Captain's Quarters -

While I don't approve of men consorting with prostitutes, I also don't get that upset about it. If he's a married man (and I presume that he is), then he's got some 'splainin' to do to his wife. But resign? From embarrassment, perhaps.

It's always lovely when these sanctimonious blowhards who bludgeon you with their "family values" rhetoric get caught with their pants down.

Mr. CallGirl wants to legislate morality for the entire country. He needs to look in the mirror.

What was it Jesus said about hypocrites?

I hope he resigns. I like to be able to keep a straight face when I ding Democrats for doing nothing about Gerry Studds and Barney Frank. At this point, I'm disgusted enough with the Republicans that their rebuke can't be too harsh in my eyes. It will have to get worse before these Republicans start to get better. As much as it pains me to say it, they didn't learn a thing from the 2006 elections, and I think we conservatives are looking at spending a long, long time out in the cold thanks to these dogs. Sorry Mr. Vitter, you should have thought about the consequences before you started hiring hookers.

Senator Vitter is one of my senators. While I don't approve of his consorting with a prostitute, he apologized publicly, said he'd discussed it with his family, and it was over and done with. He admitted his error and took responsibility for it, he didn't try to weasel out.

He was one of the most staunch anti-immigration bill senators. I don't want him to resign. My overall impression is that he's been doing a good job.

Our other senator is Mary Landrieu. Vitter is MUCH better.

This is just another example of the MSM trying to get Republicans in trouble.

When that horn dog Clinton had extra-marital sex, none of MSM even mentioned it.

But, let a Republican's phone number innocently appear on some Madam's list, and the MSM goes bananas.

Vitter was just probably odering out for pizza and misdialed the number. And, since he was polite, he didn't immediately hang up, but in the gentlemanly southern way, acted respectfully toward a woman who is called Madam (a honorific title in the South).

His apology to his wife is due to his well known and well documented inablility to correctly dial a push button phone while eating pretzels. He has had much difficulty in remembering that they are buttons and not those round thingies.

I understand that he will now check into rehab for this dialing problem, joining other Republicans with such similar disabilities.

Well, crapballs. Much as it pains me (for the reasons YouGottaBeKidding & Al Maviva have given), I gotta say that he should do the honorable thing and resign. I especially don't like that Gov. Blankstare would get to name his successor, but them's the breaks. Yes, he screwed up (possibly literally in this case...), and has owned up to it. He still needs to set the proper example by stepping down. This lapse of judgement will be an albatross around the neck of everything he does from now on.

He didn't have to tell anyone it was his phone number and could have let the press find out for themselves.

He said he had already confessed it to God and his wife a few years ago, so what else does he need to do?

I don't condone what he did but if he truly repented I can't find fault with him now. It's not up to me to judge him.

Why should he resign? At least he didn't do anything shameful in his congressional office, I presume. Far different from making the Oval Office a house of ill repute.

This is a non issue.

Resignation is rather harsh for this. But should he resign, his successor depends on the timing. Keep in mind that Lousiana has elections in offyears, and they're having one this year.
Should he resign when the case goes to trial (e.g. because he has to give evdidence and doesn't think he can be effective as a senator anymore) it's quite likely that his successor will be named by.... Gov. Bobby Jindal (R).

I totally agree with Jeanette.

If Vitter had gotten a BJ in his Senate office, only then would it be an impeachable offense.

And, since he can recognize his own phone number, it proves he is more than intelligent enough for your average GOP voter.

His previous statements on supporting Christianist family values and against Gay marriage, more than make up for his misdialings. After all its "Adam and Eve" not "Adam and Steve". It's the mo's who are destroying marriage in America, not some harmless heterosexual encounter with a prostitute. (As a good neocon, he probably didn't enjoy it, or even take off his pants.)

"Good ol' boys club".....

Someone (in the know) should write a piece about a typical week in the life of a US Senator. It's no wonder why Trent Lott and the rest of the "old school" Senators want to squash talk radio & bloggers; they all want to keep things as "business as usual" without facing any scrutiny; above the law... These folks have a very serious job to perform; I find it hard to believe that this type of behavior; the parties, the late nights, the cold cash, have anything to do with the actual work load.

Both sides of the isle are littered with this scum; this is a national problem rather than a partisan problem.

If Vitter had gotten a BJ in his Senate office, only then would it be an impeachable offense.

Oh really? Engaging in a legal activity is now an impeachable offense? geez.

The only reason he confessed was to pre-empt and try to control
the fallout of being a dirty adulterer who enjoys whores.

And I'm glad that cheating on your wife with a skanky 'ho is a non-issue as long as you fess up - or you're a staunch anti-immigration bill senator.

Good to know! Thanks.

Thanks Tom, you've illustrated my third statement. Keep up the good work.

" . . . And, since he can recognize his own phone number, it proves he is more than intelligent enough for your average GOP voter.. . . "

Just some early morning random observations here.

