On Gays In The Military: Larry Craig Still A Hypocrite In Denial

The Democratic majority in Congress, although pitifully weak in many ways is trying to do at least a few positive things. Take for example, the hearings that can rid our armed forces of the ridiculous "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that demands outed troops be discharged. Thankfully the homophobes on Capitol Hill are becoming a small minority much like the general consensus around the country, where three out of four Americans believe we need to ditch the anti-gay policy. Though the haters are still there, including one who is still in serious denial about himself.

From ThinkProgress:

Today, the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel is holding the first congressional hearings on the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in 15 years. To mark the occasion, the conservative news outlet CNSNews.com asked some members of Congress if they still support the discriminatory program. Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID), who was busted last year for allegedly trying to pick up another male in an airport bathroom, said that he believes “we ought to sustain it“:

Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) told CNSNews.com, “Current policy has served us well. I think we ought to sustain it. I see no evidence that it should be repealed.”

Larry Craig wouldn't know if something served him well if it....eh, nevermind that. It really is sad that he hates himself and his sexuality that much that he has to take it out on thousands of our soldiers that do crucial work only to be discharged to the detriment of their fellow soldiers in the war zone. If people want to serve in the military, they should be able to do it while preserving their freedom of sexuality.

More Defending Marriage Hypocrisy From GOP

What two Republican Senators out there would be better to stand up and "defend marriage" than Larry Craig and David Vitter. Republicans are playing to their rabid base by introducing an amendment to the Constitution that would define marriage as that between a man and a woman.

Larry Craig, as you might remember from last year was caught in airport bathroom soliciting sexual activity from an undercover policeman. He has also been suspected of hitting for the other team in Washington for sometime.

Then there is David Vitter, who was outed as a Senator that frequented the D.C. Madam and had relations with at least one prostitute back in his home state of Louisiana. While Craig is still trying to fight off the charges that he had pled guilty to, Vitter was let go with little more than a slap on the wrist.

Thankfully this year the Democratic Party has the majority on the Hill, and this bill won't see the light of day. Then again, with the abominable FISA bill still afloat, you never really know these days.

Even Hollywood Types Mock Craig

The longer he's around, the more you will get to see videos like this one:

The Ghosts Of Larry Craig's Past

The conventional wisdom about Larry Craig is that as long as he stays in office, the more play the story about his personal life will get. Well, now that we are more than two months after his resignation date has past, the stories do indeed continue. The Idaho Statesman has come in contact with men that can refute his assertion that he is not gay. Their stories are a testament to the double life Craig refuses to admit to.

From The Idaho Statesman:

David Phillips is a 42-year-old information technology consultant in Washington, D.C., who says Craig picked him up at a gay club in 1986 and that they subsequently had sex.

Mike Jones is a former prostitute who told the world he had sex with the Rev. Ted Haggard last year. The former Colorado Springs evangelist at first denied it but eventually confessed. Jones says Craig paid him for sex in late 2004 or early 2005.

Greg Ruth was a 24-year-old college Republican in 1981 when he says he was hit on by Craig at a Republican meeting in Coeur d'Alene.

Tom Russell, now 48, is a former Nampa resident who lives in Utah. Russell said his encounter with Craig occurred at Bogus Basin in the early 1980s.

Another unidentified man claims he saw him trying to solicit sex in a men's room last year. Who knows how many more there are out there that for some reason or another, refuse to shed light on their trysts with Senator Craig.

The Senator isn't fooling anyone (well maybe a few die-hards that refuse to acknowledge the situation) about his double-life. Perhaps lying about his sexual needs and wants so many times has Larry believing his own stories. The whole thing is a sad affair, if only he would have just resigned and sought help to address the two lives he has been living. I know that it is always best to try and stick with one livelihood (whatever that may be) instead of lying to cover up something you feel ashamed about.

Regardless, anything printed about him continues to reflect poorly on Idaho, Republicans (of course this is only one scandal out of many) and especially on his family. If he cared about any of them, he'd have done the right thing after the story broke, not even on September 30th. The only thing Craig empathizes with is his false pride. What a shame.

