Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner is reportedly resigning after conducting extramarital relationships online and then lying about them. Meanwhile, Louisiana Republican Senator David Vitter, who slept with hookers and then won re-election, is also in the news today.
Controversy about an appearance by U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La, at the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra's Red, White and Boom concert last year has resurfaced in the weeks leading to this year's July Fourth celebration.
The Lafayette Parish Democratic Executive Committee opposed Vitter's speech at last year's event, which is largely funded by taxpayer dollars, and claimed his appearance violated state election laws because he was a candidate for public office.
And that's about all the news today on Senator David Vitter. The Republican Party chair's response to why he has called for Mr. Weiner's resignation but not Mr. Vitter's is that Mr. Vitter's scandal happened a long time ago.
Leave a Comment:
Vitter needs to resign!
Progressive need to get a petition with 50,000+ signatures to force the republican leadership to make Vitter go.
There should not be two sets of ethical rules for Republicans and Democrats. Vitter is more guilty of misconduct than Weiner. He should resign immediately and the House of Representatives and Congress need to demand that their members uphold the highest of ethical standards as United States senators and representatives by representating their constituents with the highest moral and ethical standards.
Start one!
I like Keith Olbermann's response:
http://current.com/shows/countdown/videos/embarrassing-behavior-over-the-weiner-controversy
No one could argue with his logic here LOL
Maybe Vitter should run for President - then Congress could provide him with taxpayer funded harem - so he wouldn't have to roam the streets looking for hookers,
Oh but see Palmquist. That won't happen. Why?.........IOKIYAR.
Vitter you need to step down.....How was he able to stay this long. What Vitter did was worse than Weiner......
Two examples of hypocrisy.
The Republicans state their opinion that Weiner should resign but have not done so in the case of Vitter.
The Democrats state their opinion that this should be up to Weiner and his constituents, no one else, yet claim that Vitter should resign.
Hmmm.
RobDon SIX TOP Democrats not to mention the Democratic President either asked or said he should resign regardless of his constituents.
Jasmine, that was NOT their or most Democrats original response. Only after it continued to remain a story (nothing happened to knock it off) did they concede it was now getting in their way.
Go back and look at the comments on this blog when this story first broke. You'll find most defended his ridiculous story of "I was on Twitter when it happened but it wasn't me, I was hacked!"
Then, once he admitted his misdeeds and lies, everyone was saying, "It's nobody's business but his wife and his constituents."
Now, "Oh, he should resign and so should Vitter."
See the evolution?
The only thing I would argue RD is that Vitter actually broke the law, whereas Weiner didn't. But it's true that there's hypocrisy aplenty to find when it comes to Congress.
YES! The guy got a standing ovation from the repugs, more repugnant than anything weiner did.
Well the hypocrisy is on this blog. Many have said that what Weiner did in his personal life was not an issue and that Weiner shouldn't resign. If you don't think that Weiner should resign, why do you think Vitter should? Vengeance?
....because one broke the law and the other didn't?
you sure about that??? We will see what comes out in the wash....
Mickey...... :) I get it now...
Unless it's found out that Weiner was harassing these women or engaging in such texts w/ a minor, then no he didn't break the law. If that ends up being revealed then I would agree that, that changes the situation entirely. In which case I would agree he needs to resign. At this point I think resignation was a reactionary response to his lying. He should not have lied to the public about his behavior, he should've owned it. The fact that he did I agree shows terrible judgement and quite honestly cowardice. W/ that said I don't see resignation as a necessary step. I agree that the media should've reported on it so that his constituents would be aware and then we all should've moved on and left it up to his voters to decide whether they wanted his continual representation. Now if he broke the law then I'd hope not only would he resign, but he'd be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
More please!
I firmly believe its time for a change of leadership for the #Dem leadership. Pelosi/Reid/Wasserman-Schulz. It's time to rethink the future of the Democratic party just as it is time to rid Wash. DC of #radicalconservatives who recreate American history to suit them.2 minutes ago ·Yes. Vitter must resign. We need to keep these people's feet to the fire.
So much for letting his constituents decide the outcome.
yeah-so much for democracy-- it's gone
Said like a true Republican. Always a double-standard with you guys. *sigh*
Vitter is a heaping pile of human poo. Is there anyway we could get our money back from the French for Louisiana??
