CNN

To Cara of Harrisonburg VA:

Touche back to you. You’re right. I shouldn’t have spoken as if all Republicans are of the same cloth. There are fine people, (and hypocrites) in both parties.

Thank you for correcting my position and for elevating the dialogue on this board.

To David in Salinas:

While I can appreciate your sentiments, I respectfully diagree. I think that this article/situation represents the hypocrisy of one man. Period. I think that it is a mistake to make blanket statements about one party or another based on the actions of any one representative–and I say this also to Republicans. I am in favor of healthy and open political debate, but I do get tired of BOTH parties getting lost in the forest for the trees.

Thank you for the correction about the Filner article. (Seriously.) I thought I had done my research, but I missed it. Touche!

I would ask, though, that you not presume to know the feelings of every Republican on issues of homosexuality...or any other issue for that matter. That is one of the wonderful things about living in a free-thinking society.

It’s typical Mitt Romney that he turns on a friend who might hurt his chances. Senator Craig is still (pathetically) denying any wrong-doing, but Romney is comparing him to Clinton and Foley. Craig has been a loyal Romney supporter, but Romney’s loyalties (to friends or policy positions) extend only as far as the next election.

Meanwhile, here’s a priceless video of Larry Craig on Meet the Press calling Bill Clinton a naughty boy:

Poor the "little woman". Each time one of these public officials gets caught with their pants down, he parades his little woman to camera: "see folks: my wife is here and she believes me..."

Wouldn't it be funny, if his wife came out and surprised him saying this in front of many cameras: " Craig! Stop lying to people. I had it. Don't parade me any more, and I will take everything you have for humiliate me all these years. Enough is enough".

Posted By Tricia M Charlottetown PEI: "What would you deduce from these actions if you had been the officer? Might I add, an officer that was working under cover due to many reports of lewd acts being carried out in the same public washroom."

That's the rub now isn't it? If the officer were undercover for alleged drug trafficing in this public restroom and the officer thought foot tapping was a dealer's high sign would Craig be facing drug charges instead?

Craig was arrested based on the officer's interpretation of Craig's actions. The officer made an assumption based on a tapping foot and a waving hand that Craig wished to engage in lewd acts. Craig was not arrested for engaging in lewd acts. He was arrested for tapping his foot. Last I checked tapping your foot in a public area is not illegal. Placing your foot adjacent to another person's foot, albeit weird, is not illegal either.

A half witted lawyer could have had Craig's case dismissed.

Craig said he plead guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges to make a quick end to the court proceedings. He did so to avoid a witch hunt. Whether or not this is true is between Craig and his own conscience.

I am not saying Craig is innocent or guilty. I'm not legal council nor a judge. This blog is not a court of law. I will say I am not willing to crucify the man because he tapped his foot in public. I'm tapping my foot right now. Should I be arrested?

Police officers are human and prone to make mistakes just like any other human. Craig was arrested based on an assumption and the general public seems more than happy to condemn the man. This whole situation does have overtones of a witch hunt.

WOW – If Larry Craig endorsed Mitt for their shared family values "WATCH OUT AMERICA"

And of course Romney has to comment that "Yeah, I think this reminds us of Mark Foley and Bill Clinton." SOOO not even close, Mitt. He's obviously attended the Karl Rove School of Political Strategy. "Inappropriate behavior" or not, the truth is that Bill can out-President this guy ANY day. He's got more class than Romney could ever hope to have.
I wouldn't vote for Mitt Romney if my life depended on it.

Cara of Harrisonburg VA “Does this have anything to do with party alignment?”

Yes it does, Cara. Because Republicans like Senator Craig are the ones crusading against gay rights. Craig strongly opposes same-sex domestic partnership benefits, voted to prohibit same-sex marriage, voted against prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation, voted against expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation, and in general speaks about homosexuality as sinful behavior. Setting aside the question of hypocrisy, this kind of voting and rhetoric is harmful to real American citizens, and it’s largely the Republican party doing that harm. Until Republicans face the fact that homosexuality is an unchangeable part of life on earth, gay Americans are going to keep demanding their rights and gay Republicans are going to keep emerging from closets and public restrooms. This isn’t just Craig’s hypocrisy, (or Foley’s or Haggard’s). It’s Republican hypocrisy. That’s what makes this a real story and not just cheap gossip.

