White House thinks Craig was right to resign

[sabra]

Source: USAToday

Sen. Larry Craig. R-Idaho, shouldn't look for support from the White House.

Josh Bolten, the president's chief of staff, tells USA TODAY that the lawmaker had it right with his initial decision to step down at the end of the month.

"At the time that Sen. Craig made his announcement that he was planning to resign, the president called him and told him he knew how difficult the decision must have been and wished him well and also indicated that he thought he had made the right choice for himself and the people of Idaho," Bolten tells the paper's editorial board. "And I think our view is likely to remain that Senator Craig when he made that announcement was making the right choice for himself and for the people of Idaho."

Craig, 62, announced his intention to resign on Saturday, after reports that he had pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges following his June 11 arrest at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. A police officer accused him of lewd behavior in the men's bathroom.

Read more: http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/09/president-bush-.html#more

[kestrel91316]

1. Why isn't Bush pushing for Vitter's resignation, too?

Oh, that's right. Hypocritical sexual hanky panky is perfectly ok as long as it's heterosexual.

[robinlynne]

2. Don't forget, Craig voted against the patriot Act2 and Bush vowed revenge

way back then.

[Dollface]

3. I'm sure the WH is only concerned about the good of the country. Not.

I hope he stays on. His constituents should decide if he should stay or go, not "The Party".
It was a misdemeanor, not a felony and perhaps the good people of Idaho are more open-minded and/or forgiving than those in DC, not to mention the media. Also, lots of repugs are out trying to fuck-over folks who don't want it. AT least Mr. Craig was looking for a willing partner.

[asjr]

4. I am still confused about the legalities

in this situation. Did Craig actually break the law or just plead guilty to breaking the law? Is there some sort of hand and foot signal language that is against the law? Could Craig cite entrapment? Was that officer sitting on the throne all day long just waiting for someone to come in and tapdance? I am not attempting to defend either one of these men--just trying to understand it. Craig's Republican buddies have just made it worse. It is as if they were just waiting around for something like this to happen in order to get rid of someone they didn't particularly want in the party.

[goodhue]

5. He plead guilty to misdemeanor crime of disoderly conduct

Lots of info including police report and plea petition here . . .
http://www.idahostatesman.com/1264

[damntexdem]

9. Whatever Craig was doing with his tapdance, he's still a hypocrite.

Whatever he intended, if he was entrapped, he should denounce the whole policy and practice of police entrapment. If he really wasn't soliciting sex, he should still denounce the entrapment aspects. Likewise if he WAS soliciting sex. Sure, anyone might plead guilty to disorderly conduct just to get out of a messy situation, and later think better of doing so. But if that is the case, then the problem is the whole set up that creates a set-up. Yes, a senator is at real political risk in such a situation; but a politician may also be offered considerations, such as the disorderly-conduct plea, not extended to all who are entrapped, so a senator should be concerned with what might be happening to citizens in general.

As to the general hypocrisy of the GOP regarding heterosexual vs. homosexual hanky panky, that is very clear and is also further highlighted by Craig's 'rethinking' of his resignation. It was Republican, not Democratic, calls for his resignation that led to his announcement that he would resign.

[David Zephyr]

6. Here's hoping Craig stays in office just as Vitter has. Same situation.

Craig can demand that Vitter be held to the Senate's Rules & Regulations just as he is and be investigated equally by the Senate Ethics Committee. It is required.

[damntexdem]

7. Craig: the gift that keeps on giving.

The WH is celebrating his resignation; but he's rethinking it: http://apnews.myway.com//article/20070905/D8RF00880.html. Whatever he decides, it keeps the whole affair open, and GOP hypocrisy apparent.

[SpiralHawk]

8. "After all, Jeff Gannon had to resign also" - Commander AWOL

"That's right, because he refused to wear diapers, and got outed, Jeff Gannon resigned as the OFFICIAL Bush White House Male Prostitute -- and we miss the old Bulldog something wicked"

- Commander AWOL

[KansDem]

10. I thought I heard this morning on the BBC (NPR?) that Craig was reconsidering his resignation.

Did I dream this? I might have been half asleep, but I'm certain I heard this.