One of the two”confirmed” incidents involved nothing more than someone who felt Craig stared at him too much at an REI store, and thought it was a pass. The other was a disgruntled gay Hill staffer who was switching parties from GOP to Dem, who contacted Mike Rogers with accusations but offered no proof.

None of which proves that Craig did or did not make a pass at an airport police officer in Minneapolis. It’s not even very good supporting evidence to show a trend. If Craig really is a mostly straight guy who goes cruising for the occcasional anonymous BJ (a not uncommon thing, as vice officers know) he’s been very discreet about it over the years.

There also is what in my view is a larger issue: the decision of Craig’s homestate paper, the Idaho Statesman, to not publish the results of a lengthy investigation that pretty much confirmed that Craig was lying about never engaging in homosexual acts.

But “pretty much confirmed” is the operative word here and based on what I know, I have to support the decision of the paper. I was involved in several not dissimilar investigations during my career and at the conclusion of most of them, there just wasn’t quite enough evidence to destroy someone’s career and life, so in most cases nothing was published. In one case it was. We were dead-on accurate. So dead on that the guy killed himself.

I never have felt particularly good about that, but the man was a sexual predator who was in a position where he was granted enormous trust. And while I and the other editors played God on that one, the information had to get out, especially after the perp denied everything in an interview not unlike Craig’s sitdown with the Statesman.

DYKWIA. Never use unless you KNOW it’s gonna work. Bad move.

It does make one look at many of the family values supporters and ponder if they “doth protest too much”.

A search on his name and “family values” doesn’t run up that much. He’s never made much of that as an issue. But he did vote for DOMA both state and Fed. Others can argue over whether that’s really hypocritical. I just the whole thing is kinda funny if true. Snicker.

http://journalism.indiana.edu/Ethics/johns.html

Should newspapers assist police with vice crackdowns by publishing the names of prostitutes and their customers?

by Diane Lewis

On August 17, a 47-year-old man climbed into his car, turned on the ignition, and succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning. The suicide occurred three days after a brief article appeared in The Brockton (MA) Enterprise, linking him to a 25-year-old prostitute.

A few weeks earlier the Enterprise began publishing the names of prostitutes and “johns” at the request of police. Bruce Smith, executive editor of the newspaper, said the new naming policy would not change. He believes the Enterprise is performing a public service which has reduced the community’s problem with prostitution and said he would continue to support the police crackdown on vice.

http://www.oceansidepolice.com/pconviction.asp

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2000/04/11/loc_ad_plan_shame_is_aim.html

Maybe he shouldn’t have shown his Senate ID card.

However, if he’s violating the law, then it indeed becomes an issue relevant to the public. The hard part is when you campaign on one value and then live another — the hypocrisy charge – when there is no criminal act…. I honestly don’t know where privacy ends in this issue, and I can see both sides.

I will say though that the number of these cases lately is becoming astonishing. It does make one look at many of the family values supporters and ponder if they “doth protest too much”. I actually had always believed we disagreed sincerely. (This too is said tongue-in-cheek. Do not get too upset. though you are cute when you’re angry.)