My First and Last Larry Craig Post
By According to CNN, Idaho Senator may be stepping down today.
It’s obvious that Craig – like so many others in the scandal-ridden GOP – is a complete and utter hypocrite. But I find all the hot air blowing and chest beating from the right in calling for his resignation somewhat…overblown. And hyperbolic.
As it stands, David Vitter, who led the charge against President Clinton only to recently admitto using a high-end call girl service, remains a Senator. He was tsk-tsked by the right wing and its mouthpieces, he apologized, and everyone kissed and made up. I seriously doubt we’re going to see that happen in the Craig case.
Seems to me there are two explanations for this. The first, per The Nation’s John Nichols, is that Vitter didn’t face much GOP pressure to step down because his resignation would have allowed Louisiana’s Democrat (INO) governor to appoint his successor. Larry Craig’s got no such luck. The governor there is C.L. “Butch” Otter, who, with a nickname like Butch, could not but be a Republican.
The other explanation, I think, is that Vitter’s transgression is one recognized and minimized by the old boys club. Patronizing a prostitute and committing adultery are no-no’s, but ones that might be joked about over cigars and port. But gay (or MSM) trysts? I doubt that goes over as well in the locker room of Senate’s the old boys club (er, gym) (women make up only 16% of the Senate as of the 2006 elections).
So Craig faces the one-two punch. Doesn’t seem to me like there’s much of a chance that he and FoxNews (or the GOP leadership) will kiss and make up now.