Ben Stein Says Craig Was Lynched Twice

Commentator Says GOP Senator Was Set-Up By "Stalinist" Police, And Then Tossed Overboard By Own Party

(CBS)  Sunday Morning commentator Ben Stein has a few words for the Minneapolis police's behavior in the arrest of Sen. Larry Craig, and for the Republican leadership's response - and they're not very flattering.

---

The whole story of Senator Larry Craig, the Republican of Idaho who announced his resignation yesterday, is a nightmare of out-of-control police and weak politicians.

Senator Craig has been the innocent victim of a set-up by the evil-minded police of Minneapolis-St. Paul that Stalin would have admired.

Here's the deal: Senator Craig went into a men's room at the Twin Cities airport. He entered a lavatory stall. He tapped his foot. He may or may not have reached his hand down under the lavatory partition to pick up a piece of paper or to make a signal.

That's it. That's the whole thing. There was no sex act of any kind.

So the policeman who happened to be in the next stall walks Senator Craig off, starts bullying him, accusing him of lying and, implicitly, threatens to ruin Senator Craig's career.

ALL FOR A MAN TAPPING HIS FOOT IN A PUBLIC BATHROOM.

This is insane.

If a police officer can wreck a man's career over this trifle, then we might as well not have a Constitution or a Bill of Rights.

Look, I spend a lot of time in Idaho. These are good people. I can readily see why a Senator from there would quietly plead guilty to a small charge rather than risk a public fight - even though the police seem to have wrecked Craig's career anyway.

What I don't understand is why the GOP is tossing Senator Craig overboard as if he were a terrorist.

Even if it turns Senator Craig is gay, so what? Barney Frank is gay and he's one of the best members of the Congress. There are lots of fine gay public servants.

Senator Craig has been the victim of a police lynching. A party that believes in individual rights should be rallying to his defense, not making him walk the plank.

Shame on the GOP leadership, and utter disgrace to the airport police and their thug behavior.

These are security people in airports. Hello! An airport? Don't they have anything better to do?

[deanave303]

The ''airport cop'' was doing his job. He should not be put down for the place of employment. Senator Craig is apparantly living a secret life and cannot be compared to Barney Frank who is living a life of integrity. Craig is being criticized for being a liar and a hypocrite for his stance on gay issues.

[viraola]

Is Mr. Stein ignorant or is he just an idiot.How can he minimize what this senator was accused of.This senator is the epitomy of hipocrosy, which seems to be running rampant with the GOP.How can CBS employ, much less give air time to an individual who in listening to him is equivalent to watching paint dry.I love your show, but I must admit, whenever the "idiot" comes on I change the channel.Come to think about it, maybe this is the response that CBS wants.

[krj44]

what the *** does ben stein know or anyone know about whats going on about anything?stein doesn`t know jack sh*t,this week we will be discussing patrick mchenery r.north carolina and his gayness.

[sobertruth]

This police officer did behave like an old-time bad communist police officer and even much worse. The trick itself is sick and evil.

[plaasjaapie]

Ben''s got it right.

If hypocrisy was against the law we''d have to put a fence around pretty much the whole country and call it prison. It has certainly never been in short supply in Washington.

After I listened to the tape of the policeman and Craig I had not doubts whatsoever why that manipulative little worm was on toilet detail at the airport. I doubt if anybody else on the force can stand having him around.

[ckivi]

Hats off to the Minneapolis police. As a parent, I want to be able to send my son into a public restroom and know he is safe and will not be exposed to indecency. This is not about going after a senator, the police are doing their job of keeping our children safe. That is the bottom line here.

[jrogers3778]

I hope that Mr. Stein has the same indignition for legislation such as the "Patriot Act", which Senator Craig voted for. Senator Craigs party has labored tirelessly the last four years to take away our liberties and make us a police state, and now he finds himself in their web. I''d say just deserts.

