August 31, 2007 | Sex & Society

Another Republican tearoom tease

Senator Larry Craig, a representative from Idaho, pleaded guilty to "lewd conduct" after soliciting sex from an undercover officer in a Minneapolis airport restroom. He waived his right to a lawyer. He paid $500 for disorderly conduct. He received one year on probation. He called it a day.

But, when you've been an outspoken opponent of gay rights -- voting against a 1996 bill that would protect homosexuals against discrimination in the workplace -- and declared Bill Clinton a "nasty" man because of the Monica Lewinsky affair, you quickly discover that people won't let you off so easy.

The shit, for Mr Craig, has most certainly hit the fan. Even Republicans have started to distance themselves from him. He was asked to resign from his various committee posts. He will no longer work on Mitt Romney's campaign to become leader of the GOP.

Of course, with all the heat, Craig has decided to change his tactics...

 
Sergeant Dave Karsnia, the arresting officer.
Is he old enough to be a cop?

What may have been an attempt to dispose of the issue as quickly as possible obviously backfired... so he's firing back. "Let me be clear: I am not gay and never have been," he claimed, arguing he "overreacted and made a poor decision" when he initially pled guilty.

He is looking into reversing his guilty plea and fighting the charges.

Gershen Kaufman, a professor of psychology at Michigan State University and author of the book "Coming Out of Shame," explained that "cruisers are not sex offenders. They are deeply, deeply closeted. There is a lot of self-hatred and shame and they can't allow themselves to come to terms with their sexuality."

Still, should we feel pity for a man who worked so hard to make our lives more difficult?

One reason Mr Craig is such an easy target.

Craig may have found some unlikely supporters. Sean Kosofsky, from Michigan's Triangle Foundation, told Gay City News that Craig "has not committed a crime."

He argued: "Triangle Foundation, and myself included, are completely opposed to police sting operations (in Michigan police called it 'Bag a Fag,' and had T-shirts printed with the slogan) because they almost always turn into entrapment. Nine times out of 10, nothing illegal occurred, just a gesture or conversation."

Based upon recent headlines, we're wondering if cops are really after gays or just Republicans.

For those of you currently in public office we offer the following video as a public service. Consider it an example of how best to handle future, ahem, "errors in judgement."

A much more plausible story! (source: Little Britain)