Craig Scandal Continues to Unfold as Movement Struggles to Respond

The fallout from the developing scandal surrounding U.S. Rep. Larry Craig [R-Idaho] continues to unfold as several of his own colleagues, such as GOP presidential hopeful John McCain [R-Ariz.], have begun to call for his resignation. Craig, who has been subject to persistent rumors about his sexual orientation, vehemently declared his heterosexuality during a press conference in Boise, Idaho, yesterday afternoon as his wife Suzanne stood by his side. This clearly defensive denial clearly indicates to many activists that the social conservative either remains deeply in the closet of self-loathing or continues his desperate attempt to deflect the firestorm which has engulfed him and tarnished his decades long career in politics.

The question remains, however, as to how the movement for LGBT rights will respond to Craig's guilty plea and the broader issues surrounding it. The movement remains highly uncomfortable with the idea of outing people against their will. This discomfort emerged during the scandal that surrounded former U.S. Sen. Mark Foley [R-Fla.] last fall. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has issued two statements since the scandal first broke earlier this week to condemn Craig, who repeatedly voted in favor of anti-LGBT legislation, as a hypocrite and to blast the GOP for the apparent double standard it maintained after U.S. Sen. David Vitter [R-La.]'s phone number appeared in a Capital madam's lists of clients. The Human Rights Campaign and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation have remained notably silent despite problematic mainstream media coverage of his plea and subsequent fallout. The scandal surrounding Craig will undoubtedly continue to dominate headlines over the next few days. The movement, on the other hand, will continue to struggle with its collective response to what has become the latest titillation to come out of the Beltway.

Vitter's Discretions Continue to Come to Light

This blogger wrote yesterday about U.S. Sen. David Vitter [R-La.] and his acknowledgement of a propensity to use the services of alleged D.C. madam Deborah Jeane Palfrey. The New Orleans Times-Picayune added more fuel to this potentially explosive fire earlier this week with a report the social conservative -- and so-called defender of family values -- frequented a Big Easy brothel before voters first elected him to Congress in 1999.

"Canal Street Madam" Jeanette Maier told the newspaper Vitter spent time with several women at her New Orleans brothel. This revelation -- and other local and statewide media reports -- prompted the National Lesbian & Gay Task Force to issue a press release yesterday which blasted Vitter as a hypocrite for his sponsorship of the Federal Marriage Amendment and other anti-LGBT legislation.

“It is the pinnacle of hypocrisy for Senator Vitter to be thundering about ‘family values’ and the ‘sanctity of marriage’ and doing everything possible to deny the freedom to marry to same-sex couples while apparently paying for sex behind his wife’s back," NGLTF Executive Director Matt Foreman said. "If his wife and family want to forgive him, fine, but this far surpasses a personal transgression. He owes all Americans, particularly those of us who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, an apology.”

Vitter, as this blogger noted yesterday, is certainly not the first social conservative to taint himself with scandal. His now public discretions remain, however, the pinnacle of hypocrisy in light of his Congressional career arguably built upon an anti-LGBT agenda. Vitter made an attempt to come clean sort-of-speak with his public apology earlier this week but his 'family values' and pro-sanctity of marriage credentials remain significantly -- and perhaps irrevocably tainted -- by this scandal. He has a huge hill to climb if he seeks to reclaim any of the platform he once enjoyed.

Washington Hypocrites

Washington remains a city ripe with potential -- and actual -- hypocrites who will potentially sell their mother's soul in support of their own political aspirations and agendas. U.S. Sen. David Vitter [R-La.] can now count himself among those guilty of doublespeak after he confirmed earlier this week his phone number was on D.C. madam Deborah Jeane Palfrey.

Vitter is certainly not the first -- nor the last -- politician to find himself tainted by scandal. The Louisiana Republican's latest trials, however, require added scrutiny because he built his career upon his efforts to 'plant himself on the moral high ground' as New York Times reporter Adam Nossiter wrote today.

Vitter remained a fervent supporter of the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman in the United States Constitution. He confirmed this view in a letter to the New Orleans Times-Picayune last year.

"I'm a conservative who opposes radically redefining marriage, the most important social institution in human history," Vitter wrote.

Vitter also championed anti-immigration, anti-choice and other socially conservative positions. This blogger wonders out loud, however, how his wife Wendy has reacted to his very public disclosure and his high-profile hypocrisy. So much for Vitter's so-called traditional marriage and family values platform.