July 12, 2007
Republican Family Values (Bill Press)
Talk about hypocrisy. Louisiana Sen. David Vitter, one of the leading “family values” Republicans, is caught keeping company with prostitutes — and fellow Republicans rush to his defense.
Vitter’s the first politician to appear in the not-so-little black book of Deborah Jeane Palfrey, the so-called “D.C. Madam.” But this wasn’t his first whorehouse walk. Jeanette Maier, known as New Orleans’s “Canal Street Madam,” revealed that Vitter had been one of her regular customers, too.
Vitter admits having committed “a very serious sin,” but insists that’s the end of the story. “Several years ago, I asked for and received forgiveness from God and my wife in confession and marriage counseling. Out of respect for my family, I will keep my discussion of the matter there — with God and them.”
Wait a minute. That’s not what Vitter said about Bill Clinton. After Clinton made the identical argument, when details of his affair with Monica Lewinsky surfaced, then-state legislator Vitter condemned Clinton as “morally unfit to govern.”
By his own standards, then, David Vitter should be tossed out of office. Yet Utah’s Orrin Hatch (R), who helped lead the charge against Bill Clinton, said of Vitter: “I’ve never judged a human being on those type of issues.” (Does he think our memory’s so short?) North Carolina’s Richard Burr (R) sees no problem: “David has already resolved this with his family and taken responsibility for it.”
Why does all this matter? It shouldn’t matter, frankly. Who cares what two consenting adults do behind closed doors, even for a fee? It only matters because Vitter is such a hypocrite. Here’s a man who posed as “Mr. Family Values” in public, while leading his own immoral and illegal life in private. He’s a hypocrite, and so are those self-righteous Republicans who make excuses for him.
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I was just reading another report where a madam in New Orleans stated that Sen. Vitter has a diaper fetish. (I'm still trying to get that one of of my head) So maybe we can send him some depends for a gift?
Comment by Mike Coleman — July 12, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
The Repubs are the biggest hypocrits the world has ever seen after the scribes and Pharisees. They say they believe in hell but they really don't. If they did they would see themselves as sinners, when they really think they are above the rest. There will be a payback time for these folks at judgement day.
Comment by Gary Anderson — July 12, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
There is no excuse for Vitter and, indeed, he is a hypocrite. However, what you are doing is another example of "gotcha" politics and reporting. I guess you have nothing better to do than report that Vitter is a hypocrite. So what? Are you perfect?
Comment by John Simmons — July 12, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
You hit the nail on the head once again Mr. Press. It's about practicing what you preach. It's about publicly telling others to behave morally and meanwhile personally behaving immorally. That is wrong. Sen. Vitter hasn't returned to Washington D.C. probably because he's embarrassed. He deserves this embarrassment and I feel very badly for his family. By the way, in the amazing but true category, Sen. Vitter was the Congressman who replaced former Rep. Bob Livingston who didn't become Speaker and left the House because of an adulterous affair!
Comment by Jason Platt — July 12, 2007 @ 3:47 pm
I hope the democrats continue to push the envelope on this. Then the public will realize what a hypocrite Hillary is for allowing her husband to get away with it over the years.
Comment by Glumpin Berkshire — July 12, 2007 @ 4:58 pm
It is not hypocracy to be true to your husband. That is the dumbest thing I ever heard, and Igor didn't say it!!!
Comment by Gary Anderson — July 12, 2007 @ 6:47 pm
John Simmons defense for a bank robbery charge would be;
"sure I robbed the bank, but so did the guy across town, why don't you pay attention to him"?.
Characteristics (hypocrit) of a true neocon. Can't find any straws (logic) to cling on to there John?
Comment by Chris in NM — July 12, 2007 @ 8:30 pm
Just what we need a "Forgiver in Chief" for the next 8 years.
Comment by David Erlichman — July 12, 2007 @ 11:57 pm
Bill: Theoretically, isn't it possible that you are the biggest hypocrite of all? For instance, you defend and promote the Clinton's over and over. Now surely they must have some moral standards of some type, whatever those might be, and what they might be isn't the issue. There were many people that felt Bill Clinton wasn't fit to govern for various reasons, but when the Lewinsky story came out he had already lied to a grand jury, and it's possible that's what many referred to when they said that Bill Clinton was unfit to govern. Now it's obvious that Senator Vitter committed an act of hypocrisy but don't you do that everyday when you simply engage in partisanship? You ignore substantial issues involving democrats while slapping Republicans around at every opportunity. Doesn't that make you a hypocrite?
