Question of the day: Why are Republican senators coming down so much harder on Craig than Vitter?
Sen. David Vitter violated the law and proved himself to be a shameless hypocrite by patronizing a prostitution ring. The Senate GOP Caucus rallied to his side.
Sen. Larry Craig violated the law and proved himself to be a shameless hypocrite by soliciting gay sex in a public bathroom. The Senate GOP Caucus turned on him like a pack of mad dogs.
Why the difference? Is it homophobia or just politics?
My take: homophobia may play a small part, but mostly this comes down to the fact that Vitter is lucky enough to represent a state with a Democratic governor, meaning that if he were to resign the GOP would lose the seat. Craig isn’t so lucky: Idaho is not only one of the reddest states in the union; it also happens to have a Republican governor.
Republican politicos may hate gays (or at least pander to those who do), but they hate losing power more.
So, what do you think?
Important Update: I’m on a very poor on-again-off-again connection today (hopefully it will be fixed soon). I may be approving comments too quickly (trying to get them up before I lose net access again). NOTHING, I REPEAT NOTHING, which smacks of, or which might be construed (even if unintended) as having an anti-gay tone will be posted from this point forward, period!
We don’t do hate at The Last Chance Democracy Café.
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August 30th, 2007 at 6:06 am
Hypocracy is the white blood cells of the body politic - your party affiliation is not the issue, Steve. In most states,a well-qualified homosexual must disguise himself to pursue politics. Once elected, he must not be seen as supporting pro-gay legislation. Never can he be seen soliciting sexual partners. Hence Senator Craig’s marriage anti-gay stands and sneaky sex.
Senator Vitter would never be caught by an undercover policewoman trying to pick up a woman for sex in an airport waiting room - it is not considered a crime. As Larry Craig discovered, we do have police to spare to catch gays if they try the same thing. Furthermore, we also do not waste police time shaking down Madams in DC for their client lists. Paid for Hetero-sex is just fine unless Larry Flint wants to get you.
The flight of Republican colleagues from the side of Craig is predictable - who wants to endanger their white cell count. In addition, as Steve points out, why gaff a colleague when there is little danger of losing a Senate seat as a result? Yet, I am not sure - if Vitter was a gay and the DC madam had a string of male prostitutes, his hypocritial colleagues would have a real dilemna!
August 30th, 2007 at 6:56 am
vitter was with women even though he liked diapers-craig was in a
dirty toilet area looking for man sex-this I feel is the difference-
August 30th, 2007 at 7:23 am
Hate to say it, but I think Craig was set up by his own party to take a fall for supporting Immigration Reform. It seems that a large number of closeted gays reside in the Republican Party: their own self-loathing makes them susceptible to coercion, and when convenient or expedient, for outing and repudiation. The transcripts of the police report from Craig’s arrest show a very flimsy case, and except for his own guilty plea, would have been an embarassment, but likely little else. It appears that the Repugs think that soliciting prostitutes is a valid reward for excelling in corruption (ie Duke Cunningham, Vitter), whereas casual, consensual same gender sex is an unforgivable sin, despite their Supreme Court’s decision to the contrary.
August 30th, 2007 at 7:31 am
OurKarlRove has some great talking points on this issue of GOP hypocrisy, saying we need to use hypocrisy as the means to create messages, and call attention to the pattern of Republican-style hypocrisy:
Many Republicans who claim to be…
* “Pro-heterosexual” are starting to be exposed as sexually deviant
* “Pro-military” have never served themselves, nor encourage their children to serve
* “Pro-family” values have had multiple divorces and marry their cousins
* “G*d-fearing” exhibit behaviors that go directly against the teachings in the Bible
* “Pro-life” are also “pro-death penalty.”
* “Pro-America” yet think the Government wiretapping everyone without a warrant is patriotic.”
