NPR: Craig: Then again, maybe I won't

Craig: Then again, maybe I won't

Republican Sen. Larry Craig is having second thoughts.

Late Tuesday, his spokesman said that the Idaho senator may rethink his decision to step down from his seat on Sept. 30. Craig said last weekend that he planned to resign after the uproar from his arrest in a restroom at the Minneapolis airport during a sex sting and his guilty plea on a misdemeanor charge.

"We're still preparing as if Sen. Craig will resign Sept. 30, but the outcome of the legal case in Minnesota and the ethics investigation will have an impact on whether we're able to stay in the fight — and stay in the Senate," spokesman Sidney Smith said.

The New York Daily News reports that Craig received a vote of support from his children, who angrily denounced the GOP leaders who couldn't seem to denounce Craig fast enough after the Minneapolis arrest became public.

"I was angry," said Michael Craig, 38, who appeared on ABC's Good Morning America with his sister Shea Howell.
"These people are friends of our family, friends of my dad," he said, adding that he was disappointed at "the lack of public support, when I know so many of his colleagues back on Capitol Hill have worked with my dad for 30 years."

The New York Times reports that one of Craig's lawyers, Stanley M. Brand, has advised him not to resign his seat.

As the Top of the Ticket blog points out, the idea that he won't go is not going to be a popular one in GOP circles.

9:38 AM ET | 09- 5-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Others have suggested that the reason the Republicans abandoned Craig so quickly was because he would be replaced with an appointment from a Republican governor plus, of course, the many scandals. Many Republicans claim that they dumped him because he pled guilty of a reduced charge.

I think he ought to fight it. His actions were ambiguous--no money passed between him and the sergeant. Also, any attorney could make the charge go away given the comments of the sergeant on tape, which show bias.

If he were to resign, he would not easily overcome the shame of such a public censure by his own party.

Sen. Craig is clearly a hypocrite--he does that which he despises. He hates what Jung calls his shadow self. But is that so new in Washington?

So, fight on, Senator Craig. You deserve more respect from your party, which you have served diligently as a loyal soldier over many years. Make them pay.

Sent by julia ann | 10:00 AM ET | 09-05-2007

Someone who used a lot of stereotypical analogies once said to me that gay people wear purple. I replied, "What? You're saying the Minnesota Vikings are gay?" fred call aka bigbro

Sent by fred call | 4:41 PM ET | 09-05-2007

First Larry Craig pleads guilty; then he decides he shouldn't have. Next he announces he'll resign; then, a few days later, he decides, well, maybe not. He appears to be coming apart at the seams. Do Idaho's voters even want him in office anymore?

Sent by Chris | 5:47 PM ET | 09-05-2007

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