You also asked: “Hey CNN-where was the article about D-Bob Filner (Calif.) being charged with assault recently?!”

The answer is it’s down bout three pages. It was Posted 8/21/2007 09:03:54 AM and now has 61 comments.

The sexually deviant publican senators or representative are getting caught and shown their true colors. Also remember the David Vitter with prostitutes, and Mark Foley with page boys.

Anyone else thinking of the movie "American Beauty" right now in regards to this story.... I am

Well, I guess Mitt Romney should have checked this guy out before signing him onto his campaign...Just as voters should check out the MORMON CULT before voting for one of its' members. The lesson? BE INFORMED!

By David, Gilbert Arizona

"According to the documented police report all Craig did was tap his foot and move his hand around. I don't recall any law prohibiting a person from tapping his or her foot in a public restroom. The police officer, based on his experience, deduced that Craig wanted to engage in lewd acts. Even a hack lawyer could have got Craig's case dismissed. If anything Craig is a complete idiot for pleading guilty."

The documented police report said, that Craig tapped his foot, moved his hand around under the stall more than three times, then placed his foot under the stall so it touched against the officer's foot. Then, the officer showed him his identity and poited his finger to the exit. Please tell me how this action could be seen as anything other than soliciting sex favours. How many times have you been in a washroom and had someone push their foot over to touch yours or mover their hand underneath the stall? What would you deduce from these actions if you had been the officer? Might I add, an officer that was working under cover due to many reports of lewd acts being carried out in the same public washroom.

Next Question. Why would Craig if he was innocent, even entertain the thought of pleading guilty? The normal reaction of innocence would be Craig's utter outrage at the officer's mere suggestion of solicitation charges. Craig did not show outrage.

I fail to understand how anyone could suggest Craig is innocent of the charge made against him. And if he is married with grown children and grandchildren his actions are more reprehensible.

If you can't expect a conservative, Senator from Idaho to uphold christian, family values, who can you trust?. Instead of patriotism being the last refuge of scoundrels, I believe religion has now supplanted itself as that last refuge. I'm relieved to be an independent voter.

This is good news for Mitt. It shows that he will not tolerate any non-Republican behavior. This is the family values party, not the bathroom sex party. We must continue to work to restore the moral fabric of this nation. The first thing on Mitt Romney's agenda should be the passage of the Marriage Amendment.

Getting rid of Larry Craig shows Mitt has zero tolerance for "alternative" lifestyles. Now if he can just find a polite way to fire his son, Craig.

I just hope that he isn't sleeping with his wife, too. G-d know what he exposed her to over the years. Forget the hypocrisy – he's a horrible, uncaring and selfish for engaging in this behavior on the sly.

CNN unbiased? In the last week...

Articles posted about Republican Albert Gonzales: 19

Articles posted about Republican Larry Craig (Lewd Behavior): 4

Articles posted about Democrat Bob Filner (Assaulting Airport Employee): 1

Perhaps CNN just feels it's more "news worthy" when Republicans are on the hot-seat than Democrats?

Posted By Thomas Robson, Hoffman Estates, IL: "Any gay man knows that tapping your shoe or swiping your hand under a stall means exactly what the officer said it means. Give me a break, Senator. Stop lying and just say it- " I am gay" How else can you explain it- how do you explain that the officer misunderstood your intentions?"

Whether or not any gay man knows the high signs, tapping your foot in a public restroom is not against the law. I have no clue what Craig was thinking when he pleaded guilty to this misdemeanor.

