Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) at Sept. 4, 2007 press conference. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.
by Jill Zuckman
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) wanted to talk about the war in Iraq and the lack of progress on bills to fund the government. But instead, he was peppered with questions about Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) and the corruption problems that seem to be plaguing his party.
Craig agreed Saturday to resign his seat after pleading guilty to charges that arose from an incident between him and an undercover police officer in a Minneapolis airport bathroom.
Why, McConnell was asked, did Republican leaders refer the matter to the Senate Ethics Committee, but did not do the same for Sen. David Vitter (R-La.). Vitter’s name popped up recently in the records of an alleged prostitution business posing as an escort service.
“I think it’s clearly distinguishable,’’ McConnell said, noting that Vitter’s involvement with the escort service happened before he was in the Senate, so would not fall under the jurisdiction of the Ethics panel. In addition, no charges have been brought, he said.
Don’t Republicans bear some responsibility for the low regard with which the public holds Congress, he was asked. Besides Craig and Vitter’s problems, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) is under investigation by the FBI, which searched his home recently. And Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) is facing an inquiry involving his role in the firing of the U.S. Attorney in his home state.
“Generally speaking, the attitude about Congress is determined in large measure by what the Congress is doing legislatively,’’ McConnell said. “I think the fundamental mistake that the new Congress has made was to go in an overly partisan direction from the beginning.”
But what about the questions of corruption that Republicans are facing, reporters asked. McConnell noted that there is one “prominent example” of corruption involving a Democrat in the House.
“I don’t think either party is necessarily more troubled by this than the other one,’’ he said. “But, these examples are not helpful to the Congress’ reputation in general.”
Meanwhile, said McConnell, it’s time to drop the subject - at least when it comes to Craig.
“I think the episode is over,’’ he said. “We’ll have a new senator from Idaho sometime in the next month or so and we’re going to move on.’’
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Comments
James Carville got it right on Meet the Press Sunday:
When he said:
Republican leadership expressed no sympathy at all for Craig or his family. Willard Romney and all the rest threw Craig and his family under the bus with hardly a glance back. No thanks for past work. No best wishes for their future. Just get under the bus and disappear forever.
Posted by: Doug Zook | September 4, 2007 12:36 PM
Someone should ask "bug eyes" McConnell whether or not the DOJ was aware of this entire incident weeks ago and if it just came out to take the spotlight off Turd Blossom and Alberto Gonzales.
McConnell also said it's time to drop the subject. Oh really?? I think an investigation needs to be opened up to see what else may be invilved in this. Craig's (R-Idaho) computers should aldo be confiscated for review of other evidence.
Posted by: Doug R. | September 4, 2007 12:59 PM
"Sen. Craig Is Soooo Yesterday, McConnell Says"
The Nascar Party and especially McConnell are DESPERATE to make this go away, the RNC has been trying to take peoples minds off it by pinning stuff on Hillary....nice try.
McConnell should be scared because it's coming up on re-election time for him...be scared Wingnuts, be very scared because your time has come.
Posted by: John E | September 4, 2007 1:21 PM
It's not too late for Ted Kennedy to resign
for leaving Mary Jane Kopechne to drown in the car he drove into the bay at Chappaquidic. Somehow, that seems more significant than tapping someone's foot.
Posted by: F. Pierce | September 4, 2007 1:27 PM
I know what's wrong with Larry Craig's situation. As soon as he was arrested, and pleaded guilty to Homosexual solictation charges, Mr. Craig should of immediately become a Democratic, sought guidance from the Rev. Jesse Jackson, said he was being discriminated against for being a homosexual, O. Winfrey would have had him on her show, and the media would have completely forgiven him. God Bless America.
Posted by: clarence | September 4, 2007 1:33 PM
F. Pierce.,
Why did Craig resign?
Posted by: Doug Zook | September 4, 2007 1:35 PM
"Why, McConnell was asked, did Republican leaders refer the matter to the Senate Ethics Committee, but did not do the same for Sen. David Vitter (R-La.)."
It's simple - Craig was trolling for gay sex, while Vitter has been cheating on his wife for the past 10 years the regular way with female prostitutes.
Notice he didn't comment about the hypocrisy of both, bitching at Clinton to step down when his trysts with Monica became public. Yet Craig and Vitter have been adulterers for years and no Republican tells BOTH of them to resign.
Posted by: BC | September 4, 2007 2:01 PM
Republican corruption.
