arresting officer that he reached down with his right hand to pick up a piece of paper that was on the floor.
"It should be noted that there was not a piece of paper on the bathroom floor, nor did Craig pick up a piece of paper," the arresting officer said in the report.
On Aug. 8, the day he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in the Minnesota court, Craig appeared via satellite at a ceremony that took place in Idaho in which former Idaho federal Judge Randy Smith was invested into his new position as a judge on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
At least its out now and now 3-4 months before the election(foley)
Craig apparently made certain movements that the policeman recognized as being signals between homosexuals. Was this illegal if the senator hadn’t read the handout?
Sheesh.
If he doesn’t it will just mean it is one less sleeze we have to listen and hear about. I dont’ care what party it is...this was wrong.
I thought Republicans were Anti-Gay? Am I missing something here? The GOP apparently has Gays in High Places. And the Main Stream media rather than saying, The Republicans are not the narrow minded Cretins we make them out to be. Instead say another “Fag Republican” was caught. What gives?
The Demorats love Gays until they are members of the GOP. Then they are dirty scoundrels? Two faced liars and hypocrits. That’s what the Demorats are today. They hurl the Gay Insult when a GOP member is outed. If they out themselves as Demorats they are courageous. Otherwise they are Sexual Deviants.
Is Derek Jeter gay??????
No but apparently, well, according to one of Jessica Alba’s former personal assistants he’s been “giving the gift that keeps on giving”
OK, here is my latest conspiracy theory... enjoy!
Homosexuals are deliberately infiltrating the GOP so they can say either (1) See, we’re gay and we’re Republicans, too! or (2) They can claim to be anti-homosexual agenda politicians, and then when they are caught, it makes the GOP look like the party of hypocrites.
Either way it advances the homosexual agenda.
Well, that didnt take long....first word.
Homophobic agenda? That's a loaded term. Fair and balanced this article is not.
Moreover, why should this story matter only because of the senator's party affiliation? If a Democrat were to violate the law in the same way, he should receive the same attention from the press. Or he would if the press were honest.
The Tampa Bay cheerleaders might just change your mind.
I lived in Tampa for about 6 years and yes there are many very nice specimens there, I still wouldn’t care to have sex in a public restroom with any of them much less a perfect stranger male.
What you said is true. The GOP has lost all my respect. They are so weak it is pitiful. Latest example: Gonzales stepping down. Why not stand tall and fight? It’s the same old thing all the time. I just don’t care anymore ... I know I should but...I just don’t even want to look at any of these politicians anymore on EITHER SIDE. They disgust me.
Socialism is probably coming to the U.S. very soon, and this will continue to make U.S. politics at every level much worse everyday on all of the issues! The Democrats will probably end up controlling everything important politically starting in January ‘09. This super-majority of Democrats will allow amnesty for illegal immigrants to happen permanently. All of the future U.S. problems with many more endless waves of illegal immigrants coming here and then many of them also registering to vote while they are here in the U.S. will only kill off both the Republican Party and all of conservatism! Where’s this country’s future if nearly all of one’s well earned money ends up going to support the U.S. illegal immigration population forever? All of us might as well not even work anymore, and everybody should just go onto the welfare rolls if everything mentioned above does become true! Conservatives at every political level must fully point out all of these things to the majority of the general public prior to November 4, 2008 before we all lose this country to socialism forever.
I believe the saying is "he who represents his self represents a fool."
I thought liberals loved this type of behavior and even encouraged it.
Foley will resign while William Jefferson (D-LA) continues to serve.
I meant Craig will resign
Yeah, until Jefferson resigns, no Republican ought to resign.
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