Larry Craig: Pleading for Reconsideration
The Idaho Senator's Fate Could Be in Your Hands
As a Minnesota judge deliberates whether Sen. Larry Craig should be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea for disorderly conduct, I decided to look back on the hundreds of reader comments readers have posted about the story.
It is a mixed and colorful bag. But most seem to agree that Craig is not only a "hypocrite" and an "idiot," but he's also guilty. As idahoan pointed out: "Craig did plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. Who the hell would plead guilty to disorderly conduct in the bathroom? Give me a break. Would YOU EVER in a MILLION years plead guilty to disorderly conduct in the bathroom for doing NOTHING?"
Certainly a valid point. But does it make him guilty? Craig claims "panic" over whether the allegations would be made public caused him to "accept a guilty plea without seeking legal advice." Say what you will about the lawmaker's understanding of the law, clearly he understands politics. Of course, his strategy backfired, and most people probably believed there were other things he was trying to keep quiet.
But back to the law: Does getting caught in a homosexual sting amount to disorderly conduct? Putting aside the setting, is what he did any different from what millions of people do every night at bars and clubs across the world?
The judge is expected to issue a decision early next week on whether Craig's guilty plea stands. If it is upheld, Craig says he'll resign. If he's allowed to vacate the plea, he says, he'll stay in office. So the clock is ticking. But as readers know, I'm an impatient man, so rather than wait that long, I thought I'd put the senator's fate in your hands.
Before you render your decision, go here for a quick recap of the facts -- then come back and vote!
Larry Craig: In or Out? You Decide
Note: This is an unscientific survey of washingtonpost.com readers.
By Emil Steiner | September 27, 2007; 11:00 AM ET | Category: OFF/beat Politics
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