The greatest sin....
...is hypocrisy. Via Soulie, an article from Slate pointing out why it's hard to feel sorry for Senator Larry Craig - Same Sex: Larry Craig's anti-gay hypocrisy
Craig was one of the driving forces behind the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for gay and lesbian service members. There are plenty of flaws with the policy, not the least of which is that the name doesn't include, "Don't badger, snoop, spy, press, investigate or interrogate until they're forced to either perjure themselves or tell." The article gives examples of people who were outed by the army through fairly underhanded means - including intercepting personal communications and then translating them into English, digging up old girlfriends and the like.
Now, on to Craig, who is a staunch defender of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The officer who arrested him was, to start with, staking out a restroom that was known for guys trying to pick up other guys. The officer interpreted Craig's behavior and gestures as those of a man trying to pick someone up for sex, and promptly arrested him. If Craig had been a member of the Armed Forces, he would have been kicked out with all deliberate speed. Now he's trying to claim that a different standard exists for him.
I want to feel bad for him, I really do, and that is conflicting with the squealing glee I get every time a member of the ever-righteous Republican Party gets busted for soliciting gay sex. This guy should be allowed to confront and live with his homosexuality - he should have been able to do it years ago, and if he were part of an organization that values honesty in any way, he would be. But he hitched his wagon to the Republicans, and they don't care about honesty and personal integrity - they value obedience and power.
Larry Craig made his choice, but couldn't stick with it. Now the best thing he can do is own up, man up and take the consequences.
EDIT: An interesting CNN article on the arresting officer, Sgt. Dave Karsnia. Seems like a pretty upstanding guy....
Craig was one of the driving forces behind the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for gay and lesbian service members. There are plenty of flaws with the policy, not the least of which is that the name doesn't include, "Don't badger, snoop, spy, press, investigate or interrogate until they're forced to either perjure themselves or tell." The article gives examples of people who were outed by the army through fairly underhanded means - including intercepting personal communications and then translating them into English, digging up old girlfriends and the like.
Now, on to Craig, who is a staunch defender of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The officer who arrested him was, to start with, staking out a restroom that was known for guys trying to pick up other guys. The officer interpreted Craig's behavior and gestures as those of a man trying to pick someone up for sex, and promptly arrested him. If Craig had been a member of the Armed Forces, he would have been kicked out with all deliberate speed. Now he's trying to claim that a different standard exists for him.
I want to feel bad for him, I really do, and that is conflicting with the squealing glee I get every time a member of the ever-righteous Republican Party gets busted for soliciting gay sex. This guy should be allowed to confront and live with his homosexuality - he should have been able to do it years ago, and if he were part of an organization that values honesty in any way, he would be. But he hitched his wagon to the Republicans, and they don't care about honesty and personal integrity - they value obedience and power.
Larry Craig made his choice, but couldn't stick with it. Now the best thing he can do is own up, man up and take the consequences.
EDIT: An interesting CNN article on the arresting officer, Sgt. Dave Karsnia. Seems like a pretty upstanding guy....