Blogger Who First Outed Craig Says Craig's Homosexuality Has Been Known For Years

[WillyT]

<snip>

Mike Rogers of BlogActive appeared in a phone interview on Wednesday's Ed Schultz Show to discuss the Larry Craig scandal. Introduced by Schultz as "the number one gay blogger in America," Rogers recalled how he first outed Craig on Schultz's show last October.

"Do you feel vindicated at all?" asked Schultz. "You took a lot of heat when you came on this program and talked about it. I took a lot of heat for allowing you on the air."

"I feel completely vindicated," said Rogers, adding, "I don't go after elected officials because they decide to have sex with men. I go after elected officials because, like you, I'm so frustrated with the hypocrisy."

Schultz expressed astonishment at the complete lack of coverage of Craig's original arrest in June, when "a United States senator got arrested and it wasn't in the media."

"It's unbelievable," said Rogers. "If you read the unbelievably thorough piece in the Idaho Statesman, in which Dan Popkey interviewed over 300 people, you can see that this has just been sitting out there in the state of Idaho for many, many, many years."

When asked to comment on Craig's seeking sexual encounters in public men's rooms, Rogers explained, "What I think it points to in the case of someone like Senator Craig is the torment of the closet that, frankly, politicians in his position help to foster. So this behavior is normal among men who are psychologically in the position of being forced into the closet, to have this kind of self-hatred thing going on."

<snip>

Link (with video): http://rawstory.com//news/2007/Mike_Rogers_tells_Ed_Schultz_about_0830.html

How DID this arrest remain quiet for so long? You'd think a sitting U.S. Senator's arrest would show up somewhere in public records. Don't they have police reporters in Minneapolis?

:shrug:

[WillyT]

1. And Today's Statement From Mike Rogers...

Saturday, September 01, 2007

Some thoughts...

I've been asked by a number of media outlets to send a statement about Larry Craig's resignation. There were plenty of gifts Craig gave to the cartoonists and comics. From statements like "I want to thank the governor for standing behind me" to decisions to hold press events at train stations. At the end of the day, though, this is serious business about serious issues.

Here's what I'm putting out... As always, I appreciate the respectful dialog on both sides of this issue.

This experience, culminating in the tragic end of Larry Craig's political career, provides an important opportunity in American politics for those who use anti-gay sentiments for political purposes to reexamine their divisive tactics. Politicians like Larry Craig have helped to create a society that drives many men and women into the closet. This, especially from men who engage in activities like Larry Craig did, is simply unacceptable to the American people.

Larry Craig's arrest, when coupled with the hypocrisy of seeking sexual encounters from the very men he actively legislates against, becomes merely the catalyst to expose the dishonesty and secrecy of anti-gay politicians who expect a community to harbor its own enemies within.

Today, Larry Craig apologized to everyone except the people he has most harmed by his actions -- gay Americans. His legacy will include his career-long work in opposing basic civil rights for gay and lesbian Americans, creating an atmosphere where it is unsafe for many to come out of the closet.

The time when politicians can stand with one foot on the platform of homophobia and the other in the closet has come to an end. I hope the story of Larry Craig and others like him will result in those who attack for political gain rethinking their campaign strategies.

[Jed Dilligan]

3. Wow, that guy's a good writer. nt

[ourbluenation]

13. he sure is...that was just about as close to a perfect response as you can get. n/t

[bluerum]

2. How do YOU think it "remained quiet" for so long. Cause the good senator

and his buds in local government wanted it that way.

[WillyT]

5. My Old Man Was A Police Reporter...

in the Cook County Jail in Chicago many many years ago.

Back then, it would have been nearly impossible to keep something like this quiet.

And ANY reporter would have LOVED to be the one to break this story. Look at the media frenzy it has caused.

:shrug:

[bluerum]

11. So what do you think? The senator pulled a few purse strings?

[WillyT]

12. I Really Don't Know...

Maybe he made a phone call to Norm Coleman???

But I still don't see how the press in Minneapolis missed this.

:shrug:

[azurnoir]

4. Well I would love to say that us folks in MN

are just decent like that, wait till he went to trial, don't judge, ect BUT much more likely is that he was not a "well know" Senator and people tend to say Idawhaaa? oh yeah the potato and/or militia state.

[WillyT]

6. I'm Just Wondering...

if "Police Reporter" is still a regular "beat" in the newspaper industry these days?

I think all arrests are public record, no?

And this turned out to be one hell of a story.

Breaking a story like this could move a reporter significantly up his career path.

:shrug:

[DemReadingDU]

7. and how did this story break into the news?

If there had been rumors about Craig for 20 years, why is the story breaking now? The bathroom incident happened in June, and he pled guilty in June. Why didn't the story break in June?

What reporter finally got traction on this story? Was it due to Gonzales resigning that Bush had to have something to divert attention from Gonzales?

[in_cog_ni_to]

14. Roll Call...a Capitol Hill newspaper, broke the story initially. How THEY got it? I don't know.....

an anonymous tip?

[azurnoir]

17. In the Strib there is

Vital Statistics once a week but that only records court decisions, as for arrests there is in local papers(?) there may be in the Strib in the Local section or the "South suburb" editions but they do not name names only that a person was arrested for--.

[Left Is Write]

15. Off-topic, but I'm a born and raised Minnesotan...

who moved to Idaho seven years ago and hates that stereotype of Idaho as much as I hate the stereotype of Minnesota as a bunch of dumb blonde farmers.

[azurnoir]

18. Sorry did not mean to offend

But you forgot the part about Lutefisk eatin' Scandahoovians in the Minnesota sterotypes.

[Left Is Write]

20. Oh, no, YOU didn't offend me.

You were just speaking the truth. The stereotype does indeed exist! I just don't like it.

As for Minnesota stereotypes, well...I am a blond Scandahoovian (100%!), but you won't catch me eating lutefisk! Lefse is another story altogether. ;)

[originalpckelly]

8. Over 300 people? Is Larry Craig a man ho or what?

I mean, if he only fucked half of those people, that's still 150 different people!

[Rick Myers]

9. Living here in the Twin Cities...

I cannot believe that this story went unnoticed for so long. Just goes to show how effective the Strib is at reporting local news!

[WillyT]

10. Has The Strib Reported On Its Non-Reporting ???

Have they said anything at all about how this was missed???

:shrug:

[splat]

16. Craig not known in MN, all reporters on bridge collapse. N/t

[WillyT]

19. I Know Who Craig Is, And I Live In California...

Plus, it's a reporter's job to know the names of politicians.

Also, this arrest happened way before the bridge collapsed.

:shrug: