It would be difficult to forget the breaking news that was the
talk of "Breaking Stories, Breaking Waves,” NLGJA’s 2007
National Convention & 4th Annual Media Summit: the June
arrest of Sen. Larry Craig during a sex sting at a Minneapolis
airport bathroom.
We reacted to the news by adding to the convention programming
a question-and-answer teleconference (moderated
by yours truly) with Dan Popkey, the Idaho Statesman reporter
whose coverage Craig labeled a “witch hunt.”
After the incident broke, Popkey and other journalists
kicked into overdrive to cover the senator’s ongoing story. And
one journalist even secured a coveted and notable on-camera,
face-to-face interview with Craig.
When it was later announced that NBC News’ Matt Lauer
would interview Craig in mid-October, I didn’t have any expectation
that the exchange would lead to startling revelations. But
I was intrigued about what direction the questions and answers
could take, especially with the senator’s wife, Suzanne, taking
part.
I think Lauer did a commendable
job overall. It was at times clearly an
uncomfortable exchange all around,
both for Lauer and the Craigs, and it
gave viewers a bit to think about. But I especially want to zero in on
one particular point in the interview.
Lauer noted that Craig had several times said publicly he is
not gay. Lauer pressed the senator on that: “You’re going to have
to forgive me for this, are you technically not a homosexual? Is
it possible you’re bisexual?”
Lauer deserves praise for asking about bisexuality — something
so rarely addressed in cases like this (and which got scant
attention since Craig’s arrest came to light). I was frankly surprised
and delighted that he went there; it needed to be
addressed and would have been a highly disappointing oversight
if he hadn’t done so.
Yes, Lauer’s sheepish “You’re going to have to forgive me for
this” is a less-than-noble lead-in. But it reflects a significant
issue that we’ve talked about many times: journalists’ discomfort
in asking about sexual orientation when it comes to LGBT
individuals, and the perceived shame that comes with doing so.
I’m not surprised Lauer was uncomfortable and felt the
need to apologize in advance. That’s exactly the reason why
journalists avoid “asking the question” to begin with. Reporters
fearlessly ask a public figure whether they frequented a brothel
(hello, Sen. Vitter) or had sex with that woman (and hello to
you, President Clinton), but will not ask about sexual orientation
if it’s LGBT-related because it’s somehow shameful to do
so. That has to end.
So while the approach was bothersome — I certainly
wouldn’t have couched it with a forgive-me-please — I’m glad
Lauer at least put it out there. He wore his discomfort on his
sleeve but did his job.
On the flip side, Lauer was rightly challenged for not
expanding that conversation further and asking Craig whether
he was a man who has sex with men. That additional bit of
nuance is crucial at this stage. As NLGJA National Board
Member Libby Post noted in a commentary piece last month, “These are the guys who don’t identify as gay. You’ll never find
them at a Pride parade, but you will find them furtively searching
for a quick one while their wives are taking a nap during a
Provincetown vacation.”
If bisexuality is rarely addressed, the phrase “men who have
sex with men” is even rarer still. We all have much more work
to do, and it’s incumbent on all of us to educate our peers about
that.
Something else to consider: Lauer told the Chicago Sun-Times that his job “is to ask middle-of-the-road questions and let
the audience judge for themselves.”
Whether or not one fully agrees with
that, he did ask some questions that
enabled us to see the Craigs as we hadn’t
previously.
I was fascinated watching not only
how Lauer’s comfort level fluctuated,
but especially the body language and inflections of both Sen.
Craig and his wife throughout. There was a great deal to see and
hear, as subtle as it was at times, and viewers could draw conclusions
along the way. It was indeed revealing.
I think Lauer’s interview, while not groundbreaking, was
noteworthy. I’m sure other journalists would have handled it
differently as, really, no two on-air journalists are alike. But only
a few years ago even ABC News’ Barbara Walters didn’t ask
Ricky Martin in a point-blank manner, “So, are you gay or not?
Yes or no?”
In the end, just consider this: if NBC News hadn’t landed
the interview — clearly an uncomfortable one — the public
wouldn’t have been given the chance to see their reactions and
process whatever they could.
Now I just want to know when a news organization will get
an interview with the police officer who arrested Sen. Craig. I
say sit both men down in a room, turn on the camera, and witness
even more tension and uncomfortable glances.
