GOP Senators Join Call For Craig To Quit

McCain And Coleman Call For Idaho Senator's Resignation In Scandal Over Bathroom Arrest

(CBS/AP)  Arizona Sen. McCain and Sen. Norm Coleman of Minnesota, the state where Sen. Larry Craig was arrested, became the first senators to join Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., in urging Craig's resignation.

McCain said in a television interview that the decision was Craig's to make, "but my opinion is that when you plead guilty to a crime, you shouldn't serve. That's not a moral stand. That's not a holier-than-thou. It's just a factual situation."

"I think he should resign," McCain said.

Coleman said in a statement, "Senator Craig pled guilty to a crime involving conduct unbecoming a senator. He should resign."

The Senate's Republican Leadership released a statement saying that Craig has agreed to temporarily step down as the top Republican on the Veteran Affairs Committee, Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, and Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests.

"This is not a decision we take lightly but we believe this is in the best interest of the Senate until this situation is resolved by the Ethics Committee," the statement read.

Craig pleaded guilty earlier this month to a charge of disorderly conduct following his arrest in a men's room at the Minneapolis airport after he allegedly tried to engage in a sexual encounter with an undercover officer. He has since recanted his guilty plea, and said on Tuesday he did nothing wrong.

Earlier, Hoekstra, R-Mich., became the first member of Congress to call for Craig's resignation.

Hoekstra said Craig "represents the Republican Party," and called for his resignation "as his conduct throughout this matter has been inappropriate for a U.S. senator."

Senate Republican leaders have called on the ethics committee to review Craig's case, and White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said Wednesday that he hoped the panel could do its work quickly.

"That would be in the best interests of the Senate and the people of Idaho," he said.

Stanzel made no expression of support for Craig. "We are disappointed in the matter. It has been referred to the Senate Ethics Committee, so they will have to deal with it," Stanzel said.

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Police Report On Bathroom Arrest of Sen. Larry Craig

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The scandal is the latest in a series involving Republicans that threaten to further tarnish the party's reputation. Polls showed that ethical lapses by Republicans played a role in allowing Democrats to win control of Congress during last year's legislative elections.

CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer said Republicans on Capitol Hill are "aghast" at the Craig incident.

"I can never recall anything as poorly handled and as ineptly handled as the way Sen. Craig has done this. Republicans are just aghast at this," Schieffer said.

"I talked to several people up on the Hill yesterday whose attitude was, 'My God, what next?' It just never seems to stop. There will be a lot of pressure on this man to not run for re-election because the Republicans feel that's the one way they could lose the seat, if he decides to run."

Signs of difficulty for Craig came from outside the Capitol as well.

Tom Fitton, president of the Judicial Watch, issued a statement calling on Craig to consider stepping down. The organization is a self-described conservative government watchdog group.

"Senator Craig admittedly engaged in illegal activity that brings serious disrepute to the public office he holds," Fitton said.

While the Idaho Values Alliance called on Tuesday for Craig's resignation, Fitton's suggestion that the senator leave office suggested tenuous support among conservatives who make up his core political supporters.

Craig, 62, a third-term senator up for re-election next year, defended himself Tuesday against a police report alleging he attempted to engage in a homosexual encounter with an undercover officer.

Flanked by his wife, Suzanne, Craig stated three times that he was not gay. He cast his arrest for lewd conduct as unfounded and his subsequent guilty plea to disorderly conduct as an error in judgment spurred by frustration with the state's biggest newspaper prying into his past.

[richnj1]

He doesn''t even see the inherent dishonesty in pleading guilty "in hopes of making it go away"?

If he was wrongly arrested, he has a duty to fight for truth and clear his name. But truth doesn''t seem to matter to him or his party.

[terrapin78]

He already admitted to it and now it is public he wants to deny it.

It don''t work that way. LOL

[truthspeake2]

Actually, this story should be titled...

"Republicans Backing Up To Craig"

LOL

[georgew1956]

if he was gay he would have admitted it

[extremophil]

Of course he''s not gay. He just a perverted sleezebag who got caught (this time).

[infidel_us]

"Republicans Backing Away From Craig"

As they should. Even if he isn''t guilty of soliciting, he''s guilty of being an IDIOT! That in itself is good enough reason for him to resign.

[name_verify]

Read the copy of the police report. It is the attached PDF file right in the middle of the CBS news story. It is all cirmstantial evidence. It wouldn''t hold up in a court if he had challenged the cop. It reads like a botched sting operation. Maybe he just thought it was cheaper to pay $500 in a fine than $50,000 in legal fees. He might be a hypocrite that needs to be replaced, but that isn''t conclusive from this police report. Shoe touching shoe isn''t a crime.

