Oh Really?

Sen. Craig denies claim he's had gay relationships

by The Washington Blade

www.washingtonblade.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) called allegations from a gay rights activist that he's had homosexual relationships "completely ridiculous," according to a report in the Oct. 18 Spokesman Review newspaper.

Craig, who is married, denied the allegations through his staff, according to the report. Mike Rogers, a gay activist blogger, published the allegations on his web site, BlogActive.com, and repeated them on "The Ed Schultz Show," a syndicated liberal radio talk show.

Rogers refused to name his sources but said he is confident the incidents of consensual sex with a man did occur. Craig spokesperson Sid Smith said a lawsuit against Rogers "isn't out of the question" but to do so would be taking Rogers' allegations more seriously "than it deserves."

Rogers said he publicly outed Craig because he said Craig was being hypocritical for opposing gay rights and voting for laws that limit marriage to heterosexual couples.

"The senator says the story is completely ridiculous. Mr. Rogers has no facts to back up his story," Smith said.

Told of Craig's reaction, Rogers replied that it sounded like "a non-denial denial" because the senator wasn't denying the events occurred, according to the report. Smith said later that it is a denial: "They absolutely did not [occur]; there is no basis in fact."