It seems that the gleeful lefties mumbling incoherent anti-Christian bigoted slurs like "Christianist" would probably have no problem with say Teddy or Patrick Kennedy's names appearing on the list just as they had no problem with Bill Clinton being serviced by an young intern in the White House while discussing troop deployments to the Balkans. Unlike those who they label "Christianist", they seem to believe that if you have a moral standard that you must be sin free. Perhaps it is a lack of religious education that leads them to this conclusion. I suggest you at least go read up on Martin Luther if not St Paul himself. They also seem to believe that if you live in a moral vacuum like the Kennedys or the Clintons you can do what you want. Maybe it is just pure partisanship that says what ever the Democrats do is right and what ever the Republicans do is wrong even.

The Libertarians have yet to make an appearance with their lame argument that Prostitution is a victimless crime that ought to be legal so there is no big deal here. While I might sympathize with this position Prostitution is a crime in the District of Columbia, and one ought to respect the law. I think it would be lame to treat Senator Vitter’s indiscretion as an act of Civil Disobedience.

I, a poorly practicing Christian, believe that we all have our peccadillo and moral failings and I am not one to point out the speck in another man’s eye while I ignore the log in my own eye. Unlike the anti-religious bigots on the left and to some extent on the neo-Libertarian side I neither give condemnation to those I don’t like or excuses for those I do. Sins have a funning way of punishing the sinner. I sort of work on the view that hypocrisy is the homage that vice pays to virtue. Feel free to violate moral norms but also be prepared to pay the penalty when you get caught.

I see the leftists are whipped up into their usual "at least we're not hypocrites" frenzy.

Hypocrisy means you aim high and miss the mark. I think it's the aiming high part that befuddles lefties.

You see, a hypocrite is far more honorable than a militant nihilist who, by definition, could never violate a principle for the simple reason he's never recognized one.

Get back to me when the guy wags his finger on national television, scolding and insulting us: "now you listen to me, you ignorant rubes, I did not... have... sexual... relations... with that madame, ...".

Get back to me when the republican puts a hit squad on the madame and starts a smear campaign revealing that the girl(!) is a "stalker."

It won't happen. You see, that's a level of disgrace reserved for the democrat party.

To paraphrase Shakespeare . . .

"hypocrite, thy name is neocon GOP"

Continuum -

Wanna buy some "carbon offsets?"

Spare us.

Thanks Tom, you've illustrated my third statement. Keep up the good work.

Oh, you're one of the good guys. Nevermind, carry on.

Vitter joins the old time religion, as a Pharisee

http://www.vitter2004.com/News/Read.aspx?ID=20

Vitter Statement on Protecting the Sanctity of Marriage

“This is a real outrage. The Hollywood left is redefining the most basic institution in human history, and our two U.S. Senators won’t do anything about it.

We need a U.S. Senator who will stand up for Louisiana values, not Massachusetts’s values. I am the only Senate Candidate to coauthor the Federal Marriage Amendment; the only one fighting for its passage. I am the only candidate proposing changes to the senate rules to stop liberal obstructionists from preventing an up or down vote on issues like this, judges, energy, and on and on.” stated David Vitter.

(Be quick, before Vitter takes this down from his website.)

Down here in bayou country, there've been rumors about ol' Dave's dalliances for years:

http://www.politicsla.com/columns/Tidmore/2004/March/032604_inside_track.htm

Those rumors just got a lot more credible...

Clinton has a "smokin'" affair with a chubby intern; that's a family matter. Teddy Kennedy allows a young woman to drown; that was a family matter; William Jefferson uses NG to get him to his house to dig out $90,000 to try to hide his corruption that we know was a family matter, Patrick Kennedy sleep drives and that calls for rehab.
Vitter was wrong. But by Beltway standards, what he did was mild. He killed no one, he put no one in harm's way by driving while taking sleeping drugs, he took no kick-backs and hid them in his freezer.
But you can wait (not very long, I might add) for the party of no morals to take to the podium and talk about the corruption of morals in the opposing party. You see, it is OK if you are lining your own pockets, just don't line someone else's.
Vitter did the right thing but he won't be sent to rehab, he won't walk around in a neck brace while attending the funeral of the woman he allowed to die, he won't be calling the NG to take him through flood waters to get the "evidence". He'll take the heat like a grown-up and that is the difference between him and those on the other side of the aisle.

There's no way Vitter will have to resign. What he did on the immigration bill makes him velcro proof as far as I'm concerned.

You play, you pay. And apparently literally so in this case.

I can't work up any righteous indignation in support of Vitter. I find it tiresome that whenever something like this happens we all reach back and find examples of similar conduct from the "other" side.

That being said, I also can't come up with a lot of foaming rage about what he did either. He's Louisiana's problem. The voters there will presumably let him know what they expect him to do, resign or not resign.

When will public figures learn that nothing, absolutely nothing stays secret anymore?

Clinton has a "smokin'" affair with a chubby intern; that's a family matter. Teddy Kennedy allows a young woman to drown; that was a family matter; William Jefferson uses NG to get him to his house to dig out $90,000 to try to hide his corruption that we know was a family matter, Patrick Kennedy sleep drives and that calls for rehab.
Vitter was wrong. But by Beltway standards, what he did was mild. He killed no one, he put no one in harm's way by driving while taking sleeping drugs, he took no kick-backs and hid them in his freezer.
But you can wait (not very long, I might add) for the party of no morals to take to the podium and talk about the corruption of morals in the opposing party. You see, it is OK if you are lining your own pockets, just don't line someone else's.
Vitter did the right thing but he won't be sent to rehab, he won't walk around in a neck brace while attending the funeral of the woman he allowed to die, he won't be calling the NG to take him through flood waters to get the "evidence". He'll take the heat like a grown-up and that is the difference between him and those on the other side of the aisle.

