Touting it as a “Geraldo at Large investigation you won’t soon forget,” FNC’s Laurie Dhue filed a report from inside a men’s bathroom on what supposedly happened last June between Senator Larry Craig and an undercover police officer, with actors in separate stalls rubbing their feet together.
After pointing out that the chances that Craig’s conduct was simply misunderstood by the police officer were “extremely low,” Dhue suggested that any stigma on homosexual behavior was the fault of the Republican Party.
Dhue declared: “I think the sad part about all this is that Larry Craig had to go to a public place — if it’s true, if he is gay — he had to go to a public place, and that’s the shame of homosexuality in this country right, today — at least the shame that the Republican Party puts on it.”
The segment headlined “Lavatory Lust” aired at about 8:43pm ET on Saturday’s Geraldo at Large. Host Geraldo Rivera set up the segment: “What is it about powerful men, with celebrities like George Michael who risk everything to have anonymous sex in public and perilous places, like airport restrooms? Laurie Dhue checked into the men's room to find out.”
After running clips of Craig defending himself, Dhue popped up in a men’s bathroom: “A staunch defender of family values takes a fall from grace over that now infamous incident in a men’s room....So was veteran Idaho Senator Larry Craig looking for love in some very wrong places? Or was he simply the victim of an embarrassing misunderstanding? It’s a Geraldo at Large investigation you won’t soon forget....”
After a staged re-enactment in which actors (viewers mainly saw their feet) playing Craig and Sgt. Dave Karsnia showed how Craig rubbed his foot up against Karsnia’s and repeatedly waved his hand under the stall, Geraldo asked the reporter: “So, Laurie, the odds are of this happening by chance — pretty low?”
Dhue, standing beside Geraldo in an outdoor plaza, put the blame on the GOP: “Extremely low. But I think the sad part about all this is that Larry Craig had to go to a public place — if it’s true, if he is gay — he had to go to a public place, and that’s the shame of homosexuality in this country right, today — at least the shame that the Republican Party puts on it.”
—Rich Noyes is Research Director at the Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Uh, Laurie, this is about
September 10, 2007 - 10:37 ET by Hero SquadUh, Laurie, this is about thrill-seeking, not about homosexuals being oppressed into finding love in the rest rooms of public places. There are certainly more discreet locations people could find for their rendezvous. These public locations, where the chance of getting caught is greater, are chosen deliberately for the thrill factor.
*****
"Why would the library ban a book like The Six Bunny-Wunnies Freak Out?" - Linus Van Pelt
Conduct
September 10, 2007 - 10:47 ET by allanfDespite his plea, so far, I've seen nothing to suggest Craig's actual conduct was illegal.
He would have hard a hard time touching my feet in the next stall, since they would have been no where near his feet. The mere touching of feet after a positive signal from a police office consitutes nothing. So what?
I don't blame it on Republican intolerance. It is Republican fear of being called corrupt by big media.
CRAIG IS NOT GAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 10, 2007 - 11:27 ET by TruthMonger...but if he really was gay then I think the shame mostly comes from the way Dems treat gay Republicans - its all stigmatization in those cases. Just look at how the gay lobby refused to come to Larry's gay defense in his hour of need:(...
Larry wasn't welcome at the 100% liberal gay brothels. So they forced Larry into the bathroom stalls instead...
Shame-shame-shame on you, liberal gay community:(...
Of course, Larry Craig is not gay - a very small and minor point lost in all of this - as usual:)
The truth
September 10, 2007 - 10:53 ET by iveseenitallMaybe Republicans are more truthful about their real attitudes. In my life I 've known many "liberals" who privately hate gays, yet give the party line in public. I've had to tell them to shut up with their foolish jokes. I've also known many blacks who hate gays. Gay hatred is across the board. Christian charity goes out the window when it comes to gays."Liberals" are hypocrites on this isssue. The MSM would have you believe that only Republicans are homophobes. Laurie Dhue has been hanging out with Geraldo for too long.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Sacrificial lambs...
