Jiminy! Idaho Statesman story on Craig is a must read . . .

[goodhue]

Extensive story detailing prior allegations of gay cruising . . .

http://www.idahostatesman.com/273/story/143801.html

Men's room arrest reopens questions about Sen. Larry Craig

Idaho senator pleads guilty to disorderly conduct after incident at Minnesota airport that echoes previous allegation of homosexual conduct.

By Dan Popkey -
Edition Date: 08/28/07

* * *

The most serious finding by the Statesman was the report by a professional man with close ties to Republican officials. The 40-year-old man reported having oral sex with Craig at Washington's Union Station, probably in 2004. The Statesman also spoke with a man who said Craig made a sexual advance toward him at the University of Idaho in 1967 and a man who said Craig "cruised" him for sex in 1994 at the REI store in Boise. The Statesman also explored dozens of allegations that proved untrue, unclear or unverifiable.

* * *

Craig denied the man's account and said, "I am not gay and I have never been in a restroom in Union Station having sex with anybody.

"There's a very clear bottom line here," Craig said. "I don't do that kind of thing. I am not gay, and I never have been."

Craig's accuser spoke to the Statesman on the condition he not be named. The man said he was sure it was Craig he had oral sex with but said he had no evidence other than his word.

Craig also denied the claims of the two other men that he made sexual advances to them.

One man, who was considering pledging with Craig's fraternity at the U of I in 1967, said Craig took him to his room and made what the man said he took to be an invitation to sex. Responding to that allegation in May, Craig said, "I don't hit on any men."

Another man said that in November 1994 Craig "cruised" him at the REI store in Boise. The man, who is gay, told the Statesman that Craig stared at him in a sexually inviting way and followed him around REI for a half-hour. Said Craig: "Once again, I'm not gay, and I don't cruise, and I don't hit on men. I have no idea how he drew that conclusion. A smile? Here is one thing I do out in public: I make eye contact, I smile at people, they recognize me, they say, ‘Oh, hi, Senator.' Or, ‘Do I know you?'

"I've been in this business 27 years in the public eye here. I don't go around anywhere hitting on men, and by God, if I did, I wouldn't do it in Boise, Idaho! Jiminy!"

* * *

http://www.idahostatesman.com/273/story/143801.html

[AlCzervik]

1. wow, they covered a lot of material there, i'm surprised.

[Robbien]

9. The reporter Popkey has been working on this for five months

for the Statesman. There is talk that he might have been having a bit of trouble getting the paper to print the story so that the part of Craig's guilty plea was leaked to DC's Rollcall.

Now that the leak has taken root, the Statesman has published Popkey's research.

[goodhue]

2. yes, the story has a huge amount of info they had apparently been sitting on

plus an extensive blow by blow of the 1982 page scandal and Craig's courtship of his wife

[ljm2002]

19. "an extensive blow by blow of the 1982 page scandal"...

...I didn't realize they went into such, er, detail...

:-)

[goodhue]

24. yes, well, that was a little hyperbolic and unintentionally ironic

[TwilightGardener]

3. His wife must be one clueless ninny--or deep in denial.

[durrrty libby]

4. Or maybe she does not care, or maybe she's got her own little thing

There are many scenerios

[valerief]

15. I think that's usually the case, probably always the case. nt

[durrrty libby]

21. People assume the wife is some kind of idiot, when in fact, she

almost always knows what's up :toast:

[valerief]

37. Yeah, and people assume the closeted pol is a homophobe.

Just because they talk homophobia publicly doesn't mean they feel it personally. It's just business as usual with them.

[goodhue]

5. or a very good actor

Suzanne Craig's eyes reddened and filled with tears as she listened. After her husband's denial, she said, "I'm incensed that you would even consider such a piece of trash as a credible source."

To which Craig added, "Jiminy God!"

* * *

Until the Mike Rogers report in October and the Roll Call story on Monday, rumors about Craig were grounded in the 1982 congressional page scandal. Craig denied involvement in 1982, but the timing of his statement fueled rumors that lasted decades. Among them were that Craig married shortly after the scandal to cover up his alleged homosexuality.

Craig and the then-Suzanne Scott had their first date on Valentine's Day 1980, when Craig was making his first run for Congress. Craig proposed six months after the scandal, on Suzanne's birthday, Dec. 28, 1982. They married in July 1983.

[tridim]

6. Well jiminy gee willikers Senator..

Is this guy channelling Rummy or something?

[Tom Joad]

7. "jiminy"? a dead give-away. Might as well have said "fabulous"

besides, probably figured he'd never see a republican in an REI store.

[valerief]

14. That's just what I thought! nt

[goodhue]

16. an old-school orator

McClure, whom Craig succeeded in the Senate, said Craig's formal manner of speaking has fueled rumors. Craig was taught by an old-school orator — the late D.L. Carter of Weiser. The lessons served Craig well, as he won state championships, attended two national contests and filled his bedroom at the ranch with trophies.

Said McClure: "He was of the old oratorical school where you went in and took each word and broke it into syllables and enunciated and all of that. And that's how that style came about, to project across a full hall."

Craig also took piano lessons in high school and was in the high school choir.

