Larry Craig, Expendable Senator

The Nation: Scandalous Finish Is The Only Memorable Moment In Craig's Political Career

(The Nation)  This column was written by John Nichols.

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After forcing Idaho Senator Larry Craig to resign for the twin "crimes" of being a fool and appearing to be gay, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., tried as hard as he could to seem sorry for the man whose trip to the wrong bathroom on the wrong day cost him a Senate seat.

"It is my hope he will be remembered not for this, but for his three decades of dedicated public service," chirped McConnell, who just days before was denouncing Craig's "unforgivable" desires, sicking the ethics committee on the misdemeanor senator and stripping him of his committee assignments.

Republicans leaders, who took no action against let-the-good-times-roll Senator David Vitter after the Louisiana Republican's penchant for prostitutes was revealed, couldn't get Craig out of their caucus quick enough.

It wasn't a fear of any "gay germs" that might be spread by Craig - the minority leader is well aware of the fact that Craig was hardly the only closeted Republican on Capitol Hill. It was that Craig was the most expendable man in the Senate. No one noticed he was there. No one will miss him.

McConnell and his lieutenants wanted Craig out fast because he was only doing more harm to the party's seriously soiled reputation and because any Republican who replaces him now will be likely to hold the seat for the embattled Republican caucus in next year's election.

That's what makes McConnell's goodbye to Craig the most hypocritical statement heard during the whole of the Senate GOP's recent bathroom break.

The minority leader knows full well that the only thing that will be remembered about Larry Craig's 33 years in the political arena - as a state legislator, congressman and, since 1990, member of the most exclusive club in America - is that the senator failed to flush when following a cop out of the stall where he had been caught cruising.

Craig was such a senatorial no-account that, even though he arrived in the chamber well before the Republican revolution of 1994 and thus should have been a powerhouse by now, one of his primary claims to "fame" was as a key player in the Congressional Potato Caucus.

If Craig was known for anything, aside from his extracurricular activities, it was for his bizarre lambasting of then-President Bill Clinton for fooling around with a White House intern. The senator told Tim Russert on NBC's Meet The Press that, "The American people already know that Bill Clinton is a bad boy - a naughty boy. I'm going to speak out for the citizens of my state, who in the majority think that Bill Clinton is probably even a nasty, bad, naughty boy."

At least Craig slurping references to naughtiness made him sound flamboyant.

That's more than can be said for the rest of his tenure in Washington, where he arrived with Ronald Reagan in 1981 and voted the party line about as consistently as could be expected for a man whose primary claim on a Senate seat was his party affiliation. Craig liked to play cowboy and pretend to be an independent-thinking westerner. But if a Republican president said "Jump," Craig asked "How high?" And if a Republican Senate leader said "crawl," he asked, "How low?" As a member of successive Congresses, he was for undeclared wars, curtailing civil liberties, tipping the economic scales to favor the wealthy, despoiling the environment and delivering on a regular basis for Wall Street's free-trade agenda as the proud co-chair of the "World Trade Organization Caucus for Farmers and Ranchers." And Craig was against same-sex marriage, extending the federal definition of hate crimes to cover sexual orientation and protecting the employment rights of gays and lesbians.

The senator's interest groups ratings were as predictable as his hypocrisy. He had a 100 percent rating from the Christian Coalition, and a 0 percent rating from the Human Rights Campaign. He was the best of the bunch as far as the Business-Industry Political Action Committee was concerned, and pretty close to the worst in the eyes of Public Citizen.

There are those who might suggest that Craig at least served as a consistent conservative. But even that is untrue. When hardcore conservatives broke with the Bush Administration on spending and immigration issues, Craig refused to deviate from the White House line.

Craig was not even in tune enough with his home state to stand with fellow Idaho Republicans like former Congressman Clement Leroy "Butch" Otter - who, as Idaho's governor will appoint the senator's replacement - in defense of privacy rights. As Craig's congressional colleague, Otter was a remarkably determined defender of Constitutional rights, who voted with Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., against the Patriot Act in the fall of 2001 and who emerged as one of the sharpest Republican critics of the Bush Administration's warrantless wiretapping schemes and related assaults on basic liberties.

