Larry Craig's Real Mistake
I feel sorry for Larry Craig. Truly. Even though Craig voted to censure Barney Frank for Frank's tryst with a male prostitute. Craig has been behind some of the most intolerant and anti-gay legislation that a US Senator could put his mark on. Now the very condition that drives countless gay men and women into the closet, the bathroom stall or the hospital may have claimed Sen. Craig himself. That is not a cause for gloating. That is sad. Pathetic and sad.
No one can honestly say what Craig did or did not do. No one can know his real intentions. In the new, jacked-up reality of airport "security", maybe those cops in Minneapolis jumped the stall. But if Craig has the chance, especially now that his Republican colleagues have cut his throat, maybe he will experience a change of heart and realize that to be gay, whether he is or not, ought not be a shameful thing, let alone a crime, for anyone. Had he embraced at least that he might still be a Senator today.
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Craig's votes in the Senate hurt gay people,
he also voted against Katrina aid, this guy
is a worthless human being in acute denial.
But what he could have done, if he had a gram
of integrity and honesty in him, he could have
faced the cameras, the people of his state,
and the American people and admitted that he
is gay, and that he will work hard for gay
rights, and denouce the Republican party
not only for their record on gay rights, but
also for their using gay rights as a wedge
issue. Afterall, he had nothing more to lose,
the Republicans cut his throat, threw him out
and he had everything to gain - self-respect,
honesty and courage - all the things he lacks
big time!
@Thistle, You're right. Ideally, Craig should have said all of those things but the fact is, psychologically and emotionally, he may 'not be there yet' and given the public fallout, will need help and support to work through this in his personal life. Craig has been leading a closet lifestyle and living by a double-standard; there is a good chance that he even loathes himself but what if he doesn't? He is the only one who knows what the true nature of his sexuality is all about and if he is genuinely conflicted, then he needs help to do some soul-searching.
But power can cloud judgment. Conversely, there exists the possibility that Senator Craig has been A-OK and comfortable with living the "I'm a straight dude except when I want to proposition young guys for blowjobs" that gave him a sense of a power trip; that's his personal business.
But as tax payers who pay Senators like Craig to represent the common good of our communities and work to pass legislation that would make life beter for the LGBT community and Katrina victims, among other things -- he failed himself and he failed us. I know, his Senate votes are *separate* from his sexual escapades per se, but for him to vote for anti-gay legislation while engaging in the gay lifestyle makes him a traitor to this community and inextricably guilty of betrayal, worthy of mistrust. No, his personal lifestyle choices and Senate votes cannot be separated.
Resignation is the right course. Let him heal; Let him write a book; and let us learn to, as a society, get our priorities focused when it comes down to singling out what defines a "scandal". I say the definition of "scandal" is when we can't get our Senators to stop schmoozing with corrupt Tech executives importing cheap labor to drive down wages and take our white collar jobs; when we can't get Pelosi to put Impeachment on the table or get out of Iraq; those things are all scandals, and this country has much to do to demand change.
I'm not gay, but I respect the rights of those who are. The trouble is in the US being gay isn't macho, gay doesn't mean bombs and destruction. In short it isn't AY merikan! Tough luck it's something that one day you'll have to live with, like the reality of religeon and it's influence on the world today. My only gripe is the way the word gay got hijacked to describe a sexual need. I'm old enough to remember when the word turned up in song and meant a great deal more. So what's wriong with just calling it what it is? Oh I forgot Americans like the shortened form because it's much easier to remember than to say homosexual!
Alec, he who lives by the sword-dies by the sword.
LARRY CRAIG had some bad Karma due him for a long time. Have you ever noticed that the ones who scream the most about sex, Jimmy Swaggert, for one
have the most to hide. The Sen. should not be soliciting in a public washroom for sex. He is married, right? Let him come out of the closet
and admit he is gay or bi. Let me guess, there will be a book out someday "OUT OF THE CLOSET, INTO the LIGHT".
Hypocrisy runs rampant in the Republican party, but the vast majority of people are easily fooled. Republicans are notably against entitlements, vociferous in their denunciation of aid to the poor, Medicare, Social Security, low interest student loans, but just look at the earmarks, the corruption, the payola that is emblematic of the party's Senators and Representatives. And give me a break--do you really think these idiot candidates are praying every day for anything except to acquire power and keep it? So now, hypocrisy on the issue of closeted homosexuals. Mild by comparison to the rest of their lies and distortions.
Guilty or not, what Sam Hill difference would the actions of Larry Craig make in the grand scheme of things? Those without any moral fiber, those who are responsible for the death and maiming of our fellow citizens, those who have eroded the Constitution still sit like the kings they are in the seats of power. Nothing serious has ever been done to them; the impeachment which should have happened a long time ago never occurred.
What Craig allegedly did hurt absolutely no one. And if the charges are indeed true, it will not result in any of the scenarios mentioned in the above paragraph. It is sad, but if one is looking for people with staunch moral turpitude, do not look at the Congress and top level administrators of today. At least 80% of them have some sort of skeleton in their closets which they hope and pray no one ever discovers.
This is nothing but an attack on a man who maybe rubbed someone the wrong way (no pun intended), or maybe simply because he was an easy target. In any case, look behind the headlines and ask who is making the most noise about this, and why. And the timing could not have been better. It sure diverts the public mind away from Gonzales and Rove, two men who are getting away scot free from their less then stellar actions. And of course, election time draws ever closer....
