Federal Government
Crapo Joins Politicos Bringing Shame On Idaho
December 24, 2012 
Looks like Idaho Senior Senator Mike Crapo can expect lumps of coal in his Christmas stocking. Santa found out who was naughty and nice. The self proclaimed abstainer wasn’t watching traffic signals close enough.
Crapo has joined the ranks of Idaho politicos who have brought shame to the Gem State with his Sunday morning drunk driving arrest in Alexandria, Virginia, a Washington, D.C. suburb. At least he wasn’t in a men’s toilet stall.
Like most politicians who get caught red handed, Crapo issued the usual press release pleading foregiveness and vowing to not do it again–all after running a red light, getting stopped by coppers, and allegedly failing field sobriety tests. His blood alcohol level was reportedly .11.
“I am deeply sorry for the actions that resulted in this circumstance. I made a mistake for which I apologize to my family, my Idaho constituents and any others who have put their trust in me. I accept total responsibility and will deal with whatever penalty comes my way in this matter,” the statement continued. “I will undertake measures to ensure that this circumstance is never repeated.”
Perfect words coming from a Harvard and BYU educated Mormon Idaho Lawyer.
When former Senator Larry Craig got caught with his pants down (“I have a wide stance”) in the men’s room at the Minneapolis airport he told us he “intended to resign,” but recanted and has been trying to pay his legal bills with campaign funds. Craig chose not to run for election following the incident for which he was convicted.
Former Idaho Rep. John McGee ended up in the slammer earlier this year on sexual harassment charges while on probation for a DUI conviction. He too apologized after the drunk driving conviction.
George V. Hansen, once an Idaho Congressman, did time in a Federal prison for failing to file finance reports, but never apologized. In fact, he wrote a book critical of the U.S. Government.
POET PAUL’S TAKE:
Crapo’s arrest is on the police blotter
And will make for some juicy news fodder
So Mike I beg
Don’t get the attorney of Craig
Get the one hired by Butch Otter!
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Comments & Discussion
Comments are closed for this post.
Dec 24, 2012, 11:02 am
At least he didn’t use the excuse of chewing whiskey soaked chewing tobacco like our Governor did….
EDITOR NOTE–Add that one to the list. We forgot!
Dec 24, 2012, 1:26 pm
Not that I keep score; but, his press-release sounded awfully familiar to others I’ve read. Do you suppose that the folks in Congress get a set of canned press-releases to use for a variety of circumstances. Wonder if Mrs. Crapo is going to “stand by her man”? Or, is that only when the matter involves sex? Oh, yes, this is the circumstance where a religious leader of the necessary Denomination stands up and speaks out on behalf of the accused (caught red-handed, so to speak)
Dec 24, 2012, 2:09 pm
Hey BG are you losing your edge or is it the Christmas spirit. What about the former president of the U.S. Mayor Association or conference, Boise’s own Brent Coles who did jail time too?
Dec 24, 2012, 2:24 pm
So, he’s human. There is no shame on Idaho.
Dec 24, 2012, 2:31 pm
OK, Santa Claus. Heat’s on. Milk and cookies ONLY tonight!
Dec 24, 2012, 6:43 pm
Does anyone in Boise still sell coal?
EDITOR NOTE–Santa knows where to get it. (He lives in Virginia and Idaho Falls)
Dec 25, 2012, 6:57 am
Story goes :His only telephone call was to a friend telling him John Boehner was hidding in the trunk of the car.
Dec 25, 2012, 7:50 am
I think it’s unfair to put this arrest in the same category as 1. Craig mess (lies, deceit, parsing language) 2. the McGee mess (DUI, lies, deceit, property damage, and sexual harassment) 3. federal prison. If you want to pick on Crapo… pick on him for sitting in Congress for 20 years (some with an R pres and R control of both houses) and not doing anything to get the budget under control.
Dec 25, 2012, 8:16 am
The only way that this would bring shame upon Idaho is if he receives a “slap on the hand” like Mr. Mcgee, and allowed to use his political legalese to reduce a sentence that would normally decimate a regular citizen’s life.
If he REALLY is going to own up, then he better be in some of the court mandated treatment courses that are offered in places that are thick with stale cigarette smoke, stale donuts and perfunctory councilors. Oh and yes, thousands of dollars in fees, and no compassion or understanding of the fact that a “one time mistake” does not make you a criminal.
Dec 25, 2012, 9:43 am
Oh silly Mr. Guardian
Our Governor goes to a tight fitting jeans contest and gets a DUI and his political stock goes up.
In Idaho some thing like a DUI is a resume enhancement.
Dec 25, 2012, 10:50 pm
I must be getting hard to impress: between Larry Craig and Helen Chenoweth setting the bar so high, Crapo’s DUI seems like pretty small potatoes.
On the other hand, it’s only when you’re lucky that DUI is a victimless crime (unlike Craig’s bathroom exploits and Chenoweth’s fatal seat-belt allergy). Thank goodness he didn’t kill anyone.
Dec 26, 2012, 5:23 am
Idaho’s a place where we need hero’s!
Dec 26, 2012, 5:21 pm
According to the Washington Post, Sen. Crapo told police he had “consumed several shots of vodka” hours before he was pulled over and arrested. Could he have been imbibing Polygamy Vodka?
Dec 27, 2012, 11:31 pm
My but we have become judgmental as a people in this great Nation. Our Founders sat for hours in pubs getting to know “we the people,” and rode or staggered to the boarding house late at night.
History has it that sometimes frisky women were involved.
Sometimes dueling was the broken law of choice. Gambling was common.
And yet by many standards those were better men.
Let’s judge our senator on scales of law making and governance, and not on the insignificance of vodka shots.
Dec 28, 2012, 10:16 am
Horse Racer, I would probably have a couple of shots with him. I don’t think his drinking is in question but his decision to drive home after doing so.
Our Founding Fathers didn’t have 5,000 pound horse drawn carriages that went 60mph. That is the difference.
Dec 28, 2012, 2:16 pm
Clancy, points taken. I understand the legal difference.
I just don’t understand the “shame” issues. He broke the law, pay the fine, case closed. Shouldn’t even make the news. Yawn.
That’s my point.
Dec 28, 2012, 5:02 pm
The rumor out of the Crapo camp is that the vodka was made out of Idaho potatoes. All he was trying to do was to help the Idaho economy….
EDITOR NOTE–Rumor on the street is it was FIVE WIVES…https://boiseguardian.com/2012/05/29/state-booze-chief-sensitive-to-lds-polygamy/
Jan 3, 2013, 7:34 am
No one has addressed the religious angle here, why not? Some very bright people have commented, some serious, some comedic…but no one has expressed contempt, serious or comedic, for the FACT that this person who is a member of a religious organization that outlaws the drinking of alcohol was drinking. Not going to comment on the nature of politicians (saying one thing and…) but the idea that Crapo will apologize and somehow be accepted by his ‘church’ is indicative of the hypocrisy of his, and all, churches. He’s human, allowed to have a drink if he wants, just don’t wrap yourself in a Mormon cloak to get elected in Idaho.