Talk:Larry Craig

$1000 fine

I removed the $1000 fine figure in lieu of the values stated in the news sources. Yahoo! News reported $575 in fines and fees and CNN reported $500 in fines. Presumably, it was $500 in fines and $75 in fees, but I thought that might be somewhere between WP:OR and WP:SYN, so I just went with the Yahoo! News version. Ben Hocking ^{(talk|contribs)} 15:13, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

The article states that "Craig's" children are actually his wifes from a previous marrige, and it cites an online AP story as its source. However i clicked on the link and it apears to be dead. I have no doubt it's true, but if i were a jornalist i'd want some confermation on that, As Left-wing and biased as i am about right wing freaks like this guy, I want to stick to the facts. Anyway with the recent scandal just breaking i'm sure more details about his family life will come out in the papers, and thus could be used as replacement sources. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 151.205.178.37 (talk) 15:51, August 28, 2007 (UTC)

If he adopted them, they're his children legally, they're not stepchildren.--69.219.4.5 07:08, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

List of Gay-Bashing Gays?

Is there some Wikipedia list of gay bashing congressmen or other influential policy makers who actively promote homophobia and are later found out themselves to be gay eg Mark Foley and the article's subject? If so, this article might merit a link or two regarding that. And what is the psychology behind this kind of behavior? It seems so widespread in the USA currently. It deserves a syndrome name all its own, if it doesnt already have one. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 167.191.250.81 (talk) 18:26, August 28, 2007 (UTC)

We don't know that the subject is gay, and won't be able to designate him that way until he makes a statement to that effect. ·:· Will Beback ·:· 18:41, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

Or until some video surfaces. Speciate 05:11, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

This is a very good list of sex scandals, although it is "Republican sex scandals". One would have to pull out the appropriate details that you're looking for. Somewhere there is a list of people from both parties; the Republicans on the list out-number the Democrats on the list.

[2] Arbol25 07:54, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

Another related list that is of just as great interest: [3] Arbol25 13:46, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

Dan_Popkey , Idaho_Statesman ,

seem to be relevant.

Thank You,

[[ hopiakuta | [[ [[ %c2%a1 ]] [[ %c2%bf ]] [[ %7e%7e ]] ~~ -]] 22:00, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

No reason to think Craig is "gay"

The Senator has himself said he is not gay, and there is no reason to assume that he is. He may be homosexual, but that is not the same as being gay. "Gay" homosexuals are just one type of a range of homosexualities, one that generally entails an urban, liberal culture concentrated in certain cities. Many non-"gay" homosexualities have and do existed, from the pederasitc-based form of classical Greece to the "Down Low" of contemporary African Americans. Senator Craig may be a homosexual with conservative values and a low-key existence (this was portrayed in the film "Brokeback Mountain). To call him "gay" simply because he has sex with other men is unwarranted. [RLC 29 Aug 2007 12:04 pm] —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.21.215.143 (talk) 16:06, August 29, 2007 (UTC)

Sense of Proportion

Just a comment. This guy is the second longest serving member of the Congress from Idaho. As much as it may warm the cockles of the hearts of those seeking to uncover hypocrisy, should this bathroom incident really get this much space in the article? In 10 years, will this be 50% of the important and notable things he's done. He didn't plead guilty to anything sexual. He pleaded guilty to a non-sexual trivial charge and got a $500 fine.

I really don't understand why this is the top national news story right now. Did we secretly leave Iraq last night and fix the mortgage crisis? Hermitian 22:29, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

“ The fact is, yes, the Republicans do think [homosexuality] should be a crime. And I think there’s a right to privacy. But the right to privacy should not be a right to hypocrisy ... people who want to demonize other people shouldn't then be able to go home and close the door, and do it themselves. ”

- Senator Barney Frank (70.128.143.99 03:21, 29 August 2007 (UTC))

Seriously? Barney Frank sez Republicans think homosexuality should be illegal (yeah, right--and I'm sure even he doesn't really believe that), so that's your argument?! I'm sure most people (even Republicans!) happen to agree this sordid incident warrants inclusion, but it isn't because "Republicans think homosexuality should be a crime." LOL! Please don't troll Wikipedia, mmkay? --Beth C. 05:09, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

Please assume good faith. On another note, this event merits its heavy inclusion in the article-- it will most likely end his political career and is why most people outside of Idaho have heard of him.--69.219.4.5 07:07, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

I agree it shouldn't be allowed to dwarf the rest of the article and agree with Hermitian that the media's priorities are out of whack, but also that it should be included in this article and fully addressed. I don't know the context of Frank's comment, but see e.g. Lawrence_v._Texas#Dissents. Шизомби 11:42, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

There are a number of comments by citizens on the police tactics back in June when the arrests happened. Arresting 20 people seems a pretty hefty number, and people unrelated to the Senator are alleging that the cops would sit in a stall, tap their feet, bang on the partition, put their feet on yours, and then arrest you when you looked underneath to see WTF was going on. If this turns out to be a case of overzealous policing, and the Senator manages to salvage his career, toning down the amount of space in the article devoted to this incident may very well be warranted. Hermitian 15:28, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

You'd think the Senator himself would be pointing that out instead of just saying there was a misunderstanding. Also, if you have a link to that story (about the comments by citizens), it might help the talk pages, at least. Ben Hocking ^{(talk|contribs)} 15:43, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

This charge is very likely a career ending event for the Senator, I think the attention it gets in the article is appropriate. 134.53.176.203 04:54, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

Mike Rogers

Mike Rogers is a gay-outing blogger and does not have a Wikipedia article of his own. The name "Mike Rogers" links to others. Please correct. Best, --75.45.12.177 22:44, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

I've started a stub Mike Rogers (activist)... those who know the subject better, please fill out--Natcase 06:02, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

Referenced Wall Street Journal Editorial

The inclusion of the Wall Street Journal article makes this entry biased. It is unneccessary and does nothing to further our understanding of the facts and details surrounding his arrest. I think it should be deleted. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.198.131.171 (talk) 00:27, August 29, 2007 (UTC)

Strongly agreed. Can this be removed posthaste?--67.164.145.60 03:25, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

Done. Fireplace 03:47, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

I restored this commentary, clearly labeled as such, for balance. --Justmeherenow 18:17, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

Protectected?

It appears this article was protected from editing on 2007 August 27, but without a template added, and has been edited while protected, dozens of times. Am I correct in that, or am I reading the logs and history wrong? And can we get some discussion here of how much longer it should stay protected? I'm sure it's on many watchlists, especially now. Jonathunder 01:40, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

The article is semi-protected, not fully protected, which means that only anon IPs and new accounts (more recent than 4 days) are prohibited from editing. Jeffpw 08:28, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

Sexual Orientation section

Why do all of the allegations have Craig's response immediately afterward? The allegations should stand alone, and a blanket repudiation from Craig can follow them. Mkilly 17:58, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

Why is there an entire SECTION labeled sexual orientation? Is this what the wikipedia is for? If the person was a homosexual and had a heterosexual experience would the wikipedia be obliged to report this? Why not leave the salacious filth to tmx.com or perez hilton rather than make the wikipedia a garbage can. I am not saying it shouldn't be mentioned but an entire section with heading just for sexual orientation? Wikimike 18:28, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

Police report

We have the written version. Maybe we should post this for the visually impaired?????? :-) Jeffpw 18:05, 29 August 2007 (UTC)