Sorry, Tom, I apologize.

I didn't realize that Vitter belonged to the Washington branch of the Jimmy Swaggart, Timmy Haggerd Church of Redemption and Rehab.

The makes it all OK.

Actual Wendy Vitter quote:

"I'm a lot more like Lorena Bobbitt than Hillary. If he does something like that, I'm walking away with one thing, and it's not alimony, trust me."

- Wendy Vitter, 2000, talking about the Clinton scandal to the New Orleans Times-Picayune

http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2004/10/29/lousiana_race/index.html?pn=3

Sitting back & chuckling at Continuum's continuing "Blue & Blue" with Tom.

"Hypocrisy means you aim high and miss the mark."
Posted by: bulbasaur

You know when the repugs start re-defining words they're in a bind. Yesterday another lost soul tried to redefine "conservation" for me...

And docjim thinks the only "splainin" Mr. I Can't Keep My Dick In My Pants Vitter has to do, is to his wife. Apparently, It's okay if you're a republican. The sanctimonious crowd just had their butts handed to them, again. LOL!

Geez Continuum

You sound like the NYC theater people I used to hang around with...all the hate they constantly droned drove me to get out of that Church of Perpetual Hatred for Anything Not Gay.

Thanks syn, . . . I didn't know that Swaggart was a big 'mo, too.

I just thought he messed around with underage girls.

I appreciate your update.

Me, I just hope The Capn's phone # doesn't come up. :)

What's a 'big 'mo?

And is there a 'little 'mo?

Any relation to mojo?

Good thing you didn't use the word 'ho' or MS. Modo would have sent you off to sensitivity training camp to clear your head.

Syn, I'm learning a lot from you.

Silly me.

I thought adultery and 'hurin' it up threatened the "Sancitity of Marriage".

Thanks to you, I realize the only threat comes from "hot, man-on-man action".

(Cool, wait 'til I tell the wife.)

With that in mind, I now understand how Republican Senator Vitter is a paragon of Neocon Virtue.

Careful there, GOP08_DOA:

"You know when the repugs start re-defining words [hypocrite] they're in a bind."

I might not have a fancy college degree like you, but I'm pretty interested in classical languages and stuff like that, and I'm pretty sure hypo-crit refers to falling below a standard of judgment.

Like I said, leftists by the very nature of who they are can't fall below (that's the hypo part, GOP08_DOA) a standard of judgment (that's the crit part) because they have none.

There's no redefinition going on here. Just recognition of core meaning, and based on that I certainly understand your bewilderment.

"He's Louisiana's problem. The voters there will presumably let him know what they expect him to do, resign or not resign. "

I suspect they'll bounce him for paying $297.

I'm disappointed, I thought the first outed politician would say "Whoa--sex was included? But--she only shook hands!"

Seriously, if Vitter came out tomorrow and said "The Republican party has made clear it's too intolerant to forgive a personal fault--I'm switching to the Democratic Party"--would you crowing Donks refuse him?

Insight into the mental life of the lib is easy.

I recall a rape trial of a high-profile celebrity whose defense was something like, yes he did it, but he never hid the fact that he was a low-life so the girl should have seen it coming.

That's a good emblem for the lib moral code right there. "We're a-moral hedonists, so don't hold us accountable ever, for anything."

This is why libs seize on the hypocrite attack. It's effective because it's asymmetrical; because libs know they could never be found guilty of it.

Hey "Yell".

The Donks wouldn't refuse him.

But, he'd have to wait line, behind all the other Republicans who are now jumpin' off the Good Ship GOP.

"Cap'n, I kenny keep the bow from crashin' on those big whores astern."

(Chuckles. . . . $297.....Sex included?.....LOL)

(Yah, I know astern is the rear end, but I figured with Timmy Haggerd, I'd have to include this so the evangelicals would understand.)

bulbasaur, dang it. This isn't about having a degree. It took me less than a minute to go to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary. Obviously, you have the internet too:

Etymology: Middle English ypocrite, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin hypocrita, from Greek hypokritEs actor, hypocrite, from hypokrinesthai
1 : a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion
2 : a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings

This describes Vitter to a tee! There's your "core meaning," if that's really what you're aiming for. But I think you and some of your nice friends are just looking to give Mr. Hypocrite a pass. Which wouldn't surprise me in the least.

Continuum, here's something else you might learn from me, back in the day when I was a member of the sisterhood feminist had already ruined the Sancitity of Marriage when they decried the idea that people who are in love do not need a piece of paper(as in marriage license) to prove their love, in other words in the mind of the feminist you and your wife are backward rubes conned by The Church to buy into the 'Sancitity of Marriage'

Did you marry just for the benefits?

In any case, are feminists wrong about their belief that one does not need a marriage license to prove their love or are gays right that one needs a marriage license to prove their love?

