Republican Admits to 'Serious Sin in My Past' (Another Rudy supporter with "secrets")

Crosswalk.com ^ | 7-10-07 | Susan Jones

[TitansAFC]

(CNSNews.com) - A Republican senator has been caught in the "D.C. madam" snare.

Sen. David Vitter's telephone number was listed in the records kept by Deborah Jeane Palfrey - the woman accused of running a prostitution ring. Palfrey insists it was a legitimate escort service. On Monday, she posted her clients' telephone numbers - but no names -- online.

"This was a very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible," Vitter said in a statement released to the Associated Press on Monday.

"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. But I certainly offer my deep and sincere apologies to all I have disappointed and let down in any way."

Vitter, 46, was elected to the Senate in 2004 - the first Louisiana Republican to serve in the Senate since Reconstruction. He previously served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Vitter recently helped lead the conservative effort to kill the immigration "reform" bill. He also supports the Marriage Protection Amendment.

"As the parents of four children, my wife Wendy and I get up every day dedicated to securing a truly bright future for all of us in Louisiana," his website says.

According to ABC News, Palfrey's clients included prominent business executives, NASA officials and military officers, but they have so far not been named publicly.

Randal Tobias, a senior State Department official, resigned several months ago after ABC News asked him about his use of the escort service.

'What a joke'

A website dedicated to New Orleans news and information, nola.com, offered readers a chance to vent about Vitter.

"What's your reaction to the senator's admission? Will it affect his ability to represent Louisiana? Are you satisfied with his apology?" the website asked.

Reaction was mostly unfavorable:

"Here is a guy who preached about New Orleans being sinful. What a joke," wrote one reader. "As I've said in the past all men in congress get drunk with power. The only thing that would surprise me is if Mary Landrieu or Pelosi were buying boy toys."

"I want govt. out of my wallet an out of my bedroom, regardless of political party," wrote another reader.

"Soliciting sex is illegal in DC. Vitter therefore broke the law. Are Republicans ready to reelect a criminal to office in 2010? Because Vitter broke the law, he should resign. This is really a huge disgrace, and we cannot afford any more bad press in Louisiana," said another angry constituent.

"His bible thumping family value gravy train has derailed."

One reader mentioned press reports in 2004 in which Vitter (running for the Senate at the time) publicly denied allegations that he had an 11-month affair with a known prostitute.

[DesScorp]

It’s Louisiana. Running with whores is a virtue down there.

[pnh102]

Instantly forgive, because they vote Conservative. That way, we can be just like the Democrats.

If someone votes conservative, as Vitter does, how can be "like a Democrat?"

If Ray Nagin manages to become US Senator from Louisiana, it will be because we threw Vitter under the bus.

[TitansAFC]

-—”It’s Louisiana. Running with whores is a virtue down there.”-—

Ouch! But you do get laughs from this man born in Baton Rouge......

;-)

[woofie]

Who are you for? With just a bit of research I can find a supporter of him/her who is not pure.

For Gods sake seeing a prostitute in this day and age is equivalent to a burp.

[finnman69]

What does this have to do with Giuliani?

How desperate can you be?

[TitansAFC]

-—”If Ray Nagin manages to become US Senator from Louisiana, it will be because we threw Vitter under the bus.”-—

Ah. I see. The Democrats are worse, so shut up.

[TitansAFC]

-—”What does this have to do with Giuliani?

How desperate can you be?”-—

Not desperate enough to support a Liberal for President - so I wouldn’t go throwing around the word, “desperate.”

[robertpaulsen]

"The important thing is that when we do screw up, we try to fix it, and not repeat the mistake, and hope for forgiveness from those that we hurt in the process."

The important thing is that when we do screw up, and before we get caught, we try to fix it, and not repeat the mistake, and hope for forgiveness from those that we hurt in the process. We have a little more credibility that way.

After we're caught, it loses a bit in the sincerity department.

