WASHINGTON (AP) — A GOP leader Sunday denied a double standard in pushing Sen. Larry Craig to resign after a sex sting guilty plea, while remaining silent over GOP Sen. David Vitter's involvement with an escort service.

He said.

A senior Democrat said a double standard by Republican leaders is exactly what occurred.

He said.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., the Senate Republican campaign chairman, said Craig "admitted guilt. That is a big difference between being accused of something and actually admitting guilt."

"David Vitter never did that. Larry Craig did," continued Ensign on ABC's "This Week" program.

Important distinction. For Republicans, you are only guilty if you admit guilt.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, expressed a contrary view on "Fox News Sunday."

"One, I say there's a double standard," said Leahy. "Secondly, I don't think they'll ask him (Vitter) to resign because, of course, he'd be replaced by a Democrat. It's easier to ask Larry Craig to resign because he'd be replaced by a Republican."

Idaho has a Republican governor who will appoint a successor to Craig. Louisiana's governor is a Democrat.

You know, that Leahy is one heck of an attack dog. I'm glad we've got him kicking ass and taking names with regards to the whole White House ignoring subpoenas thingy.

Craig of Idaho pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in a men's restroom and announced Saturday he will leave the Senate at the end of the month. He was caught in a sex sting at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport in June and, despite his guilty plea, now insists he did nothing wrong.

If only he hadn't admitted his guilt - he'd still be a sitting Senator. But, wait a minute...

Vitter of Louisiana has not been charged with a crime although he acknowledged his Washington telephone number was among those called several years ago by an escort service.

Prosecutors say the escort service was a prostitution ring and have accused the woman who headed it of racketeering.

So all he admitted was that someone had his number? Uh, no. He actually said, "This was a very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible." I'm pretty sure he didn't issue that statement because his number was in someone's rolodex. Vitter was admitting to knocking boots with prostitutes, and he wasn't in Nevada at the time, so I'm pretty sure he admitted a crime.

Craig's conduct was "embarrassing not only to himself and his family but to the United States Senate," said Ensign. Before Craig's announcement, Ensign had strongly suggested that he resign.

Craig attempting to engage in a little how's-your-father in a men's bathroom: embarrassing to the United States Senate. Vitter lacing up the old diapers and making baby noises with the professional madams: worthy of a standing ovation by the United States Senate.

[...]

Gillespie agreed with Ensign that Craig's guilty plea made his case different from that of Vitter.

"The fact is that Sen. Craig pled guilty to a crime, and therefore was convicted of a crime. Sen. Vitter has not been charged with a crime, let alone convicted of one. So there's a pretty big distinction here," Gillespie said on "Fox."

That is a big distinction. Nobody splitting hairs here. Sure - a little goalpost moving - because now the key is being charged with a crime and convicted. You know, like Scooter Libby.

I'm sure glad the media are holding the GOP accountable. By the way, just so we're fair and balanced, Hillary and Obama were in bed (figuratively speaking) with that villainous Norman Hsu and his tainted filthy lucre. See, the Democrats do it, too.