A great spiritual philosopher, Don Miguel Ruiz (The Four Agreements), teaches that to pity one, is to disrespect that individual and their right to choose.
Craig made his choices and consequently his bed. The world has righted itself; how refreshing.
Very good, Alex. I would add, as a gay man myself, that since republicans took up "family values" as a cause to help them appeal to a certain narrow minded group (for their votes) they threw true American ideals into the trashcan. The worse part, they could care less. It warms my heart when people like Craig or Foley are exposed for what they truly are. Everyone in this great country of ours are required to pay taxes. How about treating everybody accordingly?
Gay or not... is not the issue.
To be (human), or not to be,
that is the question.
He and his party are misanthropic.
From: "whitepatches"
To: "whitepatches"
Subject: my comment to: "They are all guy, why do you think NSA wiretaps?"
Date: Monday, September 03, 2007 1:34 AM
APFN
Ruth Benderall
Re: They are all gay, why do you think NSA wiretaps?
Mon Sep 3, 2007 01:32
68.238.105.2
Is there nothing else to do than to blablabla about homosexuals? Whether they be "in the closet" or not?
Homosexuality has existed throughout history.
In all "high places" and within all "governments".
Who cares?
The only thing which is despiccable is this:
when the homoseuxals (AND the heteresexuals, for that matter) grope the crotches of under-aged boys (and girls).
Again: who gives a flying rat's ass about anyone's sexual preferences?
As long man/man, or woman/woman, encounters are consensual, then everybody needs to shut up.
There seem to be people who do "it" with their cat, dog, goat, cow, horse, elephant, camel, giraffe.
As long as these animals consent to those acts: why should we, the people, cry rivers over nothing.
Shed tears over the millions and millions and millions of Iraqi people, slaughtered since 1991.
Raise hell about the on-going use of d.u.
Scream and yell about all the corrupt, never to-be-trusted, politicians...(get them out: put them onto rowboats into the Bering Sea, without adequare clothing, food, water).
Do not waste time, intelligence, energy, to yak and yap about homosexuality.
But...maybe...also this is: "ONLY IN "AMERICA"".
Gracias.
Ruth Benderall
>
a.. They are all gay, why do you think NSA wiretaps? - Pepper, Sat Sep 1 04:09
a.. Re: They are all gay, why do you think NSA wiretaps? - Ruth Benderall, Mon Sep 3 01:32
i am not gay. but my full support and my heart goes out to them.
I have not read all the comments, but has it ever occurred to anyone that sometimes cops lie, in order to up their conviction rate? Let's face it: It is much easier duty to sit in a restroom, waiting to be hit upon, than to fight violent criminals on the street. What a horrible society we live in, that we use police officers to, at best, entice, and, at worst, entrap!
I am certainly not a fan of Larry Craig, the conservative homophobe. There is very little that he and I can agree upon. But, did anyone ever consider that he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge just because he thought that that would be the best way to make it go away and not have all the publicity? I have been hearing stories that there is a certain behavior to solicit sex in restrooms: tapping the foot a certain number of times, etc. Maybe Larry Craig just inadvertently tapped his foot, the wrong numer of times. Beware, all of you heterosexuals: This could happen to any of us!
and also, having sex in a bathroom stall in a public place SHOULD be a crime. do you want you kid walking in and seeing something like that? I'm telling you, gay people are not perverted. they do not have sex any more than straight people. they are just regular people. just good old folks. this guy is not gay. he is a pervert. he plead guilty to doing a perverted thing and he is guilty as hell. I don't really care that much about this stroy because THERE IS STILL AN ILLEGAL WAR GOING ON!!! this story is similiar to Paris Hilton. Nicole Richie aqnd Lyndsay Lohan. it's a distraction from the real news. don't worry- this guy will crawl up under a rock with Foley and Haggard, never to be seen again. BUT THE WAR WILL RAGE ON AS LONG AS WE LET IT!!!!!
I will not use my kids for an excuse. I find it offensive, an invasion in my personal, ethical space, and I like to be protected by law from leeches who can't organize their personal lifestyle. If you are gay, or like prostetution, then find a room. If you to cheap and to afraid of outing to get a room, then I feel sorry for the hypocrit.
I don't really feel sorry for this guy. He plead guilty. He is the type of person who gives gay people a bad rap. He has encounters with strange men in toilets rather than to accept homself and be happy with himself? no I don't feel sorry for him but he is pathetic.and the right wing is filled with this type of hypocracy. the self hatred must be horrible but I don't feel sorry for him. when I look at the world, there are many other people and places I can feel sorry about. this guy isn't even really gay. he's just a confused hateful hypocrite and his record shows it. WOULD YOU PLEAD GUILTY TO SOLICITING SEX IF YOU WEREN'T GUILTY? I wouldn't.
I salute this comment! It shows a political positive comment...on how a negative can one day be turned into a positive! Way to go Alec! I hope more bloggers that lean to the left take your style of thought.
Cheers!
Homosexuality is a religious issue but politico-religious interests try to make it a violation of law. Mixing politics (a scurvy occupation) with religion (full of hypocritical loudspeakers) produces many fervent but mistaken people, especially among those who try to keep a foot in each domain. Each ought to perfect their singular enthusiasm without trying to merge the two and alienating both.
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