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Idaho Sen. Larry Craig, who was arrested in June for soliciting gay sex in a Minnesota bathroom, announced on Saturday that he would resign his senate seat on Sept. 30.
He had received intense pressure from the Republican party to take one for the team. According to a CNN story, Craig's announcement was called "the right decision" by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who had called the Idaho senator's actions "unforgivable." (LAist wants to know exactly which part was unforgivable: the fact that Craig was arrested for soliciting gay sex or the fact that he was caught? Do you think McConnell would be would have been all up in arms if Larry had been busted with a woman?)
So now, it seems that Larry might be changing his mind and fight against the premature evacuation of his seat. According to an AP story released today:
"It's not such a foregone conclusion anymore, that the only thing he could do was resign," Sidney Smith, Craig's spokesman in Idaho's capital, told The Associated Press."We're still preparing as if Senator Craig will resign Sept. 30, but the outcome of the legal case in Minnesota and the ethics investigation will have an impact on whether we're able to stay in the fight — and stay in the Senate," Smith said.
Though we might not agree with his flip-floppiness, we don't blame him for fighting for his job. We still believe in a little somethin' somethin' called "innocent until proven guilty."
(AP Photo/Troy Maben)
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I, too, am a strong believer in "innocent until proven guilty." Of course, Senator Craig pleaded guilty, so I'm not quite sure how the presumption of innocence applies.
To paraphrase Chris Rock, there's no point in hating anybody because they'll just end up in your family (or political party).
When one pleds guilty to a lesser crime, this is what is generally thought of as being proved guilty.
Unless less you are a Republican, which immediately entitles you to not one but two Mulligans!
And I encourage Larry Craig in his efforts to save his reputation, which has been the worst kept secret in the Congress and the Senate for over 20 years.
Go Larry!
"Do you think McConnell would be would have been all up in arms if Larry had been busted with a woman?"
As a former resident of the state McConnell represents, I have to say yeah, he probably would have been all up in arms. He's just like that. You can accuse Mitch of a lot of things, but inconsistency isn't one of them.
And yeah, I'm with the commenters who say pleading guilty is proof of guilt.