The Larry Craig "story" is childish and idiotic, as well as a DISTRACTION

[mudesi]

Think about the real stories that are being predictably ignored by the mainstream media right now, all because this "scandal" is about SEX!!!!!!!!

You know what BBC World is reporting on right now, as I type this? The economic and social struggles of Zimbabwe. And not just some bullet point prepackaged report, either, but in depth, well researched journalism. Okay, so maybe you don't care about Zimbabwe. (Why should you? It's not happening here :eyes:, but that's not my point).

If what Larry Craig did was illegal, I have to question why anyone would write such a law. Unless he was caught engaged in sexual intercourse in a public restroom, (or even if he was engaged in foreplay or oral sex or any other type of sexual contact), the only "crime" he seems to have committed here is passing a piece of toilet paper under the stall, making hand gestures, bumping his foot against another man's foot.

This is the epitome of ridiculousness, and if the media is indeed getting higher ratings for it, it says something about the psyche of the American public. Specifically, that the American public desperately needs to grow up. While people are dying overseas thanks to the actions of a war criminal, the American people are distracted and giggling like children over a man who may or may not have made a pass in a bathroom stall to an undercover police officer.

Is he gay and a hypocrite? Probably. But I'm desperately trying to understand why I should care. The hypocrisy angle is valid, but it doesn't warrant this kind of coverage.

Where was this coverage on the Downing Street Memo? The TWO stolen elections? The Halliburton fleecing of Iraq and the American taxpayer? This is pathetic.

[Sukie1941]

1. There was no toilet paper on the floor or being passed

If you haven't yet read the police report itself, please do. It is very descriptive, word for word. After what happened in the stall, the police officer interrogated Craig in another room with another police officer on hand (he had been sitting outside the restroom, presumably to stop anyone to be arrested from escaping into the crowds).

The movements alleged against Craig are typical movements made in toilet stalls to attract or ascertain that there is an interested party next door who might want a sexual liaison.

It does seem childish, but that is how it is done. Since I am not a guy I can't go into a male public restroom to see who is tapping his foot.

[KoKo]

12. Keith Olbermann re-enacted the whole police report graphically last night. Link Here:

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/08/29/olbermann-re-e...

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. You don't think being a peeping tom should be illegal?

Really?

[parasim]

3. Thank you

I've been trying all day to think of something to say that reflects the sentiments you just said on this whole Craig thing and you did it much better than I could have.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. You Are Not Allowed To Peer Into Occupied Stalls And Leer At The Occupants

"If what Larry Craig did was illegal, I have to question why anyone would write such a law. Unless he was caught engaged in sexual intercourse in a public restroom, (or even if he was engaged in foreplay or oral sex or any other type of sexual contact), the only "crime" he seems to have committed here is passing a piece of toilet paper under the stall, making hand gestures, bumping his foot against another man's foot."

When I go into a restroom stall and close the door I have the right to move my bowels free from the gaze of leering eyes...

Is that so hard to understand?

[mondo joe]

5. Don't care if you don't want to. The fact is that such stories are always of interest

to a considerable plurality of people.

It is never helpful to any political struggle to ignore how people ARE for what you think they're SUPPOSED to be.

[sendero]

6. It should be obvious..

...to anyone paying the remotest of attention. The MSM gives America what America wants, entertainment.

Entertainment in the form of scandal, feel-good reports that make everyone forget that America WRONG in to be in Iraq, shallow reporting that barely scratches the surface of what is really going on because Americans don't give a shit, etc, etc, etc.

We have met the enemy and he is us. Nothing will change until it stops being PROFITABLE to feed endless pap to the American public. And I'm not holding my breath.

[tabasco]

7. Senator Craig thanks you for your concern.

He wishes it would go away too.

[percussivemadness]

8. well said!!!!

nt

Peace

[wuushew]

9. Its a good time for a scandal

Congress is still in recess. I rather have Republican sex scandal than annual August shark attack stories.

[KoKo]

10. He BROKE THE LAW in Minnesota and LIED ABOUT IT....He Pled GUILTY!

That's what it's about....:shrug:

[DemGa]

11. The man clearly tapped his foot

and waved his right or maybe his left hand.

Uhh, I agree, a childish distraction.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

18. You Neglected The Part Where He Peered Through A Crack In The Stall For Two Minutes While The Under

cover cop was on the shitter...

[in_cog_ni_to]

13. This damages the repuke, HYPOCRITICAL party. The man pleaded GUILTY.

Anything that damages the hypocrites in the repuke party needs to be discussed over and over and over. Remember what they did to Bill Clinton FOR YEARS???

If the MSM won't discuss the important things, then let them destroy the repuke party by talking about a hypocritical Senator. I'm down with that. That party is going to look so bad by the time the election gets here, there's no way in hell they will win back Congress or the WH. THEN we can concentrate on what really matters in the world. As long as the RW corporations are in power, the media is NOT going to report what needs to be reported. That's just a fact. LET THEM DESTROY THE REPUKE PARTY. We'll be finished with that party for a long, long time.

[David Zephyr]

14. It's curious to me that of all the media distractions, this is the one that brought you out.

Hmmmmm.

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. Looking at it from outside the USA, it is the most bizarre distraction yet

This has dominated DU in the way that only the deaths of people like Falwell and Reagan have (ie it's at the point where I'd be hiding the threads on it if I weren't a mod - when more than 1 in 4 GD threads seem to be about it). The amount of time given to it on DU is astounding - and that seems to be fed by the US media.

[Kip Humphrey]

15. Absolutely an engineered distraction...

...as we prepare to nuke Iran.

[radfringe]

17. I bet vitter is glad for the distraction...

[timtom]

19. I agree with the OP

The issue is not the legality/illegality of the event. Nor is it the morality/immorality of it. It is the totally lopsided degree of attention paid to this matter, at the expense of other issues that warrant our attention.

For example, how many here are aware of the plight of Aung Sun Suu Kyi?
Did anyone happen to notice the political video by Jim Carrey on this matter?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=50675&mesg_id=50675

Check it out for something to really capture our attention.