Idahoans React to Craig's Gay Denial

Aug. 30, 2007 — -- For nearly a week, Republicans across the nation have sought to distance themselves from Idaho's Republican Sen. Larry Craig. Yet, reaction in his home state to news that the senator pleaded guilty to a disorderly conduct charge from alleged behavior in a Minneapolis restroom has been less frenetic.

Craig was arrested in a sting set up by airport police to deter solicitation of sex in the airport's public restrooms.

Elsewhere, Republicans have issued statements denouncing Craig as a hypocrite and calling for his resignation. At a sports bar in downtown Boise Wednesday, however, no one was focused on the latest Craig news leading each hour on the cable news stations playing from televisions mounted around the restaurant.

In Idaho, the first college football game of the season for Boise State, tonight, is in some respects, more the talk of the town than the news about the senator.

Craig, who is married, maintains that he pleaded guilty to make the incident go away, that he is not gay and that the whole matter was a misunderstanding.

News of the arrest led the Idaho Statesman to publish a series of anonymous allegations of homosexual encounters with Craig. In this socially conservative state, where Craig has enjoyed wide margins of electoral victory, the allegations can be explosive.

But, rumors about Craig's sexuality have been swirling around the senator for decades, and for most in Idaho, it is not the first time they have heard that their senator might be gay.

While some Idahoans have expressed disappointment in Craig, many are still willing to give their senator the benefit of the doubt. Idaho's populace also has a libertarian streak and many here say the public scrutiny of Craig's sex life is in bad taste or irrelevant.

Local reporters call Craig the face of Idaho politics and doubt that Idahoans would not return him to the Senate if he ran again.

But, Craig has undoubtedly done himself damage with his guilty plea. Many close watchers of the senator do not find his excuse believable.

Bryan Fischer, executive director of the Idaho Values Alliance, says that Craig has been "outstanding for Idaho, for families, a faithful advocate for policies that protect the sanctity of life, marriage and family." Still, Fischer believes that Craig should resign.

"The rumors have circulated for many years — I'd always dismissed them. They couldn't be corroborated. They weren't verified," Fischer told ABC News. "When these charges surfaced on Monday, I felt that, out of courtesy and respect, he should be given an opportunity to explain his actions on that day."

"I went to the press conference needing to hear that from him — to explain his actions and his decisions on that day in a way that clearly demonstrated his innocence … and the senator chose, instead, not to address his conduct on that day. That leaves me with the conclusion that his guilty plea does, in fact, represent an acknowledgement that he engaged in inappropriate behavior. I did not find his comments persuasive or convincing," Fischer said.

Idaho's Republican Gov. Butch Otter is Craig's longtime friend and would be responsible for choosing a replacement for Craig in the Senate, should he resign. Otter has spoken to Craig by phone since news of the arrest broke and remains publicly supportive of Craig and his wife, Suzanne.

"It is upsetting when a friend runs into trouble, but I have known Larry and Suzanne Craig for almost 40 years," Otter said at a USO event in downtown Boise Wednesday. "As a public servant who has made mistakes in my private life, I am mindful that you don't really know who your friends are until you stumble. I want Larry and Suzanne to know that Laurie and I stand by them."

Fischer was disturbed that Craig had his wife, Suzanne, at his side when he appeared before reporters Tuesday — during the appearance, Craig explained his actions and denied allegations he is gay.

"It has troubled me when politicians bring out their wives when they're dealing with an issue as difficult for their wives as these kinds of issues are," said Fischer. "I see the look of anguish and pain on the eyes of their wives. That probably shouldn't be put on display. A man in that situation should step forward and take the heat as an individual, and not use his wife as a prop to gain sympathy."

Nicole LeFavour, a gay Idaho state representative, found Craig's statement particularly troubling.

"I hope he realizes that that statement, because it was somewhat unbelievable at the time, really does hurt his own integrity and also puts his party and our state in the spotlight in a way that's, you know, that's hard," LeFavour told ABC News.

LeFavour believes that Craig is gay and that going public is the best course, even in a conservative state like Idaho.

"I know it's not easy to come out. I know what sacrifices people make, especially on the level of politics he is in. But there are people who serve as openly gay members of Congress, and it's possible in our state. If someone of his caliber and his experience, said, you know, 'Yes, that's the case. Now let me get back to work. Let me do your business.'"