ONE REPUBLICAN FOUND GUILTY OF ATTEMPTED TOILET SEX, ANOTHER CHARGED WITH SOME WEIRD STUFF IN A CAR WITH ALCOHOL AND A YOUNG WOMAN

Rep. Bob Allen (R-FL)-- guilty as charged

Larry Craig is still claiming it was all one big mistake, unconstitutional entrapment (and that he, like Mr. Garrison, is not gay). Unlike Mr. Garrison, Larry Craig hasn't gotten a sex change operation. Maybe he's waiting for Democrats to add protection for transgendered people to the new ENDA legislation. Meanwhile Senator Craig's (and Mr. Garrison's) brother under the foreskin, Florida Republican Representative Bob Allen was found guilty of soliciting sex from a male undercover cop in a public toilet.

Ironically, Allen used homophobia, the way many Republican elected officials do, to cover up his predatory behavior and sexual insecurities and confusion. Associated Press begins their coverage by pointing out that Allen "tried to pass tougher public lewdness laws [and] was convicted Friday of agreeing to pay for gay sex with an undercover officer in a men's park restroom."

After the jury visited the restroom last week they convicted Allen who now "faces up to 60 days in county jail and a $500 fine for soliciting prostitution, a second-degree misdemeanor. The Merritt Island Republican was accused of peering over a stall at Titusville officer Danny Kavanaugh, then agreeing to pay $20 to perform oral sex on the policeman." He still insists he's innocent straight and only offered to blow the policeman because he's afraid of African-Americans. He hasn't convinced John McCain who has not invited him to rejoin as chairman of the McCain for President campaign in Florida. Florida Republicans are encouraging him to resign from the state legislature and disappear from the public forum.

"House Speaker Marco Rubio said the House would act if Allen didn't. 'The House has reserved action on this matter to allow Rep. Allen the right to conduct his defense and to ensure that all the facts were made available,' Rubio said in a written statement. 'This conviction makes it impossible for Rep. Allen to represent responsibly the citizens of his district.'"

And Rubio is hardly alone. Florida's closeted gay Governor Charlie Crist called the whole mess "tragic" and said that it's up to the legislature to clean up the mess. And the chairman off the Florida GOP, Jim Greer chimed in; "The nature of this conviction requires Allen to seriously consider his ability to effectively serve the citizens of his district, which should be one of his utmost priorities. I am confident that Speaker Rubio and the House of Representatives will take steps to uphold the integrity of the office, which may include Representative Allen's resignation or other available options." In case he was being too subtle, Greer told the St Petersburg Times that Allen "needs to resign. He can't effectively serve his citizens with this type of conviction."

But don't think every Republican perp in a Florida (on Idaho) closet queen. Ex-congressman John Sweeney isn't even gay at all-- but he was arrested last night and charged with aggravated DW, swerving down the road erratically after 1AM with a 23 year old woman perched precariously on his lap.

The ex-congressman has a history of alcohol-related incidents, and he and his estranged wife have indicated alcohol was a factor in the domestic incident which led to an embarassing police report that was leaked to the Daily News, the Albany Times Union and Newsday shortly before last year's congressional election. Sweeney lost that race to Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand.

During the campaign, Sweeney was severely embarrasased when photos of him at a Union College frat party were publicized. In 2001, he drove his Jeep into a telephone pole in the Adirondacks, shutting off electricity to the nearby Willard Mt. resort and stranding skiers on a chair lift.

I bet none of the skiers voted for him.

UPDATE: THE VITTER DEFENSE

Hugh, a commenter at FDL says Republicans are beathing easy because the youngster on Sweeney's lap wasn't a boy and the Vitter defense has been working really well for them.


UPDATE: REPUBLICAN HOMOPHOBIC BIGOTS SCREAMING FOR BOB ALLEN'S HEAD

Although Allen is trying to appeal his conviction, his colleagues in the GOP are hardly being supportive or understanding and pressure is mounting on him to resign.

“If he doesn’t do the right thing and resign immediately, we’re prepared to begin the process to seek his removal from office,” House Majority Leader Adam Hasner of Delray Beach said.

House rules chairman David Rivera of Miami said that House Speaker Marco Rubio was considering forming a special committee that could ultimately recommend Allen’s ouster. Two-thirds of the 120-member House would have to vote to expel Allen, after an elaborate investigation that includes calling witnesses and demanding documents.