CNN

Both parties have their black sheep, lying, adultery and stealing. These people are held to higher standard, why, they are just ordinary people who have decided they'd like a position of power, instead of a regular job or career, most are not interested in what the people that put them office want,you can tell by how they vote in the senate, like end the war in Iraq and bring the troops home, stop funding the war, they just ignore their crys and do what they want. Enforce immigration laws. Why was he putting his foot in the stall next to him and putting his hand under the stall, wierd behavior I must admit. Frankly I didn't know that men that wanted to have sex with same sex hinted without speaking with their hands and feet signals. Why not just ask, the other guy if he interested, further to be arrested shouldn't there have been an exchange of money or money offer. This the way the prostitutes, get arrested by the police, without money offered it is rarely an arrest. Vitter had the same
problem as Bill Clinton, only he didn't lie under oath, I guess he paid money at the time, but wasn't this a past indecretion and he wasn't arrested that's the difference between
him and Larry. Larry Craig should retire he is old and tired, he got caught and now every one knows that he is really not a family values man. His wife should divorce him and take everything he's got, how does she put up with him. Hillary should have divorced Bill, and guess what it's not too late. However, no one will vote for her without Bill as her companion. Larry is a hypocrite like most of the republicans, nothing about this is surprising.

The people of Idaho sent Larry Craig to the Senate, and it should be the people of Idaho who decide his fate, not the Republicans in the U.S. Senate. If Craig stays, good for him, even though his "I'm not guilty (now)" argument disgusts me.

But as much as he disgusts me, I do not believe it is my place, nor is it the place of the Senate Republicans who are more worried about their own collective skins, to make Craig leave before the end of his term.

Way to go Austin Rozzell – tell it like it is! The GOP is the evil "Greedy Old Party" and Henry Tucker, from GA – why don't you just go back to Fox News and hear more propaganda that sooths you little mind!

The GOP gay bashers brought this on themselves – THATS THE STORY! The Moral Majority is NOT!

why doesn't he just admit he is gay? it'de be a lot easier than convincing anyone that he was framed somehow

Why is it so easy for Larry to say "I'm not Gay," yet so hard for him to say "I'm not a Senator?" Should he decide to once again change his mind, well, he can always be Gay, but a Senator? Doubtful. One is better than none, heY!

Ensign must have forgotten about what misbehaving is about. I seem to remember a particular president that actually had a bit of a lewd encounter and he got off pretty easily...ask his wife. Craig only was implied to be doing the wrong thing. Give the guy a break.

the republican party is indeed in trouble...craig acting like barney and vitter acting like clinton (bubba) and both of them acting like McGreevy or villarigosa or newsome or kennedy or...

Larry Craig and all the other Republican sex wierdos, will be useful if the Republicans use dirty swift-boat like attacks on the Democrats.
Fight fire with fire if it comes to that. Democrats... Start making the commericals now. (Choose Craig's good side)

Henry Tucker, GA:

I am an avid reader and commentor on CNN Political Ticker. Every time I see your name, you are complaining about the stories that CNN is reporting. IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, STOP READING IT. It's really simple.

Nice try.

Craig will be used as a buffoon by every Democrat running for office.

Only the Republicans make such a big show about hating homosexuals, than try to lie and obfuscate when several of their own engage in that exact behavior. People also notice that Vitter is being given special treatment, 'cause Lousianans would vote in a Dem about 10 seconds after Vitter resigned.

No, this is hurting the Republicans. And I love it. Bunch of dictator-supporting losers.

and Glen – Oh, yes – us ignorant midwesterners can't possibly comprehend the high-minded concepts of political rhetoric and posturing. Thank God there are Washington Insiders like you to help explain to us the world of politics. i'd continue, but i'm meeting my cousin for a 'nooner' after I churn the butter.

So prostitution is not a crime in DC?
Apparently the real New Amsterdam of the Atlantic Coast.
The attempt to differentiate Vitters from Craig is flimsy at best. Come out and say it: Hetero-sex-crimes = ok; homo-wide-stance-sex-crimes = not ok.
...just b/c someone wasnt charged, doesnt mean no crime committed.

Keep laying on the hypocrisy. GOP = Gays Or Perverts.

Craig's actions hurt Republicans and Democrats alike?!? Considering republicans have been dropping like flies in the last couple of years to scandal, with only one democrat Representative tainted, it doesn't take a PhD in rocket science to see that the Republicans are the ones that are hurt by the actions of this law-breaking, hypocritical Republican Senator. Additionally, Ensign is perpetuating a double standard by not criticizing Vitter (who addmitted to using prostitutes), but coming down hard on Craig (who also pled guilty to committing a crime).

Craig staying in office through the rest of his term is just one more nail in the Republican party's coffin when it comes to trying to regain the majority. In fact, it's as if the Republican's are actively seeking a "permanent minority" (ala Karl Rove) through the proliferation of their hypocritical and corrupt actions.

Pixie, Murfreesboro, TN

Great post!

THOMAS BILLIS las vegas nv

Absolutely terrific point, I'm a proud Dem, and I support Craig to stay in office. Frankly, his explanation for his behavior in the bathroom is a bit shaky. However, I don't think that his actions alone warrant an arrest. In other words, they arrested him for actions that MIGHT be indicative of soliciting sex, but you can't assume that somebody is intending to solicit sex until something is exchanged (money or whatever).

Austin,
Tell us how you really feel

;^)

Pixie, good post—thank you for your comments.

The Republican double standard here is astounding, to the point of absurdity. Sen. Ensign and his hypocritical colleagues think Craig should leave but conveniently overlook Vitter's illegal indiscretions, since it happened while he was a member of the House. Forget the fact that he was still a lawmaker at the time (minor technicality). Give me a break. If that is their definition of "principle", it is no wonder I changed affiliations. I’m sorry to admit that I was ever a Republican, considering what a farce and national shame that party has become.

It's funny how little middle America understands about DC. Having worked in the political machine, I learned very quickly that there is no such thing as morality or ethics in Washington. When a Democrat gets outraged at a Republican for some racially insensitive comment, it's not because they care about offended some minority group. It's a power grab by the Dems. When Republicans lynched Clinton's presidency for inappropriate sexual behavior, it had nothing to do with morality. It was a power grab to knock a president down whose policies threatened to empower the poor and destabilize the status quo. Far, far more unethical behavior goes on every day across the political spectrum.

So, when Republicans want to knock Craig out of their party, it has nothing to do with a stand against immorality. It is because he's a political liability.

Republicans ( half wit, war mongering, destroyers of the bill of rights and the constitution, gay hating cowards, Ann coulter liking and over all Christian right child molesting serial killers)
Turned their back on Craig but they are used to doing the very same to their gay children. So I think it is very fitting that he is causing them such pain. They DESERVE EVERYTHING done to their evil party. May the Republican Party fall to the depth of hell reserved just for them.
I don’t hide behind some may up name or anonymous
My Name is Austin Rozzell and I approve of this message.

sen craig thinks he is DIFFERENT and loves playing word games.guilty is GUILTY,I'm betting he stays because the senate is powerless to boot him

jimmy

It is hypocritical to warmly forgive David Vitter and to ask Craig to resign. If the "amoral" behavior is the problem, they should BOTH go. Alas, it's just another symptom of the bigotry and homophobia of the republican party. Please America, throw them ALL out.

The Republican stance on SenatorCraig is pure politics because they still defend Senator Vitter. Vitter admitted to engaging a prostitute, likely on several occasions. His admissions are much worse than anything Craig admitted to.

Prostitution is not simply a crime but it is a crime that supports other criminal activities. Prostitution has long been a big money making venture for organized crime. Its run by the same people and organizations that distribute narcotics. The people who run these organizations are responsible for much of the violent crime in our country. By engaging prostitutes, Senator Vitter is supporting violent crime in our nation.

