The Missing Story about Sen. Larry Craig

As I have watched the many stories about Sen. Craig unfold, I cannot help but feel that most of the News Media has ignored a major point. What research has shown is that the vast majority of men arrested in these circumstances are overwhelmingly married, have children, are often religious, and in public, conservative on many social issues. In addition, most identify their sexual preference as “straight”. This also holds true in many gay chat rooms.
Amazingly, the percentages of “out” and “proud” gay men in these situations are minimal. The out gay community has long understood the health and legal risk of such behavior, and the majority, do not condone it. Likewise, if one is gay and out, he has many outlets for legal and more meaningful relationships.
So the question must be asked why? Why would any man be willing to put everything on the line, family, marriage, livelihood, dignity, reputation, just to partake in anonymous, meaningless, degrading sex?
What is it that drives that desire? Why can’t they feel free to live their lives honestly, and openly? First, many have said they believe homosexuality is a choice.
This has long been debated. When one sees situations such as Sen. Craig’s’ you have to conclude that sexuality is not a choice. We do not choose to become gay. We do choose whether we are going to live an honest, open, loving, life or a life of shame and deceit. We do choose whether we are going to be productive to society or destructive to ourselves.
Obviously, their shame is caused by the environment in which they were raised.
Those environments were most often misguided through the social pressures created by religious and conservative groups. (Of course, the vast amount of hypocrisy in these groups is a whole other subject.) The oppression and repression of the gay community by religion has been damaging to the gay community as well as the rest of society as a whole. It is responsible for countless suicides. (The leading cause of death to gay teens). Often the reasons given by someone arrested for gay bashing is their religious beliefs. (Talk about hypocrisy) Often, “family values” parents will disown or reject a child who admits to being gay. There are thousands of homeless gay youth in this country. Many whose parents kicked them out just for being gay.
Fortunately, many informed people are realizing these facts. Fortunately, more are realizing that the Christian thing to do is to be Loving, Accepting, Tolerant, and Non- Judgmental. As many come to realization that the overwhelming majority of gay citizens in this country are honest, hard working, productive, people. Often contributing much more to their communities and charities than their “religious” counterparts. As more people realize someone they love and respect is gay. As more people recognize the many contributions, gay people have made throughout history and to society. As the “stigma” of being gay is lessened through acceptance, you will see this “subculture” of “straight” men diminish.

Excellent BillMiller,Very well written. It truly has to be a living hell to be in Senatoer Craig`s shoes. It will be interesting to watch the process.

Perhaps Vitter is living the fantasy all Republican men dream of having...

repeatedly breaking his wedding vows, gettng all the kinky sex the lobbyist bribes will buy, publicly humiliating the wife whom he probably only married because of her family's money and social ties, and is still considered a family values man by the uptight people of his conservative state?

I guess that would account for the standing ovatation. At least one of them got away with it.

No need to speculate, just do the math.

Craig is from Idaho, which has a R governor. Craig resigns, governor appoints another R to the seat.

Vitter is from Louisiana, which has a D governor. Vitter resigns, governor appoints a D to the seat. Since Vitter has more than a year to go before his term is up, the appointee would hold the seat only until a new senator is elected in a special election.

I have been wanting to answer the question of how Vitter and Craig are being treated so differently. To me it is pretty simple. Of course the Dem Governor vs Republican governor has some validity, but look at the cases. We are talking about Conservative Republicans and their obsession with Gay Americans. Poor Senator Craig is obviously a very frustrated and deeply closeted man, but, lets face it gay. Vitter was having sex with female prostitutes. Get the picture?

Jolene42 -

On this matter, I side with Corinne. Particularly since Craig is up for reelection this cycle. The last thing any Republican wants is for Craig to be the focus of national attention, even if Democratic candidates from Idaho for Senate probably poll in the low teens.

Remember that when Bush first took office the first Senator they offered a cabinet position to was a Louisiana Democratic Senator, the objective being to swing the balance in the Senate away from the Dems. This is why you will hear lots of talk about that miserable f**k Lieberman being named AG.

The difference in this reaction to these two cases has everything to do with politics, and nothing to do with a moral compass. Republicans don't carry them in their backpacks. The only "morality" they care is measured in dollars and cents.