Larry Craig Gets His Very Own Doll!

If you have ever been to NYC during the holiday season, you would know that at a few locations around the city (Union Sq, Columbus Circle, etc) they set up giant outdoor shopping cities in the open plaza area. Many, many vendors attend, but my favorite is the Unemployed Philosopher's Guild. They have the greatest little dolls, from Freud to the Axis of Evil (the ones in the White House that is). Now Larry Craig is certainly no philosopher but he joins the ranks of the many famed men and women that have had dolls modeled after them. From Page One News:

A novelty website is marketing a new toy figurine in the wake of this year's "toe-tapping" scandal involving Senator Larry Craig (R-ID).

(snip)

Stupid.com, selling the talking toy for $34.99, notes that its limbs are bendable, enabling one to pose the miniature Larry Craig into any number of positions, including the now famous "wide stance" Craig referred to during his June consultation with a Minneapolis police officer.

It may not be as admirable as the Monet or Shakespeare doll, but it certainly gets a laugh out of most. I wonder if anyone will get Larry a little Larry of his own?

Top Ten Moments Between Matt Lauer And Larry Craig

Some interesting things you might have missed from the "hard hitting" interview Matt Lauer conducted with Larry Craig and his wife:

Larry Craig, Profiling and Karma

Yes ladies and gentlemen, the Larry Craig saga continues. While Republican officials and operatives grimace at his face still being in the news, Craig won't stop defending himself to the public. He even sat down with (pretend journalist) Matt Lauer for an hour last night to prove he is innocent and not gay of course.

From RawStory:

In excerpts played on Wednesday's Today Show, Craig repeated his steadfast denial that he stepped into a Minneapolis airport restroom stall looking to get frisky, and he sought sympathy as a victim of police profiling. He also said that although he did not condone gay activity, he didn't view it as anything to be ashamed of.

Police said Craig's actions -- peering into an officers stall, tapping his foot and reaching beneath a divider -- were identical to the secret choreography engaged in by men looking for anonymous sex.

"I now know that this cop, this officer, is a profiler," Craig said. "He said looking into a stall is part of it, and then a hand gesture or a foot tap is part of it. Now I know all about profiling. I know what people feel like when they're profiled, when innocent people get caught up in what I was caught in as an innocent person, it's very angering at times."

Now all together now, awwww, poor baby. It is always amusing to see what happens to the "family values" Republicans when the shoe is on the other foot. Craig has never been against profiling in the past and even voted and argued for the re-authorization of the Patriot Act. In case you don't know, that bill condones "profiling" among other things. The only thing Larry Craig is against here is the profiling that shows how guilty he is.

Except for trying to coax Craig into admitting he was gay or at least bisexual, Lauer did his typically lousy interview. Tom Shales from WaPo has more on this. I think Lauer should resign from his post right alongside Craig for two poor and pitiful performances, one as a journalist and the other a Senator.

Is There Something You Want To Tell Us Mitt?

Thanks to DownWithTyranny for the image and rant on America's #1 flip-flopper.

There's A Senate Ethics Committee?

It sounds too good to be true...a committee that investigates Senators with questionable ethics. The fact that such a committee exists should prove that the Senate is up to the task of making sure they hold their own accountable when it comes to breaking the law. Even more shocking, the GOP demanded to use said committee to investigate the actions of Larry Craig, who pled guilty to a misdemeanor lewd conduct charge so he could escape prosecution of soliciting sex in a men's restroom. So who on the committee is going to lead the charge and start taking names?

Well....no one really. Apparently it was just a bluff made by the GOP and Larry Craig called it. Oh, and the Democrats do not plan on doing anything about it either, lest they look like the pot that called the kettle black.

From The Huffington Post:

The secretive Ethics Committee, comprising three Democrats and three Republicans, may recommend discipline against a senator for "conduct or activity which does not directly relate to official duties, when such conduct unfavorably reflects on the institution as a whole."