So, what do we learn from this? We learn that (most)…
* Republicans Prefer Hypocrisy to Democracy
* Republicans Talk the Talk, but Don’t Walk the Walk
* Republicans Talk a Good Game, but Place the Wrong Bets
* Republicans Think They Represent Conservatives, but Actually Represent Extremists and Deviants
* Republicans Seem to Need to Hide from the Truth in the Land of Liberty
and, the grand finale… Many Republicans Just Aren’t Who They Say They Are
OK, one more: You Just Don’t Get What you Pay for When you Vote Republican.
Take these points to the market and re-brand the Republicans before they re-brand you.
See the full post by Jon at 8:24 AM at http://www.ourkarlrove.com
August 30th, 2007 at 7:44 am
Because Republicans prefer diapers over toilet paper?
August 30th, 2007 at 8:26 am
I think everyone is missing the real reason. Louisiana has a Democratic governor and would put a Democrat in a vacant seat if Vitter were to resign. Idaho has a Republican governor and would put a Republican in the position if Craig were to resign. So, there’s no loss of a seat if you clamor for Craig to resign. It’s all a matter of political calculus, which really sums up everything in D.C.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:00 am
Sadly, one of the other reasons is that Craig is up for re-election in 2008 and Vitter isn’t. Mark Foley might have done better if he wasn’t running so soon. All of this is very sad. Republican assume the people have short memories.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:16 am
The average person does not realize that gay sex in bathrooms and roadside reststops is just what gays have always done. They find it fun and it’s a tradition. Those straights who are”family oriented” freak out at the thought of any anonymous sex in any public bathroom even if it’s with the cleaning lady.
Most of the practices of the gay community like gerbilling,fisting, mud wrestling ,water sports and sado-masochism (their way) would be disgusting to the average “missionary” american, let’s face it.
The reason Craig is being so attacked is that the gay lifestyle is still way way back in the closet.It has never been fully explained but has been sanitized. Will and Grace-sterilized. If the average person (straight) knew what gays did sexually gay rights would be set back decades.Everyone understands hookers. Problem: dishonest PR on the part of the gay community in explaining themselves to straights.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:20 am
The long knives in his own party were out for Craig. as the head of the RNC said that one gets the impression that the party is run by buffoons. Now, why would he say that? I think it was said to stir up the disillusioned Republican base. The RNC wants to show the 30% that they need in the worst way, that there is a sincere effort to root out corruption in their party. For this base to sit up and listen the accusations have to be sex related. Although these people do not think beyond that, they are needed at the polls. On Sunday, their ministers will rant even more wildly than usual about the evils and perceived threat of homosexuality, exhorting their flocks to get to the polls and vote for the Republican party.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:25 am
Free Enterprise:
Republicans see sex as a comodity to be bought and sold. Since Vitter paid for his sex, then he’s in the clear. However, using public property (like an airport men’s room) to get sex– without paying for it– well that’s just socialism.
If Craig wants to spin this case to the republicans, he should argue that sex isn’t a commodity, it’s a natural resource. That way, they would feel more comfortable about not paying for it.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:13 am
Perhaps they all ready have a “crony”, some one who will “go after” the Democratic candidates, picked to replace Larry Craig….? After all the Governor of Idaho is a Republican…he can “choose” some one to replace Craig, maybe a crony that Rove approves of….?
August 30th, 2007 at 10:39 am
The average person does not realize that gay sex in bathrooms and roadside reststops is just what gays have always done. They find it fun and it’s a tradition. Those straights who are”family oriented” freak out at the thought of any anonymous sex in any public bathroom even if it’s with the cleaning lady.
Most of the practices of the gay community like gerbilling,fisting, mud wrestling ,water sports and sado-masochism (their way) would be disgusting to the average “missionary” american, let’s face it.
The reason Craig is being so attacked is that the gay lifestyle is still way way back in the closet.It has never been fully explained but has been sanitized. Will and Grace-sterilized. If the average person (straight) knew what gays did sexually gay rights would be set back decades.Everyone understands hookers. Problem: dishonest PR on the part of the gay community in explaining themselves to straights.”