[jydavis1]

headline reads:

REPUBLICANS CATCH CRAIG FROM BEHIND !!!


ahhhahhhahhahahhahahaha

nothing good ever comes out of the Republican party!! (except Ron Paul)

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

[micma-2009]

It''s going to be very amusing to watch Republicans eat their own here. They don''t mind corruption, they embrace it, but being gay is unforgivable.

[oakishpines]

'' ... most volunteer to feed the world, some volunteer to tax it

there''s the majority of countys in the world that where folk make less than two dollars each day and the minority where folk make sixty or more dollars each day

most companys and other individuals service dozens or thousands each day for a few pennys or quarters of tips from some small percentage of the bunch ... ''

'' ... most get sick tax world authorities most time remind all that most folk most time dance porno get sick tax world get well feed world songs rallied around the sick beds drifting tens millions spore bloom weed dragon trail fickle first aid lunch farm cottage studio trail groups ... ''


'' ... i''m a good man and i want to save little girls, take all the market share tax money armor weapons alcohol and parades away from the girls and give it to me, and no one will get hurt ... ''

[name_verify]

It might have cost $50,000 in lawyer fees to defeat a $500 fine.

[pepperp1]

if he was gay he would have admitted it


Posted by georgew1956 at 11:06 AM : Aug 29, 2007
+ report abuse


GUESS WHAT you are not required to accept the label to enjoy same ***, Ya Know that can be a preference always or sometimes. It is a false argument. And equating illegal behavior to a label of Gay is also wrong. Trolling for *** in a public bathroom is Crime. So his correct argument would have been I am not a SExxx Criminal

[micma-2009]

It''''s going to be very amusing to watch Republicans eat their own here. They don''''t mind corruption, they embrace it, but being gay is unforgivable and really bad for the whole "family values" spin.

[roger_inkart]

I love it when the GOP devolves into a circular firing squad!

[swwils]

They need to back away from him.He is a lying weirdo who would sell secrets for s.e.x. to the insurgents.Fire his a.s.s. now and get it over with.

[roger_inkart]

A new poll shows that more than 1/2 of Idahoans (?) believe Craig should resign. Only about 1/3 believe he should stay.

So, I say fight it representative Craig! You will be an albatross around your party''s neck for as long as you hang on. I would recommend you stay in office and run for re-election next year. That way the GOP will have to dump a ton of money into a race that had been a lock.

[processorr2]

You libs need to lighten up. Just because a guy likes to get a little action in the men''s room doesn''t make him gay. I mean, we all like to do that from time to time. Am I right? Why ruin the career of a good family values Republican over a silly little bathroom blowwjob? Let''s get back to focusing on real issues like a gay marriage ban amendment.

[battyellison]

I think that most of your republicans who have some gay or bi-sexual tendicies have to hide that because the religious right is their base and Rove and crew have used that as a ploy to control the vast anount of votes that the Bible thumpers represent and all you have to say is "Bill Clinton got skull from an legal aged interm which is why we have all these closet *** in the party"
or O.J did it

[name_verify]

It appears suspicious. Craig might be a compulsive perv who needs to be tazered. But shoe touching shoe isnt a crime on the books. It wouldnt lead to a conviction. The cop botched the sting and rushed to arrest without sufficient evidence. Craig can now say he paid the $500 fine because it was cheaper than $50,000 in legal fees to win in court.

[briannorwood]

Sen. Craig has been a bad...naughty boy. In fact, some of the men he''s sucked off in dirty restrooms might say he''s been a nasty...bad...naughty boy!

[infidel_us]

"HAVANA (Reuters) - Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro is tipping Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to team up and win the U.S. presidential election."

As bad as republicans seem to be.....there is far worse out there. :)

[nolalou]

Obviously, you''''''''re not Male and this is a sorry excuse for the crime he committed - Shoes never touch in a stall ! - do you even understand the effort and deliberateness required to achieve just that ?????
Posted by parrots7 at 11:29 AM : Aug 29, 2007

What, you mean you don''t believe his excuse that he has ''a wide stance'' when he uses the toilet? Maybe he was trying to push out an unusually large t-rd and had to open his legs as wide as possible!

[processorr2]

screen_name


I agree with you. Touching someone in the next stall isn''t a crime and it''s quite a thrill. It''s just a little innocent flirtation. Running your hand under the stall wall in a motion for them to hand you their cockk isn''t a crime either. Am I right? Again, it''s just a little innocent flirtation. I do it all the time but it doesn''t make me gay. I believe in family values. If I did that to an undercover cop, I''d plead guilty and try to cover it up too.

