![]() Larry Craig |
We don't want to swamp the blog with Larry Craig posts, but a little finer point needs to be put here on just what the Idaho senior senator's current status is. Which is: More dire than Craig apparently is willing to accept.
Our initial thought (on hearing the news reports 24 hours ago) was that, since his arrest in a Minneapolis airport mens room had little to do with his work as a senator, he might be able to ride it out, at least through this term (though re-election seems a lot cause). We no longer think so: While Craig is very unlikely to be forced out, conditions are deteriorating so quickly that his staying may soon become impractical.
Craig happened to be in Idaho when the story broke, and this afternoon he delivered a statement at a press conference - no questions taken.
He reiterated that his actions in Minneapolis were misinterpreted and that he should not have pleaded guilty to the disorderly conduct misdemeanor. He said repeatedly, "I am not gay." He blasted the Idaho Statesman: "For eight months leading up to June, my family and I had been relentlessly and viciously harassed by the Idaho Statesman. If you’ve seen today’s paper, you know why." He apologized to his constituents because "I have brought a cloud over Idaho," though he said he did nothing wrong, apart from his handling of the incident. And of his political plans, he said, "Over the years, I have accomplished a lot for Idaho, and I hope Idahoans will allow me to continue to do that. There are still goals I would like to accomplish, and I believe I can still be an effective leader for Idaho. Next month, I will announce, as planned, whether or not I will seek reelection." Finally, said he has retained an attorney in the matter and he acknowledged (though this isn't on the Senate web site), "I'm sure this is an issue that is not yet over."
That last may be the most pertinent point. By reaching a quick settlement on the criminal charges, Craig hoped (as he said) to put the matter quickly behind him. That has backfired: This will not end at least until Craig leaves the Senate. In shorthand, that is because his version of events simply isn't being believed, because the circumstances and details unleashed fall into the category of information we'd rather not have known at all, and because of the reaction of his normal political supporters.