Despite that broad standard, Brand told the committee in September that it has never acted on allegations unrelated to a senator's "official action."

Boxer said through a spokeswoman Friday: "We are in the process of conducting a preliminary inquiry, and this stage is always closed to the public. If, at the end of the preliminary inquiry, the Ethics Committee decides to move into the adjudicatory phase, any hearings held would be public unless the committee votes to close them. But that is a decision that is made after we have completed our preliminary inquiry."

The Ethics Committee traditionally moves slowly, with some cases taking years to resolve. The Craig matter seems no exception.

Well so much for upholding that standard of ethics we hope our elected leaders have...or not. True, it isn't like Craig murdered someone or anything, it was just soliciting sex in an airport bathroom. The incident is amusing but no one really got hurt (other than Craig's wife, family, the people of Idaho, integrity of the Senate and Larry's inner child).

Oh well, just another day in Washington.

Thank You Larry Craig

To the chagrin of many Republicans and the joy of Democrats, Larry Craig has committed to stay in his Senate seat as a "representative" of Idaho. I couldn't be happier frankly. The longer he hangs in there, the longer the story goes on. Tourist business at the Minneapolis Int'l Airport will remain brisk and Republicans will be glued to the stigma of corruption for just a little longer (in relation to this story only, the other corrupted Republicans not included).

From The Huffington Post:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Idaho Senator Larry Craig issued the following statement in reaction to today's ruling by the State of Minnesota District Court Fourth Judicial District allowing the guilty plea to stand:

"I am extremely disappointed with the ruling issued today. I am innocent of the charges against me. I continue to work with my legal team to explore my additional legal options.

"I will continue to serve Idaho in the United States Senate, and there are several reasons for that. As I continued to work for Idaho over the past three weeks here in the Senate, I have seen that it is possible for me to work here effectively.

"Over the course of my three terms in the Senate and five terms in the House, I have accumulated seniority and important committee assignments that are valuable to Idaho, not the least of which are my seats on the Appropriations Committee, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Veterans' Affairs Committee. A replacement would be highly unlikely to obtain these posts.

"In addition, I will continue my effort to clear my name in the Senate Ethics Committee - something that is not possible if I am not serving in the Senate.

"When my term has expired, I will retire and not seek reelection. I hope this provides the certainty Idaho needs and deserves."

This is definitely NOT something Idaho needs and deserves. He only brings shame and ridicule to the Gem State. At least for them he'll be gone in a little over a year, but until then he will be an embarrassment to himself, Idaho and the U.S. Senate. His guilty plea signifies actions unbecoming of a Senator and initially he was right to resign. Unfortunately he will continue to disgrace Washington in his own unique way.

GOP Wants Craig Gone In The Worst Way

To the Democrats delight, disgraced Senator Larry Craig continues to hang on past his "deadline" to resign from the Senate. As long as he remains in the Senate we can harp on him and he'll be one more reminder of the Republican party's culture of corruption and hypocrisy. Standing up against hate crimes legislation to protect gays while being one himself highlights the sheer lunacy of the GOP. Well the Republican leadership has the brains to recognize this, and they'll do whatever it takes to rid themselves of the Craig saga.

From The Washington Post:

Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho is a tough guy to run out of town.

Not that his Republican colleagues aren't trying. Worried that the disgraced lawmaker intends to remain in the Senate indefinitely, they are threatening to notch up the public humiliation by seeking an open ethics hearing on the restroom scandal that enveloped Craig last month.

The Senate hearing would examine the original charges in Craig's case, including the allegation of "interference with privacy," for peeping into the bathroom stall occupied by an undercover police officer. One senior Republican aide imagined "witnesses, documents, all in front of the klieg lights." The committee also could look for "a pattern of conduct" -- which means combing court records in other locales to discover whether Craig had prior arrests that haven't come to light.

