Dear Blogger:
Re: “Sen. David Vitter's sins are yesterday's news,” New Orleans Times-Picayune, by James Gill, October 4, 2009
James Gill’s assertion that David Vitter’s history of whoremongering is no longer an issue that could defeat Vitter could be, and is likely, correct -- but only if Vitter’s lack of character is eliminated from the debate.
The evidence is overwhelming that Vitter was complicit in a criminally adjudicated racketeering prostitution organization that led to the suicide death of Deborah Jeane Palfrey, implicitly violating his sworn oath of office and his responsibility of being an officer of the court.
Furthermore, when I challenged Vitter on talk radio (transcript of first challenge on talk radio is below) in two well-documented conversations regarding a newspaper account in the Louisiana Weekly written by Chris Tidmore concerning allegations of Vitter engaging in sex outside his marriage with a prostitute, Vitter not only had the arrogance of evidently lying to the public, but in a response to a follow-up caller -– social activist and people’s champion, known as "Zorro," -- maligned an accuser -– referring to Republican activist and dual Republican office holder, Vincent Bruno, as a “thug and a liar.” An allegation Vitter promptly apologized for stating when threatened with a law suit by Bruno in a letter of apology delivered via courier to Bruno’s home -– evidently Vitter had the wisdom not to be placed under oath and lie in a legal procedure -– transcript of Vitter’s letter of apology is below:
Transcript of my first challenge to Vitter on talk radio, later played for Larry Flynt and Wendy Cortez on the Dan Abrams program on MSNBC network television and mentioned in Max Blumenthal’s book -– “Republican Gomorrah:”
{RingsidePolitics -- Host: Jeff Crouere
Guest: Congressman David Vitter
WTIX 690 AM
July 25, 2002
Flaming Liberal: Thank you Jeff for taking my call, always a pleasure to talk to the Congressman. Congressman, since spokesperson for the Republican Party William Bennett has said character counts. I would like to put the same challenge to you that I put to Representative Perkins and he accepted. Would you be willing to sign under the penalty of perjury an affidavit saying you have never had an extramarital affair and you have never known, met or been in the company of one Wendy Cortez.
Jeff Crouere: Are you finished Flaming Liberal?
Flaming Liberal: Yes Sir
Jeff Crouere: Ok sir.
David Vitter: Flaming Liberal thank you for repeating all these vicious rumors that my political enemies are trying to bandy about and those rumors are absolutely true and they really don’t belong in any political campaign and I’ve stated very clearly that they’re lies, but I’m not going to start jumping through hoops and taking orders from my political enemies who have absolutely no credibility. So, I’ll speak very clearly about that. I have in the past; I’ll continue to do so.}
Vitter stating that the rumors are “absolutely true” is not a typo, but actual statement and comment.
Vitter’s carefully crafted letter of apology to Mr. Vincent Bruno:
{July 27, 2002
Dear Mr. Bruno:
On Thursday July 25, a caller on a WTIX radio call in show asked me if I would agree to participate in a radio debate with you. I said I would not because you are a “thug and a liar.”
This was an emotional response on my part prompted by numerous ugly rumors which had been repeated about my family and me.
After the incident, I realized that you may believe these rumors and allegations. I cannot say that you know them to be untrue and lied by repeating. Therefore I should have not said that you are a thug and a liar.
With this in mind, and in an abundance of fairness, I hereby retract my statement about you referenced above. Please accept my sincere apology.
By copy of this letter, I would ask Jeff Crouere, the host of the radio show, on which I made my original statement to broadcast my retraction using at least an equal amount of time.
Sincerely,
David Vitter
cc: Mr. Jeff Crouere and Mr. Ed Butler}
And my second challenge on talk radio to Vitter, regarding his whoremongering, was detailed and documented in the Louisiana Weekly on March 28, 2004, “Congressman Denies Affair with Prostitute, Says Charges Are Politically Motivated,” written by Chris Tidmore wherein, in response to my challenge, Vitter stated, "I think you know that that allegation is absolutely and completely untrue... I have said that on numerous occasions... I'll say that in any forum...Unfortunately, that's just crass Louisiana politics, now that I am running for the Senate. I have made that clear that it is all completely untrue...And, it's obviously politically motivated."
Moreover, prominent politicians involved in sex scandals have paid the piper for their behavior -- President Clinton was impeached, and had his law license suspended, and Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned.
In addition, Republican Sen. Larry Craig did not seek re-election, Gov. Mark Sanford is an object of recall and impeachment by fellow Republicans -– including South Carolina Republican Lt. Gov Andre Bauer and Republican Bobby Harrell, the Speaker of the South Carolina House, and Republican Senator John Ensign’s political future is headed for the chopping block -- as well to a likely criminal investigation.
However, in Louisiana it is politics as usual, tolerating reprehensible immoral behavior detrimental to the image and well being of the state, and one cannot help to get the feeling that in Louisiana there is a signpost straight ahead that reads “Twilight Zone.”
And Vitter had the sanctimonious mendacity to express reservations to grant a pardon or commutation of sentence for former Gov. Edwin Edwards in November 2008.
If the citizens can condone and accept Vitter’s apparent lack of rectitude and unmitigated paranoid-schizophrenia while flaunting the law and disgracing high public office, then Vitter’s shame becomes Louisiana’s shame.
David C. Bellinger
(404) 762-8779
E-mail: davidc53@juno.com
Atlanta, GA
Labels: Flaming Liberal