Senator Craig did nothing of the sort. Senator Vitter's wrong doings cause much greater harm to our nation than Senator Craig. If Craig must go, so should Vitter.

Someday we will all live in love and peace and the hypocritical manipulative media and the lying politicians that use this media will be considered part of America's "dark ages". This new world could begin by someone like Larry Craig coming out and saying "yes I did it and it is because I allowed small minded bigots and the media to define who I am. I am gay, I am divorcing my wife, and I am becoming the liberal democrat I was meant to be had I not been born in Idaho."

So, a "serious sin" with a Washington prostitute doesn't break any laws??
Give me a break.

At first I was amazed that the Repulicans would want Craig to resign for moral and ethical reasons, but not ask David Vitter to resign, then I relized that the Governer of Craig's state is a Republican and the Louisiana Governer is a Democrat. Republican double standards for Political gain once again. More Disgusting than the actions of the Senators in Question...

As a gay American and a Democrat, I am all for Senator Craig to remain in his position. I think he might benefit from the experience of what discrimination feels like and what it feels like to be shunned as a person who is gay. No eye contact from your collegues, or being ostrasized by old friends, or being told you are not wanted around here so LEAVE! Yea.. I think he should get a little taste of the discrimination he imposes on the many other law abiding gay citizens in America. In all of his pleading of innocence, I find it interesting that his lack of consideration for the Senate and his own party and his constituents, is as self serving as the solicition of cheap sex in an airport bathroom from another man and still not call your self gay. Senator? Gaydar has picked up your signal in the past. This is not the first time at the rodeo for you sir. So please.. stick around Senator.. see what it feels like to be treated like a second class citizen.

CNN tellin it like it is

Gay page scandals, bathroom sex, prostitutes, BIG money scandals, violence and war, the curtailment of our freedoms - that these things so characterize the Republican party today should tell all you "values voters" that political parties are about power not "values." And Republicans have been in power far too long. Put your hopes in the folks who offer you simple answers to life's complex moral problems, and you're just being suckered by demagogues who will abuse your trust every time.

Pixie, Murfreesboro, TN

Another excellent point, could not have said it better, Thanks

This guy has to be the all-time KING of flip-floppers. "I'm guilty" "No I'm not" "I'll resign" "I'll resign only if I can't get this worked out" "No I'm not resigning" "But I will retire later" yah right. This guy has a huge problem telling the truth or meaning what he says.

It's been my distinct pleasure watching the republican ship sink. Your bigotry is more embarrassing than your failed policies.

http://www.yourdailyawesome.com/2007/09/25/susan-savage-rumbaugh-and-the-amazing-bonobo-apes/

So how many Republicans does it take to screw in a light bulb?

None!

They don't screw in light bulbs, they screw in the head.

People in other states rejoice, Idaho is losing their earmarks (aka, porkbarrel spending). As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committe, Craig has "earmarked" more dollars for Idaho than any Senator in recent history. It's only fair that one of the smallest states (population wise) gets a share of this BS, and he's the man to lead us to it.

If all the closeted homosexual republicans came out and admitted to what they are, I think it would help their poll numbers, not hurt them. Only the hardcore whacko christians are hung up about sexual preference. A small minority.

Senator Craig may very well be innocent - and he may very well not. I don't really care. He should take the high road, realize that he isn't a self-serving liar like Bill Clinton was, willing to cause division and chaos for the sake of his own ego, and forfeit his office gracefully for the good of all concerned.

And I read this article I couldn't help but think what a mainstream Republican Sen. Larry Craig is. Why then is Sen. Ensign being so mean to Craig. Craig has not yet exhausted his appeals, so what is the hurry. What happens if Craig is successful on appeal. He can't get his seat in the Senate back.

Oh, it's not about justice. Only about the 2008 election. Thanks for making that crystal clear Sen. Ensign.