According to the documented police report all Craig did was tap his foot and move his hand around. I don't recall any law prohibiting a person from tapping his or her foot in a public restroom. The police officer, based on his experience, deduced that Craig wanted to engage in lewd acts. Even a hack lawyer could have got Craig's case dismissed. If anything Craig is a complete idiot for pleading guilty.

I am so utterly SICK of small-minded individuals politicizing issues such as this. Is the story thick with irony?: absolutely! Is it disturbing? quite. Does this have anything to do with party alignment?: a resounding NO! Come on people. This is the equivalent of saying "all Democrats have sex with interns". CNN is an overt facilitator of these witch hunts from the DemoBRATic left. Hey CNN-where was the article about D-Bob Filner (Calif.) being charged with assault recently?!

I saw someone posted that this guy was a right wing anti-Gay agendist buffoon. While I agree the guy is over the top I find it interesting he is being labeled as anti-gay since he was in the Mens Bathroom trying to pick up guys.

It seems that a lot of Republicans if not more then democrats are homosexuals or sexual deviants. Remember that guy who was drunk and shouting for boys to come out of the Senate Paige Dormitory who got busted about a year ago.

Maybe thats why they hated Bill Clinton so much because he was chasing girls instead of hanging out in mens rooms.

It is amazing that theses people (Republican or Democrat) can just explain away things most of us would be under the jail for. If the officer had no idea who this man was, why would he need to make this story up? I think it is disgraceful when our lawmakers are caught by our law enforcement officials and the lawmakers try their damnest to prove the LE agents have no idea what they are doing. But when it's an ordinary citizen doing heinous things, these same officials praise them without any problems.

Lance,

You wrote, "Jesus ate with tax collectors and prostitutes because he had compassion and confidence, a powerful combination. He could put himself in others shoes and walk a mile. He could understand that not all life would conform to him but that he could lead by example, by embracing the misunderstood and the shunned rather than shunning them."

- – – - -

I hope you do understand Jesus was not endorsing the activities of the prostitutes and tax collectors (who routinely stole money). You do remember the story where the adulterous woman was brough to the square to be stoned and asked Jesus to condemn her? His response was, "Let the person without sin cast the first stone". End of story? NO.

He said to the woman, "It seems there are no accusers and I am neither accuser. Go and SIN NO MORE".

Jesus reached out to the sinners because everyone else wrote them off. His goal wasn't "to make them feel good" – it was to inspire them to a better life.

Oddly – the people on this blog who are "judging" are all the democrats.

Hmmmmmmmm

We need two big lists to present to the American electorate for the next election.

1) the Republicans who have been forced to resign, are under indictment, or are in jail. (big list)

2) the fat cats and CEOs who became Bush's "Pioneers" with donations of $100,000 or $200,000 to Bush's campaign, who put this totally incompetent and criminal know-nothing in the White House.

We need two big lists to present to the American electorate.

"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you.
Matthew 7: 1-2 (KJV)" ~ Jim, Amargosa Valley, NV

- – - – - –

Jim,

Thanks for quoting the Bible although you might want to understand the quote before attmepting to use it. Your misguided in it's application.

We are not to judge the person (salvation) as that is God's job.

We ARE to judge behavior.

Or in other words – love the sinner, hate the sin.

And, Jim, Jesus was speaking those words to ALL mankind regardless of political affiliation.

The Senator said that he had a wide stance in the stall. Good heavens, if he had his feet that far apart and was gripping the underside of the walls with his hands, he must have really been constipated. We know he is full of it, just how full we did not know until now. So, you see, it's not that he is homosexual, it's a serious medical condition verging on impaction. What a shame he could not think that fast on the seat; he could be in the colonic ward of a hospital now instead of in disgrace.

1) It's sad that Craig has had to live his life in the way he has chosen.
2) The media are full of stories about stings, but closeted (and non-closeted) gays and bisexuals continue to expose themselves to arrest by engaging in sexual behavior in public places.

It beggars explanation. How terrible must be those private drives.

Very nicely put, Lance!

Another hatemonger exposed. I'm lovin' it.

