Larry Craig: Guilty of What?

Senator Larry Craig attempted to defend himself yesterday. "I am not gay. I never have been gay." He said it like he meant it. I actually hope he did mean it. I don't want him in my club anyway.

The problem is, as I see it, is that Larry Craig is talking about the wrong "problem."

No one is accusing Craig of being gay. They are accusing him of being a pervert.

He doesn't have to answer to the American public about being gay. He has to answer to the American public, the Idaho voters and the police about being a pervert in a public restroom.

I don't care where he was -- a men's bathroom, the Admirals' Club, or at a backyard barbecue. I don't care if he was lewd with women or with men. The location, the gender of the person he was coming on to, the circumstances -- doesn't matter.

It's not a gay thing. It's not a straight thing. It might be a power thing. It might be a Republican thing. It's clearly an integrity thing.

The New York Times focuses this morning on the trouble this causes the Republican Party. I get that. But what about Mrs. Craig? Oy. I sure hope Larry is more concerned with how Suzanne, his three kids and his nine grandchildren feel than how Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council thinks. And I sure hope he is spending more time at home trying to find a good shrink than meeting with his advisers to determine if he should run again. If he wants to return to the straight and narrow (no pun intended), he has a long journey ahead.

Two last things:

1) Remind me never to take a job where I might have to talk publicly about how my boss stands when s/he is in the restroom. I can only imagine that that "spokesperson" had a hard time looking in the mirror this morning.

2) Someone should post the bathroom hand signals on the internet. I don't ever want to do them accidentally.

Comments

[mommamia526]

Why does everyone act as if this is some newly discovered vice? I remember clearly that just when AIDS became a problem, in the sixties, I believe, mayby early seventies, a Mississippi physician, and a deacon in his baptist church, caused a little bit of an uproar in the medical community. His wife, an old grandma, contracted AIDS. And now everyone was asking, medically, could this be transmitted by other than the discussed means, say, through the air, like a cold? Do not laugh. At that time they were not so sure about that. To make a long story short, the FBI became involved, ultimately, and they found out that the upstanding pillar of society, doctor, grandpa, deacon of his church, was also a public restroom whore. The problem is risky, irresponsible behavior, with risks he brings home to his wife and family.By the way, this would also apply to a woman who does that. But for her there are nasty names. We do know what we think of such women. Other issue: is all this the result of *liberalism*, or did it exist to this extent before and was it just all covered up? In any case, it is not a sex issue. It is a mental and public health issue. And as such it is also a financial issue. Now for real facts, of cost, health issues, societal issues, family break-ups and more, is sexual *liberalism* or any other *liberalism* really such a boon and good thing. I am beginning to ask myself this. Should we be thinking in a larger context about this? Who cares about Craig? Who is he anyway? If we reject the old standards, where are the new ones, and do we need those?

[SaraWhitman]

so Joan.. think he's just a power hungry jerk who's ready to mount whatever he can?

and while we discuss Craig's bathroom habits, what does that do to the image of the gay and lesbian population in this country?

feel a little set up? I do...

[Qbear]

Did you see Tony Perkin's face on HARDBALL, these sex scandals in the GOP, are taking their troll....er....toll.

[cynara]

They (and I) are accussing him of being a pervert and a hypocrite. And quite honestly, I could care less if someone is a pervert, as long as they are perverts towards other consenting, generally equally preverted, adults. If two men wanna get it on in a public bathroom or a newly wed hetro sexual couple decides to get it on a beach at night, its not that big of a deal to me. Sure, the police are doing their duty by arresting them if their not discreet. But as long as their discrete, who really cares?

The only thing about this story that makes it a story is the hypocrite part. "I am not gay", just somes it up.. Gays and bisexuals have sexual urges towards someone of the same sex. If you have these urges, whether or not you act on them, you are gay, or at least bisexual. (If you actually enjoyed sleeping with your poor wife, you might get away with bisexual). And if you go around as a white holier-than-thou, family (read homophobic) values Senator, doing your best to make life miserable for people with the same urges (and, apparently, actions) as you, that makes you a big fat, apparently horny, GAY hypocrite.

[Qbear]

As I've long suspected AMERICA urgently needs those miracle restless leg syndrome tablets...otherwise a perfectly innocent Senator might be sadly miscarracterized as a perv in an airport restroom.

With the GOP Convention coming to Minneapolis in 2008, I pray they recommend this career saving medication for all their visiting delegates and dignitaries. We wouldn't want a repeat of this National TRAGEDY.

[LeftRight]

"...2) Someone should post the bathroom hand signals on the internet. I don't ever want to do them accidentally.
..."

Thanks for that one Joan, you just made my day. Of course, you don't want him in the gay club, I don't want him in the straight club. I bet the transgendered don't want him in their club. I know, let's send him to the republicant ex-senator's club!!!!

[WIpatriot]

Clubs available:

Lobbyist
Think tank consultant
TV pundit
Bush appointee

[JackMonroe]

Pervert?

Well, according to Senator Craig, he was merely on a fact finding mission of the airport's mens rooms. As a lawmaker, he perceived his actions as a duty rather than as recreational. My understanding is that the honorable senator was thinking of introducing a bill to eliminate the walls separating stalls, therefore making it easier to reach over for the tp should you find to your horror that your stall doesn't have any. I ask you, is that perverse?

[fact finder]

Talk about an oxymoron : political integrity. Fits the definition.

[k8eeyore]

OK, I don't care about whether Craig's gay or not. What bothers me, and what should bother his constituents, is that he's clearly a moron. Anybody stupid enough to plead to something in court, without an attorney even though he could easily afford one, is too stupid to be in the Senate.