September 10, 2007 - 10:59 ET by TruthMongerRepubs are honored to take the blame for everyone else's sins - it's very Christian of us:)
Bring it on MSM - crucify us, crucify us, crucify us....
So homosexuality is so
September 10, 2007 - 11:10 ET by motherbeltSo homosexuality is so shameful that Craig had to go to a PUBLIC place???? If it wasn't shameful, he would have been free to engage in homosexual acts in the privacy of a home or a hotel room?
Care to explain that, Laurie????
Two or more wrongs make a - mess?
September 10, 2007 - 11:22 ET by TruthMongerSo is this an attempt to SHAME repubs into being LESS SHAMEFUL? Brilliant!!!!
But whatever happened to religous TOLERANCE? Shame on the MSM. You know Muslims are against this homosexuality stuff, too - so this Fox "report" is kinda pissing on the Koran (no bathroom pun intended)...
Fox IS GOING TO START A MUSLIM RIOT HERE IF THEY'RE NOT CAREFUL HERE!!!!
So I guess this means Muslims are Republican now. Great! Finally the MSM can start running derogatory Muslim cartoons again:)!
But shame on Fox for shaming religious republicans for shaming homosexuals into bathroom sex - might as well shame us for the hetero bathroom sex too - and the school teacher/student sex while we're at it - or wait - is that the Dem-run public school system that is shaming teacher/student sex into the classroom instead of providing for student/teacher sex lounges?
Shame on them for that dammit...
He brought it on himself
September 10, 2007 - 11:26 ET by Tom PaineExactly - No one is “forcing” homosexuals to have indiscriminate, anonymous sex with total strangers in the next stall. That is his own (un)doing.
OK so we've PROVEN CRAIG IS GAY I GUESS...
September 10, 2007 - 11:35 ET by TruthMongerBut again TECHNICALLY just remember that he did not have indiscriminate, anonymous sex with total strangers in the next stall...or any sex at all in that bathroom whatsoever...
not important tho:)
It may have been a year or two actually since since Larry has had sex...
unless he's into viagra for some much needed assistance - like much younger fellows out there right now...
Must be
September 15, 2007 - 10:21 ET by well99Remember when he proposition the cop.His words prove it.Oh wait he said nothing.
I'd like to find Laurie Dhue
September 10, 2007 - 10:43 ET by mholland1I'd like to find Laurie Dhue in the men's room.........
Uncle Larry's Cabin?
September 10, 2007 - 10:56 ET by TruthMongerI just emailed the log cabin Republicans to stop being so shameful about fags..!
It's making us look bad:(
that should do it...
But with Laurie...
September 10, 2007 - 11:14 ET by sarcasmoIt might smell good! :) I'll resist the strong temptation to link again to that prescient Onion article from about a year ago!
And on a slightly-more serious note, Horendo's latest wife better watch-it WRT Ms Dhue...As I'm sure she's well-aware, from personal experience with him!!
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul.
Wait a minute. I thought
September 10, 2007 - 10:46 ET by nofateWait a minute. I thought the Fox News Channel is a conservative bastion that pollutes the minds of good liberals and never allows any liberal point of view. This is confusing. CNN must have slipped it into Fox's programming by mistake.
"The future is not set. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves."
Read the letter from Staff Sergeant Richard Mattice here:
http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/ghosts-of-anbar-part-iv-of-iv.htm If it doesn't tug at your heart, you belong on kos.
http://www.michaelyon-online.com
Yes, you moralizing
September 10, 2007 - 10:48 ET by MidAmericaYes, you moralizing Republicans, putting shame on homsexuals and brothels and public nudity and sex with children and sex with animals......
Shame on REPUBLICANS:)!
September 10, 2007 - 10:53 ET by TruthMongerWe're just no damn fun:)!
(waves hand under this post)
Your last line was touching my subject header...hmmm, by accident...or...?
Oh the shame:(
Restroom Visit
September 10, 2007 - 10:50 ET by ricklailSaturday I was using the restroom in our local Walmart. The guy in the stall next to me was tapping his foot. I called out "Larry Craig is that you?" There was not answer so it must have been a cop.
