I might be in the minority here, but Vitter needs to step down. A one-time failing is one thing. But using the service mutliple times and being linked to the New Orleans brothel is another.
He has lost all his credibility on conservative social issues. He ought to step down.
I quite agree; he should step down. But not at the behest of the democrat party.
He has lost all his credibility on conservative social issues. He ought to step down."
The popular election of Senators is, IMHO, one of the biggest mistakes we've made in amending the Constitution. Having said that, I voted for Vitter to represent my State in the U.S. Senate, and for the most part, I couldn't have asked for better representation of my views in terms of his votes and (no pun intended) the positions he's taken.
Knowing Vitter's wife by reputation, I have little doubt that she'd have kicked him to the curb had she not believed in his sincerity and his repentance. If in fact, the person against whom he transgressed has forgiven him, who are we to hold his sins against him? If his repentance is sincere, and he's no longer banging hookers, he's a person who has demonstrated his ability to fix his mistakes, and that's the kind of person I should choose to represent me.
If there's enough evidence to charge him with solicitation, charge him under LA and DC law, and let the chips fall where they may.
Vitter seriously disappointed me with his personal conduct, and I was never real happy with his endorsement of Giuliani, but I'm not about to grow old waiting for a perfect candidate to come along. There's a fine line between a hypocrite and a person who learns from his mistakes, weaknesses and errors. I think Vitter's fallen on the right side of that line. Clinton taught us all that "words mean things," and Vitter's conscious use of the word "sin," tells me a lot about his personal standards and values, even if, by his own admission, he failed to live up to them.