Looks like Sen. John Ensign's firm stance about Craig leaving the Senate is no match for Craig's determined "wide stance". Too bad for the Re-PUBE-licans. Watch your back in the Senate mens room.

They're stuck with a closeted gay Senator in denial – kind of like the whole Re-PUBE-lican party is in denial about their manipulation of the gullible rubes on the right with "family values" and their denial of the rampant corruption they've been responsible for from allowing special interests to write whole sections of laws – for a price of course – to the stunning lack of oversight of the Bush Administration from wire tapping to contractor fraud.

Makes you wonder what the GOP – the Gay Old Party – will come up with next.

"This is like Bill Clintons impeachment..."

"Those of us who thought Bill Clinton was getting railroaded owe to our consciences to maintain consistency."

Posted By THOMAS BILLIS las vegas nv :

Thomas; while it appears you and I are on the same side of the political spectrum, I'm afraid you have totally missed the point. Larry Craig should not be pushed into resigning because he solicited sex with an undercover cop in a public restroom. He should not be pushed into resigning if he is indeed gay. He should not be pushed into resigning even because he pleaded guilty. HE SHOULD BE PUSHED INTO RESIGNING BECAUSE OF THE HYPOCRISY. He has spent most of his legislative career bashing gay people and it turns out he most likely is one himself.

Since I am not a Republican I would be happy to see Senator Craig stay.

But am I missing something? Did they legalize prostitution in Washington while I was sleeping? If they didn't, then Senator Vitter is self-admittedly also guilty of a crime. He just hasn't been convicted in a court of law.

I guess to most Republicans extra-marital sex is a crime if it is with a man, but just a sin if it is with a woman, even if she is a prostitute.

What will those clever Republicans think of next?

The reason Republicans want Craig to leave quickly has nothing to do with morals or values. It's all about saving their own necks. The supposed party of "Jesus"–what would Jesus do in this case? "He who is without sin may cast the first stone or don't mention the speck in your brother's eye when you have a log in your own." And to Craig, he would probably say " you're forgiven–go to your wife+ family and ask for their forgiveness. Support legalizing gay marriage .I'll be turning water to wine there as I would at any hetero marriage. And above all, show mercy as I have shown mercy to you.Especially to the least of these ,children and others without health insurance. Spend more on SCHIP; it's a good program.
To the legalistic, mean-spirited Republicans, he would say–"Woe to you the pharisees".

THOMAS BILLIS las vegas nv:

Absolutely terrific point, I'm a proud Dem, and I support Craig to stay in office. Frankly, his explanation for his behavior in the bathroom is a bit shaky. However, I don't think that his actions alone warrant an arrest. In other words, they arrested him for actions that MIGHT be indicative of soliciting sex, but you can't assume that somebody is intending to solicit sex until actual money is exchanged

I don't get it. Everybody is focused on the "is he gay or not question." Really, who cares?

On the other hand, picking up perfect strangers to have sex with in a public bathroom, in an airport no less, I mean, come on ...

Do we really want folks with so little self-respect and who obviously care so little about themselves to be in the US Senate? Charged with decisions about who should be on the Supreme Court, War and Peace, and on and on?

I don't think so.

He may be innocent but all signs point otherwise. The court of public opinion is not burdened by concepts like "presumption of innocence" and "beyond all reasonable doubt." With the rumors flying for years, the writings of the major Idaho newspaper, and now an arrest for facts that led Sen. Craig to plead guilty to a misdemeanor to avoid a criminal conviction, I think the burden is on him to dispel the cloud that prevents him from serving in the Senate.

If it don't happen and happen fast, then "Good-bye, Larry Craig. And good riddance." As for all you R's out there, you family values advocates, you moral types, how bout it? Put your political pressure where your mouth has been lo these many years.

As Charlie Brown would say, "good grief!"

Dan Hawthorne

As a Republican, I believe that our party is one of principle, and one of those principles is a good moral character

Dan here are some examples of the good moral character that you speak of, from politicians in the GOP. BTW, the Dems are no better.