[stevex47]

"I can never recall anything as poorly handled and as ineptly handled as the way Sen. Craig has done this. Republicans are just aghast at this,"

Um, possiby the Iraq war? gonzales? CIA outing? Katrina? foley? Selling our ports? Osama? Abrahamoff? Ley? Rumsfeld? Torture? Libby?

See, the list is so long they are having trouble remembering their embarrassing incompetence.

[marcodele]

I hate it when I accidently tap on another man''s foot in the other stall when I''m taking a particularly wide stance due to a rather large load and then I mistakenly plead guilty to disorderly conduct so that they''ll drop the ''lewd conduct'' charges. Dang I hate it when I do that.

The headline is now "Republicans Backing Away From Craig" - I hope they''re facing him as they back away.

[pepperp1]

Really the RNC ROVE Repugs political strategy of taking the sound bite faux argument sprinkled with a wedge issue as code to stir rabid emotion instead of reason as a way to lie to the American People and their base has just completely corrupted any ethical moral behavior or honesty in the GOP communications.








But thanks goes to Senator Craig for making the RNC communication machines strategy clear even to the poodles; they appear to understand lies when it involves same sexxxxx behaviors at least. I don%u2019t believe these folks, Craig, Vatter, Allen are for a minute gay I think they are people with a preference for risky sexual criminal behavior involving sexxxxx acts in a public toilet, park or brothel the right can rage about the sin.

[andor3]

this is just odd--I''m no fan of Republicans, but this guy did not do anything illegal. He engaged in behavior that people who wish to engage in lewd conduct sometimes do. Unfortunately people who do not wish to engage in lewd conduct also do it. So there was nothing illegal or even definitely suggesting illegal action in the record. But then there''s the guilty plea... hmmm

[huskerarmy]

When is the GOP going to change it''s moniker to the COP party, the party of Crooks and Pervs?

[marcodele]

Most people don''t plead guilty when they''ve done nothing illegal. He was avoiding the real charges: lewd conduct. Pleading guilty to disorderly conduct could give him wiggle room to bluff his way out of the situation.

Does anybody really want a senator who "mistakenly" pleads guilty to things?

[infidel_us]

Um, possiby the Iraq war? (yes) gonzales? (no) CIA outing? (no) Katrina? (no) foley? (no) Selling our ports? (no) Osama? (no) Abrahamoff? (no) Ley? (no) Rumsfeld? (no) Torture? (no) Libby? (no)

Well, that was pretty lame! One out of eleven. You whine worse than a little girl.

[huskerarmy]

"Republicans Backing Away From Craig"
It seems Republicans are having to "back away" a lot these days. Don''t drop the soap boys. And if you must pick it up, remember to bend the knees and back away slowly.

[ralan40]

Our country was founded and built around the fact that Humans can have differing opinions on things.

However, I guess if a person is intelectually limited or not satified with their own opinions....demonizing the opposing side is their only option...

Here''s to hoping this line of reasoning is helping make our country a better place for all Americans.

[name_verify]

He should have paid a lawyer $50,000 in legal fees and in order to win in court and clear his name, instead of paying the $500 fine and tainting his record. Can''t put a price on reputation. Bad judgment call. Back to the potato farm.

[l8c6]

Reminds me of a Benny Hill episode. A villager standing, his hands and head in stalks publicly restrained for humiliation in the public square for having committed a sexual sin of lust. He is soon surrounded by three men from the village who begin to taunt him. Along comes a woman whose blouse becomes snagged and tears open revealing cleavage. The three men look at her with lust then quickly turn to the man in stalks and begin slapping him about the head stating, "You nasty, naughty evil man, you awful, dirty, sinful man"!

Judge not repugs who back away and make harsh statements lest you be judged. Your turn could soon come.

It''s the hypocrisy stupid !

[gangesdak]

So what! All you have to do is name the Bible, and affirmatively announce that Christ has changed your life. Then you are a morality expert. People of Idaho are no different themselves- they do the same. All they want to know what their "man" says in public. I hope, they re-elect him. If they don''t, their next man will be the same. Somebody haas to man the toilet.

[huskerarmy]

Um, possiby the Iraq war? (yes) gonzales? (no) CIA outing? (no) Katrina? (no) foley? (no) Selling our ports? (no) Osama? (no) Abrahamoff? (no) Ley? (no) Rumsfeld? (no) Torture? (no) Libby? (no)
One out of eleven. You whine worse than a little girl.
Posted by infidel_us
If by "no" you mean "yes," then yes infidel you make a point. Otherwise, your only point is that "denial" is not just a river in Egypt.