"Any gay man knows that tapping your shoe or swiping your hand under a stall means exactly what the officer said it means"

That just isn't true (I'm gay and had no idea until yesterday). Difference is, the self-loathing folks like the Senator have submerged themselves in a crude and likely unsafe expression of feelings they can only deny to the public.

They only get outed when they break the law.Any politician with self-righteous conservative views and homophobic acts deserves to be tarred and feathered.Democratic gays don't have to troll public restrooms,or hide in the shadows of society.These hypocritical theocrats are the oppressor's of our society.Throw them all out.

There are 535 Members of Congress, and if they are representative of the general population, then at least 4% are GLBT and other sexual non-straights, or over 24 Members. We know about Barney Frank, Mark Foley and now Larry Craig, so who are the other 21? Inquiring minds want to know, because trolling for kicks in public restrooms or page dorms is not in the best interests of Congress or the People. Who will out them?

Ahhh, how I long for the good ole days! Back then the worst you could be accused of was "smokin' in the boys room".

Eeeeek! I can smell it comin'!
The former "Good Senator" is going to say that he's sorry and FOUND JESUS IN THE . . . . .

The Repervicans strike again!

Why is it that those that complain loudest against homosexuals usually are?

i didnt think the joy of yesterday's gonzales resignation would be eclipsed by something better so soon. when those boys up in idaho get ahold of him he's gonna wish he had voted for the hate crimes bill.

Grab your children, mothers; it's a law-and-order Republican! What makes this so grotesque, of course, is that he's publicly anti-gay and holier-than-thou.

Any gay man knows that tapping your shoe or swiping your hand under a stall means exactly what the officer said it means. Give me a break, Senator. Stop lying and just say it- " I am gay" How else can you explain it- how do you explain that the officer misunderstood your intentions?

Sheesh!!- if this keeps up I'll start to wonder if ANY politician or preacher against same-sex marriage is straight. And for those whining about hypocrisy in not condemning Sen. Frank and other gay dems- can't you get it through your tiny heads that we aren't condemning the outed GOP pols for being gay, we're condemning them for being hypocritical liars.

The APPEARANCE of the "sanctity of marriage" and "strong family values". Not actual sactity and strength. Now I get it!
What is really tragic is when someone like this, who struggles with being "different" in this vastly closed-minded society, perpetuates and promotes the hateful legislation and social behavior that causes that very hate and intolerance, instead of helping bring about a positive change for the rest of us.

Lance from Monrovia,

Amazingly put. What scares me is that these right wing nut jobs have enough influence to have asay in whether homosexuals can be discriminated against when hiring or whether violence agains them constitutes a hate crime. I gues it's okay to open up someone's head if he doesn't fit into your own moral code.

These people are sick...let's bring on change

Obama!!

Please forward to all self-righteous right-wingers!

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you.
Matthew 7: 1-2 (KJV)

Wow! What a surprise. It appears that the only campaign that isn't laced with corruption and disgusting humans beings is Ron Paul's. But, considering that he is a man of principle, I would never think anything to the contrary.

Another reason I gave up voting for Republicans or Democrats. They are all a bunch of hypocrites.

Heh. It's almost a truism: the more active the anti-gay agenda, the more likely that person is in the closet. GOP is a 3-letter acronym for hypocrisy.

Here we go again- the party of virtue and family values has another loser in it's ranks.

It would by laughable if it weren't so commonplace.

Adios, Larry.

Yet another Republican "family values" hypocrite bites the dust. As we say down South: "When you lie down with fleas, you get up a dog." Heckuva job, Larry. Now please resign your senate seat.

Senator Craig has been trying to get rid of our V.A. healthcare system for veterans. We veterans are naturally opposed to this man's irrational thinking about veterans. He needs to resign, get out of any government service. As far as his interest in men is concerned, who cares. This is, more or less, a free country.

Even more proof that the "moral majority" is neither!

Surprise Surprise. Another God fearing, family values toting, anti-gay Republican arrested for questionable sexual advances/acts. Vote Republican, Vote Repression.

