The Idaho Statesman is reporting that Republican Senate leadership has asked and Senator Larry Craig has agreed to temporarily give up his seats on four committees.
Sen. Larry Craig has agreed to temporarily give up his seats on four Senate Committees at the request of Senate Republican leadership, while his political support eroded significantly today when three fellow Republicans in Congress called for his resignation.
Craig gave up his posts as the top Republican on the Veteran Affairs Committee, Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, and Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests.
Now many may say that this is reasonable given that he did plead guilty to a crime. But when comparing this case to that of Senator Vitter (R-LA) who recently admitted to the crime of soliciting prostitutes, how can this be anything other than rank hypocrisy?
- Vitter admits to soliciting heterosexual sex — no ethics investigation; keeps committee seats.
- Craig admits (and now denies) soliciting homosexual sex — immediate ethics investigation; must give up committee seats.
Hmmm...now why do you suppose that is.
Thanks t, for the heads up on the story.
Posted by: MountainGoat | August 29, 2007 at 03:06 PM
I understand fellow Republicans actually gave Vitter an ovation after the allegations against him came to light, but they strip Craig of his committee seats. This issue will not go away with Craig's imminent resignation. This hypocrisy should follow the national Republicans all the way to next November.
Posted by: Sisyphus | August 29, 2007 at 03:07 PM
I think part of it is when the President has such low approval rating, and many R's already have so MUCH to distance themselves from...the desire to get rid of what they can is where the line is drawn.
(and happy to lend a hand MG)
t
Posted by: theresa | August 29, 2007 at 03:27 PM
Could it be... one was convicted of a crime, the other wasn't?
Posted by: Bill Sali Fan | August 29, 2007 at 04:24 PM
Oh BSF, does an ethics probe require the filing and conviction of a crime before it can be investigated? Particularly where there is an admission of wrongdoing.
The distinction is interesting. Vitter admits his guilt but has not yet been criminally charged. Craig pleads guilty but protests he's innocent. Yet leadership ignores the self proclaimed guilty man and persecutes the one who seeks the benefit of a reasonable doubt.
Posted by: Sisyphus | August 29, 2007 at 04:49 PM
BS Fan, that's really splitting a very fine hair. One man, while not technically convicted of a crime, admitted to being guilty of that crime. The other man, pleaded guilty to a crime although now claims to have done nothing wrong. Both crimes display a similar lack of judgment that is not in keeping with the character expected of a US Senator.
Not getting arrested doesn't absolve a Senator of adhering to certain standards of behavior; it does absolve him of the *criminal* consequences.
Posted by: MountainGoat | August 29, 2007 at 04:54 PM
Wait, Vitter wasn't convicted? And you're saying Sen. Craig was convicted? I thought it was the other way around.
Posted by: Bill Sali Fan | August 29, 2007 at 05:09 PM
Yep, BS Fan that is correct. And by all accounts, Vitter was successful in his solicitation quest while Craig merely got to peek and play footsie in his.
Posted by: MountainGoat | August 29, 2007 at 07:41 PM
I think the key difference is that if Craig goes, an R will replace him. If Vitter goes, a D will replace him. It's more about politics than sexuality.
That's why the R's are after Wide Stance to resign now, to help the the safe R seat R.
Posted by: Alan | August 30, 2007 at 07:57 AM
Alan, I totally agree that that's the reason many R's are seeking Craig's resignation and didn't ask for Vitter's. But removing him from committee posts during the ethics investigation is a little different.
Posted by: MountainGoat | August 30, 2007 at 08:19 AM
Glenn Greenwald has a great article up this morning on the topic: http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/index.html
Posted by: Sisyphus | August 30, 2007 at 10:04 AM