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While Eliott Spitzer is routinely villified for his dalliance with a high-priced call-girl, and a very stupid article on Gather makes him the fall guy for the controversial revelations about the personal use of state resources by the Republican Senate Majority Leader (the soon-to-be-indicted, Joseph Bruno), one notices a curious standard of conduct in operation.
Democrats who make headlines about their bad personal conduct soon leave office.
Republicans who make headlines about their criminal conduct are soon issuing moral imperatives to their fellow-citizens.
David Vitter, then a Congressman from Louisiana, was implicated in procuring the services of call girls through the "D.C. Madame".
His procurement occurred within the District, the same jurisdiction in which Spitzer's assignation took place.
Several of Vitter's dates occurred while House roll call votes were in progress. Vitter vehemently denied any impropriety until phone records were leaked to investigators. Soon thereafter, Vitter's office released a press release indicating that Vitter had sought forgiveness from his wife, his pastor, and from God, and the matter was now "closed".
It seems that, while the evidence was sealed, no sin had occurred. Once the cat was out of the bag, then forgiveness was needed.
Vitter refused to speak to the press, and gave an emotional statement to his Republican peers in the Senate (which he joined in 2004). The Republican leaders congratulated him on his "honesty", and blamed "the media" for attacking him.
It was deemed ridiculous and impolite to this "man of God" to point out that, should Vitter resign, a Democratic Governor could appoint a Democratic replacemnet to complete Vitter's term.
Spitzer was upbraided for his "crusading" attitude toward enforcement of the laws regulating stocks and securities and the investment of public money.
Vitter, who campaigned for the House and the Senate on a platform of "Family Values', co-authored the laughable "Defense of Marriage Act", keeps trying (unsuccessfully) to outlaw abortion, still defends the useless spending on Abstinence Education, and tried to sneak a federal appropriation for a Creationist lobbying group through the budget process - until Louisiana newspapers cought wind of the pending award.
Vitter and his wife, a former prosecutor, have been especially vindictive and mean toward the Clintons -Vitter campaigned on promises to purge Washington of characters like Bill Clinton.
Mrs. Vitter crudely compared herself to Loreena Bobbit and suggested that Hillary Clinton had let Bill "get away" with his adultery.
Vitter still has all his body parts, he still sits in the Senate (with Larry "Wide-Stance" Craig), and right wingnuts still say that Republicans are known for upholding values.
Some values.
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Comments: 99
Holly, I believe that you are entirely correct.
Power is the only quality that has any value to Republicans.
I wrote elsewhere of my keen disappointment in Spitzer. I ran into him at the Waldorf Astroia one year near Thanksgiving, and I found him warm, smart, and dynamic.
This article was written in response to a stream of Right wingnuts on another thread all agreeing with the risible premise that " Republicans don't tolerate hyprocrites."
I think I'm going to go crawl under the covers until December.
It isn't that a bargeload of Democrats have not committed very public sins, it is that the Republicans claim that they deal with "sins" differently.
That pretense to "higher values" is clearly a lie.
"I wonder at the intelligence of people who seriously believe that politicians in one party are morally superior to politicians in another..."
Like Pat, I applaud the wisdom of the frog.
If I was his wife, I think I could have found some pretty creative ways of "congratulating him for his honesty", and it wouldn't be the media he was blaming for attacking him.
thanks, Peter....we all know that Republicans are a bunch of hypocrites. When the Spitzer thing hit the news, I found myself wondering whatever happened to the DC Madame's little black book. The Repubs sure buried THAT piece of evidence pretty quickly, didn't they? What a bunch of hypocrites. Defend Marriage, my foot!
There is a trial related to Vitter's alleged consorting with prostitutes in New Orleans that is scheduled for later this year.
There may be more developments in this scandal.
Nippy, my favorite tune is, "Is you is or is you ain't my baby?"
I still would like to know who has access to the DC Madame's client listing and how that died so quickly from the news without further probing.
For some reason, when I read that sentence, I was thinking that it's because of the fierce competition amongst them.
Elizabeth, I missed your fine remarks about Republican hyprocrisy.
Kate, not only will they cover your butt, they will give you a standing ovation.
In truth, I believe that it was again sealed.
There was a legal challenge to making it a part of the court procedings.
There is no limit to how low they will go. We need A CHANGE!
I am sure that one can pursue political office without breaking any laws, Mark.
It is less clear if one can serve the "public interest" and remain an honest man or woman.
I get so tired of seeing people make this statement as though it is true for every politician. To me, it seems like the lazy way out. There are good, honest politicians. It's our job to, instead of lumping them all together, figure out who they are and work to get the others out of office.