[mikeburtner]

Mr. Stein, I had no awareness of Mr. Craig or the substance of this story until this morning, when I researched the facts. Despite how you may feel (and I use that word with precise intent) about the actions of the Minneapolis Airport Police, the transcript of the police interview shows Mr. Craig to be unethically dishonest and without integrity. This particular bathroom is identified in various venues for casual *** as the ''cruisiest'' in town. The behavior exhibited by Mr. Craig include signals known to those who engage in public ***, and to proffer your plausible deniability of them as a defense for this sad man''s actions is disingenuous at best. Going back to 1982, Mr. Craig has vigorously denied his orientation, and been a vehement anti-gay mouthpiece. Your defense of him now makes me question your capacity for critical thinking.

If I decide to go out tonight, have a few beers, drive down on the nastiest street in town and innocently ask a strange girl under the streetlight for a date, that does not mean that I am soliciting prostitution. Maybe I like night owls. I hope you will speak for me at my arraignment, Mr Stein.

[wawoman]

Stein''s comments are right on. If this is all it takes for a person to fear arrest or the loss of a career, good luck to the rest of us! I couldn''t care less about Craig''s politics; I''m not a Republican. But I care a lot about our liberties and what could happen to any one of us if this is how low the bar has been placed for someone to be convicted of a so-called crime. Disgraceful...and I''m not talking about Senator Craig.

[exiled53]

Ben Stein. From one Jew to another, you are perverse. Come on Mr. Stein, Craig pled guilty. That''s all we need to know.

[grlballr10]

What is sad, is that this situation only gets noticed when it is a politician I work in criminal defense law, and I see clients who have been arrested on similar charges over the way they wash thier hands, or nod at an undercover cop in a public restroom in greeting. One even who noted out loud the sink was broken which is apparently code for I would like to pay you for oral ***. Perhaps this situation will finally bring to the public''s attention police misconduct across the country. Its too bad that has not been the issue focused on by the media.

[diwkdiwk]

Right on Ben Stein. You hit the nail on the head here. Some of these comments are upset because they think Craig was a hypocrite. If he is gay that may be the case if he is gay (and I am all for him getting heat for that), but not for what happened in the airport. It is ridiculous to me that what he did is a crime. Now there may be stuff left out of the reporting. Was there some type of chronic problem with gay prostitution or something in the airport? Maybe there is more to the story. Maybe this is just the way gay men pick guys up. I don''t know. It just seem to silly to me. I don''t have any problems with someone investigating politicians to find out if they are hypocrites like the buy Larry Flint recently uncovered went to the prostitutes, but this is different. I don''t see the crime.

[fairtaxfraud]

I heard the whole tape and Craig basically confessed. Craig is a closet gay that won''t come out of the closet because of his conservative connections. Instead of coming out and having a healthy relationship (either gay or bi), he does something very dangerous - has anonymous *** with other men in public bathrooms. The reason he is being hammered isn''t because of some police conspiracy or GOP ritual, it''s because he''s a hypocrite.

[maggied7]

Stein, like all republicans I''ve heard comment on the Craig matter, has missed the most important point. The bathroom was being patrolled because of reports of public sexual activity there. Craig was giving well known signs that he was looking for *** (picking up toilet paper from the floor?? give me a break! who does that??) I think even republicans would agree that *** in a public bathroom should be illegal. Craig got what he deserved.

[trish_99]

What an unbelieveable pantload. You''re in as much obvious denial as Craig is. The fact of the matter is that these sexual signals go on in such a way so as to dupe people like yourself. Tapping the shoe, going into the last stall, peeping into the stall where another man is, are all behaviors designed so that one can deny that there was any intention, but all one has to do is google "gay cruise areas" and learn very quickly that the signals that craig used albeit incredibly subtle are, widely known among those who engage in anonymous sexual activity. To ignore the police officer''s incredulous anger over Craigs denial and arrogance not to mention his being trained to spot this behavior is incredibly naive on your part.

Additionally, your comparison of Craig to Barney Frank is ludicrous. Craig, if he is gay, is a self loathing self agrandizing buffoon who uses his power to keep *** as second class citizens, who votes against any equality measure for ***, who votes for discrimination against *** while simultaneously and anonymously playing bathroom antics with men. It shocks the conscience that you could make such a comparison. The sheer ignorance you displayed by broadcasting such nonsense is stunning. You owe Barney Frank an apology and you need to wake up to what Craig is. He''s a pervert of the highest order and he''s got you convinced he''s not.

