ASSOCIATED PRESS: WASHINGTON — Idaho Sen. Larry Craig’s political support eroded significantly Wednesday as three fellow Republicans in Congress called for his resignation and party leaders pushed him from senior committee posts. The White House expressed its disappointment, too and not a word of support for the 62-year-old lawmaker, who pleaded guilty earlier this month to a charge stemming from an undercover police operation in an airport men’s room.
Craig “represents the Republican party,” said Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Michigan, the first fellow GOP member of Congress to urge a resignation. Craig said Tuesday he had committed no wrongdoing and shouldn’t have pleaded guilty. He said he has only recently retained a lawyer to advise him in the case that threatens to write an ignominious end to a lifetime in public office. Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Norm Coleman of Minnesota joined Hoekstra in urging Craig to step down. McCain spoke out on an interview with CNN. “My opinion is that when you plead guilty to a crime, you shouldn’t serve. That’s not a moral stand. That’s not a holier-than-thou. It’s just a factual situation.”
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IDAHO STATESMAN: ‘I Had Bus Station Bathroom Sex With Senator Larry Craig’
IDAHO STATESMAN: Editorial: Sen. Larry Craig Needs To Resign
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Senator Larry Craig’s record on Gay rights
Voted Yes on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (June 2006)
Voted No on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (June 2002)
Voted No on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (June 2000)
Voted Yes on prohibiting same-sex marriage. (September 1996)
Voted No on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. (September 1996) [via ALASKA REPORT]