[marcodele]

WELCOME TO THE U.S. CAPITAL BUILDING

Ladies Restroom

Men''s Restroom

Senator Craig''s Restroom :::::::( )

[mike71067]

Hey, what''s wrong with politicians soliciting indecent acts in public restrooms? Really. Since when have politicians been any sort of role model for anybody? I rank them one notch above used car salesmen. Repubs, Dems, it doesn''t matter. The last thing I think of when I hear the word "politician" is an upstanding moral individual.

[hawksprings]

Headline: "Republicans Backing Away From Craig"

Is that an attempt at gayy humor?

...

[frankly6]

andor3 and all other repug apologists:



Next time your in the men''s room. Pick the furthest stall from the door. Go in and sit down. See how much effort it takes to tap the foot of the guy next to you. Then run your hand under the wall of his stall. Chances are pretty good that you''ll be handed a peenis. Enjoy.

[wfbdem]

So what! All you have to do is name the Bible, and affirmatively announce that Christ has changed your life. Then you are a morality expert. People of Idaho are no different themselves- they do the same. All they want to know what their "man" says in public. I hope, they re-elect him. If they don''''t, their next man will be the same. Somebody haas to man the toilet.
Posted by gangesdak at 11:58 AM : Aug 29, 2007

Don''t forget to blame drugs and/or alcohol. Anything as long as another right wing nutjob (in this case a literal NUTJOB), deny any responsiblity for his actions. Always blame someone else.

[mwitten2]

No, GOP stands for (Great Old Perverts). The part I love about another Republican hypocrite going down the tubes was that he thought showing a U.S. Senate business card would stop the policeman from arresting him! That is the GOP today, they think they are above the law!!! What they really are is SCUM!!!

[actornaught]

It might have cost $50,000 in lawyer fees to defeat a $500 fine.
Posted by screen_name_ at

Yeah, if you''re nobody. If you''re a bible-thumping anti-gay senator with a long list of dubious accusations as a ****, you fight it. Then the $50k would look like a drop in the bucket compared to your career.

It''s the Big Big Picture, not the Little Big Picture.

[name_verify]

Thats just it. Craig didnt get busted for solicitation or lewd acts. The under-cover cop botched the sting and rushed to arrest without sufficient evidence. Craig got hit with a lesser charge of disorderly conduct, and even that evidence is so thin it could have been thrown out by a judge. But he agreed to a guilty plea when he didnt need to, in order to save on lawyer fees. So he is too stupid to be a lawmaker.

[frankly6]

andor3 and all other repug apologists:



Next time your in a public men''s room. Try a little experiment. Pick the furthest stall from the door. Go in and sit down. See how much effort it takes to tap the foot of the guy next to you. Then run your hand under the wall of his stall. Chances are pretty good that you''''ll be handed a peenis. Enjoy. It would be making a much better use of your talents than you are now.

[roger_inkart]

Yes, Mr. Craig, you''re not gay. And the pope isn''t Catholic. Michael Vick isn''t African-American, and Alberto Gonzales isn''t a liar.

Fight it Mr. Craig! Every liberal and democrat is hoping your drag this sordid episone out for as long as you can. All the while dividing your party and pushing them off message.

[mudrose-2009]

Ugh. I wish the creep would give it up already. He pleaded, it''s on record, it can''t be taken back. If he had one ounce of integrity, he''s resign. There is no career redemption here.

[xlib]

Here''s another story that won''t be covered here. Seems that hill''s $1million contributor, Norman Hsus is a wanted felon. Yep, he also contributed heavily to the kerry campaign. Now, let''s see some coverage here cbs.
Ah yes, the dems, party of protected felons and self righteous smugness. Thank God for the internet or we would still be fed with nothing but half truths and unreported news.

[frankly6]

screen_name



Next time your in the men''s room. Try a little experiment. Pick the furthest stall from the door. Go in and sit down. See how much effort it takes to tap the foot of the guy next to you. Then run your hand under the wall of his stall. Chances are pretty good that you''ll be handed a peenis. Go ahead and blow him. It would be a much better use of your mouth than spending your time defending the indefensible.

[roger_inkart]

The under-cover cop botched the sting and rushed to arrest without sufficient evidence.
Posted by screen_name_ at 12:07 PM : Aug 29, 2007

You don''t know that. You weren''t there and you''re only saying this because Craig has an (R) after his name.

You''re running a pretty big risk smearing the officer when you know nothing about the case itself. Furthermore, this isn''t an isolated incident. Allegations of Craigs homosexuality have surfaced before, including charges of bathroom encounters.

So, it''s just a cooincidence that Craig was busted in a public bathroom? Don''t you think, knowing that there were these allegations out there, he would have been extra careful not to arrouse suspicion?