Sen. Larry Craig Vows To Stay In Office
Idaho Republican Determined To Save Senate Seat If Guilty Plea Is Reversed
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Play CBS Video Video Craig Reconsiders Resignation
In the wake of a bathroom sex scandal, sources close to disgraced Idaho Sen. Larry Craig say he might reconsider his resignation as lawyers build a case in his defense. Chip Reid reports.
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Video 'Capitol Bob' On Craig
Harry Smith speaks with chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer about Sen. Larry Craig's resignation and how the popularity of Hillary Clinton's husband will impact her presidential campaign.
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Video GOP's Handling Of Larry Craig
Politico.com's John Harris analyzes Sen. Larry Craig's resignation and the Republicans' handling of the political scandal.
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In a file photo U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, announces his resignation from the Senate at the old Boise Depot train station overlooking downtown Boise, Idaho, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007. Sen. Larry Craig is reconsidering his decision to resign after his arrest in a Minnesota airport sex sting and may still fight for his Senate seat, his spokesman said Tuesday evening, Sept. 4, 2007. (AP Photo/Matt Cilley)
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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., gestures while meeting reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007, to discuss a conversation he had this morning with Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)
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Photo Essay Larry Craig Idaho senator embroiled in scandal after arrest at Minneapolis airport comes to light.
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Interactive Political Scandals Politics can be a strange and dirty business. Check out some of the biggest missteps and mishaps in recent history.
A dozen conservative activists attending a press conference on one of President Bush's judicial nominees declined to answer questions about Craig, including whether they wished to see him resign or remain in office.
They included Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council; David Keene, president of The American Conservative Union; Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform; and Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America.
For his part, McConnell turned away questions about Craig's situation. Asked whether fellow Republicans could embrace Craig if he disposed of the case and returned to Washington, the GOP leader said he would not answer hypothetical questions.
Asked if Craig had been disingenuous when he told him on Friday he intended to resign, McConnell declined to say.
And when asked whether Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., had been helpful in resolving the controversy, McConnell said, "You'll have to talk to Sen. Specter about his views."
Specter said Sunday he would like to see Craig "seek to withdraw the guilty plea, and fight the case." Specter, a former prosecutor, said he believes the Idaho lawmaker could be vindicated.
He declined to elaborate further when asked during the day.
Craig drew one expression of support, from fellow Idaho Republican Sen. Mike Crapo.
"I support whatever Larry does," said Crapo. "Everybody has a right to try to vindicate themselves."
Several officials have said Crapo played a key role in last week's events, serving as an intermediary of sorts between his home state colleague and Republicans in Washington eager to see Craig resign.
The Republican leadership moved aggressively when word of Craig's guilty plea first surfaced, asking the ethics committee to investigate, then prevailing on him to step down from his committee and subcommittee leadership positions.
While Craig is only the latest in a series of Republican senators to become drawn into controversy, he is the only one to have drawn widespread calls for his resignation. McConnell and other critics have denied that their decision to prod him to leave stemmed from the allegation that he had solicited gay sex. They said Craig's case was the only one in which a guilty plea had been entered.
"If he honestly did it, he honestly should think about his morals and do what he has to do," Idahoan Stephen Kirby told CBS Affiliate KBCI. "But if it was entrapment involved or wasn't really that point, he should fight it if he has to."
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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See all 155 CommentsTwo sisters have kept their dead mother in an a fridge for 10 years - so they can visit her every week.....
Is this something to write home about?
Continue..www.poconocommunitynews.com
Go home Larry and enjoy your grandchildren.
Perhaps they stand for homosexuality. That''s not nothing.
Some people (probably a majority) think that is a good thing.
As for the republicans who keep bringing up Bill Clinton and Ed Kennedy, I think they''re just jealous because a) These guys actually did it with women. b) The women were adults and c) They didn''t have to pay for it.
Posted by wfbdem at 09:11 AM : Sep 06, 2007
???? what is the gayest thing you ever heard?
How does one "honestly" do something supposedly immoral? The fact of the matter is, Craig--like most politicians will never admit wrongdoing unless their ''hand'' or *** is caught in the act. Craig may have been dodging and lying about this issue for years...if that is the case--this is just one more lie in a string of lies--the real problem is--Craig thought he was caught dead to rights--but with the backing of Spector and others, he now thinks he has found a similar loophole like he has found for years on the issue of his sexual activity.
But this time, this is not a nail in his coffin, it is a huge spike--now, not only must the GOP and his voters find a way to overlook this, but the country must to--I don''t think the country is all that willing--given Craigs history and stance on Gay issues. Come on gay community. If Craig is really desperately seeking gay moments in johns--surely one of you have been enterprising enough to get the video for it?