A bonafided and certified member of the beer guzzling, NASCAR watching middle class.
Hmmmm Let's see now...
September 10, 2007 - 11:00 ET by mattmWe have boys and girls. In order to get more boys and girls, boys and girls have to get together and procreate. If a boy and a boy, or a girl and a girl get together...we get nothing - except maybe AIDS.
The normal, natural, biological attraction is supposed to be between boys and girls, otherwise the species is doomed to extinction. And not one "religious" or moralistic aspect has to be invoked to make this conclusion.
And it's the GOP that put the "shame" to homosexuality??? I think not. It is the overt-homosexuality pushers that put the shame on themselves.
I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but homosexuality is, at best, a developmental disorder. Biology, sociology, history and religion all point to that fact. Rather than societal acceptance, these people need help - if they want it. Otherwise they can just keep their private lives private...which is what Craig should have done.
May so, but
September 10, 2007 - 12:08 ET by PamI am not too worried about extinction, as we have so many sinners amongst us, that engage in pre-marital sex, live in sin, having babies out of wedlock......
staged re-enactments
September 10, 2007 - 11:21 ET by Gary HallRich. As an aside to this unfortunate event, I was struck by this rush by the media to perform these re-enactments on TV. First there was the local news affiliate's effort, a day or so after the story broke, and now this demonstration. Perhaps everyone is jumping into the act. Attempting not to be off-color here, but I do not remember any of the news outlets back during the Clinton sex scandals attempting to re-enact the President's entanglements with that very young unpaid volunteer, Monica Lewinsky the intern. They could have acted out how the meetings were arranged. Perhaps Katie Couric might have played the part of Betty Currie. Dan Rather could have played the President, and Rosie O'Donnell could be Monica Lewinsky. Gee, they could have had lots of laughs acting out the complicated and contorted arrangements required for these discrete get-to-gathers. The re-enactment of the Davidoff cigars maneuver while the President was conducting an international call with a foreign dignitary, while challenging to portray without an X - rating, could have focused instead, on Clinton's ability to perform sexual acts while conducting the nation's business - multi-tasking.
The 9 separate incidents of oral sex could be acted out, but of course the editors would have to use the ole Vaseline on the lens trick to hide the details. Oh, I don't know. Does Rosie look good in Blue?
Of course, I'm still waiting for Hollywood to do the full feature movie on the entire episode. Oh, I forgot - they don't do that when the scandal is about the Democrats.
shame that the Republican party puts on it?
September 10, 2007 - 11:35 ET by kdizzydazeShame by the Republicans? That is beyond ridiculous. The only thing Republicans and Conservatives (and the majority of the country) want is for marriage to be between a man and a woman. That is the only right (????) that those pesky, evil Republicans are trying to withhold from gays and lesbians. I, for one, could honestly care less what happens behind closed doors between two CONSENTING adults. That is between them and God. Yeah, that's right, God is in there too somewhere - at least that is what I believe.
As for Larry Craig, my greatest hope is for the entire truth to come out - good or bad. And as for who he is in the senate - I do believe he only wants to protect the basic values (not outdated, basic) that define a family (Man, Woman, Child). Nothing more, when it comes to that issue.
Imagine how a gay or lesbian person would respond knowing the already pre-programmed animus towards anything conservative from within their own subset of society. Face it, as black democrats call black people "uncle tom" if they are conservative/republican, imagine what gays and lesbians would say or do to one of their own that makes the claim that they are, in fact, republican/conservative?
Too bad the right can't stick to the marriage issue
September 10, 2007 - 12:05 ET by PamI could care less if 2 people are gay, I support their decision, where I draw the line is at marriage. I happen to fall within the lines of where most people stand on the issue. However, you have many on the right that seem to go out of their way to make the issue more than a gay-marriage issue, and they do want to legislate what goes on in the bedroom.
Groovy Pam!
September 10, 2007 - 12:11 ET by TruthMongerI care about the welfare of gays - too bad you don't...but I can fill in for ya until you can find some time...
...so what are these "bedroom laws "I'm pushing to legislate again? I can't seem to find my Karl Rove fax on it:)...
