Posted on 08/29/2007 7:03:12 AM PDT by teddyballgame
Idaho Senator Larry Craig obviously did a very bad thing in a men's restroom at the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport in June. Whatever took place between Senator Craig and an undercover police officer was bad enough that Senator Craig tried to hide it from everyone around him, public and private. It was bad enough that he pled guilty, hoping it would stay buried forever. There are many things about this affair that have made him politically radioactive, and fatally so. The press statement he gave to the media earlier Tuesday afternoon did not help make his predicament any less dire. In fact, it made it worse.
Senator Craig said very strongly that he did not do anything wrong, that he is not gay, and that he is not ruling out running for re-election next November. Here's what else Senator Craig has not done.
He has not estimated highly enough that his 'I shoulda hired a lawyer instead of trying to solve this myself' excuse doesn't fly with the American people.
(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...
You’re not alone. Heck, I’ve tried taking the easy way out before, only to have the problem arise blown much out of proportion than it was initially.
I want Craig to have the opportunity to face the accusing officer, and the Idaho paper that reportedly found that accuser ought be forced to reveal his name and Craig ought have an opportunity to confront those who accuse him. If the paper can’t or won’t, he should sue the living turd out of them.
I want to hear the officer’s perspective and especially if the officer first initiated the “contact”. I’d also like to know more about the “officer’s” background, political persuasion, sexual orientation, etc. before crucifying Craig.
Personally, I’m fed up with this crap of “he said, she said” and those accused are left no recourse for their defense while the MSM destroys their life by heaping allegations upon allegations.
I’m not handing down judgement one way or the other but just wonder - why did this come out now, and why are they calling for this Republican’s resignation when at least one known Democrat homosexual has been firmly enscounced in Congress for years?
Of course we toe the line morally better than the DINOcraps, but whoa! I’m not convinced this actually took place. It is the word of two guys here. Does one of them have a quota to maintain (ugh! what a job!)? Or does one of them throw years of a fine career in Washington away in a very stupid way? I think it all remains to be seen.
Thank you. As I said earlier, I feel like post #51.
The Republicans must never sink to that level.
I don't believe in applying double standards.
The problem with the Sherwood situation wasn’t the affair itself (since any member could survive something as pedestrian as that if they owned up and asked for forgiveness), but that he decided to play “choke-a-bitch” with her in a hotel room. Any Republican that thinks they can get away with such displays of violence is going to be toast — even in a heavily GOP district (indeed, with his defeat, that was the first time in 48 years a rodent won the seat). I cannot understand why the GOP didn’t shuffle him out as soon as that happened. The sole reason why he didn’t lose renomination was because a far-left moonbat challenged him as a Republican, but had it been a mainstream Conservative, he would’ve probably lost, and we would’ve retained the seat.
{cannot understand why the GOP didn’t shuffle him out as soon as that happened.}
Very good question. It shows just how inadept our ledaership is. While Clinton was President, the GOP Congress was careful not to give the Clintons any cheap ammo. But when the GOP controlled everything in 2002, Republicans felt it was party time. As a result, we got smacked down in 2006. Sadly, many Republicans still think it’s party time.
The GOP needs to fish this turd (Craig) out of the Party punchbowl, and flush it down the toilet bowl into the sewer, where he so clearly belongs.
I believe the 'whys' have been answered by some here already. I do on the other hand believe in being 'active' (judgemental if you will). If we Social Conservatives don't hold their feet to the fire, WHO WILL?... The MSM?... or any media for that matter?...
No, we should be ACTIVE and demand on certain standards that makes us different from the Left, imo. But if you don't agree with me, that is fine too.
Sure, Republicans/Conservatives are held to higher regard than the less moral Democrat/Liberal - but that high regard also needs embody a sense of fairness and justice to look at the entire account before a judgment is levied.
I briefly caught NBC’s Today report of the “unsubstantiated allegations” and my wife and I were aghast questioning why they’d report a third-handed, unconfirmed allegation unless there was an underlying intention of maliciously damaging Craig’s career by manipulating public opinion.
If he doesn't resign, if there is no primary challenge, he will lose. The Democrats will simply run THE BEST FINANCED MOST CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE IN ALL OF IDAHO, at least until he gets elected. They've done it all over the place in '06 and will be doing it again in '08 anyway. They probably would have sat on this story about Craig until post-primary had it not slipped out now.
I agree with you. He did not violate any statute by placing his bag on the floor or touching someone's shoe or running his hand along the divider. And he was not up at the door crack leering in at the occupant. It isn't even like he followed the decoy in after making eye contact. Odd behavior is not criminal.
All the democrats have to do is get the ball rolling and the good 'ole republicans pick up the ball, defame & drive out another long term representative, leaving it ripe for democrat pickings.
Craig is not a 'pervert' and talk of this kind should be challenged by the GOP. Clinton did far more and survived to be the media darling of today.
I’d love to just pay them handsomely to stay away from DC. The more time they spend working on ‘the people’s business’ the more screwed we are.
What they steal is actually the least of our problems.
You are really missing the big picture.
If our pols are no better or no different than theirs, we won’t vote for them. How do we demand integrity of them and protect ours? We have to clean house.
Do you really want scum like this representing you? Do you want someone with a secret life like his making laws when he is subject to blackmail? Do you really think that there are any secrets in DC? People make a living out of uncovering secrets. It’s just a matter of time before the public knows and it depends on when their revelation is most useful.
It was a solid GOP district and the Stupid Party reasoned that he would easily win reelection. What they forgot was that their own voters wouldn’t tolerate him back in again.
Any Dem can get away with that. How many pubbies can?
The difference is that we have standards.
The key for me is that anyone hiding something can be pressured/blackmailed into voting for the wrong bill lest the secret be revealed.
If they cannot behave, they cannot be trusted. I won’t vote for them.
While not addressed to me I would like to resond to your post #95
New calls to clean house or go on the latest witch hunt fail to recognize that most informed voters alreadt screen for character.
Vendettas make the inquisator appear late to the standard of priciple.
We need to recognize that politians, clergy and allsorts of public people are no better than us or our fellows.
We all can find in our midst the flawed, the sick and the bad. We just need to deal with each as facts allow and quit letting the media dictate our temperature.
Well, you do have that “KC” thing going on. LOL
I disagree.
If the pol passed scrutiny and got elected and THEN becomes embroiled in unseemly behavior, do we ignore it?
Regardless of the MSM, Craig doesn’t even sound like he believes that he is innocent. Why should we?
I do agree that the pols are no better than us and would assert that they are usually much worse. We could do better by picking people at random from the phone book.
The main problem is we share a nation with a broad range of opinions. Those we pity and scorn are being made bishps by half our nation.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.