[rlenham-2009]

Agree with Stein. I personally find the gay community just as intolerant of anyone who isn''t out, who doesn''t agree with every gay right''s issue or follow the gay "party platform." Before criticizing others for being liars and hypocrites it would be wise to look inwardly....

[exiled53]

WAWoman, I am a Republican; a thirty six year registered Republican. Bush is a disaster and people Ben Stein thinks Bush is a friend of the Jews when he is not a friend. Bush is disgrace. Larry Craig and other Republicans have followed friend of the House of Saud lock step. Ben Stein is compromised, just like Bush and the rest of these low-life Republicans. I''ve had it with my party. They are in bed with the jihadists; our enemies.

Thank you for putting this whole story into perspective. I agree with your assessment. Boy the GOP seems to eat their own. Perhaps intolerance is fueled by fear that they aren''t able to live by the standard they preach. Could the GOP be human too....with diversity hidden among their ranks?

[grlballr10]

What is sad, is that this situation only gets noticed when it is a politician. I work in criminal defense law, and I see clients who have been arrested on similar charges over the way they wash thier hands, or nod at an undercover cop in a public restroom in greeting. One even who noted out loud the sink was broken which is apparently code for I would like to pay you for oral ***. Perhaps this situation will finally bring to the public''s attention police misconduct across the country. Its too bad that has not been the issue focused on by the media.

[Ken Conley]

Ben,

I agree. We now seem to live in a media world where good, productive ideas and facts are far less important than opinions.

Who brought this story to national attention anyway?

Thank you for putting this whole story into perspective. I agree with your assessment. Boy the GOP seems to eat their own. Perhaps intolerance is fueled by fear that they aren''t able to live by the standard they preach. Could the GOP be human too....with diversity hidden among their ranks? Even the possibility that something unacceptable occurred and its off with your head.

[Ken Conley]

Ben,

I agree. We now seem to live in a media world where good, productive ideas and facts are far less important than opinions.

Who brought this story to national attention anyway? I guess he was just doing his job.

[faberic]

You cannot simultaneously demonize gay people and push harder and harder to weaken the rights of the accused as the GOP and Craig have done and then act shocked %u2013 just shocked %u2013 that the police are arresting gay men for tapping their feet in bathrooms. Craig is a victim of a trap of his own devising. When it comes to matters sexual, the GOP abandoned individual liberty a looong time ago.

[diwkdiwk]

Why does any comment that someone writes about this story need to say anything about being Jewish?

[ethicsfirst]

Stein really is right on this one. Police can''t read people''s minds. Craig may or may not have been using signals, but even if he was, he still was not guilty of any actual lewd behavior. To those who would worry about their children in public restrooms: you can''t punish one man for tapping his shoe because you''re afraid someone else might do something overt and target a child (which Craig did not do). Punish that person when he does it. To punish someone else for a crime you''re petrified someone *might* commit is unethical. We have a term for it in America. It''s called a witchhunt.

I''m a registered Democrat, by the way.

[Ken Conley]

Ben,

I agree. We now seem to live in a media world that extends into the real world. A world where good, productive ideas and facts are far less important than opinions and innuendo.

Who brought this story to national attention anyway? I guess he was just doing his job.

[freediverx-2009]

There are different issues involved here.

First there''s the issue of police entrapment and the question of whether Idaho crime rates are so wonderfully low that law enforcement has nothing better to do than to try to out closeted gay men. I agree that the foot tapping is flimsy evidence to arrest somebody on, let alone to ruin their career.

Having said that, I think it''s pretty clear (from common sense if perhaps not from the legally questionable evidence) that the senator is indeed gay, and that he was indeed trying to hook up with another guy in a public bathroom. If this had been John Q Public, or perhaps a congressman whose policies focused exclusively on important national issues and not on meddling in people''s *** lives, then it should have been a non-news event - perhaps handled with some small fine. But because this congressman is 1) Republican and 2) somewhat outspoken on *** issues, that makes him a TOTALLY valid target, deserving of all the public ridicule and the ruined political career.