[oldironsides]

Rudy may be the only one to provide a crossover link for many Democrats if they cannot stand Hillary. Democrats will never go for the Bob Dole type like Thompson. Dole was a huge mistake and running someone like him will hand the whitehouse over to the Dems. Vitter will be chastised by the media for being a hypocrite. Senator Kennedy and Dodd are expected to be waitress sandwich players. Two faced GOP politicians should know by now they are fair game. The FBI file expose' after Hillary's gang got into the 1200 files was swift. Many of the GOP politicians had affairs exposed and children by other woman.

Vitter is not the last GOP name from the list of whore users. I am betting there are more.

[robertpaulsen]

"Because Vitter a Republican broke the law, he should resign."

There. I fixed it.

[TitansAFC]

Eh?

You want him to resign?

A bit much, if you ask me.

[doug from upland]

“Soliciting sex is illegal in DC. Vitter therefore broke the law. Are Republicans ready to reelect a criminal to office in 2010? Because Vitter broke the law, he should resign. This is really a huge disgrace, and we cannot afford any more bad press in Louisiana,” said another angry constituent.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I wonder if they constituent wanted Clinton convicted in the Senate. That was rhetorical.

[pnh102]

Ah. I see. The Democrats are worse, so shut up.

Yes, the Democrats are worse. Which outcome is better to you, having all imperfect Republicans, including conservatives, be removed from office, and be replaced with liberal (and imperfect) Democrats, or not?

Vitter is no RINO. He stood fast against shamnesty. If his family can forgive him for his mistakes, than so should we.

[roses of sharon]

Republican/Conservative voters obviously had a tough time being in the majority, and for decades have had an aversion to ruthlessness in our pols, as evidenced by our Congress and State Houses elections.

Which Dim voters have mastered well, as evidenced by how much power they have accumulated in the MSM, the Fed bureaucracies, education and the judiciary.

[Artemis Webb]

Using this as a vehicle to attack Rudy is not a good idea. I’m a Fred Thompson supporter. But if you think that Fred or Duncan Hunter or Ron Paul or Tom Tancredo, et al have no supporters with skeletons in their closet you are mistaken.

[elizabetty]

It is, but we must also understand that every now and then, even the best of people can give into temptation....

That is why are Representatives should be the best of us, not like the rest of us.

He has serious matters to deal with and a certain amount of power. If he can give into sexual whims when it would destroy those closest to him and most dependent upon him, then he might do something to "screw" the American public he does not know.

[TitansAFC]

Well, unlike you, I don’t want to murder everyone who criticizes Vitter.

Oh wait.....that’s not what you said, is it?

Nor did I say we need to REMOVE Vitter, so stop pretending I did.

I did say that frequenting a prostitute and covering it up from us for so long deserves some consideration. Rather than DEMAND everyone INSTANTLY forgive him and “move on,” how about accepting that perhaps some of us are going to have less than blind faith in Vitter for a little while?

I cannot buy into the “he opposed amnesty, so let’s ignore everything else he does” philosophy.

No he does not need to be removed. Yes, we need to be a little more cautious in our support of Vitter than we have been. Yes, he’s still better than the Democrats lining-up to face him. No, we don’t INSTANTLY just pretend that it means nothing.

[TitansAFC]

-—”What on earth does this have to do with Rudy??”-—

Nothing. We should still trust him to make the highest appointments in this land without hesitation. Shouldn’t even hesitate....

[elizabetty]

If Ray Nagin manages to become US Senator from Louisiana, it will be because we threw Vitter under the bus.

Is anybody saying Vitter should be "thrown under the bus?"

Because of this incident he has a strike against him (and some would argue supporting Rudi is also a strike against him).

But we will look at what he does consistently, not what he does once or "used to do."

While I am disgusted by his actions I am very impressed with his reaction to it. He is being a stand up guy and there is a good chance he has learned an important lesson from this.