I know where Christians stand on the issue since they haven't changed since the dawn of marriage however it appears to me that feminists are in direct contradiction with gayist when it comes to 'Sanctity of Marriage"

This thread exemplifies why I have so thoroughly lost interest in partisan politics.

Calm down, folks. For one thing there probably will be some Democrats on that list -- in fact Dem are more manly with more sex-drive so more likelihood that some went to Palfrey -- so you'll get your chance to do whatever right-wingers do when they are happy.

But the issue is not extramarital sex but sanctimony and general BS. If Vitter hadn't tried to portray himself as such a pure man, then I'd just say "Hey! Leave him alone. He's got enough troubles at home." But it's that damn purity thing that makes me totally enjoy watching the guy squirm. And if Louisiana Dems can take him down, I say go for it.

The guy is from Louisiana so he is probably just building his resume for a run for governor. You can't expect to serve in statewide office there before you've been accused or convicted of something.

Syn, you are absolutely right.

The "Feministas" have indeed ruined the sanctity of marriage.

I, too, long for the good old days when a woman's place

was in the kitchen,

in front of stove,

barefoot,

pregnant,

and with 3 youngin's hanging on to the apron.

(BTW - please don't show the last sentence to my wife. She thinks that she's my equal, and I don't want to upset her pretty little head. Or, get some bruises on mine.)

I see no reason for resignation. At least not until William Jefferson, who's alleged offense is actually an offense against U.S. citizens steps down.

At least Barney Frank is probably safe this time around.

Hey, does anybody know yet?

Does Vitter have to resign as Guiliani's Southern Regional Chair?

Doesn't seem fair. ( Although the Republican who the FBI indicted for selling drugs in SC did.)

You ALL - dems AND repubs - decided long ago that what happens inside the pants of public figures is important news, so please, STFU with the accusations that the other side is one iota morally worse than your own. The back and forth name dropping of losers from both parties provides ample proof that both sides of the aisle are EXACTLY the same.

That people are suggesting otherwise is laughable.

"both sides of the aisle are EXACTLY the same."

Thanks for the lesson in moral and intellectual relativism dave, but if it's all the same to you, I'll stick with the party that believes 9-11 was committed by islamic extremists, not Israel or GW Bush.

There is a difference, and I think many of us know it. Join us, won't you?

bulbasaur:

If you're done clouding the issue with irrelevant blathering, the fact on the table is this: a married public figure banged a hooker. What should happen to that guy?

Oooh - I can't wait for your answer.

Vitter's my Senator.

As has been stated above, the rumors had been around for years, but nothing concrete had been reported. (I have a relative in the media who had been calling Vitter a scumbag for years, but I figured that's because the relative's political views are pretty far left.)

Much like former Rep. Bob Livingston before him, who represented the same suburban New Orleans district, I think that any calls for resignation are overblown, no pun intended.

The main difference between Vitter and certain other politicians is that he apparently used a call girl service instead of having members of his staff or the office intern service him, then didn't lie about it under oath.

If Vitter has to resign, he needs to wait until January 2008 at the earliest.

Gov. Kathleen Babineaux-Thibideaux-Geautreaux-Deaux'tKnowHerHeadFromHerAssheauxl Blanco isn't running for re-election because she's so universally unpopular down here, so there's no reason why the nation's most incompetent governor should be naming the replacement for the state's first GOP senator since Reconstruction.

That would mean that the appointed Senator would be in place for only about 10 months, thus being on the ballot for the 2008 election along with Mary Landrieu's Senate seat, which is up for election this cycle.

What's the big deal?

Gee, Rywall, "language, please".

My only concern is that the neocons are now getting their political plans from Comedy Central.

Kind of makes you long for the good old days when a Republican merely mispelled potato.

(C'mon, it's all between friends, did Jon Stewart write the Republican campaign releases?)

Gee dave, let's enforce the civil law?

Now, won't you help us convince leftists to admit the existence of a moral law?

bulbasaur-

Both sides are identical immoral cesspools.

I'm surprised your giant intellect can't seem to grasp that.

If you ever do, let me know.

SeattleMAN,

Good luck getting the LA Dems to put Vitter out of office.

The Dem party in LA is having so many problems that they told at least one of their candidates in a state-wide runoff to concede because they didn't want to throw money at an election they couldn't win.

(That was the LA Secretary Of State race to replace the deceased Fox McKiethen. The Dems decided to concede that runoff to BR District Attorney Jay Dardenne because they were short on cash and the turnout results from New Orleans, the state's big Dem stronghold, were weaker than expected.)

Considering the standard Dem plan in every statewide election is to bus voters to the polls in New Orleans en masse, they're going to need to come up with a new playbook if they're going to want to compete in post-Katrina LA politics.

I might not have a fancy college degree like you, but I guess I'm thinking that the pecking order of goodness is like this:

1. the conservative who admits there is a moral law and fails to maintain it.

2. the liberal who denies the existence of a moral law but still uses it as a tool to attack others.

3. terrorists.

I believe it is you Dave that is being obtuse. If they were both the same, Barney Franks, Ted Kennedy, William Jefferson, Robert Byrd, Chuck Schumer, John Murtha and Alcee Hastings to name of few of the current crop, would not be serving at all or at least not in a leadership role.