It''s a question of hypocrisy, plain and simple. If you live in a glass house...

Aside from this subject, can someone please explain why this third rate actor-wannabe (Stein) is regarded by some news organizations as some sort of pundit whose opinions matter to anyone? This right-wing hack would be the first to condemn the Senator if only he''d been a Democrat.

[sp771]

And Bill Clinton, who lied under oath didn''t resign? Hypocrites? Pervert? A married man in the Oval Office having *** with someone less than half his age? This is a hypocritical left wing witch hunt...

Where are all the gay people now, who should be supportive of Craig if he is truly gay?

Gee, tapping foot...having PROVEN oral *** in the Oval office...one is adultry with lying to the American Public. The other?

Come on people...this is getting rediculous. I agree with the statement above that many gay people are less tolerant of those that oppose gay behaviour.

The left wing just doesn''t like a right wing Congressman...let''s see - tapping foot or frozen money in your freezer that you had no idea how it got there?

Let''s get real.

[mennox1]

yes, it''s a disgrace, this thing is on the same level of iran or china or stuff.

but somehow, the other side of the story is isn''t he against gay mariage or something ? and family value''s and stuff ?

when someone ''admits'' or pleads guilty with his expierence just when some officer is bullying, .. i must admit that i don''t believe he ''just'' pleaded guilty of he wanted to get rid of the problem.

that is too much of a shortcut

but .. and in this is Stein right, no matter what, if he got arrested for this, and even indeed he is gay or whatever, then it''s pretty obvious the GOP doesn''t want any gay''s, however, this is also a shortcut, because the GOP just don''t want very obvious hypocrites in it''s party.

i think this is logical to be honest.

(he pleaded guilty, so conclusion: he pleaded guilty), not that that does matter, but in contrast of being against gay marriage and value of family and betraying his wife (she might get disseases from him and die and stuff) .. so.. it''s a complicated issue. I think it''s good they pushed him out. No place for hypocrties, gay or not.

I too could care less if Craig is gay or not. The people who are the most anti-gay usually have latent gay tendencies themselves, Do I think Craig got a raw deal, yes, in some ways because he never committed a crime. The republicans have a slew of closeted gay people, The republicans kicked him to the curb in an effort to get the focus back on religion and "family values" anyone with half a brain can see that. That dig on Mr Stein being a jew is uncalled for, exiled53. You also are part of the problem. Why should anyone care who''s gay, jew, straight? Be a decent person!

[threejay2]

The comments given is exactly the reason for Mr Stein''s comments. People are saying 1) Craig enacted a policy I don''t like, therefore he should be charged with something, anything guilty of that or not; 2) He is a liar and/or hypocrit (both unproven leaps to judgments), therefore he should be guilty of something, anything guilty or not; 3) He used known signals to the gay community but NOT to average people, therefore he should be bullied, threatened, & cajoled to forego a trial and plead guilty. That is a lynch.

[Ken Conley]

Ben,

I agree. We now seem to live in a media world that extends into the real world. A world where good, productive ideas and facts are far less important than opinions and innuendo.

Who brought this story to national attention anyway? I guess he was just doing his job.

[Ken Conley]

Ben,

I agree. We now seem to live in a media world that extends into the real world. A world where good, productive ideas and facts are far less important than opinions and innuendo.

Who brought this story to national attention anyway? I guess he was just doing his job.

[csusiq728]

This is one of the biggest hypes I have ever seen. Who does Bush want to replace Craig? This is the way he works! What about the Republican Senator from FL who hid in the Alcoholic Rehab Center after emailing one of the workers in the Senate? Was he arrested? NO! Was he punished as the general public is? NO! Let''s get real! This is a put-up job! I don''t care if Craig is gay - many *** server this country very well. SAD, SAD STORY! WHO IS NEXT?

