guest editorial

My dad is an avid and frequent editorial writer. He's got something to say about almost anything, particularly if it's political in nature. I am immensely proud to have a father who is not only self-educated but also regularly and intelligently engaged with current affairs and topics that matter to him. He has had an impressive 165+ editorials published since 1972! If only I had such a strong voice.

To give you the flavor of his writing, I am posting, with his permission, a recent editorial about Senator Larry Craig.

Sept. 07, 2007

Editor, The Herald

Senator Larry Craig’s misdemeanor confession and resignation, and later retraction, have created a firestorm of controversy within the Senate and have also aroused comments, pro and con, by 740+ bloggers. Senator Craig, once the darling of his homophobic colleagues, when he sought to censure Congressman Barney Frank while he was in the House, fell from grace when his men’s room toe tapping and hand gesturing caught the attention of an airport plainclothes man and, subsequently, his fellow conservative Republican Senators. Upon learning the nature of the misdemeanor, Republican Senator Mitch McConnell used the word, “unforgivable,” a word that Jesus, when he walked this earth, never uttered. Senator Arlen Specter, apparently a more charitable soul, told Senator Craig not to resign, as the Senate Ethics Committee had taken no steps to remove Senator Vitter from office when he violated his marriage vows, having bedded down with a prostitute. This is a classic example of a double standard — neither Senator violated the ethic rules that would require them to be removed from office. The only difference is that Senator Craig prefers his illicit affairs with men. Only the voters should decide whether they deserve to be re-elected.

Jack Arnold