I take as much delight as anyone in the hypocrisy of the Republicans, but I am grateful to Arlen Specter for speaking up on Larry Craig’s behalf this weekend and pointing out how weak the case is against his fellow senator. Specter changed my mind and, I imagine, the minds of others. Now I hope Craig doesn’t resign, and fights the Minneapolis police.
If you read the report of Craig’s exchange with the police officer who arrested him in the airport bathroom last June, you see a guy terrified that he is about to lose his reputation and career because he (probably) came on to another guy in a bathroom or (maybe just) bumped his foot against the other guy’s foot. Is it fair that someone should be exposed for that sort of behavior? I don’t think so; it’s ugly and invasive. The police officer’s condescension to Craig–’I expect this from guys in the ‘hood, not from a big senator’–freezes my blood. Everyone has a private life. I guess people shouldn’t be having that private life in airport bathrooms, but excuse me if I want no part in dragging them out to the cameras.
Craig has been persecuted. Persecuted by that officer, persecuted by cartoonists, persecuted by the righteous press and by fellow Republicans. And probably persecuted by his fears over his sexuality, too. Is it our business if Craig is secretly gay? Of course it is. (And good for the Idaho Statesman for pursuing the story; that part of Craig’s persecution seems to me justifiable). Is this any way to find out about it? No, it’s humiliating.
A lot of my entries on this site are about my problems with Jewish identity. Arlen Specter reminds me of the reasons I was always proud to be Jewish when I was younger. Using your brain, not caring if you’re in the minority, standing up for common sense and law on behalf of the persecuted.
Now that we've caught that Craig fellow we can't slack off. We have got to catch those other 9 gay and lesbian Senators — and those 43 or 44 gay Congresspersons — and boot them out. And then we can start on the AC/DCs. :(
Phil,
I would be more inclined to agree with you if Craig came out and denounced his long record of helping to promote gay bashing in this country. Is he entitled to keep his hypocrisy in the closet so he can return to the Senate and continue to promote the persecution of gay people in this country? That's not a principle I am all that eager to promote.
And where does Specter, who was chair of the Judiciary Committee, stand on gay marriage? Is he willing to stand up for that as well as for Craig's right to privacy?
It seems to me that the Jewish ethic is to stand with gays, not with the hypocrites.
Persecuted by the police? I guess you've never been harassed or victimized by the police, or had any negative interaction. Listening to that tape, it struck me as run of the mill, standard operating procedure. That's how police treat EVERYONE. In fact, most people who are arrested probably get treated far worse. The police view themselves as miniature gods. There was absolutely NOTHING exceptional about the way that cop acted. Most cops would probably say he was a good cop! His job was to make a case, and that's what he did. Standard rule: keep your mouth shut. If Craig had done that, his case would be far stronger.
Matter is right, always keep your mouth shut while detained by police…. advice from my policeman father.
One other thing, if there is one place on Earth where a person should be allowed to be in peace, it is a public restroom. No one wants to use these usually dirty facilities, but in an emergency you have to. The last thing anyone needs is some perv trying to proposition you while at your most defenseless.
the cops know when someone is lying. they are used to it. Craig is no more a victim than Scott peterson
I also find the interrogation of Larry Craig despicable and indicative of how far down the road towards authoritarianism this country has gone. Yes Craig himself is partly to blame for such authoritarianism, but more than one closeted congressman, it is the people themselves who could care less when their governments and courts approve more and more intrusive police techniques.
I'll grant that Craig was making all the signs that he was interested sexually in this guy, but that doesn't mean he was going to act on his desire right there in a public bathroom. If foot-tapping in the stall is illegal, why not make staring at and winking at a woman illegal as well? Why not make any and all expressions of sexual desire in public illegal?
Quite an agenda you've got here. Apologies for the one time comments.
Craig is gay unless his taped confession was the simple rantings of a madman. Did you listen to the interview tape by the police? All of this backpeddling…wow. And you find a Jewish angle to this because…Arlen Specter defended him?
Phil is obsessed with the Jews. He would find a Jewish angle on just about anything.