I am offended by your sharp critizism, calling me a killer, when you have no idea who I am and what I am talking about.
Posted by njr148 at 05:09 AM : Sep 06, 2007
You have a point. If you can sanction a war and killing of people who did nothing to start this and then pervert the issue into saving them (who "saves people" by bombing and invading them?) and further muddies the act by declaring that we went there to give them freedom and Democracy--free to do what we tell them to do--like we told them to have Democratic elections and we told them we are staying....)
But anyone that can do all of that is no ordinary killer. First and foremost they are stupid, self centered, immoral and venal as hell-- the killing/war/torture part are the natural results of all of their other traits.
________
You don''t get it do you buddy? Barney Frank was openly gay, honest about his sxuality and it was his roommate who caused a scandal.
Larry Craig campaigned and got votes by bashing ***, gay rights, promoting himself as a ''family values'' candidate and lying about his activities.
That''s hypocrisy. Craig, not Frank, displayed what the GOP hypocrisy is all about. And your post shows how Bush eeked out election victories by snagging the ''dumb vote.''
And your inappropriate mention of the ''race card'' in this issue shows you are a true republican bigot. The Repubs love people like you. Racist, homophobic, hateful, and downright stupid. Add hypocrisy and you could be a poster boy for the new GOP.
Besides all he did was disturb the peice and that is nothing. Please stop trying to play to our sense of morals because you have none.
I always understood that only people who plead not guilty can have a verdict reconsidered, and even then only on the introduction of previously unavailable evidence.
How many "average Joes" have access to this facility, I wonder...
Posted by brianbwb at 01:52 AM : Sep 06, 2007
LMAO: ATTENTION, STATE OF MINNESOTA: ALL CONVICTED FELONS AND OTHERS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY PLED GUILTY AND BEEN SENTENCED, WOULD NOW LIKE TO WITHDRAW THEIR PLEA, NULLIFY THE VERDICT AND HAVE THEIR CASES RECONSIDERED. After very careful consideration, they all now feel that they pled guilty without realizing that their "guilt" or innocence rested on their own decision to plea and not on the evidence.
all convicts would now like to take a different "STANCE" on their individual cases and fight for their now proclaimed innocence.
No one pleads guilty (especially not someone in the public eye) and has time to mull it over---and confer with a lawyer--unless there is a very real reason--like they ARE guilty and don''t want their lawyer or anyone else to know. Craig: this makes it easier to come fully out of the closet now---because we ALL know, don''t wait for one of your ''contacts'' to post compromising info or pics on Youtube--beat the rush.
September 6, 2007 (AP) Rep. Barney Frank admits to being a homosexual, will resign as soon as the Democratic Party stands up for ANY values.
Hypocrite seems to be the Liberals "race card"; if you stand for nothing, it works.
You are absolutely correct! We are not addressing the issues here in our home country. Why? Because we are too chicken to admit that the issue is a religious one. I''ll bet you don''t think the issue is religious either. In fact you would probably jump on the band wagon that claims that Bush instigated or staged the 9/11 attacks.
Truth is: Today the muslims who live in our nation are afraid for their lives, but willing to risk their lives for the sake of their religion. Every muslim will claim innocence until the time when they know they have their foot in the door far enough to take over the country, and then the muslim who was your friendly neighbor will stop your beating heart because he is promised 70 virgins in heaven if he kills a non muslim. He believes is doing a good deed. They will deny this, of course! Put yourself in their shoes. Of course that would ruin their agenda. And if they can convince you to stand up for them that is one more step in the door. See part 3
You are absolutely correct! We are not addressing the issues here in our home country. Why? Because we are too chicken to admit that the issue is a religious one. I''ll bet you don''t think the issue is religious either. In fact you would probably jump on the band wagon that claims that Bush instigated or staged the 9/11 attacks.
Truth is: Today the muslims who live in our nation are afraid for their lives, but willing to risk their lives for the sake of their religion. Every muslim will claim innocence until the time when they know they have their foot in the door far enough to take over the country, and then the muslim who was your friendly neighbor will stop your beating heart because he is promised 70 virgins in heaven if he kills a non muslim. He believes is doing a good deed. They will deny this, of course! Put yourself in their shoes. Of course that would ruin their agenda. And if they can convince you to stand up for them that is one more step in the door. See part 3
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!!
I am offended by your sharp critizism, calling me a killer, when you have no idea who I am and what I am talking about. I don''t think I am the only one here with strong opinions. It would seem that you have some pretty strong opinions yourself, and we just don''t see things the same way. I''m not sure if you are capable of talking about this without using words that are not acceptable on this site, but I sure would appreciate it if you could control your tongue and in this case your fingers on the keyboard. Please read Part 2, 3 and 4 above this post.
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