Dissenting voice:In the wake of the Larry Craig story, Glenn Greenwald
writes:
As [gay activist Mike] Rogers argued at the time, the story was relevant ... in light of Craig's frequent political exploitation of issues of sexual morality and his opposition to virtually every gay rights bill.
...
If having "strong family values" is -- as Craig claims -- the reason "first and foremost" to support someone's candidacy for President, then, by definition, whether one has "strong family values" is a politically relevant consideration for such a person.
I don't get it.
Craig is representing his constituency. What does it matter that Craig's
personal behavior is not in alignment with what the citizens of Idaho prefer?
Personal behavior is exactly that. Personal. The notion that because somebody says in public "A" yet in private does "B" does not give anyone a license to expose the personal.
"Outing" by third parties is not a liberal value. Bill Clinton almost certainly at one point praised monogamy. Does that mean his dalliances were a legitimate political issue - as Republicans argued at the time?
posted by Quiddity at 8/28/2007 11:13:00 AM
It's true, the schadenfreude is distinctly tainted this time. Any hypocracy-righteousness feels a little unseemly.
Craig was most famous before this for being a dim bulb, not a family-values scold.
The presumed mortification and shaming he's enduring seems unproportional.
For what it's worth, his pain pushes tolerance further. The more people realize members of their political 'tribe' are gay, the more they'll calm down about it.
If Clinton had argued that adultery should be punished by five years to life in prison, it would have been a legitimate issue.
Have to disagree with you on this one.
When jackbooted thugs have been kicking you in the teeth for years, it's a reasonable and often effective response to start kicking back.
I do agree that someone's personal life should have no bearing on the performance of political leadership and service.
I relish this story just to see someone finally get dirtied up by the stuff they've been shoveling on others.
Certainly a similar element provided the impetus for the "cigar" comment also found on the main page.
