Posted on 09/02/2007 9:24:38 AM PDT by libravoter
(CBS) Sunday Morning commentator Ben Stein has a few words for the Minneapolis police's behavior in the arrest of Sen. Larry Craig, and for the Republican leadership's response - and they're not very flattering.
The whole story of Senator Larry Craig, the Republican of Idaho who announced his resignation yesterday, is a nightmare of out-of-control police and weak politicians.
Senator Craig has been the innocent victim of a set-up by the evil-minded police of Minneapolis-St. Paul that Stalin would have admired.
Here's the deal: Senator Craig went into a men's room at the Twin Cities airport. He entered a lavatory stall. He tapped his foot. He may or may not have reached his hand down under the lavatory partition to pick up a piece of paper or to make a signal.
That's it. That's the whole thing. There was no sex act of any kind.
So the policeman who happened to be in the next stall walks Senator Craig off, starts bullying him, accusing him of lying and, implicitly, threatens to ruin Senator Craig's career.
ALL FOR A MAN TAPPING HIS FOOT IN A PUBLIC BATHROOM.
This is insane.
(excerpted from full article)
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
What about the fact that the police officer went into the restroom because of complaints from other people about someone being harassing?
Stein must be light in the loafers.
“What about the fact that the police officer went into the restroom because of complaints from other people about someone being harassing?”
Mr. Stein has selective memory. Senator Craig pleaded guilty.
I guess I'm just naturally cynica about after-the-fact anonymous complaints.
Does anything you've read sound like behavior you (or any other sane adult) would point out to the police as harassment? Especially with Minneapolis being a liberal bastion?
The problem it’s not illegal to solicit a legal act. Even if he was looking for gay sex, it’s only against the law if it occurs or is intended to take place in a public place. My point is, there was no demonstration of intent to do it in the restroom. Solictation of sex is only illegal if the intent is to break the law, like sex for money or in public.
cynica = cynical
This is unbelievable...just because a GOP pol was caught cruising for homosexual sex in a men’s bathroom, we’re all sounding like outraged liberals protesting government interference in private activities between consenting adults!
It’s almost like our own little digital Stonewall!
I applaud the brave undercover cops who arrest these perverts! They’re the same ones that catch people looking for hookers, drugs, and other illegal activities and I hope they continue to catch pervs like Craig.
I suspect people like Stein and Steyn (same sounding names...hmmm, a conspiracy?!) want laws against immoral behavior like this abolished, else why would they write such stupidly out-of-character (for them) columns condemning undercover cops who arrest perverts?
Ed
I wonder. There is no intelligent defense for what Larry Craig did. I used to think Ben Stein was intelligent.
I saw Stein deliver this commentary this morning and was disgusted.
If the cops set up a DUI checkpoint, stats are kept and published. Where does one go to get the fagola stats that must be kept at the FUI checkpoints?
Darn. My cousin was looking forward to having every guy that "solicited" her for sex arrested.
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NEXT!
What do you think, Steve?
The Minneapolis airport's not in Minneapolis. Is this like the New York Giants planing in Jersey?
I don’t thinks so, but I believe Stein spends a good amount of time in Idaho, so he probably knows Craig.
Just because this cop looks gay does not mean he is a liar . Police use the best bait they have .
Ick.
Let it go.
Everything else (literally) is more important than this.
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