August 31st, 2007
09:01 AM ET
14 years ago
Craig preparing to resign
Craig said Tuesday he did nothing wrong.
BOISE, Idaho (CNN) - Top Republican Party leaders have received indications that Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, is preparing to resign, according to a GOP source with knowledge of the situation who spoke with CNN. The Republican National Committee was poised to take the extraordinary step of calling on Craig to step down but that planned effort was put on hold when Craig himself indicated that he's preparing to relinquish his U.S. Senate seat.
CNN has learned that high level meetings regarding Craig’s resignation were being conducted in Idaho on Thursday.
Related: Craig likely to quit soon
–CNN Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash
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After hearing the Audio Tape I have changed my opinion on Senator's Craig guilt. And I have to admit I could have jumped to the wrong conclusion too quickly.
The Audio Tape gave me a whole different perspective of the situation. The audio in my opinion seemed to be a forceful interrogation by the officer. And it sounded as if the Officer's mission was to intimidate and force Craig to the point of admitting he was guilty.
However, Craig stood his ground with the officer and continualy denied that he took part in any lewd conduct. I found his statements via the Audio carried credibility. Especially the argument between he and the officer regarding Craig's left hand. I felt Senator Craig won that argument hands down.
Craig's guilty because he pled guilty of his own free will.there is no doubt nor is there any room for doubt.What should be scrutinized here is the exact words being used by other closet republicans like Ensign who say things like "hopefully" when describing their own chances of not getting caught.Romney's condoning of gay sex with minors is of great concern as well.These radical right-wing sexual deviants have far more to hide than their constituents know.
Hopefully, the neo-con response will be mindful that the most voicferous calls for his resignation has come from fellow republicans, and therefore, this is not a liberal witch-hunt. He should resign. There's no place in the US Senate for someone who lies by omission about getting arrested and pleading guilty to a crime that carries a prison sentence, albeit. As to the entrapment issue, he's responsible for creating the anti-gay culture that has caused law enforcement agencies to focus their attention and resources on gay sex in public bathrooms, meanwhile, illegal aliens are running in the streets killing innocent lives.
Maybe I am kind of crazy for suggesting the following, but . . .
Here we have Larry Craig, who solicited homosexual sex in an airport bathroom.
On the same side of the aisle, we have David Vitter, who has admitted to having paid for sex with a prostitute in D.C., and is alleged to have done the same in New Orleans.
Why is it that Craig is being forced to resign, while Vitter has been all but forgotten about?
I can think of two reasons.
One, we have more of a problem with consensual gay sex than we do sex with heterosexual prostititutes.
Two, not too many – if any – Senators have solicited gay sex in bathrooms, so they have nothing to lose by hanging Craig out to dry, but they don't want to touch Vitter, because he is by far not the only Senator to do what he has done.
Good riddance. No room in this party for the morally corrupt. Try the dems..
Like Craig says... 'he's not homosexual'... but that doesn't mean he doesn't like showing his 'little friend' to strangers next to him in airport mens room stalls. He's not gay. Very dissimilar to being honestly gay, he is simply a twisted and perverted old geezer.
Many have accused Senator Craig of hypocrisy for opposing gay rights and marriage while supposedly soliciting gay sex. I wonder, how is that any more of a hypocrisy than, say, heterosexuals supporting gay rights and marriage?
Where there's smoke, you're fired?
Enough with the coverage regarding Senator Craig and his solicitation attempt! We are tired having our valuable media sources focusing on step by step details of his behavior in a airport restroom. Yes, there is irony of having a "family values" diciple of God falling from grace right before our eyes, but must we join him in a restroom stall? I can not help but wonder if this would recieve all the attention if he solicited a woman rather than a man? Human behavior includes "soliciting" or flirting, why must it be blown out of proportion? Do I support sex in a public place, no I don't. Do I support a public figure blatantly lying to his constituents, no I don't. I do not support Senator Craig, let alone the entire RRR – Republican righteous right. Despite my affiliation, I do have companssion for any human being...
At this point, let the man seek support from his family and counselors and focus on something else that affects our country. Keep us out of a restroom stall with a Senator!
DUDE YOUR GAY! NOT THAT THERES ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT...
This case screams ENTRAPPMENT!
Those same police tapes were a blessing in disguse. After hearing that last night on Nancy Grace. It became clear that:
1- He was a regular commuter.
2 – He was in a hurry to catch a flight
3 – The officer as head of security would have known the identity of a high ranking person like the Senator.
4 – Officer encouraged him to plead guilty and everything would be fine.
5 – Who really remembers what it is you do when your using the bathroom (average person uses a bathroom 5-6 times per day – can you remember what you did last in the loo???).
6 – Airport bathroom was busy at the time and a line had to be formed (ummmmm exactly where would you be able to conduct sex in there??)>
7 – And the senator is clearly aggrevated and in a rush, but yet he took time to correct the officer when the officer was putting words in his mouth and encouraging him to plead guilty...).
