As usual the press is running with the wrong side of a story. Senator Craig (Republican from Idaho) was arrested last month for solicitation while at the Minneapolis airport. Liberals are whining that he is being persecuted for being gay. Others are saying that Craig was the victim of a hateful Idaho newspaper editor. Once again the concept of personal responsibility has slipped into some other plane of reality that most Americans can’t perceive. Craig was arrested for solicitation, as in asking for sex, in a public place. Where’s the ambiguity?
Look at it this way. Would the left be supporting Craig if he got busted soliciting a prostitute while in office? Would they support him if he was a woman soliciting another woman in a restroom? (does that even happen?) Craig’s sexual preference has nothing to do with the issue; his lack of judgment is the problem. A sitting Senator was caught trying to engage in sex in a public restroom. At least Bill Clinton had the nerve to do so in a private, albeit publicly funded room of an oval shape.
Here’s a quick history lesson for the younger crowd: This ain’t the first time… Craig was accused of this behavior in 1982. (I wonder how many bathroom forays he’s had over the past two-and-a-half decades?)
A former governor has weighed in on this issue and offers prayers for Craig and his family. While pontificating on the shame and suffering of growing up gay and how his sexual desires ruined his political career, former New Jersey governor James McGreevey closes his article with the following quote: “I pray that the tide of American history continues to sweep toward the inevitable expansion of freedom that recognizes the worth and dignity of every individual — and that mine is the last generation that is required to choose between affairs of the heart and elected office.”
Again, being gay is not the issue. Soliciting in public restrooms is the issue. Show me the article or news clip that suggests that Craig step down for being gay. Hey James, we’d be happy with a generation of politicians able to focus on their jobs instead of finding an anonymous quickie.
Libs will quickly chime in “But what about Senator Vitter…” Well, I can think of two things that make his calls to a prostitution house different than Craig’s bathroom escapades.
- Vitter’s behavior occurred before he was a senator. Shame on the Louisiana press for not finding out about this before he was elected. Then again, what do you expect from the state the brought us Katrina victims Ray Nagan and Kathleen Blanco?
- Vitter fully admitted to his actions and took responsibility for them. It only took senator Craig 19 seconds to try and deflect the blame to the police officer interviewing him. Craig said “you solicited me.” He knew what he was doing. He knew the implications. Do you really want someone with such horrible judgment making important political decisions?
I’m all for forgiveness. If Craig had admitted to his mistake, and if it was an isolated event I believe the public would be willing to let him remain in office. But his arrest is the end of an apparently very long history of discreet sexual activity, and his reactions on tape and his public denial were the final nails in his political coffin.