The Louisiana Purchase contained all or part of 15 states, not just the state of Louisiana.
Even if it was just Louisiana I doubt the French would take it back even though Louisiana has the great city of New Orleans.
Comment:
And the Congress Desires to see Anthony Weiner leave his Job from his Congressional position for what he Did. OK, Fine.....But Many of the Members of Congress should be removed from their positions and be even more held accountable then just loosing their positions for such an Egregious Act of Stupidity and a True disregard of Accountability to the American Taxpayers !!!
More Lost Money thru the Department of Defense via the War in Iraq under the Republican Administration of George W. Bush and his Cronies !!!
More than $6.6 billion in Iraq reconstruction funds Lost in One Large single Government Heist: [ Via Yahoo News !!! ]
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110613/us_yblog_thelookout/more-than-6-billion-in-iraq-reconstruction-funds-lost
Story per LA Times:
U.S. Defense officials still cannot say what happened to $6.6 billion, sent by the planeload in cash and intended for Iraq's Reconstruction after the start of the war.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-missing-billions-20110613,0,4414060.story
Personal Comments:
Comment # 1:
And the Congress Desires to see Anthony Weiner leave his Job from his Congressional position for what he Did. OK, Fine.....But Many of the Members of Congress should be removed from their positions and be even more held accountable then just loosing their positions for such an Egregious Act of Stupidity and a True disregard of Accountability to the American Taxpayers !!!
Comment # 2:
Members of the Bush Administration and GOP members have the nerve to call themselves Fiscally Conservatives !!! Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush Sr., and George W. Bush Jr., and we almost had another GOP Fiscal Conservative in the White House and his name was John Mc.Cain !!!
Comment # 3:
With All the GOP Norquist pledges to Not raise Taxes, all the Theft in the Department of Defense and other Departments, plus all the Expenditures from the Department of Defense and other Departments, No wonder it is one of the multiple reasons the U.S. had an Economic collapse and it still continues !!!! Some of the other Reasons were the scale back of the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933/34 !!!
Comment # 4:
Not even surprised..... The War was started to make Money and it looks like Money was made........
Comment # 5:
And Now the GOP members like Romney are Not worried if the Debt ceiling is Raised, same as many of the other GOP members. At that point Money won’t do anyone much good when the Markets really fall into a Tail-Spin, Banks the same, and there is a likely Economic Collapse never seen prior in U.S. History.
( Brief Video ) Fiscal Responsibility and the GOP:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31510813/#43416016
Story, Has the GOP Lost its Mind ?
[ Yahoo News / The Daily Beast ]
http://news.yahoo.com/s/dailybeast/20110614/ts_dailybeast/14700_newhampshirerepublican2012presidentialdebaterepublicanextremismondisplay
Do Read the Article:
Romney said he’d blow up the World Economy over the Debt ceiling !!!
This Is The Most GUTLESS Institution:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjS4Uo8F2R8&feature=player_embedded
Wikipedia -- Alan Greenspan
Political Party Affiliation: Republican
Former Chairman of the Federal Reserve
Under Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush Sr., Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush Jr.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Greenspan
Not trying to pick a fight or cause offense, but please know that when you place the entirety of you comments in bold it has a self aggrandizing effect that may be counter productive to the cause of getting as many people to read your comment as possible.
Agreed. I skipped the entirety of his comment for just that reason. Self-promoting diatribes have no place here.
Say a little,But mean a lot...
So back in the day of Vitter, it was ok to do these things...well, if you're a family values republican, it's always ok. Someday Weiner's virtual affairs will be a long time ago. But I waste my time. The dems are tough on Weiner, no one's tough enough on the Vitter's. Guess I'm just thinking aloud but what the hey?
PS: Thank you, Rachel, for talking about the stuff that is not heard anywhere else. Keep at it, don't go away, we need you!
The refuge for Vitter and his fellow scoundrels in the ranks is that they can be "forgiven" and that makes it all better. It's just another examle of how hypocrites hide behind the religious ramparts in order to protect their political derrieres.
Hookers don't stop being hookers just because it happened a while ago. I'm sooooo bummed about Weiner's pending resignation. What he did was stupid, but shouldn't be a deal breaker. Was it inappropriate? Yes. Should he be embarrassed? Yes. Should his wife be angry? Oh YES! But resign?? NO. He was actually someone that gave me faith in our government. Seriously, this is our loss.
