Sen. David Vitter, R-LA, Hooker Hustler
Wow! Another Republican moral crusader, Sen. David Vitter, is caught with his pants down. And you're damn right I'm going to mention at every opportunity that he's a conservative Republican. And isn't it also interesting that when the "sin" occurred, David Vitter represented the same Louisiana Congressional District as his immediate predecessor, Bob Livingston, another moral crusader Republican who also got caught with his pants down. What is it with these folks? They get on their high horses about family values, the sanctity of marriage, and the moral decay of a secular, liberal America -- and yet they hypocritically plumb the depths of depravity themselves. And then they have the gall to chalk it up to their very "human" sinfulness and expect some empathy and forgiveness. I'm sorry, but I find it hard to be so empathetic and forgiving of their human frailties on such matters when I know that people like Vitter would be the first to pound anyone else with the moral hammer for having an adulterous affair with an upscale prostitute.
I know that I'm not perfect and that I have my own "sins" to contend with; but I can assure you that adultery and romping with prostitutes are not part of them.
I am a liberal Democrat male happily married for 14 years now to a liberal Democrat female. We have two lovely children. All in all, I'd say we are a very happy and well-adjusted family. My wife and I are both Christians who took our vow of marriage seriously 14 years ago and plan to keep it that way. Suffice it to say that our marriage has not suffered the indignity of adultery. And, personally, my own set of values would never lead me to play footsies with prostitutes. If I can avoid adultery and live my marriage vows faithfully, certainly I can expect David Vitter to do it.
And yet it is I, the liberal Democrat, who supposedly belongs to the party and the ideology of moral relativism and depravity. It is I, the liberal Democrat, who belongs to the party and ideology that supposedly doesn't embrace traditional values concerning marriage and family. Sheesh! Gimme a friggin' break already!
All I can say to the "Honorable" Senator is: Cry me a river, David Vitter, R-LA. But don't ever, ever speak to me about the sanctity of such things as marriage and family. And don't ever pretend to hold the moral highground over anybody. From my perspective, you've lost the right to do so.
If you really want to get a sick feeling in your stomach, watch Vitter describe the sanctity of marriage and defend the FMA. For considering marriage the single most important social institution in human history (and that's how Vitter describes marriage in his speech), he sure has a strange way of (1) showing respect for this all-important institution and (2) being a positive role model regarding it.
UPDATE: Apparently, there was some prior reporting and evidence of Vitter's adulterous indiscretion with a prostitute, which managed somehow to fly under the radar screen at the time. Well, not any longer. [Hat tip to Schroeder at People Get Ready for pointing to this October 2004 Salon.com story.]
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8 comments:
Huck
You are right that he should be held accountable for what he has done. However your refusal to forgive does nothing to harm him. Granting forgiveness benefits the “forgiver” more than the “forgiven.” Also forgiving someone does not bind you into trusting them.
Vitter’s sin does not change the fact of “the moral decay of a secular, liberal America.” And I wouldn’t talk too much about the Republicans in Louisiana as long as you guys still have Nagan and Blanco.
Congratulations to you and your wife. I’m always happy to hear about a successful marriage. My wife and I are at 18 years and have 4 beautiful, “conservative Christian” children.
P.S. How was the trip to Mexico?
don_cos - Thanks for injecting a bit of sanity. You are, of course, right. I should be forgiving, if not accepting. Not that it's an excuse, but I just get so incensed at the conventional assumptions held by many conservatives that liberal ideology is anathema to a decent, moral lifestyle. Just listen to Rose at RWN and one gets a little taste of what I mean. And I must profess a particular feeling of resentment at Vitter because, once again, my home state is stained by one of its politicians with a seedy story. What must you all think of us Louisianians when our public officials, from both parties, are so morally corrupt and bankrupt? We really are a good and decent group of people in this state, in spite of who we tend to elect to office.
I do, though, take issue with your association of liberalism with secular, moral decay. There is nothing any more inherent to liberalism than to conservatism which leads to the kind of moral decay in our society. Conservatives in equal numbers as liberals get divorces, engage in adultery, commit crimes, and live dissipated lifestyles. It is not political ideology that drives moral decay. I think it is partly a product of something inherent to the ethos of an amoral capitalism coupled with a scientific rationalism that has propelled us into this state of being. I know as many good and decent and moral secular liberals as I do bad and indecent and immoral conservatives, and vice versa. Political ideology, as Vitter's situation proves, is not the common denominator for the moral depravities that are observable in our current society.
On a lighter note, the trip to Mexico City was fantastic. I've been in the country of Mexico for almost five weeks now, and only in Mexico City over the last weekend for a brief visit to the capital city. We covered a lot of ground and it was exhausting, but it is always exciting. I'm returning to the States this Saturday and very much looking forward to it. Thanks for asking about the trip and congratulations on your own solid marriage and close-knit family.
“We really are a good and decent group of people in this state, in spite of who we tend to elect to office.” ~ Huck
I agree. As a matter of fact I think this is true of the majority of people in this country. Most are not political junkies like those of us who surf the blogs. And those non-poljunkies support one side or the other based on very minimal information. They mean well but do not always know what they are truly supporting.
I agree that (many) people are immoral regardless of their political affiliation. Vitter is a prime example of such. And despite being conservative I am not a rabid Republican. As a matter of fact I am not Republican at all, but am finding myself more and more anti-Democrat. This stems from the party being run by those who would eliminate any morals if it got them another vote. I cannot support what the Democrats now stand for.
That said I have something of a soft-spot for Louisiana. I lived there (in Marrero) when I was a kid.
don_cos - Didn't know you lived for a bit in Marrero. Then you can surely relate to the frustrations that we feel when our politicians go bad, especially the ones we think are, finally, good choices on the morals front.
Also, I just saw your comment to me at Cassy Fiano's blog. I left a response and also an apology. Just wanted you to know that.
Huck
I was a kid when I lived there (grade school age). But I have pleasant memories of the place. I still love fresh honey and red beans and rice (though not together). I have only made it back there once. I was on a ship that stopped in for a port visit and didn’t have much time to really look around. I have always wanted to take a vacation down there and see how it looks from an adult’s perspective.
My dad was stationed there (Coast Guard), and if it weren’t for family pressure, I think that we likely would have stayed after he retired.
And yes I do understand your frustration. Louisiana (especially NO) has a lot of history and culture that is worth remembering, but the focus seems to keep getting drawn back to your politicians and their various antics.
Anyway I gotta head to work.
Take it easy.
don_cos - If you ever do make it back to the New Orleans area for a visit, please let me know. It would be great to meet you, to show you around, and maybe to have a beer together. And I sincerely appreciate that you take the time to visit my blog every so often.
If I get a chance to head down there I will definately let you know. It would be good to get a look around with someone who knows the area.
But to offer a fair warning. One day around my herd of kids and you might regret the offer! ;-}
Not to worry, don_cos! I'm from a big family, so lots of kids around wouldn't phase me a bit. I'm one of six siblings, my father is one of 8, and my mother one of 10. So, I grew up in a pretty big herd of my own. As for myself, I have two kids of my own, two daughters actually. A 9-yrs-old and an almost 5-yrs-old. So, no matter their ages, your herd would be most welcome around the Huck family and household.
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