"Larry's speech patterns are very precise," said McClure. "They're not what you expect from a rancher from Midvale. His speech patterns say, ‘Hey, here's a guy who's a little different.' And he is, he's a little different. But that doesn't mean he's homosexual for heaven's sakes! You have to jump from prejudice to suspicion to I don't know what to give the rumors any credibility."

[rodeodance]

8. lots of smoke but no fire (until the arrest confession)

[goodhue]

10. "Two prevalent rumors swirl around two men who are dead."

!

[0007]

11. Good catch! Thanks for posting link to story......n/t

n/t

[goodhue]

13. no problem

Clearly a lot of the content had already been written.
There is enough there for an entire series.

[Rob H.]

12. I'd be willing to bet that one reason (maybe the ONLY reason)

it's getting published in The Idaho Statesman is that the paper is no longer owned by Gannett, Inc., and is now a McClatchy newspaper. I used to work for them when they were owned by Gannett during the runup to sElection 2000, and no way would they have published this if Gannett still owned it.

The hypocrisy with regard to their coverage of the presidential campaign then was staggering: Gore said something that later turned out to be true but that Republican operatives at the time said was false? "Good enough for us! Fact-checking is for losers!" says the Statesman. Bush concealed a drunken driving arrest? Possibly did cocaine in the past? Allegedly didn't show up for National Guard duty for over a year during Vietnam? "Pfft. He says he had some 'youthful indiscretions' and that's good enough for us!"

Sorry for the off-topic rant, but they're no heroes for finally showing some journalistic integrity and telling the truth, which is what good newspapers should always at least try to do anyway, imo.

[FredScuttle]

18. It's worse than that

They were sitting on this story and most likely would have killed it if the news of Craig's arrest had not come out yesterday. They were shamed into releasing this.

[Rob H.]

25. Man! Didn't know that

Looks as if they haven't changed at all, then. New owners, same old bullshit. :mad:


Edit: According to Daily Kos, The Idaho Statesman has been sitting on the story since March!

[CabalPowered]

26. As I understand it

The local AP guy started asking the I.S. questions about it and that's when they tasked a reporter on it.

[in_cog_ni_to]

29. BINGO! They are in CYA mode! n/t

[goodhue]

17. a rumor he left the Idaho National Guard because he was homosexual

Craig also provided the Statesman military records to respond to a rumor he left the Idaho National Guard because he was homosexual. Craig was honorably discharged in 1972, after 20 months of a six-year enlistment.

Had he been discharged for homosexual conduct, a different section of the military code would have been cited, and he wouldn't have received an honorable discharge. Records show he was let go because of a "physical disqualification," although they do not specify the reason. There is no physician's report available, according to the Pentagon and the Idaho Guard. Craig says his ailment was flat feet.

[goodhue]

20. new link (the old one seems to have gone bad) , , ,

http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/143801.html

[krispos42]

22. We have to ask Craig about "Sexual Relations"...

just like he did about Clinton!

Don't want to leave that loophole open, yanno...

[goodhue]

23. yes, well, he should be questioned about the 1982 FBI document he proffered

http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/143801.html

Craig allowed the Statesman to review, but not copy, what he said were an FBI report and a privately administered polygraph from 1982 regarding the page scandal.

Craig did not respond to requests to have the FBI verify the authenticity of the FBI document. Craig also declined to sign a waiver allowing the Statesman to review anything in his FBI file regarding homosexuality.

The FBI document supplied by Craig describes a July 20, 1982, FBI interview with Craig at the offices of his Washington law firm. Craig requested the interview with the FBI and said reporters had threatened to disclose allegations of homosexuality.

"Craig stated that he had never engaged in a homosexual relationship" with Williams or Opp, the FBI report said. "Craig further indicated that he has never engaged in a homosexual relationship with any person."

The document says Craig told the FBI that he suspected that then-Rep. Patricia Schroeder, D-Colo., might be behind the allegations against him. Opp was appointed by Schroeder. "Craig said that recent polls indicate strong support for his re-election this fall, and he perceives this as a slanderous campaign by the opposition party to have him defeated," said the report.

An attached document from a polygraph examiner hired by Craig said it was the examiner's opinion "that Congressman Craig is not a homosexual and has since adulthood not engaged in homosexual acts of any type."

[KamaAina]

27. "I'm not gay!"

...and if you believe that, I've got some oil property on Maui I'd like to show you...

[goodhue]

33. not changing his tune

[in_cog_ni_to]

28. Well Jiminy! Go join Willard Romney and shoot some varmints then! Oh, that's right...you don't work

for Willard anymore! Well, Jiminy!:eyes:

Jiminy??? :rofl:

There's too many men who have forward for ALL OF THEM TO BE LYING!

Me thinks Mr. Jiminy is the LIAR.

[goodhue]

30. "Jiminy God!"

It's must read I say.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/143801.html

[goodhue]

31. !

[goodhue]

38. .

[goodhue]

32. Apparently the Statesman is to blame

so keep this kicked I say

[FredScuttle]

34. So sez me too

n/t

[silvershadow]

35. I just got a 404 error when I clicked the link...anybody have

an archived copy?

[goodhue]

36. they moved the story

the new link is here . . .
http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/143801.html