State Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, chairwoman of the Louisiana Democratic Party, released a scathing statement Tuesday about Vitter’s gubernatorial bid. Peterson, D-New Orleans, called Vitter an obstructionist and a failure. She questioned his ability to work across political lines. She assigned him a .000 batting average for the success of his legislation last year. What she didn’t mention was his sex scandal.Pretty much my opinion, too, and smart of Carter not to mention the scandal.
I expect that few voters in Louisiana are unaware of Vitter's association with a prostitution ring that continues to dog him 7 years later, and the opposition will very likely use against him what Vitter himself called a "serious sin". I hope most Democrats are as smart as Karen Carter and do not bring up the matter repeatedly, thus appearing to pile on, with the result that Vitter will get sympathy votes. He was reelected senator by a landslide, so the connection with the prostitution ring is not likely to sway voters in the election for governor one way or another. And here I am talking about it, but I hope not to in the future.
With Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and state Treasurer John Kennedy, both Republicans, considering a run, either would be more acceptable to me than Vitter, with Dardenne as my preference between the two.
Beware of the domino effect, however.
ReplyDeleteI know Tony Perkins is a possibility, and I could be wrong, but I don't think he will sell all that well to voters throughout the state. Voters in Louisiana have shown abominable judgement in electing politicians, and, though Perkins has huge influence on Republican office holders in the state, I don't know that what makes elected officials so frightened of him and the Family Research Council will convince or scare enough voters into electing him to a statewide office. It's possible he could run for and win the 6th District (my district) seat in the house vacated by Bill Cassidy. Who knows? It's also possible that he would have less influence if he was elected to public office than he has now as the leader of the FRC.
DeleteI hope folks will really make hay with David Vitter's past escapades with prostitutes. I never cease to be amazed how many "social conservatives" are willing to lay their beliefs aside in order to accommodate their political views.
ReplyDeleteBack when Vitter and the "DC Madam" scandal was front-page news, some folks called Vitter "Diaper David" after it was revealed he liked to wear diapers in the company of prostitutes.
Louisiana Democrats need to be sure the voters are reminded of his past.
Louisiana Democrats need to be sure to remind the public of David Vitter's sordid past.
ReplyDeleteDuring the "DC Madam" scandal, it was revealed that not only Vitter liked to patronize prostitutes, he also liked to wear diapers while in their company, earning him the nickname "Diaper David".
If that can't be used to make political hay, nothing can.
Vitter won reelection to the Senate with 60% of the vote in 2010. I'm fairly certain the great majority of people who voted for him knew of the scandal, which will most certainly be mentioned in the campaign. But I believe those running against him will use surrogates to bring up the matter. It seems Republicans in the state have forgiven him, and I doubt they will vote for a Democrat rather than Vitter this time around.
ReplyDeleteWhat encourages me is that two decent Republicans are likely to run against him, and Republicans will have alternatives to vote for in the primary this time around.