It's not the act, but the cover up that is the problem.
I agree, Lisa.
BTW, Laura, is it really possible to have an "extramarital relationship online" ? It is a most worrisome concept, and if it is possible we are slap jam up with adulterers out here in the ether of the interwebs.
I aslo think it's the photos. More than anything, the photos would haunt him every time he tried to do anything.
Yes we have the Shocking Story about Anthony Weiner
Subject: Republican, Ohio Congressman Donald E. “Buz” Lukens convicted in Sex case with a 16 year old girl, Ohio’s 8th District --- Same Ohio District of John Bohner [ John Boehner is Donald “Buz” Lukens Successor ] NY Times & AP ( May 27, 1989 )
Again, Yes we have the Shocking Story about Anthony Weiner
But Where is the News on Ensign & Coburn and how is that Investigation going ???
What about U.S. Senator David Vitter from Louisiana, well how is that Investigation going ???
Also is there any Truth Regarding this Story with John Boehner and LEIGH LaMORA, a 46-year-old former press secretary to ex-Colorado Congressman JOEL HEFLEY ???
How much should the Public dole into the Lives of Politicians and what should be done about every type of possible scandalous situation ?
Re: Donald E. “Buz” Lukens
Ohio Congressman Is Convicted in Sex Case, but Aide Says He'll Run for Re-election
NY Times & AP ( May 27, 1989 )
http://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/27/us/ohio-congressman-convicted-sex-case-but-aide-says-he-ll-run-for-re-election.html
Per Wikipedia, Donald Edgar “Buz” Lukens
( February 11, 1931 - May 22, 2010 )
Republican Member of U.S. House of Representatives
[ 8th District of Ohio, Same as John Boehner’s District ]
[ Donald “Buz” Lukens was actually Succeeded by John Boehner ]
Portions From Page 1 of the Article:
Representative Donald E. Lukens, Republican of Ohio, was convicted today in a case in which prosecutors said he had sex with a 16-year-old girl.
A jury deliberated for one and a half hours before finding him guilty of contributing to the delinquency and unruliness of a minor at his apartment in Columbus on Nov. 6. The offense, a misdemeanor, carries a maximum sentence of 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. He will be sentenced after a presentencing investigation.
Hours after the verdict, the senior Republican in Ohio's Congressional delegation called for Mr. Lukens's resignation. ''I think he should do the gentlemanly thing and resign,'' said the colleague, Representative Chalmers P. Wylie. But an aide to Mr. Lukens predicted that he would seek re-election next year. A Secret Videotape
A misdemeanor conviction does not automatically disqualify a member from sitting in Congress or lead to an investigation by the House ethics committee. The committee can choose to investigate such cases and recommend action like censure.
Portions From Page 2 of the Article:
''The primary grounds will be the exclusion of Ms. Coffman's juvenile record, Children Services file and school records, which were critical to our case,'' he said. ''I also found evidence of reverse discrimination, which may be cited in the appeal.'' The girl is black, and Mr. Lukens is white.
Assistant Prosecutor Rita Mangini said that Mr. Lukens knew the girl was underage and that he contributed to her unruliness and delinquency by giving her alcohol, paying for her cab ride to his apartment and having sex with her.
Neither the girl nor her mother was in the courtroom when the verdict was read.
Donald E. “Buz” Lukens, via Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buz_Lukens
Cantor’s Weiner / Vitter Hypocrisy !!!
MS-NBC Rachel Maddow via YouTube:
( Video )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvUXWmPLL1c&feature=player_embedded
Bill O'Reilly's Sex scandal & GOP Hypocrisy. Oops !
Plus a Viewing of Many others who had Issues with Sex Scandals who were Political !!!
MS-NBC, The Last Word, Lawrence O’Donnell
( Video )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N3QhCIgczs&feature=related
Bill O'Reilly Falafel Suit, via TheSmokingGun.com
http://tinyurl.com/4yssjka
While Demanding Weiner’s Resignation, RNC Chairman Refuses To Discuss Vitter Prostitution Scandal
[ ThinkProgress.org by Alex Seitz-Wald ]
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/06/08/239449/reince-priebus-vitter-weiner/
Did Vitter publicly lie about it?
I like your post.