Hmm, right now we have Harry "shady land deals" Reid; William "$90,000 in my freezer" Jefferson; Dienne "avert govt. business to my hubby's business" Feinstein; Barack "who is Tony Rezko and how did our own land deals work?" Obama; West Virginia Dem Rep. Allan "how many FBI investigations am I under?" Mollohan; Harry "my three sons are making out like bandits" Reid (again); and then there is Hillary "Wanted felon Norman Hsu raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for me and much of it laundered," "the former first lady perjurist" "I just passed papers and I had no dealings or knowledge of my brother and pardons," "I'm going to destroy the lives of those who worked in the White House travel office" Clintoon. Oh and there is Sen. Depends Leahy, who leaked classified intel; Gerry Studds and his rape of a male Congressional page; Barney Franks and his illegal escort service; Gary Condit and the mysterious murder of his intern sex partner; Teddy "Manslaughter" Kennedy; Web in prison and now dead Hibbell, Vince Foster and his death; Clintoon selling govt tecnology to the Chinese for campaign donations; Clintoon selling the Lincoln bedroom for campaign donations; Clintoon and the 1,000 FBI files on Republicans; and Al "no legal controlling authority" Gore.
Jill, please tell us again how much is the DNC and Clinton campaign paying you? Helps pay the mortgage, huh??
Posted by: John D | September 4, 2007 2:26 PM
The Grand Ole Docket 2007:
Republican inmates and wannabe inmates since the year 2000, W's first in office:
*Jack Abramoff Scandal*
Pleaded Guilty
Jack Abramoff
J. Steven Griles
Will Heaton
Adam Kidan
Bob Ney
Tony Rudy
Michael Scanlon
Roger Stillwell
Neil Volz
Mark Zachares
Convicted
David Safavian
Under Investigation
John Doolittle
Tom Feeney
Named, Not Charged
Ed Buckham
*Duke Cunningham Scandal*
Pleaded Guilty
Richard Berglund
Duke Cunningham
Mitchell Wade
Thomas Kontogiannis
Indicted
Kyle "Dusty" Foggo
John Michael
Brent Wilkes
Named, Not Charged
Robert Fromm
*Miscellaneous Republican crooks*
Pleaded Guilty
Claude Allen
Larry Craig
Lester Crawford
Shaun Hansen
Vernon Jackson
Chuck McGee
Brent Pfeffer
Allen Raymond
Indicted
Tom Delay
Convicted
Scooter Libby
James Tobin
No Contest
Brian Doyle
Posted by: John E | September 4, 2007 2:49 PM
Loony Lefties: 6
Gay Old Pederasts: 0
John D: -5
Posted by: Swamp Scoreboard | September 4, 2007 2:51 PM
Sickens me - reading these posts - After too many years of Bush Americans have turned against each other via thier political affiliation. What happened to Bush the "uniter?" Americans are more divided than we have ever been and there is no end in sight. Great job W!
Posted by: RJ | September 4, 2007 3:01 PM
John D,
Have you EVER, and I mean EVER, heard anyone of your "loony lefties" actually defend "Cold Cash" Jefferson? Has anyone here ever suggested that he got a bum rap, it was a witchhunt, blah blah blah? No, we don't offer excuses for shameless SOB's like Craig and Jefferson.
But Dyslin much prefers to cheerlead his team, as opposed to America. What's right for America is never a question for the John D's and Bruce's of the world, its only about supporting your team "rah rah sis boom bah!!"
Every post you write concerning Craig does not even address Craig, but throws out a laundry list of unrelated activities, all of which committed by Democrats, offering no perspective for crimes committed in the same period by Republicans (and since we're going back 40+ years on Ted Kennedy and 25 years and the page scandal, there's plenty of dirt to go around- no one seems to bring up the Franklin Page Scandal which makes the others look like child's play).
Shorter John Dyslin: any malfeasance committed by any Republican is immediately excused to perpetuity because some Democrat, some time, did something completely unrelated that John D considers untoward (Note: it doesn't need to be a crime, as illustrated by the laundry list of non-crimes Mr. Dyslin presents above)
Posted by: Distrust and Verify | September 4, 2007 3:09 PM
RJ said: "Americans are more divided then we have ever been."
Seriously? How old are you? Ever read a history book? Maybe you've heard of "McCarthyism" or read about the beginnings of organized labor in this country. Or, if those topics are too obscure for you, then maybe you've heard of the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights movement? Then, of course, there was the Civil War itself. I think you'd have to agree that our nation was pretty divided in those instances, no?
Posted by: JB | September 4, 2007 3:25 PM
"JOHN D TOOK A RAP CLASS OVER THE HOLIDAY" BUT ANYWAYS.