[WIpatriot]

But, he's from IDAHO, for crying out load!

[mommamia526]

Bingo!!

[Infostream]

the main thing that needs to come out of this is for all the people who have been voting republican because of "family values" to realize they have been conned and start voting on real issues.

BUT I have to say guys like Craig are far more common than you think. I'm gay and I place a lot of blame for this on "liberal" people who's idea of supporting gays is promoting the effeminate stereotype of gayness. Shows like Will & Grace, Queer Eye, all the flamers on mainstream shows like Cojo, that screamer from Sex & the City and the View, etc etc. And then of course all the sitcoms, which usually have a good "liberal" viewpoint, can always count on a laugh every 3 minutes from implying a guy fits the BS stereotype, he likes showtunes, eats quiche, etc. Women get to use gay guys to emasculate men, flaming queens get high paying jobs, and straight men get to laugh that it proves their not "that way" -- good fun for everyone right? Until the media balances the swishy stereotypes with the true majority of masculine gays, you can count on more closeted "str8" guys soliciting sex in tearooms and the internet, and young masculine guys attempting suicide for fear that coming out means becoming an emasculated joke.

[Jellybelly]

Personally I have no problem with adults looking for consexual sex with another adult. I do have a problem with Republicans who run on a family values platform and who vote against every bill that protects people from discrimination.

[siegfried]

What is perverted about an adult requesting sex from another adult?

[JimR]

... in a public bathroom, which children also use?

[jolietjohann]

Its perverted because it was a solicitation in a public restroom where parents bring their children. In private, he should be free to do as he feels.

[AngryAmish]

Let's stop conflating the sad condition of being gay, closeted, and desperate with perversion, particularly perversion directed at children.


I despise Craig, but toe-tapping in response to an eager cop does not a pedophile make.

[AngryAmish]

Exactly, Siegfried.

I admire and respect you, Ms. Garry, but glibly drawing an artificial line between "gay" and "pervert" will not protect our community from the negative ramifications of this scandal.

[cindyw]

Nothing, but don't you think it should be done privately? A public restroom is no place for sex, gay or straight.

[LewisR]

Oh come on, this has been going on for decades in washrooms around the country. Straight men are driven to spread their seed by something only god could have put inside them. They rarely get enough at home, so they resort to other, underground means of relief. Craig is not gay nor any different than millions of men who just co-hort with whomever necessary to relieve themselves. I mean please, do you have to go to a peep-show booth with straight videos and waist-high holes in the wall to understand that he's part of a gaint subculture that folks just don't talk about until a hypocrite gets caught?

[JohnJames]

Are you serious? So who IS gay then?

[Xavier]

@ LewisR: Thank you. Finally, someone just tells it like it is. Ever heard of a truck stop? Consenting adults, "gay" or "not gay"? Deal with it, folks, and mind your own business.

[cynara]

It is their own business, and we should mind ours. But apparently the Senator doesn't. He campaigns on a "pro family" (read homophobic) platform, he votes against gay rights. Basically, he denies people with the same urges as him to conduct "their business" outside the confines of public bathroom stalls. And for that, he's a hypocrite in public office, something the public has a right to know, therefore, our business.

[JimR]

Craig is clearly attracted to men... doesn't that make him gay, or at least bisexual? Heterosexual men who don't get enough at home often resort to other means of relief... with women.

I know little about this subculture, and I'm not sure I want to know more. I do know if this was going on in a public restroom which other people, including children, frequently use, I would report it to the police and would expect the police to crack down on it.

Senator Craig can get it on with anyone who wants to get it on with him. I don't care. But GET A ROOM.

[cynara]

Umm, is it just me does it sound like Lewis R maybe talking from experience?

Actually, I think most straight men would have trouble "doing their thing" know that it was a guy doing the doing, even if they closed their eyes, wouldn't it be hard to get rid of the mental imagery? Its just not a turn on. If it is a turn on, I would assume the receiver was gay.

But hey, I'm a chick, so its all just theory to me. Can geniune guy (straight or gay) agree or disagree with me on this point?

[zendem1]

Senator Craig replied further that"I am NOT, I repeat NOT a Barbara Streisand fan. Nor do I own any cd's by Cher. I've never been to a Kathy Griffin concert, and the singing senators don't do show tunes!"

GOP strategy for responding when caught glory-holing, buying hookers, or sending lewd e-mails to minors:
1. Blame Media
2. Reference Bill Clinton

[shaggles]

"2. Reference Bill Clinton "

That was so freaking weird when Romney said it made him think of Bill Clinton. What?!?!?!

You forgot this one:

3. Accuse Dems of engaging in "political theater."

[nooneatall]

"2. Reference Bill Clinton"
Maybe Romney meant thinking of Bill Clinton in the "Craig" sense. Know what I mean? ;)
Republican is as Republican does...

[Zyzzygowski]

Just wait for the video.

Yes, it was a police sting, and what would you expect to see? Otherwise it would be the Police Officer's word against the individual. At a minimum there should be audio. Certainly there should have been other officers nearby to provide arrest support. I mean what kind of sting was it? Wait for the video.

It was an ongoing police action and there must have been others arrested and charged in this situation. Arrests are a matter of public record.

Good gracious Jiminy, is there a reporter out there who is prepared to retrace Sen 'Wide Stances' movements? Minneapolis is a layover for flights to Idaho. Correct? How much time was there between flights? Which gates were used for the Senator's arrival and departure? Is the bathroom in question between those two points? Or, is the bathroom out of the way which requires some effort to get to?

It's an airport, so everyone calm down and please wait for the ... VIDEO.