1. Congressman Mark Foley's abuse of teen-age Congressional pages.
2. Bob Packwood, Senator (R-Ore.), resigned in 1995 under a threat of public senate hearings related to 10 female ex-staffers accusing him of sexual harassment.
3. Tom DeLay -The corruption of House Majority Leader, Tom DeLay, and his gang of "40 thieves" is so extensive that it takes whole web sites to cover, such as http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_DeLay.
4. Bob Livingston (R-Louisiana) was about to replace Newt Gingrich as Speaker of the House until he resigned in disgrace when it was revealed that he admitted to had been involved in several adulterous affairs.
5.Bob Barr (R-Georgia): has been married three (or is it now four) times. And at a party in 1992, Barr actually licked whipped cream off the breasts of two women, neither of them his current wife. Now that's family values!
6. Dan Burton (R-Indiana): The Chairman of the House Government Reform & Oversight Committee. Following an expose, Burton was forced to admit that he fathered an out-of-wedlock child, a fact he denied for years.

Read this earlier today. Senator Larry Craig has restroom leg syndrome. I can only wonder what brilliance is being added to Wikipedia about yet another republican with no soul. PAX

" As a Republican, I believe that our party is one of principle, and one of those principles is a good moral character."
Go back and read recent American history, starting with Spiro Agnew and Richard Nixon and continue through Larry Craig and David Vitter and then tell me that again...with a straight face.
Trumped up charges that were never justified or proven notwithstanding, the Democrats have been ten times more upstanding and moral than the Republicans have been over the past 40 years.

I will remember this interview and I hope you guys do as well when the sanctimonious Sen. Ensign has a sex scandal of his own.

I particularly enjoyed this bit:

"Ensign also dismissed the suggestion that Craig's case is similar to that of Republican Sen. David Vitter, who has admitted to committing a "serious sin" with a Washington prostitute when he served in the House.

"First of all, he never said exactly what he did," Ensign said of Vitter. "Secondly, it happened before he got into the United States Senate, and there were no laws that were broken as far as anybody knows."

Hmmmm committed a "serious sin" with a prostitute....why whatEVER can he possibly mean?? Certainly the embattled Sen. Vitter MUST have been talking about jaywalking...or loitering. I love the feigned ignorance, but Sen. Ensign is fooling NO ONE.

As for Vitter not seeking the services of prostitutes while in the senate – - am I to understand that soliciting the services of prostitutes is now legal as long as you're a member of the house of representatives as opposed to the senate?? No wonder we have 5 times as many house members. I loved Blitzer's LACK OF FOLLOW-UP with that one. WTG Beard.

The only reason republicans are hyperventilating over Craig and not Vitter is that it is convenient for them to express moral outrage at a man (especially when he might be one of teh GAY!!omg!) when there is NO POLITICAL CONSEQUENCE for doing so (Craig), but when it comes to holding fast to those same "values" when faced with the possible loss of a republican held senate seat (Vitter), well then, it's not that important, I mean, God and his wife have forgiven him, right??

Thanks again Sen. Ensign for once again exposing the cognitive dissonance of the Republican party.

DON'T DO IT!

Hang in there you Hetro-stud!

If you resign people might think that you were gay or something! God forbid!!

Jeff Robertson, this is not about his alleged homosexual behavior. We all understand that homosexuals have the right to be homosexual. This isn't about law abiding homosexuals. It's about law breakers - about him BREAKING A LAW (whatever law it may be, because Senators should NOT break laws) and then not following through on his word about resigning.

Gay men go to bars & the internet. "Married" closeted (Senators) go to the bathrooms for sex.

Craig has no respect for the law. He signed a paper that said he would not profess his innocense, yet now does. I dont care if he s gay, but stop being a hypocrit in the Senate. Typical the republicans will keep him there shows their hypocriacy.

Next Craig is going to go to a rehab,say he is so sorry,say that he found God (who isn't the one who's lost by the way),write a book,go on Oprah and be a candidate for President in 2012!
If we put all of the politicians that have broken the law in one place they'd fill up the state of Idaho.I should know.I'm from Jersey.