You had a lot of experience with these things Calamity J? Are you a 14 year old boy or a troll? Gerbilling? Mud Wrestling? You have got to be kidding, or you have to be one of the most gullible morons on here. And since when do heterosexuals not like to have casual or anoymous sex? Ever heard of the term “Hookup”.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:21 am
calamity J you seem to be an expert on gay sex. But you are wrong about one thing: the practices that you mentioned as gay, gerbilling (sic), fisting, mud wrestling, water sports and sadomasochism, are pretty much straight as well. You should see it for yourself on some of the straight videos available out there.
Your subtle attempt to paint gays as perverted doesn’t seem to help the dialogue here. Most gays I know, and I’m in New York, have pretty normal, even boring sex lives with their committed partners.
The Craig affair has to do with homophobia, politics, but mostly bad timing. After Foley, Haggard, Vitter and that guy in Florida who paid $20 to an undercover cop, the Craig revelation came at the worst time possible. He won’t survive the week.
I would’ve felt sorry for the guy, since I was in the closet up to the age of 35. But I had the courage to confront my family, friends, the world, and most difficult of all, myself. Now I’m free and in peace. Craig, however, is still living a lie and a prisoner of his own private hell. And I bet he’d be ready to sponsor the first piece of antigay legislation on his desk. I have no sympathy for hypocrites.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:36 am
calamity J Says:
August 30th, 2007 at 9:16 am
The average person does not realize that gay sex in bathrooms and roadside reststops is just what gays have always done. They find it fun and it’s a tradition. Those straights who are”family oriented” freak out at the thought of any anonymous sex in any public bathroom even if it’s with the cleaning lady.
Most of the practices of the gay community like gerbilling,fisting, mud wrestling ,water sports and sado-masochism (their way) would be disgusting to the average “missionary” american, let’s face it.
The reason Craig is being so attacked is that the gay lifestyle is still way way back in the closet.It has never been fully explained but has been sanitized. Will and Grace-sterilized. If the average person (straight) knew what gays did sexually gay rights would be set back decades.Everyone understands hookers. Problem: dishonest PR on the part of the gay community in explaining themselves to straights.
I don’t even know where to begin responding to such a HATEFUL, HOMOPHOBIC, SIMPLISTIC, NARROW-MINDED, BIGGOTED STATEMENT! I am a gay man, and particpate in none of the aforementioned acts. Where do you get your information about the sex antics of gay men, from lurid stories told to you by your closeted politicians and pastors who are busy seeking anonymous restroom encounters or seeking out male prostitutes because they are ashamed of their own NATURAL inclinations to engage in sexual relations with a people of the same sex? To ascribe certain sexual practices (practices I choose not to engage in, but certainly don’t deny the option to other GROWN ADULTS who engage in CONSENSUAL play of WHATEVER varitey they chose!) to ALL GAY MEN is HOMOPHOBIC AND HATEFUL! It would be the same as if I attributed all Heterosexual sexual practices to that of mass murderer and rapist Ted Bundy! Well, one does it, so they ALL must do it! Your hateful rhetoric does nothing to promote understanding of the inherent differences in people that are GOD GIVEN! THAT IS RIGHT, GOD GIVEN! I am so tired of your type co-opting the concept of Godliness and attributing who I am to SIN! The problem is that people like you, have in the past, made it virtually IMPOSSIBLE for gay people to live normal, healthy and happy lives because of your hatred towards us. Gay people of Larry Craigs generation still have enormous amounts of internalized homophobia because of what they have been brainwahsed to believe about themselves by people of your hateful lot. Because of you, they feel they cannot lead healthy and normal lives as gay people and consequently, get married, have children and seek anonymous encounters on the side to live out that aspect of their identity. Well, guess what? That generation of closeted, self-hating gays is slowing passing away and the new generations of gay people WILL NOT remain in the closet and be subject to your abuse and abnegation! WE ARE EMPOWERED WHEN WE COME OUT OF THE CLOSET AND WILL TOLERATE NO ONE TRYING TO MAKE US ASHAMED OF WHO WE ARE! So you can continue to try and use your “GOD” and your politicians to try and supress us, but it is not working and WILL NOT WORK in the future! Focus on your own shortcomings before you try and find fault in others!