When your friends turn against you like this it must be hard to endure. Larry is a persistent fellow though, he wants to hold on to his power no matter how shameful it is. Who knows how his wife feels, living the lie alongside her husband. The people of Idaho must be ashamed they elected this hypocrite and the country laughs at him while shaking our collective heads at the whole fiasco. Well, I am ready to keep laughing, too bad the GOP doesn't find it as funny as I do.

How Larry Craig Found His Bathroom

Whenever I am looking for the men's room in airports, I'll be sure to avoid rooms with this sign on the front:


Image from Crooks and Liars

Craig Votes For Hate Crimes

Believing Larry Craig's assertion that he isn't gay is like talking to a cow that says she doesn't have udders. He can say whatever he wants, but you know, actions speak louder than words. In his delusional state he still clings to hating himself and other homosexuals that deserve equal rights and legislation that protects every minority from hate crimes. Today he proved that self-hate by voting against the Matthew Shepard Act.

From Pride Depot:

In a 60-39 vote the Senate today passed the Matthew Shepard Act as part of the appropriations bill to fund the Iraq war. Bush has threatened to veto the bill but now that it is tied to funding the Iraq war that remains to be seen. Sen. Lindsey Graham says, “The president is not going to agree to this social legislation on the defense authorization bill."

As predicted our toe-tapping senator carried a huge bucket load for the GOP and voted against the measure. Idaho Senator Larry Craig, who is using the ACLU to defend his right to free speech to withdraw is guilty plea for soliciting anonymous sex from an undercover police officer in a Minneapolis airport last June, apparently feels that he can say and do what he wants but LGBT people, according to Craig, apparently do not deserve to be protected by law from violence. This guy just gets slimier by the day.

Craig has been slime since the beginning. When a Republican makes a stand against equal rights and protection from violent forms of bigotry, they are too thick headed to step out of the hole they are digging for themselves. Bush may veto it anyway, but sometimes, no, you must vote for your principles all of the time.

Instead, Craig, Bush and thirty-eight other Republicans are going to vote for fear, hate and bigotry. They should all be ashamed of themselves.

Touring Minneapolis

Honestly I have never been to Minneapolis. I guess one day I would like to visit that city and Minnesota in general, its just not on the top of my list at the moment. If and when I go, I hear the fishing around town is great (10,000 lakes ya know?), the nation's largest mall perhaps and general sightseeing. However, one thing I would never think of getting a tour guide for is to see a men's bathroom. Unfortunately the media frenzy around Senator Craig's arrest record has created the yen for some individuals to see "the bathroom."

From The Huffington Post:

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — When tourists ask for the bathroom in the Minneapolis airport lately, it's usually not because they have to go.

It's because they want to see the stall made famous by U.S. Sen. Larry Craig's arrest in a sex sting.

"It's become a tourist attraction," said Karen Evans, information specialist at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. "People are taking pictures."

Why on Earth people want to take pictures of that stall is beyond me. Of course the story is newsworthy because of the hypocrisy with Craig's words and his contradictory actions...but going to see the men's room is just a bit overboard. So if you are in Minneapolis, go see the sights, but leave the restroom for what they are intended for, ok?

Its Not Craig's Fault He's Gay, Blame The Airport

What does land rights in the American West have to do with arresting people for lewd conduct in airport men's rooms? Absolutely nothing of course, but that isn't how the American Land Rights Association sees it. They are appalled at the conduct of the airport police in Minneapolis-St. Paul and are telling their supporters to boycott the airport. That is going to be tough next year for the GOP since their convention happens to be in the city. It'll be a long drive from Eau Claire, WI or Dubuque, IA if Republicans follow the lead of the American Land Rights Association. You think I'm kidding about this? I couldn't make it up if I tried.

From The Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

BATTLE GROUND, Wash. -- Supporters of Sen. Larry Craig with the American Land Rights Association are calling for a boycott of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport.

