Craig Restraint

Believe me, there's nothing I'd like more than for Senator Craig to be a raging, hypocritical closet case. However, there is one glaring problem with this "scandal." Where is the presumption of innocence?

While I do not deny that illicit bathroom activities happen, let's think about this rationally for a second. Even the highest partitions between bathroom stalls only allow approximately twenty-four inches of room. At best, this sixty-two-year-old man is accused of risking his career to cop a feel? Isn't that what interns are for? If the man is agile enough to do more than that, God bless him and give him the Congressional Medal of Freedom. Lord knows it's been bestowed for lesser accomplishments.

Frankly, in these deeply divisive times, I'm not at all convinced that opposing political factions aren't making hay while the reflection of the scandalous sun flickers. Find me a callboy who steps forward and says that he too has dingled the senator's berries and I'll be more inclined to give credence to this story.

I have to give credit where credit is due, however. The Republicans, in absolute consistency are fleeing from Craig and indignantly calling for his resignation. There apparently has even been a demand for his resignation.

The fact of the matter is, if homosexuality hasn't been so demonized, men who seek sex with men wouldn't have to result to such illicit activity; public bathroom sex is really the lowest of the low in sexual arenas. For this Craig bears some responsibility. The irony that the tool he so often used to frighten his constituents being used against him is rich. That it's being used against him by his own party is the cherry on top.

But political irony and schadenfreude should not be enjoyed at the cost of one of the cornerstones of our society. The man is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and he's admitted to disorderly conduct and since claimed that he made the plea in an attempt to minimize the uproar. Frankly, that sounds reasonable. Give me more proof of his hypocracy before we destroy his life.