August 30th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Here’s a thought…
REPUBLICANS AND THEIR COHORTS COMMIT UNJUST ACTS IN PRIVATE THAT BY PUBLIC AND THEIR OWN PIOUS STANDARDS ARE IMMORAL, UNETHICAL AND HYPOCRITICAL TO THEIR PARTY PLATFORM AND THEY SAY NOTHING… BUT ONCE THAT ACTION IS IN THE PUBLIC EYE AND HURTS THEM AS A GROUP… THEN THEY LET THEIR IMMORAL INDIGNATION SHOW. THATS HYPOCRISY AND THAT”S THE TRUE FACT REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE.
Because their Republican hypocrisy is rearing its ugly head … that’s why they are attacking him so fiercly, as not to be blames by association. They knew for years these actions by Craig were rumored to be happening. They feel guilty and shamed in their minds, hence, fierce attack to disassociate the focus away from them.
Here are just some examples of the holier-than-thou fallen Republicans Mark Foley, Ritter, Spokane Mayor Jim West, Oswego’s Republican mayor John Gose, ( there are more examples at the end of this diatribe)
This may be a “gay” issue, but not an issue of gay sex.. it is a symptom of a person who has been forced to hide their homosexual proclivities for years out of fear, shame, guilt or all of the above.
That is the problem with Republican social stances.. their position shift when they have to cover their asses (The Foley Scandal in 2006 was just waiting to happen. The Republican party, as well as the Dems were aware of his rumored actions for years. They were never concerned with the abuse of pages then, or never said anything) Then when Foley hits CNN, by do they come out by the droves.
Most well-adjusted gay people don’t cruise for sex in public places, no more than well-adjusted straight people. They, like most others, meet their potential partners in more traditional places (bars, organizations, church, through friends.. etc). The goal usually isn’t sexual gratification, but sexual attraction does play a part in all dating practices, straight or gay.
This is a matter of a closeted gay man (most likely) seeking to satisfy his sexual urges in an anonymous matter, with no strings attached, and return to his straight life. And this happen all over the country every day. And you cannot say this is a GAY issue, as gay women ( and women in general) have no desire to cruise in public places for sex. It is always MEN (Gay, straight, bisexual.. they all do it)
This is the main reason why most of those men who are caught in these stings are married with a wife and kids. These men often claim they are “Straight” when, in actuality, they are repressed gays and bisexuals. This repression of one’s true self, regardless of sexual orientation, IS THE ISSUE, and is what causes the actions that the senator is being charged with. It is not that he is gay, but that he is gay trying to play straight, in a most repressive political organization, with an even more intolerant and hypocritical constituency.
I hate to see a man lose his livelihood over something like this. Face it, we are sexual animals, trying to moralize a basic human need. And we are so sexually repressed as a country, these are the kinds of things we come to think are important, when they aren’t.
Leave the hypocrite alone, let him figure out what to do with his life now. Hopefully he won’t stand on pride, and realize what he is and if he can, make some happiness out of his life while he has time.
But I bet.. this will not be the last one from the Republican party to have this happen to him.
________________________
Republican legislator Ted Klaudt was charged with raping girls under the age of 16.
Republican city councilman Joseph Monteleone Jr. was found guilty of fondling underage girls.
Republican congressional aide Jeffrey Nielsen was arrested for having sex with a 14-year old boy.
