Idaho Statesman, Paper Attacked By Senator Craig, Hits Back: "It's all part of your cloud, senator." [View All]

[DeepModem Mom]

Idaho Paper Attacked By Senator Craig Hits Back
By E&P Staff
Published: August 29, 2007

NEW YORK In a brief statement to the press on Tuesday -- following news of his arrest in June for certain activities in an airport men's room -- Sen. Larry Craig blamed The Idaho Statesman in Boise for all of his legal and political troubles. He said the paper had been on a "witch hunt" and had "viciously harassed" him, among other charges.

Bill Murray, managing editor, in response issued the following statement: "As our story today demonstrated, we followed leads and asked questions. We worked hard and behaved responsibly, not publishing a story until it was ready. We didn’t print anything until the senator pleaded guilty. Our story outlined what we’ve done and it speaks for itself." The paper also posted on its Web site audio of a man who claimed to have had sex with the senator in a Washington, D.C. restroom.

Today the paper hit back in an editorial. The Statesman had probed rumors about Craig's sexual activities but did not publish a story until after the latest news broke elsewhere. An excerpt from the editorial follows. It is available in full at www.idahostatesman.com

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During a brief — and largely defiant — public appearance Tuesday afternoon, Sen. Larry Craig apologized for bringing "a cloud over Idaho." We're sorry, senator. This cloud does not belong to the people who have elected you for the past 27 years. It's all yours. It stems from your mistakes....

Craig shed little new light Tuesday on his arrest and guilty plea; he did not provide Idahoans with the full account they deserve. Instead, a business-as-usual Craig indicated he planned to serve out his term. He said he would not deviate from his plan to announce, sometime next month, his plans on seeking re-election. Idahoans have a lot to think about while waiting to hear what Craig says next. Including his rhetoric and record on social and gay-rights issues...

Does Craig's arrest and subsequent guilty plea contradict his public comments about infidelity and homosexuality? When Craig tells Idahoans, "I am not gay and never have been," will they buy it?

Craig's political mess is one of his own making. And the least of Craig's problems may be with the gay-rights activists who have taken to the blogosphere to call him a hypocrite. A bigger problem may be with the Idaho social conservatives who have been among the quickest to call for his resignation.

And when politicians try to turn social and sexual issues into fair political game, they invite scrutiny of their behavior. Craig did not establish these rules of political engagement, but he operated under them.

It's all part of your cloud, senator.

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003632658