Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Pat Buchanan: "The Friends of Larry Craig"
humanevents ^ | August 31 2007 | Pat Buchanan

Posted on 08/31/2007 2:04:37 PM PDT by freedomdefender

"When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state," wrote Shakespeare. Sen. Larry Craig knows today whereof the bard spoke.

Rarely has a United States senator fallen so fast from grace or been so completely abandoned.

As the nation now knows, Craig was arrested in June in an airport men's room in Minneapolis, charged with propositioning an undercover cop, who was on duty there because the place had become notorious.|

According to the officer, Craig, in the next stall, flashed known signals of a man seeking anonymous and immediate sex.

Rather than fight the charge, Craig pleaded guilty to a disorderly conduct misdemeanor. This week, the story exploded and Craig is fighting what appears a losing battle for his career and reputation.

In a statement carried nationally, he declared his innocence of any allegation of immoral conduct. I did nothing wrong, I am not gay, he said again and again.

Yet it requires a suspension of disbelief to accept the complete innocence of Sen. Craig. After all, he pleaded guilty, and for years similar rumors have swirled about him. The Idaho Statesman has produced a tape of a man who claims to have had a recent sexual encounter with Craig in a men's room at Union Station in Washington, D.C.

Craig denies all and calls the Statesman investigation of his private life, going all the way back to college days, a witch hunt. In his favor, after 300 interviews, the Statesman came up with nothing solid save the Union Station allegation and the airport incident.

As ever, such episodes reveal almost as much about the accusers as about the accused. Reveling in Craig's disgrace, the liberal media not only cast the first stone, but most of them. They are mocking Craig as a family-values hypocrite who indulges privately in conduct he publicly condemns. But even assuming Craig has led a second and secret life, would that automatically make him a hypocrite, a fraud, an Elmer Gantry?

Is there no possibility a man can believe in traditional morality, yet find himself tempted to behavior that morally disgusts him? Is it impossible Craig is driven by impulses, the biblical "thorn in the flesh," of which Paul wrote, to behavior he almost cannot control?

Why else would a United States senator take the incredible risk of disgracing himself and humiliating his family, and ending his career, for a few minutes of anonymous sex in an airport men's room?

Is every alcoholic who falls off the wagon a hypocrite if he has tried to warn kids of the evil of alcohol? Many men have tried to live good lives and fallen again and again. They are called sinners.

Yet, if the charges are true, and it appears they are, Larry Craig has worse personal problems than his impending loss of office.

And how have his colleagues responded?

Republicans immediately denounced him, stripped him of all his seniority rights, and ordered an ethics committee investigation and a study of whether more immediate action should be taken.

Sens. John McCain and Norm Coleman called on him to resign. "(W)hen you plead guilty to a crime, you shouldn't serve," said McCain, adding, "That's not a moral stand."

Sorry, but the morality here is far more relevant than the admitted misdemeanor. If Craig had pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct for punching out an obnoxious heckler, he would not be friendless today.

The silence of most Democrats is understandable. If you belong to a party that declares homosexuality a moral lifestyle, that perhaps should be elevated to the level of matrimony, then what would Craig be guilty of, other than being horribly indiscreet?

Up to this week, Craig was one of only two senators to have come out for Mitt Romney. He headed up the Romney campaign in Idaho. He vouched for Mitt in Congress and the country.

And Mitt wasted no time throwing his Idaho chairman under the bus, adding he deserved it: "Once again, we've found people in Washington have not lived up to the level of respect and dignity that we would expect for somebody that gets elected to a position of high influence. Very disappointing. He's no longer associated with my campaign."

Larry Craig's conduct "reminds us," said Mitt, "of Mark Foley and Bill Clinton ... of the fact that people who are elected to public office continue to disappoint, and they somehow think that if they vote the right way on issues of significance or they can speak a good game, that we'll just forgive and forget."

"And frankly, it's disgusting."

That Mitt was decisive, that he was a "good butcher," as a prime minister must be, said Asquith, is undeniable. This speaks well of Mitt's executive intolerance of failures and failing. But one did not hear much here in the way of compassion for Larry Craig or his family.

Some senators, like Chris Dodd, cut Larry Craig some slack and asked that we hear him out before sentence is passed.

Count your friends when you're down, Nixon always advised.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; US: Idaho
KEYWORDS: 110th; craig; larrycraig; logcabinlibertarian; logcabinrepublican; patbuchanan; republican
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 121-136 next last
To: freedomdefender

Senator Craig IS guilty of STUPIDITY. OUR Senate Caucus (NOT the DEMOCRAT Caucus where Kennedy HOMICIDE and Dodd-Kennedy RAPE are TOLERATED) should expel STUPID Senator Craig; OUR Senate caucus does not deserve nor will it profit from STUPID Senator Craig.


61 posted on 08/31/2007 3:08:23 PM PDT by mdefranc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RightOnTheLeftCoast

Do you have sons? I have three.