Just asked Trent Lott, Tom Delay, Newt Gingrich, Bob Livingston, Henry Hyde, etc.

BTW, Gonzales needs to go.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/09/AR2007070902065.html?hpid=topnews

Vitter Flashback: Clinton should resign.

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) first got his start in Congress after replacing former Rep. Bob Livingston (R-LA), who “abruptly resigned after disclosures of numerous affairs” in 1998.

At the time, Vitter argued that an extramarital affair was grounds for resignation:

“I think Livingston’s stepping down makes a very powerful argument that Clinton should resign as well and move beyond this mess,” he said. [Atlanta Journal and Constitution, 12/20/98]

(Now, I'm certain. Comedy Central IS writing the Neocons' political talking points.)

YOU ALL CONTINUE TO PROVE MY POINT.

You Americans simply refuse to apply the same moral standards to both parties, so this crybaby fingerpointing always happens when someone gets caught "polling the electorate".

Grab a shred of objectivity for fu**'s sake.

Are you dense Dave? There is already a double standard on applying moral standards. That's the point you seem to not want to acknowledge. The Dems get away with it and the Republicans do not. That's the objective finding.

How hard is that to understand?

I'm actually with dave rywall on this:

You ALL - dems AND repubs - decided long ago that what happens inside the pants of public figures is important news, so please, STFU with the accusations that the other side is one iota morally worse than your own. The back and forth name dropping of losers from both parties provides ample proof that both sides of the aisle are EXACTLY the same.

We have Cunningham, the filthy dems have Jefferson. We have Trent Lott, they have Sheets Byrd. Now we have David Vitter to match Barney Frank... and all the other members of Congress (R and d) who can't keep it in their pants. To borrow a phrase, you will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy than the US Congress (except wherever the Clintons are at any given moment).

The discussion also gives me a moment of pause. I stated earlier that I don't think he should have to resign for (apparently) consorting with prostitutes. Have we (I?) defined deviancy down so much that this kind of thing is acceptable for a public official? If a man won't be true to his marriage vows, how can we expect him to be true to his oath of office? Did Vitter's conduct place him in jeopardy of blackmail?

I'm changing my mind. Out with him! If that idiot Blanco-stare wants to appoint Jefferson to take his place... Well, maybe the good people (if any) of Lousy-ana will be a bit more careful who they elect next time.

Personally, I wish we still lived in a society where this kind of thing was kept secret (though the addition of probable lawbreaking in this particular case complicates matters). But we don't.

We are so polarized, and so filled with hatred and rage, and so willing to use anything and everything to win elections, that decent reticence is no longer possible. CNN will report nasty things about Republicans, while The American Spectator will perform the same "service" regarding Democrats. And both sides will rush to claim that it just goes to show you what the other side is like.

But once it's out, I think it's rather silly to tell voters that they have to pretend not to know what they know. "None of my business"? OK. Then keep it from me. I don't mind. But once I know, don't tell me that I have no right to use what I know in making political decisions.

Neocon Truthiness - - Deny, Deny, Deny, Apologize

http://www.louisianaweekly.com/weekly/news/articlegate.pl?20040329m

The Weekly's inside political track....
By Christopher Tidmore
03-29-04

Congressman Denies Affair With Prostitute

For the first time, Congressman David Vitter has spoken out publically about allegations that he had an 11-month affair with a known prostitute named Wendy Cortez.

On WSMB radio last Saturday, a caller who identified himself as Elwood asked Vitter about charges made by a member of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee in the Weekly that the then-State Representative had had an affair with a known prostitute in the French Quarter.

Elwood said, "Would you be willing to sign an affidavit that you have never known, met or had relations with one Wendy Cortez?"

Vitter responded, "I think you know that that allegation is absolutely and completely untrue...I have said that on numerous occasions...I'll say that in any forum...Unfortunately, that's just crass Louisiana politics, now that I am running for the Senate. I have made that clear that it is all completely untrue...And, it's obviously politically motivated."

Congressman Vitter had previously refused any comment on the charges. The story appeared in this newspaper just days after Vitter dropped out of the race for governor in June of 2002. The Louisiana Weekly published allegations that Cortez, a known prostitute, claimed that she had an 11-month affair with Vitter, a state representative at the time.

The story took on an extra political dimension in the last week of December, 2003 when a senior Democratic source revealed a series of attacks that were planned against Vitter. Foremost amongst them was the controversy over Cortez. He contended that the allegations will become central to the senatorial campaign.

Supporters of Vitter flatly deny the charges.

"I know it's not true. I don't give it any credence," said Jim St. Raymond, political consultant to Vitter.

Vitter's official spokesperson Tonya Newman said the motivation is revenge because Vitter defeated Dave Treen in the First District Congressional election to replace Bob Livingston two years ago. Bruno was a supporter of Treen's.

"All these rumors are obviously untrue. They are coming from his [Vitter's] enemies, and they have not been successful politically, so they are going after him personally -- and his family. I think it's significant to know that these people have had a vendetta against Vitter since he was in the Legislature," Newman said.

Vincent Bruno, secretary of the Republican Party of Jefferson Parish and a member of the RSCC, who supplied documentation of detailed accounts of his meetings with Cortez, along with specific testimony that she provided against the congressman, claims that he only came forward with the prostitute's name and personal information when pressed as a means to protect his integrity after Bruno was attacked on a statewide radio show.