Where did I mention your name?
September 10, 2007 - 15:12 ET by PamI didn't, but very telling about your stance. Your response is a perfect example of why we don't have a unified voice to a blog like kos.
Dizzy
September 10, 2007 - 21:26 ET by Sergeant ROCKSince when did 'gay rights' become a conservative issue? Sorry, but it's your buddies that you 'support' that are trying to legislate what goes on in the bedroom, not conservatives.
way off
September 10, 2007 - 21:48 ET by kdizzydazeI disagree. Legislating what goes on in the bedroom? Taken right from the left wing playbook. Nice.
As for who I 'support'. given my choices I would vote Republican everytime. At least I can disagree with a Republican about something and they will still hear me out. Any liberal friend I have ever spoken to either gets glassy eyed or foams at the mouth so much that true dialogue never takes place.
As for gays - I could give two craps about what any of them do in their own home - two consenting adults remember? And a right to privacy means I don't get to know and I don't have the right to know. Oh yeah, and if Barney Frank can get away with what he did without any punishment, (what was he again - 15 years old?) then apparently no one is legislating anything about what goes on in yours or any bedroom.
If the shoe fits...
September 10, 2007 - 22:01 ET by Sergeant ROCKIt's a fact that there's a gay agenda. An agenda that seeks to force the public at large to, not tolerate, but embrace their deviant lifestyle as normal. What's funny is that homophiles will declare that right wing fundies are trying to legislate what goes on in the bedroom when they are trying to re-define what marriage is through legislation at the same time.
Of course, we have these squishy Republicans within our midst that are trying to get us to capitualate to this agenda. For votes, of course.
i am way off
September 11, 2007 - 07:15 ET by kdizzydazeYou are right about the squishy republicans. And man are you right about the BS agenda being pushed forcing people to "accept" all things gay by the left.
The deviant lifestyle?
September 11, 2007 - 18:09 ET by PamWow, with a mental giant like you, those squishy Republicans won't get far...The majority of Americans, from all political persuassions, don't agree with gay marriage, but they do feel that gays should be able to be recognized legally as heirs for benefit/estate purposes.
Duh!
September 12, 2007 - 06:28 ET by Sergeant ROCKThere are already legal remedies available to accomplish, oh brainy one. The fact is, that apologists like you only seek to normalize this abhorrent lifestyle. What's next? Apologies for NAMBLA??
Did you mean Pam?
September 10, 2007 - 21:59 ET by kdizzydaze??????????
YES!
September 10, 2007 - 22:02 ET by Sergeant ROCKYES!
My buddies?
September 11, 2007 - 18:02 ET by PamWhat buddies?... The Defense of Marriage Act is a conservative issue, is it not?
Dingbat broads
September 12, 2007 - 06:25 ET by Sergeant ROCKNo sh*t Sherlock! DOMA is a reaction to sodomite apologists, LIKE YOU, who are trying to force a re-defining of what marriage is!
Why?
September 15, 2007 - 10:43 ET by well99"I didn't, but very telling about your stance. Your response is a perfect example of why we don't have a unified voice to a blog like kos."
If all someone wants to do is hear someone agree with them then it would be cheaper to buy a tape recorder.Kos is a joke.They are afraid of different views.Anytime someone posts something that doesnt go along with Kos views they get attacked by those wantabe communist.Their are some here with the same mentality but overall at NB you can pretty much state your opinions without being rallied against.Most times.
I agree with her
September 10, 2007 - 11:57 ET by PamThe extreme right blogosphere made much ado about this and it was an utter waste of time. Craig should be gone after for his stupidity...Not calling a lawyer, copping to bogus charges that never would have made it to court had he had an attorney, calling a press conference to announce his resignation, calling an attorney after the fact to get him out of trouble, changing his mind on quitting, and listening to Specter's advise..these are reasons to go after the guy, but those charges...sorry...Craig is guilty of stupidity, not homosexual behavior in a men's bathroom.
Larry the stupid
September 10, 2007 - 12:14 ET by TruthMongerguilty of stupidity - got it...