THE BEAT GOES ON AS THE GOP HAS PUT LARRY CRAIG ON THE AXIS OF EVIL LIST.
VOTE NO ON MY WARRANTLESS WIRE TAPPING, AND I WILL EXPOSE YOU. NO EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE FOR YOU. GIVE ME BACK YOUR PL 110-55 T SHIRT.
LOOKS LIKE LARRY TOOK ONE FOR THE THE TEAM.
THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL PARTY THAT IS.
WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD WIRE TAPPING THAT REQUIRES A COURT ORDER. NO COURT ORDER FROM THE GOP JUST
GET OUT. IF YOU DON'T LOVE BUSH THEN YOUR FEET STINK AND YOU DON'T LOVE DICK CHENEY.
IT WAS NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE FORCE AS HE WAS JUST NOT A TEAM PLAYER. IF YOU ARE NOT ON THE TEAM BY SEPTEMBER, THEN YOU ARE OFF.
NO EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE FOR YOU!
Posted by: Roger Morris | September 4, 2007 4:00 PM
Oh Distrust and Verify, I have written several posts about Mr. Craig's activities. We once again come down to that reading and comprehension problems you Lefty Loons suffer from.
Posted by: John D | September 4, 2007 4:19 PM
" Somehow, that seems more significant than tapping someone's foot.
Posted by: F. Pierce | September 4, 2007 1:27 PM"
F.Pierce
Lefties have not been calling for Craig's to resign.
It's been his friends in the Republican party. They abandoned him like a flea infested mongrel.
I wish he would stay around, if only for entertainment value, and he can't be any worse than whatever zombie Butch Otter picks to replace him.
Posted by: C.Morris | September 4, 2007 9:24 PM
Distrust,
The only topic Crazy John D[evola] is qualified to discuss are heating and AC questions.
Check this out.
Hey, John D; How often should I change the filter in my furnace?
Posted by: C.Morris | September 4, 2007 9:35 PM
Hey J.D., your parading of those old names doesn't mean a thing because Kenn Starr completely exonerated Bill and Hillary at a cost of 60 million dollars that the GOP owes America.
That's right, completely exonerated. Look it up. They even went through Hillary's underwear drawer.
You got nothin' on the next president of the United States.
Posted by: Bruce Y | September 4, 2007 10:23 PM
Don't look now, 'itch, but it looks like Mr. Yesterday is considering sticking around for a while. Maybe until after tomorrow.
By the way, whatever happened to knocking three times on the ceiling if you want me?
Posted by: Bud McFarlin | September 4, 2007 11:16 PM
C Morris, I would never change the filter in your home. Also, never have the furnace serviced. With any luck you'll get some carbon monoxide buildup. But then you've always had CO buildup in the head, haven't you??
Posted by: John D | September 5, 2007 12:04 AM
Now is the chance for sensible Republicans in the Senate Leadership, like our own Mitch McConnell, to shove him off the political cliff if he won't go quietly!
http://osi-speaks.blogspot.com/2007/09/idaho-senator-larry-craig-is.html#links
Posted by: KYJurisDoctor | September 5, 2007 12:19 AM
"... no one seems to bring up the Franklin Page Scandal which makes the others look like child's play).
Posted by: Distrust and Verify | September 4, 2007 3:09 PM"
Distrust and Verify, I'm with you on your charges in general about the one-sidedness. UNFORTUNATELY, I think you ought to research the "Franklin Page Scandal" thoroughly before you bring it up. I'm finding evidence (on Wikipedia) claiming it was a hoax. By all means, if you have further proof, go ahead and let us know. Thanks!
Posted by: Op109 | September 5, 2007 10:25 AM
I can’t believe that he doesn’t know the constitution.
In Article 1: Section 6, It clearly states:
The critical section of the Constitution states: "The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the United States. They shall in all cases, except treason, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other place."
He voted in congress later that afternoon. I am not sure what is worse? That he is a sexual deviant or that he doesn’t even know the constitution that he is supposed to uphold!!!!!
Posted by: Damon | September 5, 2007 10:36 AM
McConnell really needs to get this off the news. Especially with so many people digging around in his own past...
Do you know why he was kicked out of the Army, ten days after induction? He's fighting hard to keep you from finding out.
Posted by: Thomas Mc | September 5, 2007 11:05 AM
Op109,
Pretty wild story indeed. It was picked up on the cover of the conservative Washington Times for several weeks but none of the other MSM went with it.
Posted by: Distrust and Verify | September 5, 2007 11:20 AM