Had Larry Craig sided with Butch Otter in those fights, had he ever once done anything honorable or even interesting, his exit might merit some reflection on "his three decades of dedicated public service." As it is, Craig will be remembered accurately - as an otherwise forgettable hack who cruised out of the Senate without ever contributing a thing to the chamber or the country.

Mitch McConnell got the equation precisely wrong. Nothing about Larry Craig's sojourn in that Minnesota bathroom will ever be so "unforgivable" as the fact that he was offered three decades in which to shape the fate of his nation for the better - or at least for what he thought was better - and came away with nothing to show for it.

[mtgrassland]

As much as this reveals about L. Craig it reveals more about the rest of the Republicans in the US Senate.

[blazercoach1]

I find it ironic that the party that brought us "PC" language and defined "hate speech" (telling us how we should live our lives.....) yet uses the most virulent and hateful terms to describe those who disagree with them is accusing Craig of "hypocrisy".

I''m quite sure we are ALL hypocrites when it comes down to it. This doesn''t mean that we should be unprincipled for fear of failing to be perfect. Just look at the luxurious lives of so many so-called "environmentalists".....

Remember Barney Frank? Remember Bill Clinton? I wonder if some on the left could un-emotionally compare the "crimes" committed by these men and Craig......

[barbaraf4]

So now this loser will retire with full pay and medical benefits, on our taxes. Judging from this article, he has had since 1981 to accomplish something, anything. Too bad he is representative of so many of our law makers.

[clestes-2009]

Add Ted Stevens to the list of retiring reps and good riddence!

[oleander8]

"As it is, Craig will be remembered accurately - as an otherwise forgettable hack who cruised out of the Senate without ever contributing a thing to the chamber or the country."

Unfortunately, there is a plethora of such hack politicians on both sides of the aisle. The only remedy for them is term-limits. Unbelievably, the only way that can happen is if the "hacks" vote for it....fat change.

[KYJurisDoctor]

Now is the chance for sensible Republicans in the Senate Leadership, like our own Mitch McConnell, to shove him off the political cliff if he won''t go quietly!

http://osi-speaks.blogspot.com/2007/09/idaho-senator-larry-craig-is.html#links

[burneb]

I''m on the Left, a (dare I say it) LIBERAL, and I think neither Craig''s hypocrisy OR soliciting in public restrooms is acceptable.
Craig is one of the "family values" Republicans who for years have slandered everyone more liberal as inherently less moral, less family-oriented, less patriotic, etc. than "real" Americans. That''s been his only contribution from his tax-supported Senate seat, as this article makes clear. We have all witnessed him being guilty of that.
I also think he''s guilty on the solicitation thing too, but that I didn''t witness.

[csainjersey]

In the view of the Left, Larry Craig''s sin is hypocrisy, not soliciting anonymous homosexual *** in airport men''s rooms. As hard as this may be to grasp for some people, that explains everything. Intolerant as it may seem to some, out there in the real world having homosexual male predators in public restrooms is totally unacceptable. Let''s see the Democrats intervene on behalf of this guy - yet another Loser issue to get behind. There''s still time to lose another election, even to a chimpanzee like George Bush, so why not walk off the cliff with the satisfaction that you''re in moral agreement with The Nation?

[kansas1946]

Mitch McConnell is truly the silliest man ever to be a Republican leader.

Craig was forced out because why again? He has the appearance of being gay?

McConnell should be wearing a red nose and size 34 shoes.......what a clown.
Posted by Nearl4511 at 06:32 PM : Sep 04, 2007
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Boy, ain''t that the truth. Only in politics would a goofy acting twerp like McConnell even be given the time of day. How could anyone vote for this guy?

[nearl4511]

Mitch McConnell is truly the silliest man ever to be a Republican leader.

Craig was forced out because why again? He has the appearance of being gay?

McConnell should be wearing a red nose and size 34 shoes.......what a clown.