...some background on Larry the stupid...
Hey can we see your massively intelligent resume' sometime:)?
Wow, Wiki as the gospel truth
September 10, 2007 - 15:16 ET by PamI can't believe you posted that as a response....Ignorant and sad. You really believe what gets posted on Wiki....I'm sure Mike Rogers is your hero, of course he had nothing to do with that Wiki entry now did he?
Wikipedia is an actual resource here?
September 10, 2007 - 21:55 ET by kdizzydazeI have to agree. Wikipedia?!?!?!?! I had to laugh when by the second paragraph of the wikipedia file on Larry Craig the entire entry was nothing more than a rant about the bathroom incident.
BS
No wonder I'm missing Trace
September 10, 2007 - 13:34 ET by deedledeeNo wonder I'm missing Trace Gallagher on the Weekend The Fox Report...since Lori came back and took over the presentation it seemed a little different...now I know why.
***************************** "Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy." JK Rowling
I remember a report that
September 10, 2007 - 15:40 ET by BruzillaI remember a report that 20/20 did back in the early 1990s, aka The Clinton Years, that dealt with Gays using public restrooms on I-95 and other highways as hook-up places. They talked to a guy who had gotten arrested at one, and sked him which rest stops were used for this purpose. He said "give me a map". They hung up a map of the eastern US, and he took a pin, closed his eyes, stuck the pin in the map and said "there". He said to just go to the rest stop closest to the pin.
They sent a van with a hidden camera to the I-95 rest stop that was closest to the pin (I think it was in VA), and waited. Sure enough, you started seeing guys pulling up, getting out of their cars, looking around, and then heading off behind the building. Then another guy would show up, then another, then another, and on and on. After the crew had enough video of guys sneaking off, they decided to start trying to talk to them.
Many of these guys were doing this for the thrill, many were married and trying to lead "normal" lives while they did this on the side, many were just Gay and just too cheap to buy drinks in bars or pay for hotel rooms.
I Dhue declare
September 10, 2007 - 17:27 ET by Cool ArrowSo why can't he get lucky sitting on his stool at a gay bar.
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
Bad Reporting?
September 10, 2007 - 20:53 ET by the curatorThis story starts off by saying, "FNC’s Laurie Dhue filed a report from inside a men’s bathroom on what supposedly happened last June between Senator Larry Craig and an undercover police officer"
How in the world can you say 'supposedly?' The man plead guilty for goodness sake. If a guy pleads guilty to robbing a bank... then says aftwards, "Oops! I didn't mean to do that," do we suddenly start saying 'supposedly' in reference to his crime. No. Legally, Sen. Craig did everything he plead guilty to.
You are right - misconduct (a midemeanor)
September 11, 2007 - 07:57 ET by kdizzydazeYou are right - Larry Craig plead guilty to misconduct - some type of misdemeanor - he did not plead guilty to cruising for gays in a men's bathroom.
You see, this is where the facts start to get screwed with. And if you were in the position Senator Craig was in, you might do the same thing he did, which is PLEA BARGAIN.
Hey, I am not proclaiming his guilt or innocence, but having been in an airport stall before I have to say they are pretty small. And who of us would leave our luggage outside of the stall if we were in there doing our business? Imagine the outcry form the MSM had he left his luggage outside the stall and somebody lifted it from him. The MSM would've laughed and carried on about how stupid Senator Craig is.
Lauarie Dhue/Repubs to blame for "gay shame"
September 10, 2007 - 21:28 ET by merlin61I think that was a completely dumb commentary
by Laurie Dhue --- you are right ---she's hanging
with Geraldo too much. Why is Fox putting him
on tv more and more. We need less and less of
him.
Meet Bill O'Reilly's New Ombuds(wo)man...
September 10, 2007 - 21:58 ET by Howard_BealeWhy, it's Fox News' own Laurie Dhue!
Was this little Geraldo segment a dry run for her Factor gig? Did
O'Reilly appoint her, as his first paragraph suggests? Or does
introducing her as the "Most Ridiculous Item of the Day" sum up Billo's
true opinion of the new segment?