SOMETHING DOESN'T ADD UP AND IF BILL CLINTON CAN BE PRESIDENT AND STILL GET CAUGHT IN A SCANDAL LIKE THIS – THEN WHY ARE WE EVEN WASTING TIME ABOUT THIS???????
Republican's watch out – there is clearly something wrong!
Mr. Senator – stay put!!
I don't see why Craig would need to or be asked to resign. He really didn't "commit" any crime. Maybe the a crime would have been committed had the officer waited. There's more bad apples in Congress then this paticular person. Craig should have had an attorney immediately! No attorney would have let this get to where it has.
There are so many of our "elected" officails that are felons, have stolen, beaten their wives, DUI's, Drugs, Bankruptcys and more that who cares what Craig does, perhaps he should just move to San Fran and run for Mayor.
Yeah those right wing Christian Conservatives Republicans really know what family values means. Such a display of Homosexual activity by the GOP. First you have all those troops sodomizing the POW's at Abu Ghraib. Then you have Mark Foley looking to be asked to the Prom by a young congressional page. Now you got Old Man Craig looking for man-love in restrooms in DC and Minneapolis. At least David Vitter he went to a call girl. Between Bush and his other GOP neo-cons, you going to see a lot of jail cells full of Republicans. When you hear those hypocrites from the right talk about traditional family values, that is code for meet me in the bathroom.
My only question is, what bothers Republicans the most about this? Is it that Craig pled guilty of a crime or that he might be gay?
I strongly suspect it's the latter. Let's face it: Republicans are terrified of homosexuals within their ranks. It would basically discredit half of their social policy platforms.
Lyle Lovett has a very apropos song which laments how "one bad move" can bring your whole world tumbling down. Men with hobbies like Craig's should listen up and ask themselves if it's worth it.
I just saw a comment on CNN by former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney "...said Thursday Idaho Sen. Larry Craig's alleged behavior was "disgraceful,"
This comment by Mitt Romney is probably more disgraceful and damaging than the 'alleged' behavior he's criticizing.
If Senator Larry Craig actually is guilty (It has yet to be proven) his action affects only himself and one other person, while Mr. Mitt Romney's affects the whole ethical basis of this country, and it impacts on other 'civilized' nations.
How can you call 'alleged anything' disgraceful? Don't we hold by the noble principle: "Innocent until proven guilty?"
By Mr. Mitt Romney making the statement he did, is undermining the whole American system of justice. This is pure hubris. Cut down the next guy to get ahead — disgusting and brutal! Reminiscent of Rome and it's fall.
America is sliding down the tubes with such 'leadership.' Rome fell, Greece, Persia, etc. Are we next?
Leaders be wise and think before you talk. Think deeply and consider. You are supposed to be a living example to your constituents.
All nations should uphold the 7 Noahide Laws if they want a just, peaceful, productive and happy society.
Choose life and not death!
bhoffinger@aol.com
1703 union street, 2B
brooklyn, ny 11213
As a citizen of the US and Idaho, I am embarrassed by Sen Craig. His actions only go to show us all that we all need term limits to stop the corruption in Washington.
As for Sen Craig, he is another poor example of our national leadership. He should step down immediately as should anyone who defended him.
I am obviously very saddened by the existing arrogance of our national leadership. We just must initiate term limits & institute election financing reforms.
don't let the bathroom stall door hit you in the butt on your way out!
In other scandal-related news, Mary Jo Kopechne was unavailable for comment.
The guy shouldn't have been trying to pick a man up in the public bathroom but being gay shouldn't be a reason for him to give up his seat.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being gay. I don’t approve of solicitation in public restrooms, but it’s no big deal. Neither is visiting a prostitute, sending a flirtatious email, or having an affair with a coworker. I may disapprove of these acts, but I also forgive. I have too many sins of my own to go around casting stones. For the most part I think the private lives of politicians are none of my business.
Let’s try to keep things in perspective.
All the sex scandals in politics don’t add up to the shameful act of misleading the American people into a reckless war that’s cost us thousands of lives, trillions of dollars, and the respect of the rest of the world.
Only an arrogant, egotistical Senator would even consider making an effort to talk his way out of such a situation. By listening to the tape, one can deduce, in the beginning, he felt that he was so important that he could talk his way out. As the tape progressed, he in turn got trapped, and he very much deserves his punishment. Vitter got away with his behavior for the time being.
Mark Foly, Senator Vitter from Florida, and now Sen. Craig all involved in the sex scandal. What's happening to the "Family Values" republican party? Republicans were rejected in 2006 because of the corrupt congressmen such as Delay, Nay and someone from San Diego. And now it looks like they will be out for sex scandals in the closets.
To David.
I agree with you brother 100% what you wrote brother! However, when the Republican Conservative Christians started this "moral assault on America" 20 years ago against Americans who believe in freedom. All Americans must see that what hypocrites the GOP are.
Yes we all sinned at some point, but the difference between us and them is that we don't go out preach, enforce laws, or have the power of the lawmakers about how bad certain people are because they don't like their lifestyle. Americans are so close losing freedoms because people like Craig. Maybe one day Americans will get rid of this practices of hate like we have been through the last 7 years.