Is it any wonder that so many in America are discouraged with politics in general, and the Republican Party in particular? This week another prominent Republican leader has been publicly disgraced for preaching one gospel while living another. A month ago, it was Sen. David Vitter, R-La., who was discussing his secret sins. Now it is Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho.
Craig was arrested in June on charges of disorderly conduct in a public men's room.
According to published reports, on June 11, Sgt. Dave Karsnia was investigating sexual activity in men's rooms. He was in plain clothes in a stall of the men's room at the Northstar Crossing in the Lindbergh Terminal of the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport when he noticed an elderly man with grey hair standing outside his stall. He peered in for several minutes before entering the stall directly next to Sgt. Karsnia's. The elderly man was Sen. Craig.
Sen. Craig repeatedly peered through the space between stalls and rubbed his foot up against the under cover officer's. This went on until Sgt. Karsnia showed Sen. Craig his police identification under the wall and pointed to the exit sign, indicating the senator must exit if he didn't want to create a scene. Craig refused to go until the sergeant told him he had no choice as he was under arrest.
On Aug. 8 Sen. Craig pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct although his office vehemently denies that he is a homosexual. Unfortunately for the senator, this is not the first time he has been accused of being a homosexual.
This whole sordid affair, regardless of the outcome legally for Sen. Craig, illustrates the dilemma we, who take our faith seriously, face. If such allegations were to surface about a Democrat, while doubtlessly some would find it noteworthy, no real damage would occur. After all, homosexuals are major players in the democratic coalition, along with unions, feminists and environmentalists. Democratic politicians dare not imply that there is anything wrong with a man wanting sex with a man. In fact, the democrats couldn't even find the will to condemn Bill Clinton for having oral sex with an intern in the Oval Office and found his lying under oath justifiable as "what any man would do under similar circumstances." They now celebrate Bill Clinton as their version of Ronald Reagan.
Republicans, on the other hand, are often referred to as the "Party of Values."
Unfortunately, Christians are to Republicans what homosexuals are to the Democrats – a member of their coalition and important to their success.
What we are being forced to recognize is that to many Republican politicians, we are simply a "necessary evil" to be catered to during election time and ignored the rest of the time. And for three decades, we have tolerated it as long as they throw us an occasional bone – like the Federal Marriage Amendment which is going nowhere because few have the stomach for the fight even though 70 percent of the American people whom they represent are for it as evidenced by the State Marriage Amendment progress.
Sen. Craig saw the clear political advantage of being against same-sex marriage in Idaho, but it wasn't in his heart. Had it been, all allegations of his homosexual behaviors would have fallen on deaf ears, and his colleagues would be running to his defense. Instead, his cry of innocence is falling on deaf ears and no one is standing with him. What a tragedy.
As a man of God, my heart goes out to him, and I say to him, no sin is beyond the reach of our Lord. As a public figure, I can relate to his cry that he is being falsely accused due to his increased visibility as a senator. And if he is, I truly hurt for him. But wisdom dictates to all public leaders that we must conduct our lives in such a way that evil allegations find no merit. Unfortunately for the senator, his family, his state and our cause, his life has not been lived in such a way.
What does that mean for us "values voters"? Does it mean that the preachers who love to point out that all politics are dirty, and Christians should not get involved are right?
Absolutely not!
What this latest scandal says to me is that we should press on with a determination to find men and women of character and principle – and help them get elected. We need leaders with moral compasses from within who cannot be bought and whose secret lives match their public lives. We need to celebrate and support those who do right and oppose those who do wrong, regardless of the label they wear.
I have no intention of retreating nor should you. After all, Christians don't lose unless they quit!
Rick Scarborough is president of Vision America