You have no idea the anxiety I feel about their need to use a toilet in public places. When they’re little, they go with me into the ladies’. That works for a while. Then some women start to appear uncomfortable. Then my sons start to get uncomfortable. They want to go to the men’s room. They are embarrassed in the women’s room.

So I stand outside, waiting for them. And I hope.

I thank the police BIG TIME for these stings. This is not an “individual liberty” issue. These are public bathrooms. We moms can’t go in there (understandably). Just exactly what are we supposed to do?


62 posted on 08/31/2007 3:09:16 PM PDT by Marie2 (I used to be disgusted. . .now I try to be amused.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: MeanWestTexan
Wasn't it the case that Craig, without being accused, denied being involved with any pages.

He was the ONLY Senator to do so.

Made him seem strange ~

63 posted on 08/31/2007 3:11:48 PM PDT by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: ClaireSolt

You mean the gay crowd over at CREW (who work for George Soros and who knows what that old coot does).


64 posted on 08/31/2007 3:12:41 PM PDT by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: freedomdefender
Sorry, but the morality here is far more relevant than the admitted misdemeanor. If Craig had pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct for punching out an obnoxious heckler, he would not be friendless today.

Pat just doesn't get it. The GOP can't afford to have ANY candidates with morality problems going into the next election. Perhaps Craig is innocent, but when he admitted guilt, he can't expect people to believe he's innocent now.

The GOP has MANY problems and perversion seems to be one of them. We HAVE to clean up the party and hopefully, this will put any more adulterers, homosexual, bisexuals or pedophiles on notice that they are NOT WELCOME in the GOP and they need to resign! IF Craig does not resign, he will lose anyway, because the RATS will use this against him in the election, and against the GOP in general, so he can do himself, his family and his party a favor and step down.

65 posted on 08/31/2007 3:13:13 PM PDT by NRA2BFree ("The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mamzelle
Barney Frank runs a prostitution ring out of his home

Barney is a demoncRAT so isn't expected to have any morals. His behavior is accepted as normal by his party.

If Senator Craig share those standards he should just change parties.

66 posted on 08/31/2007 3:13:16 PM PDT by ASA Vet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack
There are tens of millions of ex-smokers who can tell folks about the compulsion of an addiction (not that cruising toilets is in quite the same company, but compulsion is understood in and of itself).

Pat's a class wordsmith. You could do worse than rip off his stuff.

67 posted on 08/31/2007 3:14:32 PM PDT by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: MeanWestTexan
Has anybody linked Craig to the Old FR Thread on the late '80s bust of the male prostitution ring with connections to low-level Bush I staffers and Washington insiders? Lots of allegations of blackmail.
68 posted on 08/31/2007 3:15:09 PM PDT by Dumb_Ox (http://kevinjjones.blogspot.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: restornu

No doubt Craig should have paid off the cop the same way Ted Kennedy paid off his victim’s parents.


69 posted on 08/31/2007 3:16:01 PM PDT by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: freedomdefender

Well done! Thanks for posting this.


70 posted on 08/31/2007 3:16:26 PM PDT by MarMema
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RightOnTheLeftCoast

“He tapped his shoe. It’s claimed he waved his hand under the edge of the stall. It’s claimed he nudged his neighbor’s foot.
Those are crimes? “

You are right. The guy filling in for Hannity today said essentially the same thing. Not to mention the cop sort of entrapped him. Aren’t there more serious crimes cops should be stopping? Not that I condone Craig looking for men in restrooms. That is pretty sleazy. But I think if he just announces he will not run for reelection, that should be the end of it. When you compare this to other more serious crimes other members of Congress (mostly Dems, but of course some Repubs too) have committed, it looks less serious.

Of course the left screams that all Republicans are hypocrites now because supposedly we all are gung ho about family values. I know Craig’s voting record was very conservative, and he opposed same gender marriage. But was he one to preach about moral values and condemn homosexuality or speak out on other “bedroom” related issues? If not then this claim of hypocrisy is wrong too.


71 posted on 08/31/2007 3:16:51 PM PDT by TNCMAXQ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: muawiyah

No doubt Craig should have paid off the cop the same way Ted Kennedy paid off his victim’s parents.

****

That would only show more dishonor!


72 posted on 08/31/2007 3:18:34 PM PDT by restornu (Most of Cyber Space passes through FR portals ~ Freepers Are Some Of The Most Aware People On Earth!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: Petronski
These are a few quotes from Republican's I found on the web in the last few minutes.
Isn't it great that Larry Craig brought this upon the Republican Party?

---------------------
"Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called Craig's conduct "unforgivable," the AP reported Friday"

"Senator Craig's guilty plea for his alleged conduct last June illustrates moral hypocrisy inappropriate for an elected official," Lewis said in a statement yesterday. "He had the opportunity to contest the charges and chose not to." -- Republican Rep. Ron Lewis (KY)

My opinion is that when you plead guilty to a crime, then you shouldn't serve,'' McCain said in an interview with CNN's John King for The Situation Room. "That's not a moral stand. That's not a holier-than-thou. It's just a factual situation. "I think he should resign," McCain said. "I don't try to judge people. But in this case it is clear that it was disgraceful.

Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) issued a simple statement: "Sen. Craig pled guilty to a crime involving conduct unbecoming a senator. He should resign."

Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) has become the first lawmaker to announce that he is not keeping a political donation from embattled Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho).

In an interview with The Associated Press, Hoekstra called Craig's explanations "not credible." "I think it's important for Republicans to step out right now and say, 'No, this behavior is not going to be tolerated,'" he said

"It is unacceptable for a member of Congress to be soliciting sex in public restrooms," (KIT)Bond said
73 posted on 08/31/2007 3:19:26 PM PDT by elizabetty (Was it Dolley Madison or Dolli Madison? First Ladies should not end their name with "I")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: carrier-aviator
IIRC, Ted the Swimmer's prosecutor was a man named Delahunt who now (with coincidental support from the leading Hyannisport Crime Family) has been serving for decades as the Congresscritter from Cape Cod since the retirement of the unrepentant late lavender child molestor/Congressthing Gerry Studds.

In this case, it is not a "mere accusation" that will cause Lavender Larry's resignation but his voluntarily entered guilty plea and conviction. Former Governor and then Congressman Janklow was driving at a very high rate of speed and blew a stop sign, broadsiding a motorcyclist and killing him. Wasn't alcohol also involved? Should he have gotten a "get out of jail free card" for being a public official?

That having been said, we do not need GOP senators, much less those who pose as social conservatives soliciting perverted sex in public men's rooms. Or any one else doing likewise. In fact, if it were a "unisex" public restroom, we don't need straights soliciting normal sex like that either.

Craig will not be missed. Time to move on. Our mothers were right: Two wrongs don't make a right. We need not to protect our guilty but to attack the Demonratic guilty far more effectively.

74 posted on 08/31/2007 3:20:25 PM PDT by BlackElk (Dean of Discipline of the Tomas de Torquemada Gentlemen's Club)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Millers Cave
And had said alcoholic tried to use his enormous power to outlaw or criminalize alcohol use, then yes, he would be a hypocrite.

I do not disagree with you, but I am not sure that the analogy works in Senator Craig's case. I am not aware that he has tried to outlaw or criminalize homosexuality.

In the eyes of the Left, Craig's "crime" is supporting traditional marriage and opposing much of the radical homosexual agenda. They say that he is a homosexual, and that a homosexual must vote for "gay marriage" if he is to avoid the hypocrite label.

However, it is quite possible for one to support traditional marriage as public policy while failing to support one's own marriage.

To put it differently, would an alcoholic be a hypocrite for voting to criminalize drunk driving? Or must he vote to decriminalize drunk driving?

75 posted on 08/31/2007 3:23:05 PM PDT by Logophile
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: RightOnTheLeftCoast
How about this idea ~ simply "privatize" the public toilets ~ then when someone bothers you with their signals, foot tapping, shoe sliding, sticking their penis through a hole in the stall wall and all that other stuff these guys do, you get to pull out your gun and blow them away ~ free and clear, no questions asked.

Or would you rather have the cops do some light policing to keep these pukes from making it impossible to use the public restrooms for their intended purpose?

76 posted on 08/31/2007 3:23:12 PM PDT by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: freedomdefender
That Mitt was decisive, that he was a "good butcher," as a prime minister must be, said Asquith, is undeniable. This speaks well of Mitt's executive intolerance of failures and failing. But one did not hear much here in the way of compassion for Larry Craig or his family.

Pat's wrong.

It's not Mitt's job to worry about Craig's family. It was Craig's job to do that. How mealy-mouthed to find fault with Mitt on doing the right thing and saying the right things.

Mitt's right that we should take away pensions away from these disgraced congresscritters. The list of them is too long for me to write here.
77 posted on 08/31/2007 3:25:42 PM PDT by George W. Bush ("I don't know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don't care. It's not that important.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: restornu

Still, Teddy set the bar pretty low. Who could complain.


78 posted on 08/31/2007 3:28:20 PM PDT by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 72 | View Replies]

To: carrier-aviator

Don’t forget that McGreevey was forced out.


79 posted on 08/31/2007 3:29:18 PM PDT by only1percent
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: thefactor

I still don’t understand why he was flying through Minneapolis?? There are direct flights from Salt Lake City to both D.C. airports. I have talked to Craig in Idaho Falls at the airport on our way to SLC to make connections on other flights. It is a routine connection...leave SLC at about 0930 and arrive in D.C. about 2:30, non-stop. I fly A LOT and I try my darndest to avoid stop-overs and transfers...the Minneapolis route puzzles me.


80 posted on 08/31/2007 3:30:52 PM PDT by Cuttnhorse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 121-136 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson