Posted on 07/10/2007 7:07:58 AM PDT by 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.
In 2000, Vitter was included in a Newhouse News Service story about the strain of congressional careers on families.
His wife, Wendy, was asked by the Newhouse reporter: If her husband were as unfaithful as Livingston or former President Bill Clinton, would she be as forgiving as Hillary Rodham Clinton?
“I’m a lot more like Lorena Bobbitt than Hillary,” Wendy Vitter told Newhouse News. “If he does something like that, I’m walking away with one thing, and it’s not alimony, trust me.”
“I think fear is a very good motivating factor in a marriage,” she added. “Don’t put fear down.”
Vitter briefly considered a run for governor, but bowed out in May 2002, citing strains on his marriage. He announced that he and his wife had entered counseling.
Ok. So you wish Vitter to go out and announce his sins? Having secret sins, particularly of a certain sort, makes anyone in public life vulnerable. But I don’t expect them to announce their dark side. Would you? But how anyone handles this when it becomes public is the real test to me. It’s hard to find good public servants today. And we wonder why?
He's also supported the troops, is pro-life, the war, he might even be a fiscal conservative too. Those are also other reasons to support him.
So where are the Democrats who saw her whores?
I hope there is no testimony or singed oath of any kind from this episode that might hurt Vitter (perjury, for example):
-—”Congressman Denies Affair With Prostitute, Says Charges Are Politically Motivated
by Christopher Tidmore
PoliticsLA.com columnist
posted by March 26, 2004
For the first time, Congressman David Vitter has spoken out publically about allegations that he carried on an eleven 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 prosition in the French Quarter. Elwood continued, “Would you be willing to sign an affidavit that you have ever known, met or had relations with one Wendy Cortez.”
Vitter responded, “I think you know that that allegation is abosultely and completely untrue...I have said that on numerous occassions...I’ll say that in any forum...Unfortuanately, that’s just crass Louisiana politics, now that I am running for the Senate. I have made that clear that it is alll completely untrue...And, it’s obviously politically motivated.”
In point of fact, 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.
Vincent Bruno, secretary of the Republican Party of Jefferson Parish and a member of the RSCC, alleged that Congressman David Vitter had engaged in an extramarital affair. In what was a high-stakes political battle between some of the most prominent members of the Louisiana Republican Party, Bruno charged that a prostitute, who stated her name to be Wendy Cortez, allegedly confessed to him to having a paid sexual relationship with Vitter. Three separate and independent sources, including WDSU-TV reporter Richard Angelico, confirmed Bruno’s allegation. Each had spoken to Cortez personally, and she recounted to them the details of her alleged affair with Vitter.”-—
I agree that Vitter has been a solid conservative. However, I think what is being overlooked here is that he made a mistake, and lied to his constituents to cover it up. Cheating on his wife is not good either, but that is between he, his wife and God. It doesn’t have anything to do with me.
I would have some serious trust issues with this guy. If he is the best Republican running, I could still vote for him. But that is a big if. Surely there is someone with more integrity and solid conservative credentials that could run.
Vitter should be criticized for his behavior and every respectable conservative should be seriously considering whether he is worthy of their vote. Otherwise, we are the same as the liberals; willing to sacrifice our values to win the election.
-—”So where are the Democrats who saw her whores?”-—
Oh man! I am hoping to see that list.....
Notice the deafening silence of the Democrats on this today?
I wonder if Dems on the list will ever see the light of day—or just Repubs.
This is D.C.
My bet is that it will be difficult to ever get those Dem names.
I also bet that Vitter is the ONLY Republican, hence the leak. If there were more Republicans, we’d already know.
Just my opinion....
Even with this revelation, I'm sure any of these campaigns would gladly accept Senator Vitter's help.
Doubtful.
I suspect he’ll, ahem, “resign” very soon from the Rudy campaign.
Nobody will touch this guy now.
Yes, but still, this is no big deal to them. We Republicans consider ourselves to be better people than Democrats, and we demand more from our leaders because of it. "Everybody's doing it," was not a defense back when we all were kids, it certainly isn't a defense for the leaders of a nation. Unless there's a "D" after the name.
Are the citizens of Louisiana calling for the resignation of William Jefferson? I rest my case.
“David Vitter appears to be a solid conservative in the Senate. Regardless of his mistakes in his personal life, we would be much better served if we did not throw him under the bus because of this.”
I agree.
We lost a senate race in Arkansas because the GOP nominee had (horrors!) a divorce. Newt’s a non-starter, and another good Pres possibility is out due to divorce (Owens).
The Democrats are gleeful to see this.
They get the hedonist vote anyway, and drug use (Obama), Infidelity (Clinton), multiple marriages and sexual harrassment (Dodd, Kennedy), etc. dont make their leaders unpopular.
These politicians are public servants, emphasis on servants. They serve us, so we ought not think of them as perfect, but as human beings. We need to expect them to have the standards of integrity and competence and character that we would want in good employee, but not expect perfection always.
Said elsewhere on the thread: “No one is saying that cheating on one’s spouse is not a serious character flaw. It is, but we must also understand that every now and then, even the best of people can give into temptation and do things they wouldn’t otherwise do. Everyone is susceptible to this, it is part of our human nature”
That’s about right. It would also be most important for him to get right with his wife on this, and for him not to lie about it (a la Clinton) or continue it.
“To Err is Human, To Forgive Divine”
I think it is funny how no one seems to mind that Fred Thompson is divorced.
Vitter supports a lot of things and he also has a strong conservative voting record, it is not prudent to tie his adulterous behaviour and his political support and views.
I understand how you feel bad about that, but unless Jesus Christ Himself runs for public office, we will never get a perfect candidate. We have to look at the big picture here. People like Vitter (and to a certain extent, all of us), have done stupid, regrettable things, that, if possible to go back in time and undo them, they would. He made a terrible mistake, and is doing his best to make amends with his family. We should pray that they can get through this.
Meanwhile, he is still a stellar conservative in the Senate. We cannot, and must not, lose people like him, or else, we lose big time.
I don't believe most men mind Fred's obtaining an upgrade.
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