There is nothing wrong with being gay, if he is then fine. What I do like to see is the Republicans cringe when one of their own "treads to that side" that many of them are against and detest. He was trying to score sex in a public restroom which is against the law whether it's homosexual or heterosexual sex. I love to see the party of Morals, who shove their right wing fundie principals down the liberals throats finding out one of their own isn't so pure. It's great!

What I have not yet heard is a comment along the lines of, "Hey Senator, do you still think it's a choice?" Being a gay man myself, I'm sensitive to some of the choice words used like "disgusting", being unsure whether that refers to sex between men or bathroom sex (I agree with one characterization but not the other, obviously). I don't think a "pro-family" Republican senator has much wiggle room about disclosing a gay or bi sexual orientation, but then again I think he comes from a platform that promotes in subtle and not-so-subtle ways derision of gay people with the caveat that it's a "choice". Openly gay people don't have bathroom sex, they don't need to.

What this story demonstrates is what we should all know by now:

Republicans are fascists.

I am an openly straight and probably typical Republican. I think the gay-bashing, homophoebic, right wing of this party deserves whatever they get when they get caught in this kind of behavior. This party needs to stay out of our bedrooms. Most Americans (Democrats OR Republican) could care less if our politicians are gay, straight or have had or paid for an abortion. If they would stop pandering to the far right of the party by making sex a central issue and just let everyone live their own lives (as ADULTS), we would not be subjected to these idiotic episodes.

I don't see this as a matter of sexual orientation, I see it as a matter of Senator Craig being a huge hypocrite as well as a liar. Sen. Barney Frank of Mass. is openly gay, that is no crime and has no bearing on my opinion of him. Being a lying hypocrite trolling mens rooms for sex does seem to be a crime, and Lyin' Larry already pleaded guilty...

I don't think he should resign. The Republican leadership can strip him of committee assignments if they feel the need to, but I think the voters should be given a chance to forgive him if they want (which they probably won't do). What he did was a crime, but a minor one that really affects no one except him and his family.

Hey Ed,

I support mostly Democrats. I also think we need more honest Republicans like you. Please do vote in the Republican primaries.

Jay

I really don't believe it matters if he's gay or not.I think he becomes a coersion risk being in the closet,in regards to how he votes on issues and what committees he's on.Also his judgement comes into guestion in regards bathroom sex.Men's bathrooms have to be the dirtiest ,most disgusting places to have sex especially with a stranger.Finally ,he did break the law.I believe he should shut-up and step down.

Larry Craig typifies the American outlook. If one travels the world and, better yet, lives overseas for awhile, one sees that Americans excel at smugness and hypocrisy, as based in their ability to split their lives between public and private. It's a matter of extremes, since hypocrites flourish everywhere, but Americans owe to their bible-thumping heritage the need to seem simon pure at all times, where purity is as defined by the most rabid promoters of religiosity. Republicans are clever at taking advantage of this trait, which is why they include large numbers of closeted gays -- and that goes for party members in Congress too. Craig won't be the last top Republican to bark his shins against the stall wall

I find it disgusting that people need to skulk around bathrooms for sex -- it must be a very humiliating experience for those involved, even if they are never caught in the act.
Oddly enough, the ironic fact is that most of these men are married. It is truly a tragedy when these closeted men are exposed to their families -- their lives are shattered, as will as the lives of those around them.
Today's marriages are being subjected to increasingly more pressure. Marriage today is difficult enough, without having a spouse who is not the "object of desire."
It's time to put an end to these marriages of duplicity. It's time for marriage equality.

I think far too many people are far too gleeful at the public humiliation and personal hardships this man is now facing simply because he is a Republican who everyone thinks is guilty of a crime he didn't commit; solicitation of gay sex.

Everyone assumes that he was soliciting men in a public bathroom, but that never actually occurred. Remember, he wasn't arrested for, and charged with, solicitation of sex, he was arrested for, and plead guilty to, invasion of privacy. He never actually asked another man for sex! Just where is the "sex scandal" here as there was never any sex involved? Where is the "gay" sex here? No other man has stepped forward to say that he had sex with the senator. Where is the "other man?"

Ray,
According to a report by the Idaho Statesman newspaper, there are allegations of the Senator's involvement in gay sex:

'The most serious finding by the Statesman was the report by a professional man with close ties to Republican officials. The 40-year-old man reported having oral sex with Craig at Washington's Union Station, probably in 2004.'

Note that this was uncovered by an investigation by the Statesman, which predated the June 11 arrest.

Tim Holtz ("Tim" of Aug. 31 posting)