"I don't know if the allegations are true...I only revealed them when attacked on the air...I bear no animosity towards him...I intend to support Vitter if he is the endorsed Republican candidate. I have no political motivation. I hope he wins the Senate race."

So Continuum in order for you to be 'equalized' did you castrate yourself or did you have your pretty wife do it for you?

I'm not a Christian nor am I married but I no longer accept social engineering of identity politics which has brought about our nation's polarization.

Oh, one other thing I love to cook.

If Vitter resigned and Blanco appointed a Democrat to replace him it would be the political scandal of the year. The Democratic Party would be shooting itself in the gut if that happened.

I'm with Dave on this one.

Every time some Republican suffers a lapse in moral judgment, we trot out the same old tired stories about Bill and Monica.

I don't see a lot worth defending here, Vitter paid his money and he took his chances. And I really don't see much value in a defense of "he's no more scummy than your guy." Vitter did this to himself on his own. He handed the opposition this spectacular opportunity to score cheap political points at his party's expense. And why wouldn't they take advantage of that?

As one (in)famous Republican once said, about how his opponents came after him when he got caught in a web of scandal and lies: "I gave them a sword and they stuck it in, and they twisted it with relish, and if I had been in their position I'd have done the same thing."

Seems to me that most of the posters here are considering this a non issue. He appologized for his SIN. Well posters, the last time I checked, engaging a prostitute is ILLEGAL. It doesn't matter if it should be legal or if he has made his peace with his wife and God. What matters here is he admits that he broke the law. I did not here any apology for breaking the law. At least he did it before taking office. Nothing worse that a law breaking law maker.

You don't have to defend Vitter to acknowledge the double standard. He should be forced to resign as keeping with the moral standards espoused by the conservative platform. But In demanding his resignation, we shouldn't allow the opposition to pile on. My point is that there is a difference between conservatives and liberals. Not necessarily in our personal failings but in how we handle them.

Well, Ed should have know this thread would be moonbat bait.

The fundamental childishness of the left is once again on display here, as evidenced by their burning conviction that of all the sins which humans are prone to, hypocrisy is the very worst. You have to be stuck on a mental age of eighteeen to think in this fashion.

docjim505: Have we (I?) defined deviancy down so much that this kind of thing is acceptable for a public official? If a man won't be true to his marriage vows, how can we expect him to be true to his oath of office? Did Vitter's conduct place him in jeopardy of blackmail?

I'm not sure that an insistence on moral purity in elected officials will increase their moral purity. I rather think it will just get you a lot more liars and encourage the redefinition of politics to a game of "Gotcha!'" --- and "Gotcha!" seems to be a constant theme here, doesn't it, starting with Vitter vs. Livingston?

I'm with Mayor Villaragosa. At worst, it's a peccadillo - perhaps of great importance to his wife, perhaps not - but hardly of nationwide, or even statewide, importance.

Flenser:

You have beaten me to the punch on this but I do have some observations on Shipley et al.

What strikes me about their comments is their childishness. Now I happen think that self-styled progressives suffer from adolescent personalities anyway so I should not be surprised.

Their comments remind of the kind of words the “cool” clique in high school would use if some nerdy kid got caught feeling up some fat chick in school yard. You see, when you are cool you can do pretty much what you want and still be admired by your peers, even the nerdy kid and the fat chick. But beware if you aren’t part of the “in crowd” and you get caught doing the same thing. Cool people play by a different set of rules with all sorts of special exemptions.

Some people never grow out of their high school mentality.

Their comments

Ok, Captain, if you're still reading these comments, we need a referee's ruling on this:

You say that Lieberman has the power to switch the Senate back to GOP control. Dafyyd and the Political Insider say: Not so fast. Who's right?

http://politicalinsider.com/2007/02/liebermans_switch_wouldnt_flip.html

Palfrey didn't make her millions on Vitter. And, only a fool gives a prostitute his real name! Let alone, his phone number! You want these ladies in the night calling you, again? HELLO

Of course, of the thousands of customers, isn't it funny that a republican name surfaces. And, then the woman's web site crashed.

As to Guiliani having to deal with the appitites of adult males, I think he's quite grown up. Heck, when he was running away from Hanover, he ran to an apartment, offered, where friends lived. Two guys. Shacked up.

I wouldn't fall out of me britches over this. It's not a scandal. Heck, there are men that screw goats.

And, what you learned in churches about sex? More drivel than not. But then they cater to the children in the audience. So you believe in Santa, huh?

You really have to question the judgement of this guy.

If a member of Congress is stupid enough to use the services of a paid prostitute, what other stupid decisions is he making?

What kind of people does he think he's dealing with? Is he stupid enough to buy the "Pretty Woman" scenerio of the "heart of gold" whore?

This is the kind of stuff that compromises intelligence. It's not at all acceptable. Regardless of the questionable morality, it's illegal.

He should resign immediately. The problem is, the incompetent, lying criminal hag Blanco will place an absolutely worthless Democrat into that seat, one that will likely openly sell classified information.

No good solutions here.