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — July 13, 2007 @ 10:06 am
Forgiver and chief would be better than the commander and thief we have now. Politicians should not set the bar too high for themselves. The Pubs have made this an issue to get votes, so they are the ones who should pay the price when they screw up as they often do.
Comment by Gary Anderson — July 13, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
Yes, Vitter engaged in hypocrisy and Clinton was unfit to govern. Contradiction? None at all.
Comment by Igor R. — July 13, 2007 @ 1:14 pm
Rob,
Apparently you missed one minor detail that all reps have in common; they go around ranting and raving about morals family values; progressives/dems don't. Reps validate themselves with such lies and the blind, church going faithful eat it up. Then when they get caught they go on about how they have repented, and made their peace with god and family, which makes everything ok in the minds of the right because it somehow, in some idiotic twist of logic, proves the power of the religion they rant about. You can't call someone a hypocrite if they haven't presented themselves as the opposite. Twisted, blinded, arogant right wingers! Based on their own beliefs they will have hell to pay.
Comment by mvansome — July 13, 2007 @ 2:16 pm
Of course I can Chris. When you would like to debate the issue as reasonable people without the name calling, let me know.
Comment by John Simmons — July 13, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
So because democrats don't talk about values they shouldn't have any? They also talked about a 100 hour program to accomplish many things. They passed a minimum wage bill which simply keeps people poor. Take off the minimum wage and watch wages soar. As far as those who are twisted, it's the ones who love to label others, simply for expressing their opinions. That's liberalism in all it's glory.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — July 13, 2007 @ 4:11 pm
Didn't say they don't have any, they just don't go around preaching fire and brimstone, death to gays and the evils of stem cell research, simply to fortify their fundamentalist foundations. So it right for the neo-cons to argue by deflection. That's conservatism in all it's glory. Didn't realize keeping the minimum wage stagnant was a good thing. Again twisted logic
Comment by mvansome — July 13, 2007 @ 5:04 pm
At the core of this debate is whether our personal lives affect our ability to pursue elected office. After all of the drugs I smoked in my personal "adventure story" of a life, I always knew in the bottom of my heart, that with every puff, I was "blowing away" any possible career in the military, law enforcement or politics. (So of course I ended up a lawyer…what else could I do?)LOL!!! If these professional politicans get caught breaking the law (prostitution is a crime) than they must pay the personal price. Speaking to an escort service from the floor of Congress, setting up adulterous encounters, (while debating the public's business), is unacceptable. Vitter's is toast. There is no partisanship underlying such a fundamental fact. Disgracing Congress in this manner must result in resignation. He is free to heal the wounds of his family and try to rebuild his credibility. But to serve in the US Senate with this baggage….No way!
Comment by David Erlichman — July 13, 2007 @ 7:33 pm
Why is it always these neo-tali-cons getting caught with prostitutes, pervering with kids, doing meth with male prositutes, and God knows what else? Is it in thier core pricipals to be sexually deviant and perverted. Is Dubya sexually distraught as well? Jesus, is the GOP overrun with a bunch of sexual perverts? WTF?
Comment by Lester Fields — July 14, 2007 @ 3:17 pm
I think that Bubba had a pattern of behavior that indicated that he is not a serious guy. My problem with him is that he was not a good defender of the United States. If he did the right thing for the country I wouldn't care if he and 15 of Monica's friends had a pajama party in the Oval Office every night. President Kennedy's extra-curricular affairs were legendary, but nobody really cares about them. In Vitter's case, I wouldn't want to see his wife run for office because anyone who is capable of tolerating what she has tolerated has to be suspect. Similary, Hillary has to be suspect for the same reason, but that's not her main problem by far.
I would rather concentrate on the values of Harry Reid. The English language doesn't have proper terms to describe the treachery of the "war is lost" scumbag now twisting whatever he heard from Petraeus into some sort of a story that he and Petraeus see eye to eye as to what needs to happen in Iraq. I don't care if Harry Reid is the force behind the Nevada brothels or not, I care that the word "truth" has no meaning to him at all.
Comment by Igor R. — July 14, 2007 @ 5:53 pm
Okay Lester, I guess Billy Clinton was really a Republican, and so is the Latino Mayor of Los Angeles, who was just caught messing aroung with a newsreporter, and I guess Barney Frank (whose young gay lover was caught running a male escort service out of Congressman Frank's home) is also a Republican. Get your head out of the sand, son — infidelity is a trait of BOTH Republicans and Democrats.
Comment by John Simmons — July 15, 2007 @ 1:23 pm