This is like Bill Clintons impeachment it always sounds good to one side but hurts the whole system.I do not think Larry Craig should resign and I could not think of one issue I agree with him on.It was a misdemeanor charge and has nothing to do with his senatorial duties.His sexuality is the his own and the voters of Iowa's business.I disagree with Larry Craig on the issues not on his personal habits.Those of us who thought Bill Clinton was getting railroaded owe to our consciences to maintain consistency.To defend people we agree with is easy.To defend people we disagree with is difficult.

I thought it was ridiculous to give Paris and Brittany so much air time. This Craig stuff tops it all. Nobody bloody cares if he's gay or not. And he's not bright enough (hence, the mess he's in) to know that nobody cares who he picks up in what bathroom. Senator Craig: You pled guilty. Whether you did anything against the law or not, you chose to do what you did then followed it up with a signed guilty plea some 6 weeks after your bathroom encounter. Get over it!!!! It's very sad how he just doesn't get it – but then again he works in Washington.

Senator Larry Craig will help the Democrats the longer he stays in office. If the Republicans cannot get him to leave, Craig will only dig the hole that much deeper.

Wow. One Senator I can be proud of. Stuck with Reid on the other hand. But Sen. Ensign gets it right, again. Niki says the same to Craig: "Leave Now!"

--------------------------–

Something just occurred to me. Assuming for the moment that Sen. Craig actually was using the restroom. If so, his pants would have to be down. But if his pants were down, it would be impossible for him to spread his "stance" wide enough for his foot to touch a foot in the adjacent stall. Try it (I recommend waiting until the adjacent stall is empty). If his pants were not down, he was not in that stall to use the restroom.

Awww, be nice. Let him stay. Please. Let him continue to take the whole party down the toilet with him.

I'm sure even the senate's men's room will be joyous at Craig's departure.

Is it more disgusting that Larry Craig's GOP Senate colleagues (and Mitt Romney) abandonded him at the first sign of a gay tryst, or that they have not done so to David Vitter, clearly a regualar customer of prostitution (which is illegal, and grounds for Senate dismissal)? Does John Ensign's behavior reflect us a society, a society that tolerates straight sex perversion but not gay? Get it together GOP! Clean your whole house or let Craig finish his term!

People have a short attention span. The sooner he's out of the public eye, the better for the Republ party.

Wait, is Obama still running? I thought Hillary was the only candidate.

Oh wait, Obama just made 1 MILLION DOLLARS in one day from donations of under 200 dollars. Yep. He's still running.

Oh well, back to talking about the bathroom Senator. I mean Larry Craig, not Hillary Clinton, that would just be gross.

It's refreshing to see a politician acknowledge that both parties have scandals and all should be responsible to live up to higher moral standards. This is refreshing because I'm sick of the usual partisan drivel of blaming everything on the opposite party. I'm sure a few posters here will comment something about Bill Clinton, of course, because they are incapable of reasoning on any current issue otherwise.

I am very glad that someone from either party in the Senate is standing up and calling for Senator Craig to step down. As a Republican, I believe that our party is one of principle, and one of those principles is a good moral character. Sen. Craig violated that principle, and his fellow Republicans should abandon him.

Republicans are mostly closet homosexuals. And that's all right with me!

Sen. John Ensign's is very prudent and wise advice – Larry Craig needs to leave the Senate immediately. Enough is enough.

THANK YOU – thank you CNN!!

I was wondering what the latest goings-on of Larry Craig were. Wow, so the Republican Leadership isn't happy about Larry Craig? Earth-shattering news!

My day isn't going to be "complete" until your newsroom comes up with a happy story about Hillary, a story about the "missing" Fred Thompson, and hopefully you all won't mention ANYTHING about Obama, Edwards, or any other candidates. (They ARE still candidates, right?? I have to ask since they're not really covered on CNN)