Continuum said:
"If Vitter had gotten a BJ in his Senate office, only then would it be an impeachable offense."

Funny, I thought Clinton was impeached because of perjury. I know they also accused him of obstruction of justice. But go ahead and keep making it all about sex.

BTW, Vitter should resign. You know why? Because we have always, and will always, legislate morality - so legislatures should be relatively moral.

People only recognize it when a law conflicts with their own sense of morality. [sarc] But for me, I'm tired of the federal government imposing it's moral judgments on people, throwing them in jail for the so called crime of 'perjury,' which is nothing more than the christofascist's norm of 'truth'.... [/sarc]

Flenser writes:

"The fundamental childishness of the left is once again on display here, as evidenced by their burning conviction that of all the sins which humans are prone to, hypocrisy is the very worst. You have to be stuck on a mental age of eighteeen to think in this fashion."

Hmmm, I guess Jesus Christ was a mental midget then...

How can you not offer an opinion on what Vitter did, and go straight to the political analysis?

This man has a wife, and four young children. People make mistakes, and for the sake of his family I hope this does not destroy his marriage, but surely we can find someone better to represent us. How can we fight cultures that oppress women when we're led by someone who degrades both his wife and the other women he sleeps with?

Cap'n Ed: What happens to Vitter? He got elected in 2004, so he has three years left on his term in office, replacing Democrat John Breaux. So far he has acquitted himself well in the Senate, but that may not make much difference now. He could be charged with a misdemeanor, although the statute of limitations has almost surely run out on that potential charge.

The Senate's website states that he is a "Class III Senator", with a term expiring in 2011, which is in accordance with the Washington Post database.

As far as I can make out from the online DC Official Code, he was liable under Title 22-2701 for "Inviting for purposes of prostitution", with a 3-year statute of limitations according to Title 23-113 - assuming that the prostitute was not a minor.

crossdotcurve

If you would like to quote the Bible or Christ to the effect that hyposcrisy is the greatest of all sins, knock yourself out.

Of course, you will have to obtain a copy and read it first, which I suspect is more effort than you are willing or capable of.

Cool people play by a different set of rules with all sorts of special exemptions.

Jerry, can you fill me in on some of these? I'm pretty sure I can't break any laws, but is this good for like a discount at Denny's? Front of the line at the clubs? Free cable?

Mr. Flenser,

Enjoy:

http://www.keyway.ca/htm2001/20010620.htm

http://www.jesuscentral.com/ji/jesus-parables-teachings/jesus-teachings/jesus-avoidhypocrisy.php

so wait, are the libs still mad that the conservatives tried to impeach Clinton for getting a blowjob, or are they now saying that he should have been impeached?

Because otherwise, those saying that conservatives are hypocrites now are similarly hypocrites for suggesting that it wasn't an impeachable offense then.

Also, not to minimize his crimes, but he wasn't actualy in congress when this took place, so there is no charge of abusing his office, nor a any coverup charges.

My mom only had one request for myself and my 2 brothers while we were growing up, in that she didn't care what we did as long as we didn't end up on the evening news. Jerry, how's that for a little progressive maturity? Lighten folks I'm sure no taxpayer dollars were used in supporting the senator's habit or impulses. Now Dusty Foggo......

Source:
Citizens For Legitimate Government
http://www.legitgov.org/

Updated! 'D.C. Madam' Phone List Names & Places
http://www.legitgov.org/dc_phone_list_names_220106-220806.html

Phone records from 22 January 2006 - 22 August 2006 have been posted.
Phone records from 22 January 2005 - 22 December 2005 have been posted.
Phone records from 19 December 2004 - September 2005 have been posted.

Posted www.legitgov.org 10 Jul 2007

Mr. Shipley:

Vehicular homicide does not apply to anyone named Kennedy who is a Democrat.

And that, even it were true, matters to me why?

Tom wrote:
And that, even it were true, matters to me why?
Becuase if it didn't matter to you it would make you a hypocrite

Mr. Shipley:

It means Ted Kennedy is the grand daddy of modern Senatorial misconduct but since hie is a Democrat it doesn't matter because he is exempt from normal rules.

To dispute that he not only got away with what for any of us would be vehicular homicde is denial of reality. Leaving Mary Jo Kopechne to die in the car is a far worse transgression then using Ms. Palfry's escort service.

But since Kennedy is part of the "cool set" he is not only exempt from the law, he is exempt from any sanction.

If you were 17 I would say grow up but like all leftest you suffer from arrested social development. You are doomed to perpetual adolescence so tell you to grow up would be a futile gesture.

Wow, so no progressives ever grew up. What kind of a moron comes up with such nonsense. "Oh, I cannot have a rational debate with ANY progressive, because they never grew up." The neo-cons live in a alternative universe. They and Mr. 29% have lost all credibility but remain in their state of denial. Please stay there neo-cons as the Democrats increase their margins in Congress too veto proof majorities. Hows that Jerry for not growing up? The GOP, the shrinking fringe element from the deep South. Heckuva job Bushie.

This tit-for-tat accusations are almost as moronic as those who engage in it.

BOTH sides will have numerous examples of horrible misconduct AND cases where the criminal got away with it.