Typical, vote for Dr. "No"...he is the only outsider on the GOP side.

HA!!!! Love it when the reTHUGs rant against homosexuals, and they turn out to be one!! Seriously, who would vote GOP?????

I'm pleased that he was caught, as now he has placed himself in the very group of people he once condemned. I also hope that this will make re-election into the senate imppossible, especially considering his foolish views against homosexuality.

Just watch Craig get voted out of office. You see, unlike Democrats, Republicans hold their representatives to a higher moral standard.

Dems accept this as normal, Republicans do not..

Mark Foley, now Larry Craig. Those republicans are not exactly shining examples of moral virtue. Very sad.

Typical, you get this rightwingers preaching one thing from the pulpit and doing something different behind close doors. Senator Craig, is not the only one. Statistics also show that the men that usually engage in this type of bathroom behavior are married or in the closet. Men that are out of the closet have no need to hide and have anonymous sex. The saddest thing of all is that in the "eye of the public" these guys are the most anti-gay and the most outspoken evangelical christians out there. Very sad but very typical.

What were the odds the guy in the next stall was an on duty cop and not Senator Frank?

The picture you published with this story says it all. The look on Senator Craig's face seems to say, "What was I thinking when I toe tapped a cop in the bathroom? I wonder if Senator Frank can get me out of this one? Oh, no, he's a Democrat!"

Well it's like any good psychologist will tell you; those who most adamantly oppose gay rights are usually motivated by fear of their own latent homosexuality. Larry Craig is just the latest verification of that adage, following Foley, Haggard, etc. recently.

Another blow (no pun intended) to the party of family values. I'd like to see a list of Republican politicians who have been caught in men's rooms, emailing male interns, soliciting sex, etc., in the past couple of years. This party doesn't embrace my family's values. It's time for the press to call these people out for what they are: immoral, spineless, fascist hypocrites that have stolen our country from us while we swallowed their "conservative values" drivel.

As a Republican Presidential Candidate, Mr. Romney certainly doesn't need to begin his quest with defections already. That said, he should have had more sense than to allow a closeted gay-baiting, toe tapping, stall troller like Craig, to even be in his campaign from the beginning.

Imagine the odds of a closeted gay US Senator (one of only 100 people on the entire planet) deciding to troll the stalls of a public restroom in an airport, of all places, only to find the one cop who just happened to be under cover at the time, just waiting in the stall next to the Senator's.

Then, the Senator apparently in the throes of major seismic activity from his gaydar, decides to begin sending gay Morse Code messages with his shoes.

The odds of that must surely surpass those of winning the lottery. Talk about a "bad day". Poor Craig, outed, arrested, and dumped without even washing his hands.

The only reason this is on CNN is because its a Republican. Bet you didn't read about Atlanta's bathroom escapes by dem leaders, did you..

Its alright to overlook all the other freaks out there congregating in the men’s bathroom for sex, just not Republicans.

Once again proving that CNN is a bias political outlet, not an unbias news source..

This is the family value party LOL!! Thank God Im an independent!

Larry Craig was arrested for lewd behavior in an airport restroom...and this is the guy preaching moral and family values?? I don't know if he realizes this, but he hasn't exactly raised the bar for any of us.
And if he is gay, he needs to come out and face it like a man. It's pathetic that he hides himself behind legislation he "supports" showing his disdain for the gay lifestyle, like the Defense of Marriage Act.

Another "Family Values" guy...having lewd times in a public men's restroom!!!

Nothing unnatural about that, is there..?

Here we go again, another holy man from the Republican party? He is guilty as hell, in my book! What in the hell is my party doing anyway? Committing suicide along the way? Yes while the likes of Limbaugh, Hannity, O'reilly etc., constantly skin the Democrats, while not realizing, actually ending up skinning the Republican party to the bones!

Family values and ROP. Why can't the christian right see through this cronies. They throw stone in glass houses.

And this guy is married with children.