Republican County Commissioner Patrick Lee McGuire surrendered to police after allegedly molesting girls between the ages of 8 and 13.
Republican prosecutor Larry Corrigan was arrested for soliciting sex from 13-year old girls.
Republican Mayor Jeffrey Kyle Randall was sentenced to 275 days in jail for molesting two boys — ages ten and 12 — during a six-year period.
Republican County Board Candidate Brent Schepp was charged with molesting a 14-year old girl and killed himself three days later.
Republican Congressman Mark Foley abruptly resigned from Congress after “sexually explicit” emails surfaced showing him flirting with a 16-year old boy.
Republican executive Randall Casseday of the conservative Washington Times newspaper pleaded guilty to soliciting sex from a 13-year old girl on the internet.
Republican chairman of the Oregon Christian Coalition Lou Beres confessed to molesting a 13-year old girl.
Republican County Constable Larry Dale Floyd pleaded guilty to charges of soliciting sex from an 8-year old girl. Floyd has repeatedly won elections for Denton County, Texas, constable.
Republican judge Mark Pazuhanich pleaded no contest to fondling a 10-year old girl and was sentenced to 10 years probation.
Republican Party leader Bobby Stumbo was arrested for having sex with a 5-year old boy.
Republican petition drive manager Tom Randall pleaded guilty to molesting two girls under the age of 14, one of them the daughter of an associate in the petition business.
Republican County Chairman Armando Tebano pleaded guilty to fondling a 14-year-old girl.
Republican teacher and former city councilman John Collins pleaded guilty to sexually molesting 13 and 14 year old girls.
Republican campaign worker Mark Seidensticker is a convicted child molester.
Republican Mayor Philip Giordano is serving a 37-year sentence in federal prison for sexually abusing 8- and 10-year old girls.
Republican Mayor Tom Adams was arrested for distributing child pornography over the internet.
Republican Mayor John Gosek was arrested on charges of soliciting sex from two 15-year old girls.
Republican County Commissioner David Swartz pleaded guilty to molesting two girls under the age of 11 and was sentenced to 8 years in prison.
Republican legislator Edison Misla Aldarondo was sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping his daughter between the ages of 9 and 17.
Republican Committeeman John R. Curtin was convicted of molesting an underage teenage boy and sentenced to serve six to 18 months in prison.
Republican anti-abortion activist Howard Scott Heldreth is a convicted child rapist in Florida.
Republican zoning supervisor, Boy Scout leader and Lutheran church president Dennis L. Rader pleaded guilty to performing a sexual act on an 11-year old girl he murdered.
Republican anti-abortion activist Nicholas Morency pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on his computer and offering a bounty to anybody who murders an abortion doctor.
Republican campaign consultant Tom Shortridge was sentenced to three years probation for taking nude photographs of a 15-year old girl.
Republican racist pedophile and United States Senator Strom Thurmond had sex with a 15-year old black girl which produced a child.
Republican pastor Mike Hintz, whom George W. Bush commended during the 2004 presidential campaign, surrendered to police after admitting to a sexual affair with a female juvenile.
Republican legislator Peter Dibble pleaded no contest to having an inappropriate relationship with a 13-year-old girl.
Republican advertising consultant Carey Lee Cramer was sentenced to six years in prison for molesting two 8-year old girls, one of whom appeared in an anti-Gore television commercial.
Republican fundraiser Lawrence E. King, Jr. organized child sex parties at the White House during the 1980s.
Republican lobbyist Craig J. Spence organized child sex parties at the White House during the 1980s.
Republican Congressman Donald “Buz” Lukens was found guilty of having sex with a female minor and sentenced to one month in jail.
Republican fundraiser Richard A. Delgaudio was found guilty of child porn charges and paying two teenage girls to pose for sexual photos.
Republican activist Mark A. Grethen convicted on six counts of sex crimes involving children.
Republican campaign chairman Randal David Ankeney pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault on a child and was arrested again five years later on the same charge.