[sdrdk5]

What ever happened to "innocent until proven guilty"? I know he pled guilty to a lesser charge but I can understand why after listening to the tape. That police officer is harassing and downright callous in his manner towards Sen. Craig. If the officer felt Sen. Craig was presenting sexual signals he should have gone the next step before arresting the Senator. As the case is now it is a very weak one. There is no proof of anything. It is "he said - he said".
I agree with Mr. Stein also regarding the republican party. They should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves for their non-actions. Being a republican I am mystified by this.
Now please everyone cut out the name calling and let justice take its course. The Senator DID NOT plead guilty to soliciting ***. " Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." No stones will be cast by anyone!!

[freediverx-2009]

Are you kidding me? The word s.e.x. gets censored here? Talk about "family values" run amok.

[kimkendall]

Decent men, along with their toddler sons, have a RIGHT to walk in and use a public restroom without risking the possibility of hearing two homosexuals engaging in sexual slurping and sucking in the bathroom stall next to them. And if you can''t understand that then maybe you need to have YOUR *** stung in a police operation too.

[cturner3rd]

Ben Stein is a fool. If there were any decency or sanity about him he would see this situation for what it is: a lot of conservative politicians have built their careers on pandering to their bigoted, intolerant constituencies by making life difficult for ***. Craig was one of those politicians. He wasn''t personally responsible for the sting operation in Minneapolis but you can be sure there was a conservative Craig-wannabe in Minnesota who was. Craig deserved exactly what he got.

Stein''s basic message is: it''s OK to harrass and deny rights to people who aren''t conservative but if you touch one of our people it''s a crime against humanity. OF COURSE Craig was treated unfairly. And so were a lot of people who''ve been stung by the stupid laws in Minnesota and elsewhere, but that''s not a problem, is it, Stein? There is a word for Stein''s argument: unprincipled.

[steve real]

Ben i love your work but really,
if this was first time,
or the second time
or maybe even the third time,
but Ben baby...

enough with the quiet sexual desperation
seeking solace in a men''s room.

He plead guilty Ben.

I don''t really care who screws who,
Larry should of been a man defended himself,
if was innocent.
He went and hid under the bed
only sissies go hide
under the bed Ben.

Larry''s a sexually confused man
living in Idaho.

[YOUTUBESUCKS]

Even though I am wondering about the actions of Senator Craig I do believe the Police are out of control. I hope I am not arrested for a sign I may make unknowingly by coughing in a manner that may emit a secret frequency that is an actual mating call for a gay cop. My son at age 18 spent the night with a girl that was 16. He met her that night at a party she attended. She came to the party with a 30 year old man and 2 other girls. She looked mature and stated she was 19. My son now is on a sexual offender list in Northwood county Ohio. One incident and my son is on a list with 50 year old men that raped young kids. The POLICE AND THE US GOVERNMENT ARE GESTAPO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[govguam]

Ben I think you sort of glossed over what seemed to have happened. First Craig stood outside of the stall for a couple of minutes, then he went to the adjacent stall.

Both in the audio and the written transcript, the police officer(s) were very polite. There was a moment there though when the police officer expressed his disappointment in Craig, but as other readers have mentioned, Craig''s hypocrisy seems to have been his real downfall.

In the book, "Why Smart People Do Dumb Things," these types of mistakes are mostly the result of hubris, arrogance, narcissism or an unconscious need to fail.

[newroad-2009]

Ben is half-right:
The airport security people WERE DOING THEIR JOB -- responding to complaints about ilicit *** in that particular restroom - which had rightly offended unexpecting travelers. The Senator did know which restroom to seek out. Security was not there to entrap "THE SENATOR" -- but it turned out that the Senator was one of the offenders that the police were there to catch.
HOWEVER, I do believe that it is the Senator''s right to be gay, and that the Republicans in Washington are making a big mistake in forcing him out. It only reinforces the party''s assumed image of homophobia.

[elewpier5-2009]

You scare me. I expect this type of perverted rant on FOX but it is unsettling to find something like this (and you) on CBS, allegedly a more ''legitimate'' news source.
Senator Craig lynched himself. If he looks a bit more closely into his bible from which his ''family values'' are derived, a curious axiom often mentioned apparantly was forgotten. ''That which a man sows, this shall he reap''. You are defending not a victim, but the worst kind of moral decay which, unfortunately, is endemic in this country in these times. ''Do as I say, not as I do'' seems the rule of the day. Had Craig forgotten that he railed against homosexuals his entire career? I don''t think so. He ignored it for his own gain and pleasure. He also desired preferential treatment from the police because he is a Senator. How can you possibly defend that!? HYPOCRISY is become the rule for the Republican party, and the rule is wielded from the top down. THis is no longer the honest party of Lincoln. This is a mess. And so are you.

