Yesterday, Roll Call revealed that Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) was arrested in June for “lewd conduct” in a public restroom at a Minnesota airport. On Aug. 8, he pleaded guilty to “misdemeanor disorderly conduct.”
While Craig says the police misconstrued his actions and that he “should not have pled guilty,” pressure for him to resign is already beginning to mount in conservative circles.
On NBC’s Today Show this morning, former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer called Craig’s police report “creepy,” adding that “I don’t think Larry Craig can survive this.” Watch it:
[flv http://video.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/FlesicherCreepy.320.240.flv]
Though Craig resigned yesterday from his position as Senate co-chairman of Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign, his spokesman, Sidney Smith, told the Associated Press yesterday that “it’s too early to talk” about his Senate future.
Smith’s comments have gone unheeded by prominent conservative bloggers, however, who have started shouting from their digital rooftops that Craig should resign immediately:
“Craig’s behavior is so reckless and repulsive that an immediate exit is required…He has to go.” — Hugh Hewitt
“I’m inclined to agree with Hugh Hewitt. The Senator did, after all, choose to plead guilty.” — Mark Steyn of National Review Online
“Hugh Hewitt calls for his resignation. At the least, he should confirm that he will not run again.” — Captain’s Quarters
“He’s a lying crapweasel. Should he resign? Well, yeah. If he cared about the dignity of his office, he would. But he obviously doesn’t, does he?” — Michelle Malkin
“He’s pled guilty. And we’re just finding out about it today. I can only say he must resign.” — Erick Erickson of Redstate
The GOP Senate leadership has refused to comment on Craig’s future thus far, only saying that they “just found out about this incident.”
“If they think this is going to be something that’s the same as (Rep.) Mark Foley — the sort of ‘drip, drip, drip, there’s more information that’s going to come out,’ Idaho-based political scientist Jasper LiCalzi told the AP. “They may try to push him out.”
UPDATE: First Read has more conservative blogs distancing themselves from Craig.
UPDATE II: Glenn Greenwald has much more conservative reaction.