When Congressman Patrick Kennedy, (D-R.I.) plowed his car into a barricade on Capitol Hill in the middle of the night in a drunken, drug induced stupor, the Capitol Hill police were ordered not to give him a sobriety test and were instructed to just drive him home. Kennedy went before the cameras and blamed his addictions for all his problems, entered rehab, (again) and all was forgiven by the press.
When it was made public that Congressman Barney Franks, (D-Mass.) had a gay brothel being run in his home, he claimed he didn’t know about it, and all was forgiven.
When Congressman Gary Studds, (D-Mass. ) was caught having sex with minors, including male congressional interns, he was given a standing ovation on the floor of the Congress by the Democrats, and all was forgiven.
When it was made public that Congressman Mark Foley, (R-Fla.) had e-mail contact with over-aged ex-interns, he was driven from office in disgrace.
Now, it is Senator Craig’s turn to be the brunt of scorn. There is no forgiveness for him. There will be no understanding forthcoming. When a Republican sins, the media swings into its full attack mode and will not be satisfied until someone’s political blood is on the floor.
Apparently there are public restrooms at the Minneapolis airport where gay men frequent to have quick encounters. Senator Craig entered one of these restrooms. It was reported that several times he peeked into a stall occupied by a undercover policeman. Craig then entered the stall next to the officer. He tapped his foot several times and then put his foot into the policeman’s stall and touched the officers foot. Craig also swiped his hand into the officers stall. It’s reported that these are the signals put out by gay men looking for some "action."
At this point the officer identified himself and asked Senator Craig to exit the stall and with some hesitation, the senator complied and was arrested. Senator Craig pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, something he now states he wishes he had not done.
Is Senator Craig a "closet gay?" Probably. Is what he did against the law in Minnesota? Apparently it is. So what we have is a closet gay man, who just happens to be a senator from Idaho, tapping his feet in a men’s restroom stall and waving his hand. If all crimes committed by people in politics were so benign, America would not have the problems it has with the rampant corruption in American politics.
The question isn’t did Senator Craig commit a misdemeanor? He obviously did. The question is: Is it a crime of such magnitude that a man’s life and career needs to be totally and completely destroyed because of it?
Years ago, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) left the scene of a car accident, contacted his own lawyer and public relations man before the authorities and a young woman died. Had it been anyone but a Kennedy, there would have at least been a charge of leaving the scene of an accident and more then likely a charge of negligent homicide. However, when you are a Kennedy, there is no need to worry about such charges. All that has to be done is to make a tearful and well rehearsed appearance before the cameras and all sins are forgiven. Ted Kennedy’s apology did not bring Mary Jo Kopechne back to life. Ted Kennedy resumed his political career in the Senate and is now one of the most powerful men in Washington, D.C. His only punishment was that he knew because of his drunken mishap, he would never occupy the White House.
Larry Craig has served the people of Idaho for over 30 years--as a congressman and as a senator for the last 16 years. He is one of the longest serving elected officials from Idaho. He has not been involved in any major scandals unlike others who got caught with their hands in the proverbial cookie jar.
In the late 1980s, Americans were introduced to the Keating Five. They were: Alan Cranston (D-Calif.), Dennis De Concini (D-Ariz.), John Glenn (D-Ohio), John McCain (R-Ariz.), and Donald Riegle, Jr. (D-Mich.) All were recipients of large amounts of campaign money from Charles Keating, Jr., the owner of the failed Lincoln Savings and Loan of Irvine, California. The five senators then tried to shield Keating from prosecution using their senatorial powers. Cranston was elderly and had already decided to retire. De Concini and Riegle chose not to run for re-election. Glenn did choose to run again and was re-elected as was a man now running for president, John McCain.
What is being virtually ignored now in the rush to bury Senator Larry Craig? How about the fact that the Clintons are up to their old habits of taking illegal campaign money from less than reputable people like Norman Hsu? Not only is Hillary involved with this wanted felon but so is presidential hopeful Barack Obama, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and other well-known Democrats in high places. Hillary rushed to say that she just had no idea this man was a criminal and all have said they will give the money to charity. The Clintons have a long, long history of dealing with people with a Chinese connection and bags of money being delivered to their campaigns. But, all will plead ignorance and all will be forgiven and the liberal media will not pursue it. It is more fun to hound a Republican who has violated the "family values" code of conduct that Democrats are not bound by.
Sadly, America is in an election cycle and while sins of alcohol abuse, drug addiction, adultery, corruption on all levels, and even manslaughter are forgiven–if one is a Democrat–a Republican senator entering a bathroom stall in an airport in Minneapolis and tapping his feet and waving his hand cannot be forgiven, ever.
Was American security comprised? Were national secrets leaked? Did large sums of illegal campaign money change hands? What harm did Senator Craig inflict on anyone?
The only group of people who have the right to put Craig out of office are the people who put him IN office–the people of Idaho. Not some self-righteous group in the Republican Party terrified because an election is around the corner or a foaming-at-the-mouth liberal media who smell the blood of a Republican in the political waters.
Most liberals don’t care when Democrats do the kind of things Craig did because everyone knows the left has no values so the media just ignores it. But when a Republican does such things, bring out the torches and pitchforks and don’t stop until someone’s life is ruined.
One of these days a media lynching will lead to the victim’s real blood on the floor. But there probably will be no remorse for the death and the hunters will just start looking for their next prey while patting themselves on the back for being the "watchdogs of American freedom."
So don't worry, America, the media are on the job. The bathrooms of America will be safe as illegal money pours in from foreign sources into the pockets of corrupt politicians, underaged pages are assaulted, and drunken politicians ram security barriers. If any Democrats tap their feet or wave their hands in bathrooms, they are just dancing and waving at friends. That’s what the liberal media will report at any rate.
