List: Fools for Scandal
When Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) was arrested for soliciting sex in a public toilet, he prompted a national tutorial on bathroom cruising. Here Dan Savage, author of the popular Savage Love advice column, picks the other great sex scandals of 2007.
1. When someone says "the GOP has issues" we no longer think "fiscal responsibility" or "limited government." We think, man, those dudes are messed up. When his number was spotted on the D.C. Madam's list of clients and rumors of an adult-diaper fetish began to circulate, Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) confessed to a "serious sin" but said his family and God had forgiven him. The GOP quickly forgave him too—then turned around and hounded Craig out of office. When it comes to sex scandals, the party swings both ways. Call for someone's head? Slap him on the back? It Depends™.
2. An undercover cop encountered Florida state Rep. Bob Allen (R-Pottsville) in a public park last summer. Intimidated by the officer's race (African American) and an impending thunderstorm, Allen says he did what any other conservative heterosexual male would do: offer the strange man $20 and a blow job. Allen refused to resign and later attended an NAACP dinner to make amends. The dinner was on a clear night, and by all reports Allen was too polite to talk with his mouth full.
3. In January, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom was busted for sleeping with his campaign manager's wife. See, Democrats have scandalous sex too—it's just less likely to be illegal.