Lookin' for love in all the wrong places.

Another Republican demonstrating his 'family values' and 'moral supremacy' YYAAAAAWWWWWWWNNNNNNN

The fact that they have to edit everyday seems to indicate a certain problem with these closeted republicans.Is Romney sure about his positions?Maybe his original gay friendly agenda is just being wrapped in holiness.

Another example while the Republican 'family values' party is really the 'Hypocracy' party. We need to flush out every ultra-conservative Republican in Congress and return America to the PEOPLE.

Romney and the Romney campaign made the right decision.

Obviously, Craig has not as to his foot-tapping, eager-admission moment.

And another one bites the dust....

Great. That's all we need. Another Republican President with people resigning. Problem is, Romney isn't even elected yet, and his people are already getting into trouble with misconduct and resigning before he's even elected. Is there no one left in America worth anything? What happened to our values? Oh, yeah, that brilliant Supreme Court decision removing Bibles from public schools. Perhaps its time for "Church and State" to be revisited. We sure have come a loooong way down since then, haven't we.

Wait, wasn't the McCain campaign also linked to someone who was arrested for a public restroom "incident"?

What a shock. Another closeted self-hating right wing politician goes down in flames....

It just gets better and better, or perhaps sadder and sadder. These hypocrite neocons in the Republican far right just can't stop hanging their chads... in more ways than one apparently.

The dude solicits a cop in an airport bathroom stall? I'd say I couldnt believe it but I actually can.

I'm so glad that the party of family values and pious morals is "on the case" in more ways the one.

What kind of tragedy has our Congress become when men like this cry out their morals to the Capitol rooftops?

hey, I know, instead of a "defense of marriage" act, lets do an "defense against Republican sleeze ball" act. It will prohibit sexually repressed old men from controlling the public agenda by dividing the country using fear and superstition, in order to create an army of gay bashing neo Patriots so obsessed with their own sexuality and anything different from themselves that they must persecute anything that even remotely reminds them of their own inner demons and the actual truth of what they try to hide even from themselves.

I suppose they figure if they can repress the rest of the world as much as they themselves have been repressed we can all be equally miserable together, in harmony, amen.

I don't know about anyone else, but I never trust anyone who says they are absolutely right and absolutely righteous. Jesus ate with tax collectors and prostitutes because he had compassion and confidence, a powerful combination. He could put himself in others shoes and walk a mile. He could understand that not all life would conform to him but that he could lead by example, by embracing the misunderstood and the shunned rather than shunning them.

I feel sorry for this senator from Idaho because he lacks compassion for himself, the kind he would need before he can ever feel the sort of compassion that would actually make him to be an effective leader.

All hatred starts within, and this man apparently allowed it to eat him up.

Well, moving on. Turn the page and forget this guy. If only... If only this would allow those who are intolerant and who are lemmings for the soundbites of the right to at least stop a moment and think. THINK about the hatred and superiority that they preach and actually imagine the coin turned against them instead of their "enemies" for a moment. I'm sure that's what the Senator from Idaho is doing right this instant.

Too late Mitt. Now we know what your folks are all about.

I guess we know something about Romney now.

Instead of race, why not focus on management style? Why not focus on upbringing and values?

Skin color is superficial.

Another example of republican gone wild....again.

The Larry Craig video endorsing Romney’s family values has been pulled from YouTube, but here are a couple of others in which Craig denies involvement in a 1982 Congressional page scandal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RntWGPEjoo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZXaaFbo6Oo&mode=related&search=

Barney Frank, Stephen Moore (of the Wall Street Journal), Jason Alexander discuss Larry Craig with Bill Maher:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlyJmhwa1c0

One of the comments on this one reads:

“Would you people give the man a break. Senator Craig has a fantastic record on every issue that good Christian people care about. As long as he keeps voting the right way (against gays!) he's ok in my book. He just needs a few weeks in rehab to get the gayness out of him and he'll find Jesus and turn straight again.”

Enjoy.