[alanrobisch]

This article sums up not only Craig''''s dis-service to his Nation, but the dis-service the entire Republiscum Party has done to us since the days of Ronnie Ragoon, the Great Drooler.

nice guy and so articulate. Maybe you should go to the local frat party where your obscene sense of humor can be appreciated

[jacksteen1]

This poster ''guysdigdirt'' is either a moronic woman who is posing as a man for attention and kicks, or, if actually male, is most likely a $cientologist, since his thinking shows alteration from some other, far-away planet.

This article sums up not only Craig''s dis-service to his Nation, but the dis-service the entire Republiscum Party has done to us since the days of Ronnie Ragoon, the Great Drooler.

I am making a thousand copies of this article to put on every automobile at the local Safeway and other food stores.

[marcodele]

There''s his problem: But if a Republican president said "Jump," Craig asked "How high?" And if a Republican Senate leader said "crawl," he asked, "How low?"

Someone must have yelled "Suck!"

[lawyertom1]

Larry was an outrageous hypocrite, and got what he deserved. Now, Vitter has to suffer the same fate.

[commentsrus]

The article seems to be spot on, this guy was useless. Goes to show how easy it is to be a leader of the nation.

[foranc]

Larry "wide stance" Craig is a "victim of circumstance" just like I''m an astronaut on the space shuttle. Give it a rest!! This guy not only has zero integrity, he is so delusional it isn''t even funny any more. And look at this piece of garbage hiding behind his family -- what an absolute coward!

[thwray]

I could not care less what did or did not happen in Airport men%u2019s room. And I think most people would agree. But how the Senator handled the situation says a great deal about his integrity.
As important as it is that people accept responsibility for what they have done, it is equally important to reject responsibility for the things they have not done.
If the Senator did what he plead guilty to, and now denies, then he is avoiding responsibility of his actions.
If he did not commit the crime, then his pleading guilty to a crime he didn%u2019t commit because he couldn''t be bothered, shows a lack of integrity.

[jegibbons]

Neither, gay nor sympathetic to the Senator, I''m once again amazed at the swiftness of fate: "WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND!"

Another smokescreen is blown to the 4 winds.

This guy gave up too easy. What''s up with that?
How many of these Washington Politicians are living a DOUBLE LIFE?

[vastr-wcon]

.
I am very disappointed that Lusty Larry Craig caved-in and failed to act like the manly man he is and resigned. He certainly should have dragged his "non-gay" ordeal out through the 08 elections. So with this pervert behind us - so to speak - the people will just have to focus on the MANY other Repugs under investigation for criminal behavior. The latter include: Sen. Ted Stevens (R. Alaska), Rep. John T. Doolittle (R. Calif.), Rep. Gary G. Miller (R. Calif.), Rep. Jerry Lewis (R. Calif.), Rep. Rick Renzi (R. Az.). Then, of course, there are Repug Sen. David Vitter and his diapers and who*es, Repug ex-Rep. Mark Foley and his boys. In addition, Florida State Repug Rep. Bob Allen (McCain''s FL. co-chair) still faces charges of solicitation for prostitution. He allegedly offered an undercover police officer $20 for the unspecified Craig-like act. Then there''s South Carolina state Treasurer and Giuliani state campaign manager Repug Thomas Ravenel, who has been indicted on charges of buying and distributing cocaine. And let''s not forget Repug ex-Rep. Duke Cunningham and Repug ex-Rep Bob Nye, who are both serving time in jail. And on and on and on....

Even the RWNJs (right-wing-nut-jobs) like OxyContin Rush won''t be able to hide just how disgraceful and disgusting the Gross Old Pervert party has become. May evangelical (i.e. Repug) Rev. Ted Haggard, who was miraculously cured of his "gayness" and taste for meth in just a few weeks, pray for them.

.

[tejasdemo]

Republicans are morons. We can all agree on that.

But, since when is it a crime to play footsy in the can ? And, I still wonder what the cop would have done if Senator Gay had stood up and stomped on the cop''s foot and broken all his toes ?

I bet the cop would have charged him with assault. Then, he would have been hailed a hero by the Christian right and been given honorary membership in the local KKK.