I agree.
For example, Republican Gubernatorial candidate Bobby Jindal has called on Senator Craig to resign, but not Senator Vitter. Why is that? Last month Vitter was forced to apologize for repeated calls he made to the D.C. Madam. He is currently an "unindicted co-conspirator" who may be called to testify in the D.C. Madam's upcoming trial, where she faces up to 55 years in prison for racketeering and money laundering. Vitter has refused to explain his "sins" with prostitutes (one of them apparently a Congressional staffer, an indirect suboordinate of Vitter's). However, Vitter did vaguely dispute certain "New Orleans stories" (presumably about his affair with French Quarter prostitute Wendy Cortez, and about his patronage of the Canal Street Madam's Brothel).
Jindal says he's currently waging a "war on corruption". He believes that Louisiana must become a "national model for government ethics", and that "Louisiana's long history of corruption and scandal" threatens our state's future. Yet, while he finds time to call for Idaho Senator Craig's resignation, he has not called for Senator Vitter to similarly resign. Why, precisely, is that? Is Jindal serious about his "war", or is he content to fight it with one hand tied behind his back?
Here's what the Idaho Statesman has to say about their Senator:
Sen. Larry Craig needs to resign.
...
[W]e cannot abide an elected official who didn’t disclose a lewd conduct arrest until the story broke 77 days later — a lie by omission and a violation of the public trust. We cannot believe Craig can effectively serve Idaho, under the shadow of his guilty plea on a lesser charge of disorderly conduct. We cannot afford, as a state with but four congressional representatives, to have a senator who merely provides fodder for bloggers and late-night talk show hosts.
...
On Tuesday, Craig most needed to talk not about the future, but to instead address his June 11 arrest and his Aug. 8 guilty plea. He offered Idahoans few answers and no reason to provide him the benefit of the doubt.
I think Jindal and other Republicans who have called for Craig's resignation should re-evaluate their response to the Vitter scandal. The above editorial might serve as a good template for their analysis.
Didn't Vitter lie to Christian Ministers during his 2004 campaign for Senate when he met with them and declared that the rumors about him visiting prostitutes were not true? Didn't he violate the "public trust" when he illegally solicited sex again and again and again and again and again? After enduring Katrina, Rita and the Federal Flood, can Louisiana "afford" to have a Senator who provides "fodder for bloggers and late-night talk show hosts? In his apology, did Vitter offer Louisianans "answers", or reasons to give him the benefit of the doubt about all the other rumors and reports?
Now, if it's really all about politics, I suppose Jindal could simply say that he believes Vitter should resign immediately and that Meemaw should agree to select a Republican replacement. Or, if Blanco won't agree to that, he could call on Vitter to resign once Jindal wins election and is sworn in as Governor.
Labels: Jindal, Queen Bee, Vitty-cent
