Why is Senator David Vitter not being held accountable for his actions? Where's the Senate Ethics Committee?
In light of the revelations about Governor Eliot Spitzer’s use of prostitutes, we are reminded again that the Senate Ethics Committee has so far refused to investigate Senator David Vitter (R-LA), who admitted to using the services of the so-called D.C. Madam to solicit for prostitution. Although Governor Spitzer’s conduct is more serious -- likely amounting to one or more felonies -- both men are high level government officials who have publicly proclaimed their high moral standards. Both should have to live by those standards and be held accountable for their actions. The Ethics Committee should not continue to give Senator Vitter a pass.
Spitzer's woes
So Gov. Spitzer is going to be prosecuted for his infractions of the law. How about the sex ring? And his partner, Kristen? Haven't read enything about them being prosecuted for their part in this debacle. I'm also curious about the bank reporting the expenses to the authorities, is this done with everyone? Were there reasons that this kind of scrutiny was not extended to the leaders of Enron or the mortgage companies before they so spectacularly cost the taxpayers millions. A little equity would seem to be missing here.
Not entirely comparable
Spitzer is an executive branch official, responsible for enforcing the law. It's a bit of a tossup as to which of them is the worse hypocrite, but as a prosecutor, Spitzer loudly and publicly took credit for busting a very similar prostitution enterprise. This was a criminal enterprise in his own state, engaged in money laundering. He made himself susceptible to blackmail, among other problems, which is arguably worse for a governor than a member of Congress given the degree of individual discretionary power.
It seems to me that Vitter has a much stronger argument that it's essentially a private matter. Prostitution is largely a matter of state law. Although Congress may get involved in trafficking certainly, and interstate operations, those don't seem to have been issues with the ring Vitter patronized so his official duties were far less compromised than Spitzer's.
Not that I wouldn't love to see Vitter go down, but we do have to be scrupulous in thinking about this.
Entirely Similar
The Private-time vs Personal-time argument really limps for anyone serving in elected office. Consider that they are HIGHLY PRIVILEGED AND TRUSTED "Exempt" employees. Unless literally at home with family or loved ones, in the hospital, etc. POTENTIALLY, any time in DC or in the home state away from their residences is working time paid for by the taxpayers of their district, and of the USA.
Committees on which Vitter--OR ANY OTHER CONGRESSIONAL OR HOUSE OFFENDER(S)-- serve(s), and his oath of office also tend negate the argument while not exculpating ex-Gov. Spitzer. These people we elect to office owe us the duty of observing and respecting the laws they research, pass, supposedly review and support. If the laws are bogus,study and research, educate the people on the findings, then if justified, repeal bad laws, otherwise.
I just hope people don't forget that Spitzer's wrongdoing hardly rises to the level of, say, Randy Cunningham, or, Jake Grubman.
Same B.S.
Craig, Vitter and Spitzer should all either go or stay together. This parsing of levels of hypocrisy is laughable. All got elected as knights of morality and are now exposed. Good riddance. Interesting that the GOP is threatening to spend the time and energy impeaching Spitzer but our buddies in the U.S. House can't get it together to go after Bush/Cheney.
Impeachment controversy
I wholeheartedly agree ... the big deal about the GOP thugs wanting to "impeach" Spitzer. It seems Republicans feel that only sex acts are impeachable offenses, while the horrendous crimes that have gone on at the hands of the White House occupants go untried and unpunished. Of course, this is an election year and the Democrats have been making a good "showing" ... therefore, the witch hunt will be on, so the thugs can make use of some bad press against a Democrat. That's their standard "operating procedures". Although I feel Spitzer should go, I don't think it's fair when Vitter and Craig and Foley, etc. etc. were allowed to stay.
Clinton, Spitzer, Republicans for Impeachment and Vitter
It's startling to see that the Republicans in the New York legislature are talking impeachment of Vitter. Didn't they learn with Bill Clinton that such transparent maneuvers are not popular with the voters? How about spending a little of their moral outrage on Sen. David Vitter rather than trying to sweep his conduct under the rug? The above comment is true about the absurdity of comparing Governor with US Senator. What's good for Democrats is good for Republicans. As for how this story came out, let's not forget the lengths Karl Rove went to to put a Democratic Governor in jail in Alabama. This is just more of the same.
Gov Spitzer is on a different plane. He ran as squeeky clean
Gov. Spitzer ran as being squeeky clean and promising to clean house in New Yotk.He has prosecuted prominent people for what he did,Mann Act violation,Banking Secrecy Act violation, and possible federal tax evasion. He did NOT run on a canpaign promise to bang a whore named Kristen silly. And Spitzer's acts are on record with the banks involved, they are required to keep records under the Banking Secrecy act. That is espically true when the money is run through different banks to take the name of the original account off of it.The Banks were the ones who reported Spitzer, not Karl Rove or whoever.(However Kristen says he can come by her house anytime, he's a studmuffin.)
So if you ran as squeeky
So if you ran as squeeky dirty you deserve a break??
Squeeky Clean
Elliot Ness oops Spitzer ran as an arrogant proud hardnose guy who totally despised anyone who was not as morally upright as He claimed to be.In fact, he was busy banging Kristen and her fellow employees while committing such crimes as money laundering ,wire fraud, structuring of bank transfers,( which is highly illegal since it is the basis of wire fraud,money laundering, income tax evasion etc)in short the same things he was putting other people in jail for.In fact he was so arrogant he seems to have assumed the law didn't apply to him, and the standard means of catching criminals doing these things didn't apply to him either,even though he used them all the time himself.To sum up,the only one I feel sorry for is Ashley Dupree aka Kristen, who has had a bad life, and who really needed that money to try to get out of it.
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SPITZERGATE
Maybe someone should start connecting the dots.
Curious about the timing of Spitzers fall, and his
publishing such things as his article in the
Washington Post that fateful day.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/13/AR2008021302783.html
Just why was his phone being tapped?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/13/AR2008021302783.html