Adam Graham
August 27, 2007
Midnight for Larry Craig
By Adam Graham

Senator Larry Craig's guilty plea in June of this year to a charge of lewd conduct should lead to the end of his Senate career. The honorable thing for Larry Craig to do is to resign.

I take no joy in this. Even before moving to Idaho, I had a lot of respect for the him and his service in the Senate. However, the Senate and Idaho are deserving of more respect than Craig gave it.

The Senate is the greatest deliberative body on the face of the Earth. At times, they may behave selfishly or like bickering children, but a member of the Senate, particularly a Senior Senator, stands as a nationally known figure for his state. His actions this past June in a men's restroom in the Minneapolis Airport disgraced the Senate and Idaho as well.

Senator Craig's explanation that his actions were misconstrued are belied by the fact that the arresting officer was a professional who has been on this detail for some time. Sergeant Dave Karsnia's report is absolutely damning in describing the Senator lurking outside Karsnia's stall for two minutes, and began to follow a familiar pattern used by men "seeking to engage in lewd conduct."

Senator Craig's explanation that this was all a "misunderstanding" doesn't wash. Nor does his explanation of his guilty plea as something he did to resolve the issue expeditiously jive. No innocent man in his right mind would plead guilty to a loaded charge like "lewd conduct" much less a man with 27 years in Congress. If Senator Craig is lying, he has a serious problem, if he is telling the truth, then he lacks the basic good judgment to be in the United States Senator. Either way, it's time for him to go.

That Senator Craig should resign does not in anyway justify the investigations of his personal life by certain leftists. Nor are those who are joyously celebrating the downfall of another human being anything less than disreputable scoundrels whose blind hatred will in the end threaten the survival of our Republic.

I wish Senator Craig the best. Hopefully, he'll find grace, healing, and a fresh start in life. I also think it's appropriate for all people to say a prayer for Senator Craig's family.

Senator Craig's past years of Congressional Service have been quite distinguished by thoughtfulness, and firm leadership. It's a shame for this to be the note on which his career ends. However, a basic respect for the US Senate and for the people of Idaho should lead Senator Craig to step away from public life to get his own house in order.

© Adam Graham

Comments feature added August 14, 2011
 

The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)

Click to enlarge

Adam Graham

Adam Graham was Montana State Coordinator for the Alan Keyes campaign in 2000, and in 2004 was a candidate for the Republican nomination for the Idaho State House... (more)

Subscribe

Receive future articles by Adam Graham: Click here

Latest articles