Larry Craig and the Limits of Empathy

For two days, the blogosphere has been abuzz over the revelations concerning Sen. Larry Craig. Reactions among the progressive netroots have ranged from gleeful to snide. These reactions are understandable. When someone whose views are so opposed to our own is shown to be a hypocrite, we naturally feel some sense of vindication. And when we see an opportunity to write his political obituary, it's difficult not to reach for a pen.

But I suggest that we pause and take stock of our response to this incident. First, let's take a look at his crime. His criminal conduct: foot tapping, shoe touching, reaching a hand under a stall, all things that would be pretty innocuous if they weren't associated with a gay pick-up ritual. Had he made similarly suggestive but relatively harmless overtures to a woman -- even in a public place -- does anybody think he would have been arrested? Are we so pleased that an archconservative is getting his comeuppance that we overlook the unfairness of the charges against him, that we are blind to the fact that he was essentially criminalized for being gay?

And in our delight, what happened to that core progressive value: empathy? Do our values only surface when we talk about our pet issues? Are we free to abandon them when we observe a foe fall?

I wish that we progressives would remain true to our values, be a little more charitable, and leave the stone-throwing to others.