Elected officials sound off on Craig issue

By JESSICA KELLER and Todd Dvorak - Argus Observer, Associated Press
Wednesday, August 29, 2007 10:04 AM PDT

Idaho Sen. Larry Craig reads a statement to the media Tuesday, in downtown Boise. Some area political leaders said they did not know enough about the situation to make any specific judgements. A Albertson College professor, though, said he did not believe Craig was going to run again for his senate seat.

PAYETTE - A day after Idaho Sen. Larry Craig stood before a small crowd of media and spectators in Boise and said he ‘‘overreacted and made a poor decision’’ regarding an incident at the Minneapolis airport in June, two Payette County political leaders said they are unsure of Craig’s fate, while a Treasure Valley political strategist said the Gem State senator’s career is probably over.

Craig, 62, a longtime Idaho senator, is at the center of a controversy swirling around a June case where the senator was apprehended by an undercover police officer in a men’s room at the Minneapolis airport and later pleaded guilty.

‘‘While I was not involved in any inappropriate conduct in the Minneapolis airport or anywhere else, I chose to plead guilty to a lesser charge in hopes of making it go away.’’ He said he kept the information from his friends, family and staff. Craig’s account contrasted sharply with the complaint in the case, in which an undercover officer said that Craig, while occupying a stall in the men’s room, engaged in actions ‘‘often used by persons communicating a desire to engage in sexual conduct.’’

Tuesday, flanked by his wife, Suzanne, Craig stated three times that he was not gay.

Craig pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct Aug. 8 and was most recently lambasted by well-known Republicans Mitt Romney and Senate Minority-Leader Mitch McConnell. Republicans have also called for an ethics probe on the Senator.

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On the local front, however, Payette County Commissioner Larry Church and Payette Mayor Doug Henderson are more concerned with the good things Craig has done as a politician and an elected leader.

Church said he doesn’t know enough about the details surrounding Craig’s arrest and guilty plea to comment other than to say it’s unfortunate from a political standpoint.

“I know that he’s been an outstanding leader for the state, and I don’t think that changes no matter what happens,” Church said. “I’ve known Larry since high school, and he’s always been community-minded and an outstanding leader. I don’t know a lot about his personal life.”

Church said, should Craig weather the scandal and decide to complete his term and run for re-election in 2008, he’s not sure how Idaho voters would factor in his arrest and guilty plea.

“Well I think they’re going to want more information, that’s for sure,” Church said.

Henderson also said he couldn’t comment on the situation.

“Well, I think right now it’s way too early to really pass judgment,” Henderson said. “Nobody knows for sure what really happened. I don’t want to be too quick to judge anybody.”

Henderson said, however, he hopes if Craig serves his term and runs for re-election, voters would keep in mind what Craig has done for the state. He said he didn’t see how a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge would trump so many years of political leadership, and he said he thinks sometimes too much attention is paid to politicians’ personal lives and conduct than what they have done as a public official.

“If there’ s more to it then it might be harder for voters to overlook,” Henderson said.

He did say if the accusations directed Craig’s way regarding his sexual orientation and what happened in the bathroom June 8 are true, it would be harder for voters to forgive simply because Craig was dishonest.

“I think the dishonesty would be more of a factor,” Henderson said.

On the broader political stage, both Church and Henderson said Craig has done a lot for Idaho, both as a Congressman and Senator. Each one agreed losing Craig in the Senate would be difficult for Idaho as well because Craig has tenure and power there.

“Regardless of your political beliefs, it weakens Idaho as a power in the Senate,” Henderson said.

Political strategist Jasper LiCalzi, a professor and chair of the political economy department at Albertson College, however, said he thinks Craig’s legislative career is over. LiCalzi said, however, he didn’t think Craig was going to run again, even after the 2006 election.

He said Craig has run into problems with his colleagues regarding immigration recently, he’s getting older and he’s part of the minority in the Senate, which wouldn’t make for an easy time.

“So this would be a time for him to get out,” LiCalzi said. “Now I think there’s no chance at all.”

Also, LiCalzi said, Craig lost a lot of political influence after former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott stepped down because he was a close colleague with Lott.

“After all these things, I’m not so sure he wants to run again,” LiCalzi said, adding the latest incident most likely just sealed Craig’s fate in Congress.

LiCalzi said the question isn’t whether Craig is going to run again, it’s whether he’s going to complete his term or resign because of political pressure from high profile people on the national level like McConnell and Romney.

“They’re the people (who) can push him out,” LiCalzi said. “He’s defiant now, but I think he’s waiting to see if this blows over.”

LiCalzi said how this story has exploded is “incredible,” but said part of that has to do with the slow time of the year in the news cycle. Also, he said, he thinks some people are interested in putting it into a narrative of the Republican party, tying Craig with other disgraced conservative politicians, such as Mark Foley, because of dishonesty about indiscretions that conflict with their political stance. Also, he said, it is a salacious story, which is always popular.

LiCalzi said he doesn’t necessarily think Craig’s political career is over altogether. Craig could still have a good deal of political influence if he leaves Congress soon and becomes a lobbyist, which LiCalzi thinks is an ideal situation for Craig.

“If he doesn’t stick it out too long, I still think he could be influential with his colleagues,” LiCalzi said.