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

[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

*

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

[havocmom]

1. GOP becomes WTRP - Won't Take Responsibility Party

Craig did something against the law.

Craig admitted guilt in court.

Craig blames a newspaper in Idaho (which DID NOT break the story) for all his problems.

Craig's problems go way beyond being unable to control his public behavior and/or any denial about his orientation. That bit where he flashed his Official Senatorial Decoder Card to the arresting officer and smugly inquired what the officer thought 'about THAT' pretty much sums it all up. It speaks volumes about Craig and the rest of the ever-expanding hypocrisy wing of what used to be the Grand Old Party.

[Canuckistanian]

2. That's a great quote.

Clouds are becoming the metaphors for GOP behavior these days.

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. GREAT editorial. Craig's accusations were ridiculous. Him laying the blame on a paper that never

published ANY story about his exploits was pathetic beyond words. It's HIS cloud indeed.

[here_is_to_hope]

6. I wonder if his "cloud" is

...raining men?
:shrug:

[Hekate]

4. The Senator said he "would not deviate from his plan"... Ahh, he's already deviant, if you ask me.

:rofl:

Must be some swingin' parties the Grand Old Party holds.

Hekate

[Nothing Without Hope]

5. Craig's response to this has been so very typical of the current GOP

Let's hope that the public finally sees through the lies and realizes not only the truth about Craig, but about the gang of hypocrites and criminals of which he is a part.

[calimary]

7. What's SO cool about this is that the paper didn't swallow craig's

idiotic accusations. They stood by their story which evidently they spent TONS of time and painstaking shoe-leather making sure of their facts BEFORE they ran with it, instead of running with rumors like drudge and friends do. More important and more valuable than this, even? The fact that the paper HIT BACK.

ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS HIT BACK. NEVER LET 'EM GET THE LAST WORD. ALWAYS HIT BACK. And HIT BACK HARD!

[Major Hogwash]

8. Senator Larry Craig - tonight's worst person in the world . . . according to me.

Hee hee hee.

LoL

[Major Hogwash]

9. By attacking the Idaho Stateman, Craig has shown how desperate he is.

Because in the previous year, there have been no articles written about ol' Larry's sex life.
Not one article has discussed anything remotely connected to him about sex in any way, shape, or manner.

Not one.

[malaise]

10. It's called great journalism

Congrats to the Idaho Statesman.