Another GOP Sex Scandal

What is it with the conservative wing of the GOP these days with sex scandals? Most recently, there was Mark Foley, before him David Drier, and now, will Larry Craig join the list of allegedly closeted GOP politicians to meet public disgrace?

Today's bombshell: Senator Larry Craig of Idaho, pleading guilty to disorderly conduct after being caught displaying what could only be called a "foot fetish" in a bathroom at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport.

Some background: the conservative Republican three-term Senator from the Potato State was arrested in Minneapolis after an encounter with police in a restroom off the concourse. Police had been alerted to incidents of lewd behavior -- including anonymous sex -- in that particular men's room at the airport, and were running a sting operation to catch the publicly-promiscuous practitioners.

According to the incident report, Sgt. Dave Karsnia was working as a plainclothes officer on June 11 investigating civilian complaints regarding sexual activity in the men's public restroom in which Craig was arrested.

About 13 minutes after taking a seat in a stall, Sgt Karsnia stated he could see "an older white male with grey hair standing outside my stall." The man, who lingered in front of the stall for two minutes, was later identified as Craig. On entering the adjacent stall, Craig began tapping his right foot, then touched his right foot to the left foot of the officer and brushed his hand beneath the partition between them. He was then arrested.

Apparently, this restroom has become quite the hot spot, as airport police have made numerous arrests at the Northstar Crossing in the Lindbergh Terminal in connection with sexual activity.

After arrest, Craig was interviewed by police. It was at that time he gave police a business card showing that he is a U.S. senator. "What do you think about that?" Craig asked the officer, according to the police report obtained by Roll Call, the trade paper for Washington insiders. Craig pleaded guilty to the one charge of disorderly conduct August 8th, but the documents from the proceedings are just now being made public. According to the Washington Post, the newly released court documents - signed by Craig on Aug. 8 - show that the senator's plea included his admission that he had engaged in conduct which would "arouse alarm or resentment" in others. The Hennepin County, Minnesota District Court documents contradict Craig's statement on Monday that he did not engage in "any inappropriate conduct" and that the undercover police officer was "misconstruing my actions."

Misconstruing your actions? Really, Senator?

If you rub someone's foot, and reach under the stall divider in a public restroom, given the airport's apparently blossoming reputation as a place where one can randomly hook up, what is one supposed to think?

Of course, the predictable reaction is developing on both ends of the political spectrum, but for differing reasons. On the left, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington today asked the Senate Ethics Committee to reprimand Craig, citing the portion of the Senate's rules saying lawmakers could run afoul of the chamber for "improper conduct which may reflect upon the Senate."

I think allegations of soliciting anonymous sex in a public restroom would qualify as improper conduct.

And on the right, conservative talk show hosts have been calling for Craig to resign his seat. Hugh Hewit, one of the most conservative talk show hosts in America was blunt in saying Craig's behavior was "repulsive" and "he has to go."

A quick Google search reveals that the Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual community has piled on, with the "outting" site BlogActive.com reviving content from October 2006, accusing Craig of gay-bashing, and alleging that he was involved with a Congressional sex and drug ring. I might discount BlogActive.com's statements as muckraking, except for the fact that they correctly stated that Mark Foley was propositioning male congressional pages months before anyone else had the story.

You know, the hard thing to believe is that if you lined up ten male GOP members, every other one is preaching anti-gay "family values" rhetoric. Meanwhile, they are seeking sex in public places -- like Craig and Florida state representative Bob Allen -- or frequenting hookers for fetish, bondage and discipline -- that would be Senator David Vittner wearing the diaper -- and consorting with and buying drugs from male gay hookers -- such as prominent Colorado evangelist Ted Haggard. Then there are the phone-sex chat line frequenters like Rep. Ed Shrock, and those that assault sleeping victims (former Young Republicans chairman Glenn Murphy, who resigned amid allegations that he sexually assaulted a sleeping man at the home of the man's sister.). And, of course, we can't forget the aforementioned Mark Foley and his penchant for male congressional pages.

Sounds to me like a classical education had many Republicans reading (and living out) the writings of the late Marquis de Sade.

And we aren't even talking about members of the GOP guilty of the more pedestrian misdeeds, like say, sleeping with your administrative assistant, for example.

Who or what senators and congressman do to release steam, as long as it's not on my taxpayer dime, and not hurting another human being is their business. If a senator wants to spark up a blunt at the end of a tough day, hey, be my guest -- in fact, I may want to take a hit too. Just don't preach to me about not doing drugs. And I am nonplussed as to whether that person they engage in sexual activity with is a man, woman, or some combination. I couldn't care any less. Man on man isn't my bag, but if that's what floats your boat, what right do I have to interfere?

Just don't be hypocritical about it! Do it and be quiet. 'Tis better to say nothing at all, rather than to open one's mouth and insert one's foot.

And don't do it in public restrooms.

For years, Republicans have blasted Bill Clinton for engaging in extramarital activities with "that woman" Monica Lewinsky. (And yes, it should have been Hillary with stain on her dress, but nonetheless...) Even now, nearly 8 years later, we still get the holier-than-thou message from the wingnuts in the GOP. Worse, Bill was IMPEACHED for a blow job.

With all the apparent homosexual and non-mainstream sexual antics seemingly prevalent among many allegedly pro-traditional family conservatives, it makes me wonder what the reaction would have been if Bill Clinton had been serviced by a male intern...