[srilakshmi-2009]

*** *** ***! Minneapolis is a popular man *** place. I recall taking a walk around Lake Calhoun after dark- men were literally hiding in the bushes and making *** signals to whatever was walking by. Wish a Minneapolis cop was there with a flash light on that night! This whole thing is so Roman!
So What! Get a safe *** life! Don''t we still sell condoms in the men''s and women''s bathrooms?
How about a sign for a *** stall? Unisex restrooms with *** *** stalls and condoms and lube would be even better! Why spend time going when we can spend time coming! LOL!
We could have *** bathrooms separate from Family restrooms with diaper changing stations, breastfeeding stations, rocking chairs toys and wet wipes!

[qcdude3]

Same ol Repuke Horse pucky. Craig is not the victim. First he peaked through the crack in the agents stall door, then he entered the stall, then he peaked over the top of the stall divider, then he sat down tapped his foot, rubbed his foot against the agents under the divider, then he waved with his ring fingered hand under the divider to the stall on his right.

He''s trolling for a BJ in a public rest room. He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. Again Craig is not the victim, we are every time we use public rest rooms Ben Stein would have us have to suffer from people like Craig. I don''t care if hes gay, I don''t want his smarmy life to touch me in his random casting. Good *** riddance.

[brianbwb-2009]

"1) Craig enacted a policy I don''''t like, therefore he should be charged with something, anything guilty of that or not;"

Wrong perception, he claims membership of a political party that has been stridently oppressive against lifestyles they profess not to condone, then in (semi) private, engages in those very activities.

It is the hypocrisy he should be held accountable for.

"2) He is a liar and/or hypocrit (both unproven leaps to judgments),"
Consider this, he plead guilty, to the information in the police report, but now says he is innocent, either he did, or he didn''t, but he has claimed both.

One of his claims is a lie. Clear enough proof?

"therefore he should be bullied, threatened, & cajoled to forego a trial and plead guilty. That is a lynch." Posted by Threejay2,

No, a lynch is an act of punishment inflicted without due process at all, if the dead could speak, many Black men could tell you this...

Ben Stein is off the mark, defending the indefensible because of political affiliation. Ben might also occasionally tap a few toes himself, he does exhibit stereotypical behavior suggestive of such.

[RedSkelton]

Ben, you are revising what happened. He pled guilty, stop making him seem innocent. And, he is a US Senator, not a store clerk. If he wishes to enjoy the power, prestige, large salary and benefits then he can *** well hold the highest possible standards. Of course he should resign, just like Sen. Vitter and Sen. Stevens should now and Pres. Clinton should have in his day. Enough with making cops wrong, he pled guilty - which means he said "I did it." Dumb revisionism Ben. LMJN

[djay48]

Stein is absolutely correct. Recently my son walked out of work, and there was an accident near by. A reporter who could not interview anyone in connection to the accident asked my son if he could interview him. My son had''t witnessed the scene or anything. The reporter''s question was,... " Are you surprised this happened?" Then he started "directing" my son on how to walk to his car while they filmed him. This is all Bologna. If the police and news media are going to start directing and producing maybe they need to get into the motion picture industry. This is just pure fiction.

[magoo2u1]

Sexual intercourse in public is wrong. From the sounds of it he may have been trying to set up a date. That is perfectly legal even in an airport bath room. Two things this society of morons can''t disuss is s e x and death. both are subjects americans can''t handle.

[papainoel-2009]

Funny...when Clinto got a BJ from a woman there were calls for impeachment from the GOP. But when a conservative republican senator is caught offering to pay to go down on another man...they see no harm done. Finally the country is getting to see the "traditional family values" of the holier-than-thou conservatives. It''s about time.