A couple of my posts recently are so timely with the Larry Craig news (the bathroom incident of the Idaho senator).
There was a story in today's New York Times, a controversy, about whether journalists had an obligation to report on Larry Craig, or others like him, where apparently there had been talk for years on their secret lives. The existence of the Internet and the blogosphere had really forced their hand and it was pushed to the surface.
The article said there was a kind of ''gentlemens' agreement'' not to report on these kind of things, unless something extreme happened. That was pretty shocking. Shows you what an anachronism the mainstream media has become.
How could they not report on a senator who railed against gays, voted against gay legislation, was one of the most energetic in going after Clinton, and preached family values from one of the most conservative states in the country? And there is 25 years worth (according to the publisher of the Idaho paper and other sources), of information that he led a secret life. How is this not newsworthy?
Larry King had a panel discussing Craig, and had Robert Weiss
on, an expert on sex addiction. Weiss had some very insightful observations on sex addiction, the compulsive nature of it, the compartmentalization that goes on within the addict, and the frequent arrogance (that was heard on the tape with the arresting cop) that accompanies it.
Being or seeming. It was and is, about seeming. I think his wife is still in denial, from the expression I saw in recent photos. Oh how I feel for her when she realizes the lie her life has been. The former Mrs McGreevey (closeted new jersey governor), was on and said there are 2 million women in the same position, most of them not aware their spouses are leading secret lives.
To have one's exposure be so public, be the subject of ridicule and conjecture (as here!), what a high high cost for the luxury of seeming, of the mantle of power and privilege, material comfort and social acceptance.
What is the alternative?
If he really were who he is, what would that be? Who would she be? Poor Mrs Craig seems to have a hobbling walk, as though she is in some physical pain already...
It is fascinating, because most of us of hide, just in varying degrees. This is just on such a grand scale.
