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Craig leaves door open to remain in Senate
Idaho Statesman ^ | Sept 5, 2007 | Erika Bolstad and Gregory Hahn

Posted on 09/05/2007 7:42:05 AM PDT by Jeff Head

Craig chose his words carefully during his resignation speech Saturday in Boise, according to a voice mail message he mistakenly left on a stranger's phone.

In that message obtained by the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call, Craig tells a man named "Billy" that his choice of language is deliberate because it leaves the door open for him to stay in office.

Craig made the call just minutes before his speech.

"We have reshaped my statement a little bit to say it is my intent to resign on Sept. 30," Craig said. "I think it is important for you to make as bold a statement as you are comfortable with this afternoon, and I would hope you could make it in front of the cameras. I think it would help drive the story that I'm willing to fight, that I've got quality people out there fighting in my defense, and that this thing could take a new turn or a new shape; it has that potential."

He said Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., had encouraged him to fight.

The recording was offered for sale to the Idaho Statesman, which turned it down because the newspaper's ethics policy precludes it from paying for information from sources. A Roll Call editor said that publication wouldn't pay either, but it managed to obtain the recording without charge.

The voice is indeed Craig's, spokesman Dan Whiting said. Whiting would not say who "Billy" is. On Saturday, Craig announced that he had hired high-profile criminal defense lawyer Billy Martin to help him unravel the guilty plea he filed last month.

(Excerpt) Read more at idahostatesman.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Idaho
KEYWORDS: larrycraig; senateresignation; sexscandal; uhohstalldooropen; ussentae; widestance
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To: mewzilla

Both need to go. Ditto Bond, Grassley, Lugar, etc.


21 posted on 09/05/2007 8:02:00 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Go Hawks !)
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To: Jeff Head

Voice-mail transcript
Here’s what Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, said in a voice-mail message he mistakenly left at an incorrect phone number Saturday morning:

Yes, Billy, this is Larry Craig calling. You can reach me on my cell. Arlen Specter is now willing to come out in my defense, arguing that it appears by all that he knows that I have been railroaded and all that. Having all of that, we have reshaped my statement a little bit to say it is my intent to resign on Sept. 30. I think it is important for you to make as bold a statement as you are comfortable with this afternoon, and I would hope you could make it in front of the cameras. I think it would help drive the story that I’m willing to fight, that I’ve got quality people out there fighting in my defense, and that this thing could take a new turn or a new shape; it has that potential. Anyway, give me a buzz or give Mike a buzz on that. We’re headed to my press conference now. Thank you. Bye.


22 posted on 09/05/2007 8:02:48 AM PDT by California74
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To: patton
What astounds me, is after all those years in congress, Craig did not know that he was immune to arrest.

Only immune (from detention) if traveling to attend a session of congress. He was headed home.

23 posted on 09/05/2007 8:03:02 AM PDT by Ditto (Global Warming: The 21st Century's Snake Oil)
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To: Jeff Head
When Craig gave his resigning announcement to the press he said:”I INTEND to resign at the end of September” I thought “how Clintonesque of him.” He left the door wide open. He actually said nothing at all. Typical politician.
24 posted on 09/05/2007 8:03:30 AM PDT by 4yearlurker (Sorry Mr. BOR.)
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To: Jeff Head

You’re headline? There is no ‘e’ in leaving. I thought we weren’t supposed to make up headlines......we were supposed to use the exact one in your link.


25 posted on 09/05/2007 8:03:43 AM PDT by Fawn (http://www.brightlion.com/InHope/InHope_en.aspx)
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To: 4yearlurker

uh yeah. that’s what this is - POLITICS. You must listen carefully. It’s part of the game. ;)


26 posted on 09/05/2007 8:04:26 AM PDT by California74
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To: Fawn

FR allows the poster to make an editorial comment, following the headline, if he/she so wishes.


27 posted on 09/05/2007 8:06:06 AM PDT by jdm
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To: Jeff Head

Kind of bizarre and disturbing how he was plotting to weasel out of a statement before he made it. He should be called Larry “The Weasel” Craig.


28 posted on 09/05/2007 8:07:07 AM PDT by ArcadeQuarters
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To: Fawn
He pled guilty. He should sit down and go home. He will only make a worse spectacle of his (at best) horrible judgement, and end up hurintg his state and the nation.

If he privately, legally, wants to challenge his guilty plea and get off on what amounts to a loop hole...then that is his business. But he is going to drag the whole country through it with him.

29 posted on 09/05/2007 8:07:16 AM PDT by Jeff Head
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To: Jeff Head
I didn't think this situation could get any worse but now we have Craig weasling out, on tape, about how he may not resign afterwards. And explaining how carefully he worded his announcement to boot. Can the man show himself to be any more dihonest and disreputable?

Senator Craig, Go away. You're an embarrassment and your continued presence in DC is a scandal. We are not democrats. We do not not tolerate deviancy and call it normal. We do not expect perversion and deceit from our elected officials and when we find it we expel it. Go away.

30 posted on 09/05/2007 8:07:43 AM PDT by pgkdan (Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions - G.K. Chesterton)
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To: Jeff Head
Regarding the closet, this "leaves the door open."

Great, he's still in it, but now everyone can see him in there.

31 posted on 09/05/2007 8:09:01 AM PDT by Sax
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To: pgkdan

Senator Craig is not a deviant nor is he gay. The dems set him up and he fell for the trap...

and then stumbled and tangled himself up... and we’re watching him try to stay standing but it’s inevitable that pretty soon he’s going to fall.

Otherwise, I totally agree with you.


32 posted on 09/05/2007 8:10:53 AM PDT by California74
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To: Fawn

Did you mean “Your headline?” instead of “You’re headline?”
;)


33 posted on 09/05/2007 8:12:49 AM PDT by California74
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To: California74

Thanks for the whole transcript.


34 posted on 09/05/2007 8:13:49 AM PDT by Jeff Head
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To: Sax

LOL.

Stop it! He’s not gay!

If he were gay, or a propositioner, don’t you think every gay guy he fooled around with would be coming up from under the woodwork by now?


35 posted on 09/05/2007 8:14:03 AM PDT by California74
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To: 4yearlurker

Sadly, it is so.


36 posted on 09/05/2007 8:14:19 AM PDT by Jeff Head
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To: California74
Senator Craig is not a deviant nor is he gay. The dems set him up and he fell for the trap...

The fact that the Senator like to cruise men's rooms looking for anonymous sex has been an open secret for years. He was accused of soliciting sex by a gay man in DC several years ago. The only thing is that guy wasn't a cop. Larry Craig is a deviant and he is gay.

37 posted on 09/05/2007 8:14:32 AM PDT by pgkdan (Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions - G.K. Chesterton)
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To: Ditto
Only immune (from detention) if traveling to attend a session of congress.

Not true, it's to and from a session.

38 posted on 09/05/2007 8:14:43 AM PDT by Current Occupant (IF YOU ABANDON CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES, ARE YOU STILL A CONSERVATIVE?!)
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To: BinaryBoy

Yes it is...and it is not lost on the people here. IMHO, he is digging his hole deeper and should just step aside and allow the Governor to appoint someone to fill out the term. In my estimation, it is shameful what is hapopening.


39 posted on 09/05/2007 8:15:58 AM PDT by Jeff Head
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To: California74

Yes.....you’re right. ;0 I hate to see headlines spelled incorrectly....it sends a bad image. I’m just a poster so it’s ok...lol


40 posted on 09/05/2007 8:16:17 AM PDT by Fawn (http://www.brightlion.com/InHope/InHope_en.aspx)
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