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Report: Republican National Committee Privately Pushing Craig To Resign
This is big: Republican sources are telling CNN that the Republican National Committee was all set to release a statement calling on Larry Craig to resign.
But the RNC held back, these sources say, because they'd gotten reliable indications that the Senator was genuinely considering stepping down himself.
By threatening to release such a statement, and more to the point, by leaking word of such a statement and leaking word that the Senator is considering resigning himself, the RNC is actively pushing one of its own senior Senators out of office, basically sealing the deal on Craig's fate.
The RNC, we're guessing, wants this thing done now, on a Friday before Labor Day weekend, so that it'll have a bit less of an impact. It looks like it'll work, too: The same sources are telling CNN that Craig may resign as early as today.
Question: When's the last time one of the national party committees called on one of their own senior senators to resign?
More soon.
Please, let the guy stay in office, so a Dem can whup his ass in November 08.
August 31, 2007 9:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
heh, little chance of that, alas
August 31, 2007 9:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
GOP Corruption: OK
GOP Gays: Not OK
August 31, 2007 9:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, venality, hetero adultery & pederasty OK.
Homosexuality not OK.
August 31, 2007 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Senator Craig's milkshake brings all the boise to the yard.
August 31, 2007 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm afraid this guy is going to suicide, as every thing he's pretended to be crumbles, and as all his "friends" pile on.
August 31, 2007 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Laughing at Chuckles' take above...
I also fear suicide. This man is so invested in the lies he's built around himself that he will not be able to handle this. He really truly believes that he's not gay, as he keeps saying. To him, it's just aberrant behavior that he occasionally has to release, so long as no one knows about it. And now everyone knows...
August 31, 2007 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Forget when's the RNC did ask for someone to resign. I'd like muckraker to give us a list of all the things that the RNC is apparently a-okay with.
I can think of the following things:
1) frequenting prostitutes
2) accepting bribes for defense contracts
3) anything related to the corruption department that is Jack Abramoff
4) accepting bribes to ensure that in an American territory slave labor conditions and forced abortions will continue (I know that's related to number 3, but I thought it deserved a special mention.)
5) having "overly friendly" conversations with teenage boys
6) buying houses and half price from lobbyists
7) violating the constitutional process of how a bill becomes a law
What am I missing there?
August 31, 2007 10:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
I absolutely ascribe to the theory that the assholes want Craig to resign so an asshole Republic governor can appoint a 'safe' replacement. Vitter, on the hand (no pun intended), would be replaced by a Dem.
I have to give them credit for trying, at least. We don't seem to be...we should be screaming out loud about all of the RParty/RNC bullshit, recent and going back fifty years. Why are we not?
I'll quote Adlai Stevenson and then shut up: "If the Republicans stop telling lies about us, we'll stop telling the truth about them."
August 31, 2007 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
What if Craig really isn't gay?
I have been thinking a lot about this, and a strange idea popped into my head. What if Craig really isn't gay. I know, sounds strange, but hear me out.
A while back I was reading a cosmopolitan article on the best ways to turn your man on...add a little spice (that wasn't the title but the gist is the same). Anyway, it listed that many men like a little stimulation on their backside (if you know what I mean). It would be no different than any other other stimulation - some guys like feet, s&m, name your fetish. As long as it is behind closed doors, it is usually not a problem.
So lets say he's too embarassed to ask his wife to use her "marital aid" on him. Or maybe she might even be doing it...but it falls short of the real thing.
We all know there is a huge difference between sex and love. If you can have it all in your mate, wonderful. But as you can tell, for many men, the sexual fantasies prove to be so strong that they must be carried out in other ways. Usually a trip to the local madam, who will do just about anything, does the trick if you have any fantasy you want fulfilled. The only thing a madam cannot provide is a real male member.
So as far as the restroom thing is concerned, if they really are "doing it" under the stall, then they are never face to face. Maybe Craig really doesn't want a homosexual relationship and that it secretly disgusts him in every other way. He only wants one body part of another man, and does not want to see the rest.
While I agree he is a hypocrite, and public restroom sex is a crime (kids go in there for God's sake), the whole "Craig must be gay" statement may be subject to interpretation.
August 31, 2007 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Interesting thing that is occuring in a Political sense, and i wonder if the left is now wishing it hadn't help to "pile on" and pave the way for thus Senator to be replaced by a "better" 2008 GOP candidate.....who will now have 14 months of potential positive name recognition and incumbancy to run against a Demorcat Senate candidate
August 31, 2007 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
My guess is a 2 line press release at about 11PM, no public statement.
What I haven't heard anyone say about this guy all week was what he was like as a Senator/person before this happened. With the speed in which he has been forced out it doesn't seem like he had too many friends, nevermind the wide stance.
August 31, 2007 11:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Larry: Don't let the screen door hit you on the way out.
August 31, 2007 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Someone in the press needs to publicly ask them why they don't demand Vitter's resignation. Let's see what sort of answers they'll give.
August 31, 2007 11:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wan't someone to ask Vitter if he thinks Craig should resign.
August 31, 2007 11:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
This can't happen today.
Sen. Warner has scheduled his announcement about whether or not he will run (my prediction: he will).
A resignation from Craig would overshadow it.
Warner can't postpone, Craig would have to.
August 31, 2007 12:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I imagine he'll sign up for alcohol rehab, but is he Mormon? If so, he'll have to sign up for prescription drug abuse. His sore back made him do it, or some such thing.
August 31, 2007 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
It would be cool to start up a "Keep Craig" campaign. If the Republicans want to selectively cause this brouhaha to take the attention of Gonzales' leaving, then they can deal with it for even longer. There's no evidence that this guy did anything and the police interview tapes don't shed any more light onto whether anything actually happened. Start making Repubs say why he is unfit for office (other than being kickable while down), rather than relying on the prejudice of the conventional wisdom to help them force this issue off the stove.
August 31, 2007 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope the democrats avoid getting sucked--into making too much of the republicans' recreational activities.
The real, important substantive issues are the democrats' strength, even if, as it appears, the mainstream press shoves Hillary Clinton up the their collective ass as their nominee.
Iraq, other foreign policy, health care, the farce that is no child left behind------talking about frivolous crap---even if it is republican frivolous crap-----undermines the democrats' best chances in 2008.
August 31, 2007 1:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Look for Craig to call a press conference at midnight tonight.
August 31, 2007 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't understand why the GOP wants him to resign. Craig isn't any more of a corrupt, self-hating hypocrite than the rest of the GOPers. What's the big deal?
August 31, 2007 6:40 PM | Reply | Permalink