The fact is what Weiner did isn't illegal but what Vitter did IS (or is it being a prostitute is illegal and not the sleeping with)! So why should Weiner (who I think is a sleezebag along with Vitter) resign when Vitter is allowed to walk away free and easy?
It makes no sense to me either that my fellow Louisianians re-elected the douchebag but they did and we're stuck with the hypocrite for now.
My faith in our system is rapidly deteriorating.
Vitter, like Weiner, have not been convicted or even charged with doing anything illegal.
The holier than thou republicans tend to make rules for everyone else and exceptions for themselves.
I can see it now: GOP manuals with chapters devoted to how long is long enough and when it means resignation.
That is so ridiculous. I do not condone what Anthony Weiner has done. Not at all. However, Vitter is just as guilty - whether it was done a long time ago or done recently. Instead of that, those GOPs hold a fund-raising get-together for him as though he is the prize bull! Maybe he is that to the strippers. Who knows?
I agree with getting rid of the Dem leadership. When Steele was in charge of the Republicans we saw him every day whether we wanted to or not. Where was Tim Kaine during this same time frame? It is no wonder we got trounced in 2010 since there wasn't any rebuttal from our side ever. I am hoping Debbie Wasserman-Schultz will do a better job at communicating, but since she turned her back on Anthony instead of just fighting off teh media frenzy, I doubt my hopes are well placed. Were the Dems just jealous of Anthony's rise in the party? I am having a hard time figuring out exactly why he was thrown to the wolves. Our party is supposed to be some Hallmark of Virtue but the other side can be in Wall Street's back pocket and deny climate change? Both of those are far more damaging the the US than Anthony Weiner's private "affair".
I don't know if the Democratic leadership needs to go (grow a backbone, perhaps), but to your comment about seeing Steele all the time and wondering where Kaine was, I always felt that he was letting the stupid comments coming out of Steele's mouth speak for themselves, revealing his and the GOP's break with reality. Unfortunately, because most of the Democratic politicians don't speak up and stand up for sanity, the GOP's views become gospel because the American people are led like sheep rather than speaking up and using their own common sense. It really is a sad commentary on the general population more than it is about politicians and the morass that is DC.
And you know there is a problem when the president weighs in on Weiner-gate. Frankly, if I were president and Ann Curry had asked me that question, I would have told her that I had no comment and to either move on to another subject or end the interview and get back to work. I swear every time I see a politician say something on TV now, it is stupid, makes no sense and a small piece of my brain has a stroke.
The lesson learned from the Vitter case is the GOP acknowledgement that if Weiner had waited it out and gotten re-elected, everything would be hunky-dory.
Apparently a sex scandal is okay as long as there aren't any PICTURES. Right former Republican Congressman Christopher Lee?
"Other people do it too” is a rationalization of cowardice and conformity. Senator Vitter might have been re-elected to the Senate but that doesn't mean the other Senators like it. Word is he is pretty ineffectual. If he stayed, not sure Anthony Weiner could be the same firebrand he was before. He has been humbled and a humbled Anthony Weiner isn't much good to anyone.
Another thing. I feel that the President and Democrats in the Congress must immediately go after the Wall Street fat cats. Especially in respect of the high oil and gas prices which we all know they are responsible for. I am amazed to see that the President of the United States and those brilliant-minded advisers with whom he surrounds himself cannot see where the problem first lies. It is with WALL STREET and the FAT CATS. Or is one left to believe that ALL ARE INVOLVED, ALL ARE CONSUMED?? They had better get things right now and pull the plug on Wall Street FIRST.
Interesting that you bring the Wall Street thing up. I was watching the political shows over the weekend and I don't remember which one of them discussed it but they were saying that President Obama has to be careful not to piss off the Wall Street bankers if he wants to get their money for his re-election campaign (he had a ton of support for the 2008 election). And that is the point: it all boils down to money and who can buy the White House. I read somewhere recently that it is estimated that each candidate will spend $1 BILLION on the 2012 election. Yes, that is $2 BILLION to feed us their 30 second sound bites. Meanwhile, that money could go a LONG way to supporting Medicare, Social Security, etc. vs. being flushed down the toilet to tell us who to vote for. Yet again, I am having a mini-stroke...