The Battle Ground (Washington) based association says airport police who arrested the senator in a men's room sex sting are responsible for weakening private property rights in the West. Craig is a Republican member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

The American Land Rights Association, which has an office in Washington, D-C, advocates for the use of federal lands and against what it calls federal "land grabs."

The association says the airport should apologize to Craig for what it calls "ambushing" the senator.

Seriously, no one can make this shit up.

Speeding In a Bathroom Stall

Senator Craig's story keeps growing legs and I couldn't be happier. Him and his lawyer won't shut up about the incident and Republicans are furious. The outbursts from the Craig camp in the last couple of days has been nothing short of hilarious. His kids came out to defend dear old dad, then he left a voicemail at a wrong number talking about how he'll come out of all of this because Arlen Specter wants to support him. Now his lawyer is comparing all of this to a little traffic offense. It just gets better and better.

From RawStory:

Comparing Sen. Larry Craig's arrested in a public restroom sex sting to a "traffic offense," the Idaho Republican's lawyer says his client should stay in the Senate and fight ethics charges against him.

"It seems to me that we ought to seek to have the committee dismiss this outright, given the fact that this arises not from his official duties but from his private conduct," Craig's attorney, Stan Brand, said on the Today Show Wednesday, noting that the Senate previously sought to expel only members involved in treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

"If the Senate of the United States is going to begin taking up every traffic offense and petty offense committed by senators in their private capacity ... I think the Senate needs to go full time session to deal with those alone," he said.

Stan Brand has a lot of chutzpah to compare this to a traffic offense. Soliciting sex in a men's room is hardly the same as being pulled over for speeding or running a red light. If the two were the same....I could be in a lot of trouble (thank god I don't drive anymore...).

Stan just wants to get his client out of being investigated by the Ethics Committee. Well he can forget about that. His crime is unbecoming for a Senator and he should expect to have his conduct fully examined. The time for covering up for bad behavior needs to come to an end. It isn't about his sexual preference (even though he must be very confused about that), it concerns the trust of his constituents and the respect for the Senate.

HotLine TV On The Press And Larry Craig

HotLine TV makes a good point in this web broadcast about why the press is deserting Craig as fast as his Republican colleagues.

Its Raining....Hookers

Rachel Maddow takes a look at hookers and politicians:

Craig Keeps Chugging

You would have thought that a guilty plea, condemnation from fellow Republican Senators and a public intention to resign from government would have sealed the fate of Larry Craig. One of the most virulent anti-gay crusaders was caught being gay (not a crime of course) and showed yet another example of hypocrisy in Republica-land. He obviously hated himself so much, he had to bash people who's sexual orientation was different from most Americans, but the same as his. Yet to this day, he claims he is not gay....though he is less believable than a muppet. Well now he is reconsidering his resignation, and the story goes on.

From RawStory:

Sen. Larry Craig, who originally resigned from his Senate post after his arrest in a Minnesota airport sex sting, is reconsidering his decision, his spokesman said Tuesday evening.

"We're still preparing as if Senator Craig will resign Sept. 30, but the outcome of the legal case in Minnesota and the ethics investigation will have an impact on whether we're able to stay in the fight - and stay in the Senate," said Sidney Smith, Craig's Idaho spokesman.

Dan Whiting, Craig's spokesmen in Washington, said that the senator was expected to spend the week in Idaho as the Senate votes on spending bills for veterans and other programs this week. Whiting "did not rule out Craig's returning to Washington before the end of the month."

I know there is a large horse community in Idaho...you would think a life-long resident would know when to stop beating one and give up.

Creepy Craig

I have paid a bit of attention to the story involving Senator (or soon to be ex-Senator) Craig from Idaho. When you plead guilty to trying to commit forced sexual acts in a men's room in the airport....you are not becoming of a Senator. It really is that easy. He is trying to play stupid about what he confessed to...but no one is buying it. Democrats are letting Republicans take care of this sick puppy. And once he is out of the Senate, the authorities can take care of the rest.

Why is that these cases are almost always involving Republicans? Of course it isn't every Republican in office, but....it just makes me wonder.