Republican Congressman Dan Crane had sex with a female minor working as a congressional page.
Republican activist and Christian Coalition leader Beverly Russell admitted to an incestuous relationship with his step daughter.
Republican Judge Ronald C. Kline pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on his home computer.
Republican congressman and anti-gay activist Robert Bauman was charged with having sex with a 16-year-old boy he picked up at a gay bar.
Republican Committee Chairman Jeffrey Patti was arrested for distributing a video clip of a 5-year-old girl being raped.
Republican activist Marty Glickman (a.k.a. “Republican Marty”), was taken into custody by Florida police on four counts of unlawful sexual activity with an underage girl and one count of delivering the drug LSD.
Republican legislative aide Howard L. Brooks was charged with molesting a 12-year old boy and possession of child pornography.
Republican Senate candidate John Hathaway was accused of having sex with his 12-year old baby sitter and withdrew his candidacy after the allegations were reported in the media.
Republican preacher Stephen White, who demanded a return to traditional values, was sentenced prison after offering $20 to a 14-year-old boy for permission to perform oral sex on him.
Republican talk show host Jon Matthews pleaded guilty to exposing his genitals to an 11 year old girl.
Republican anti-gay activist Earl “Butch” Kimmerling was sentenced to 40 years in prison for molesting an 8-year old girl after he attempted to stop a gay couple from adopting her.
Republican Party leader Paul Ingram pleaded guilty to six counts of raping his daughters and served 14 years in federal prison.
Republican election board official Kevin Coan was sentenced to two years probation for soliciting sex over the internet from a 14-year old girl.
Republican politician Andrew Buhr was charged with two counts of first degree sodomy with a 13-year old boy.
Republican legislator Keith Westmoreland was arrested on seven felony counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition to girls under the age of 16 (i.e. exposing himself to children).
Republican anti-abortion activist John Allen Burt was found guilty of molesting a 15-year old girl.
Republican County Councilman Keola Childs pleaded guilty to molesting a male child.
Republican activist John Butler was charged with criminal sexual assault on a teenage girl.
Republican candidate Richard Gardner admitted to molesting his two daughters.
Republican Councilman and former Marine Jack W. Gardner was convicted of molesting a 13-year old girl.
Republican County Commissioner Merrill Robert Barter pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual contact and assault on a teenage boy.
Republican City Councilman Fred C. Smeltzer, Jr. pleaded no contest to raping a 15 year-old girl and served 6-months in prison.
Republican activist Parker J. Bena pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on his home computer and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and fined $18,000.
Republican parole board officer and former Colorado state representative, Larry Jack Schwarz, was fired after child pornography was found in his possession.
Republican strategist and Citadel Military College graduate Robin Vanderwall was convicted in Virginia on five counts of soliciting sex from boys and girls over the internet.
Republican city councilman Mark Harris, who is described as a “good military man” and “church goer,” was convicted of repeatedly having sex with an 11-year-old girl and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Republican businessman Jon Grunseth withdrew his candidacy for Minnesota governor after allegations surfaced that he went swimming in the nude with four underage girls, including his daughter.
Republican campaign worker, police officer and self-proclaimed reverend Steve Aiken was convicted of having sex with two underage girls.
Republican director of the “Young Republican Federation” Nicholas Elizondo molested his 6-year old daughter and was sentenced to six years in prison.
Republican president of the New York City Housing Development Corp. Russell Harding pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on his computer.
Republican benefactor of conservative Christian groups, Richard A. Dasen Sr., was found guilty of raping a 15-year old girl. Dasen, 62, who is married with grown children and several grandchildren, has allegedly told police that over the past decade he paid more than $1 million to have sex with a large number of young women.
Republican Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld authorized the rape of children in Iraqi prisons in order to humiliate their parents into providing information about the anti-American insurgency. See excerpt of one prisoner’s report here and his full report here.