As long as you are retarded enough to waste your energy pointing fingers across the aisle, then you will only be hacking away at the branches of corruption and not the roots.

I'm confused. Which members of Congress don't whore for money and votes 24/7?

So, it would seem that consorting with whores inside the tent or outside the tent would just be business as usual.

I don't condone any of it, but I find it hard to blush at anything a politician does since Clinton raised the bar.

TyCaptains: As long as you are retarded enough to waste your energy pointing fingers across the aisle, then you will only be hacking away at the branches of corruption and not the roots.

And have you noticed? Mention of actual policy in the post and in the comments is pretty much nil. The Cap'n stated "[Vitter] has acquitted himself well in the Senate", but didn't support the claim - and made an error regarding his term of office.

Policy can go hang. It's just gotcha! gotcha! gotcha!

Joe wrote:
Wow, so no progressives ever grew up. What kind of a moron comes up with such nonsense. "Oh, I cannot have a rational debate with ANY progressive, because they never grew up." The neo-cons live in a alternative universe. They and Mr. 29% have lost all credibility but remain in their state of denial. Please stay there neo-cons as the Democrats increase their margins in Congress too veto proof majorities. Hows that Jerry for not growing up? The GOP, the shrinking fringe element from the deep South. Heckuva job Bushie.

Posted by: Joe at July 10, 2007 9:43 PM

If your post is representative of most liberals then is it any wonder he suggested he cannot have a rational debate with liberals? You sound like a 3 year old. Did your mommy forget to tie your shoe laces, or you just cranky because she didn't buy you your GI Joe Doll?

Why would Palfrey call Vitter as a defense witness? Palfrey is trying to claim that her business included only legal activities, not prostitution. While Vitter is not going into explicit detail about what kind of services he got, the implication from his apology is that they were indeed sexual services amounting to prostitution. That wouldn't help Palfrey.

Mr crossdotcurve

That fails to answer the question I posed you, since it does not show that hypocrisy is a major sin in Christianity.

It does not even clearly apply to Vitter, who is not a "Pharisee" even by a liberal interpetation of the word.

And it fails to respond to my initial point. If liberals actually thought that hypocrisy was a major sin, to them, then I could accept that. Different people have different belief systems.

But I can't help but notice that liberals are quite indifferent to hypocrisy by liberals. For example, no liberals are frothing with rage that Al Gore lives the opposite of a green lifestyle. None are upset that Ted Kennedy is a billionaire businessman who owns his own oil company. None are peturbed that John Edwards publically slams Wal-Mart while trying to get the store to give him preferental treatment. Or that he worked with a business in the loan market for low credit hoembuyers, the same sort of business he has bashed as exploiting the poor.

In other words, you are hypocritical in your assignment of hypocracy to others.

What's truly funny here is everyone gets their undies in a bundle with amazed outrage every time one of these Congresscritters gets caught doing something. Is anyone really surprised? A bunch of well-off, if not rich, middle aged men who live far away from their wives and have plenty of time on their hands and non-demanding jobs occasionally use the services of call girls. Geez, who'd figure? I think everyone should be more outraged at how they all get together and steal a quarter of our paychecks or more and blow it on useless crap and pointless studies in the hopes of buying reelection.

It's very simple. Ted Kennedy lowered the bar for what is acceptable behavior in the US senate. If Kennedy keeping his seat all these years doesn't bother you, shut the hell up about Vitter and anyone else in politics who's committed lesser transgressions.

The little (R) and (D) next to a Congress person's name should have nothing to do with it.

Well, well, well. Seems lil' Davie was dipping his wick at the infamous Canal St. brothel down here in New Orleans:

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-8/1184136325309860.xml&coll=1

Tsk, tsk, tsk...a serial whoremonger.

Neo Con means former liberal mugged by reality.

If Swaggert was ever a Liberal then Saddam Hussain was a kind leader.

First of all Jerry and DD,

I haven't said one word about Vitter. Wipe the froth from your mouth and come back to reality.

Second, Jerry, why exactly do you think I'm acting like an adolecent? What have I said to make you think that?

DD,

Dead on target; well stated...

VITTER SHOULD NOT RESIGN!!!!!!!

He should stay in the Senate.

He is worth his weight in gold.

Everytime he makes one of his "Family Values" speeches, or tells how "man-on-man" action is destroying marriage . . .

Can you imagine the gales of laughter coming from Dem side,

and,

the rolling of the eyes and 'stares of death" from the Repubs.

As a matter of fact, if he even attempts to resign, the President of the Senate should refuse to accept it.

Let Vitter live out his shame and hypocrisy in the full view of the public.

No easy rehab way out for you, litte boy!

Here is a copy of Senator Vitter's Abstinence Letter from only a couple of weeks ago:

http://www.vitter.senate.gov/forms/abstinenceLetter.pdf

Vitter has worked to defund birth-control programs in favor of abstinence-only programs. He is perfectly happy to use the power of the United States Senate and Treasury to tell other people the proper way to have sex.

Did the good senator himself strap up when visiting the hookers?

crossdotcurve:
Abstinence programs are directed to teens and younger who are not yet adults in schools.

And sex ed programs tell people how to have sex, and are federally funded which means the US govt tells other people the proper way to have sex.