Something tells me he's resigning because the media can't stop talking about his penis and therefore he can't get anything done. It's his own damned fault, but maybe it's time for the media to move the (bleep) on. But, I am appalled at Democratic leadership and their lack of it in this situation. Asking him to resign is NOT any good way of controlling the story. Focusing on the things that really matter is.
To your point, the leadership could focus on ANYTHING else they want, but the media will continue to ask them to comment on Weiner's penis. Wasserman-Schulz was on Meet the Press on Sunday and spent 2/3 of the time she was on the show talking about Weiner when she was supposed to be there talking about issues that are important to the country. If she had said to David Gregory that she wouldn't comment and wanted to talk about the issues, he would have hounded her until she answered his questions. Seriously, the media is as (bleep)-ed up as the rest of them/us.
You're right, George. Doesn't mean I don't wish for better.
Holier than thou is absolutely spot on.... and don't forget Rick Santorum's abortion position - "convict the doctors - jail them - no abortion is acceptable - even when the life of the mother is in danger.." Exception: his wife's abortion.... THAT - OF COURSE - was different! HYPOCRITES!!
Not sure where to post. Think Rachel and Team will be interested. Should be
‘NYT’ report uncovers Bush plot to torpedo Juan Cole, but ignores some crucial questions
by Hugh Sansom on June 16, 2011
Like 6 Retweet 3
James Risen of The New York Times reports today on a former C.I.A. official's charges that the Bush administration sought to torpedo world-renowned Middle East scholar and blogger Juan Cole, professor at the University of Michigan and author of the blog Informed Comment. The story is notable for several reasons, including at least two the Times entirely omits or severely downplays.
According to Risen, Bush people were unhappy with a prominent academic voicing — and getting a wide hearing for — deep criticism of and opposition to the Iraq war. Former C.I.A. intelligence officer Glenn Carle, "a top counterterrorism official during the administration of President George W. Bush, said the White House at least twice asked intelligence officials to gather sensitive information on Juan Cole."
http://mondoweiss.net/2011/06/nyt-report-uncovers-bush-plot-to-torpedo-juan-cole-but-ignores-some-crucial-questions.html/comment-page-1#comment-329324
There is no statute of limitations on hypocrisy.
And no monopoly by either party.
The Dems should be demanding that Vitter step down last year all ready
Ok. Where is the surprise?
Of course this wasn't an issue at that time because it was a Republican who actually committed adultery when HAVING SEX with a prostitute. Where is the crime on what Wiener did? The only crime I can see was the slander by Breitbart who accused Weiner of pedophilia.
And the Vitter-story it is sooooo long ago. It's not like Republicans have any issues when liberals or democrats (not the same thing) did something more than ten years ago. Even what Bin Laden did doesn't matter to Republicans after 10 years. How else could you explain the treatment of 9/11-first-responders which were taken hostage to ram through tax cuts for the wealthy?
Said like a true Republican. Always a double-standard with you guys. *sigh*
Michelle Bachman - Well, I know all about born again Christians. We have lots here where I live. However, I was born a Roman Catholic and shortly after my birth, my parents had me BAPTIZED at the Roman Catholic Cathedral here and I had two godparents. What I don't understand is why these BORN AGAIN Christians are insisting that they are the "genuine" articles! They quote the Bible "Unless a man be born again, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven". Well, I believe they have completely misunderstood the scripture. I believe that what was meant then was unless a man changes his ways and endeavours to live a life as free from sin as possible..... That is what I think that phrase means. But these bigoted people choose to put their own interpretation to the issue. Well, good for them, but when they reach out to try and control the entire governmental system of a country, aren't they behaving exactly like those in foreign lands who insist, no not just "insist" but demand and pass laws, that the SHARIAH law must prevail? So how hypocritical is that? For me, Bachman should be pushed aside and so should Herman Cain with his nonsense about Muslims. We all know that there are Taliban and Al Queda muslims, but as a general rule, all Muslims are not involved in that sort of behaviour. Then the remainder of the GOP panel of those aspiring to be President of the USA, all they can think of is how to continue fattening the pockets of rich businesses and themselves. NO REGARD WHATSOEVER FOR THE MIDDLE-CLASS AND THE SMALLER MAN. And as far as Herman Cain is concerned, he is also a businessman who intends to keep his riches to himself and his family, but he has to realise that the others surrounding him will NEVER ALLOW HIM TO GET IN THE WHITE HOUSE. That is a fact!!!