Democrats also do not turn there criminals into heroes. That's a GOP staple since Oliver North and even before him to G. Gordon Liddy and Hunt. They have NO morals, all in all. And no shame.
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Psssst. Another great article Peter . . . but don't get me started. :)
John McCain - Divorced - Remarried.
Ronald Reagan - divorced - remarried.
Bob Dole–divorced.
Newt Gingrich - divorced his wife who was dying of cancer.
Dick Armey - House Majority Leader - divorced.
Senator Phil Gramm of Texas - divorced.
Governor John Engler of Michigan - divorced.
Governor Pete Wilson of California - divorced.
George Will - divorced.
Senator Lauch Faircloth - divorced.
Rush Limbaugh - and his last wife, Marta, had six marriages and four divorces between them. Divorced. Again.
Senator Bob Barr of Georgia - married three times. He had the audacity to author and push the "Defense of Marriage Act."
Senator Alfonse D'Amato of New York - divorced.
Senator John Warner of Virginia - divorced Elizabeth Taylor.
Governor George Allen of Virginia - divorced.
Representative Helen Chenoweth of Idaho - divorced.
Representative John Kasich of Ohio - divorced.
Representative Susan Molinari of New York (Republican National Convention Keynote Speaker) - divorced.
Nelson Rockefeller — may have lost a presidential nomination because of his divorce.
Yeah. No hypocracy there. They still be married if it weren't for Gays.
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
True Ron McMacho! And we STILL hear about him having legal, consensual sex. OMG! The Horror! LoL!
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Politicians cannot be descibed accurately by generalizations.
I finally read the article to which Debra provided the link. A must-save article to share with folks who leave breezy comments about the moral superiority of the Republican Party.
Doyle's lost includes some of the other notorious "values" leaders who decline to identify themselves as Republicans.
I also love Doyle's valid observation that "Democrats also do not turn their criminals into heroes."
Ummmm . . . Yuck. :)
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Ron is absolutely right, although there is more. All ten of the idiotic House "Impeachment leaders" believed that they could sway the Senate and the nation if they could just keep hammering on the most salacious details and unproven allegations of the sexual dalliance.
Neither the Senate, nor the public, wanted to waste time on this grand-standing.
Join The GOP: A "Big Tent" of Sexual Repressions and Shame
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Now, you are beginning to sound like another politician caught in a scandal, Kate.
This is the crux of the matter as far as I'm concerned. A total disconnect between these people and the reality of true morality. They have been so brainwashed into thinking that they can make up their own rules, twist religious passages, even post doctor's name on public websites and admit that at least one of them has been killed (like they are bragging about it), they cannot actually discern between right and wrong anymore. I think that is the legal definition of insane. And to think that these people actually make our laws and influence the future of our country. I really frightens me. Where will it end? Who will stop this insanity?
Now, you sound like a Republican caught in a scandal that he just denied could have occurred.
(You're going to have to stop apologizing!)
Exactly, Sheryl.
The sense of "wrong" is bounded by a few sexual transgressions and anything that makes a bigot feel uncomfortable.
Who is expected to take advice from someone who is not distrubed by bestiality (unless the mule is gay)?
It's like the open sex situations of consenting adults are much worse "because" they don't acknowledge how horrible it is. That not being ashamed of what someone wants is much worse than doing it under wraps and with children (which might be coerced or terrified into remaining silent).
Which is why most of the civilized world doesn't compare to us in the number of abused children, serial killers, violence and sexual crimes. We're the tops. When will these folks realize that openness and acceptance of off-nominal but legal sexual habits leads to considerably lower rates of criminal sexual behavior? That repression readily leads to victims that are "safer" and easier to hide (like children and animals) and that ain't a good thing.
Excellent point, Stephanie.
The moralist is not concerned with "being" good, so much as avoiding shame or reproach.
and, as we see repeatedly, it is not an adequate way to maintain a healthy life.
One ends up operating to avoid getting caught, rather than to do what is good.
I also believe that this type of repression - such as raising children in environments where their natural body parts and urges are made to seem dirty - actually leads to deviant sexual behavior both as children and adults. And it seems to be okay with them as long as they can keep it under raps.
I recently read an article about a study where adults who were regularly spanked as children are much more likely to indulge in deviant, sado-masochistic sexuals practices as their normal way of having sexual relations because they equate love with pain. And the human way to exhibit love in their minds is via sex, so the transference is perfectly understandable. Their parents showed love by spanking, and spanking equalled pain. Same if you grow up to think that natural sexual feelings and body parts are something to be ashamed of, hidden, and not talked about ever in any company.
I wish we had other prioroties in this country, as Stephanie suggests.
It was a very clever comment, Dannielle!
As soon as I saw that you had cut and pasted my typo, I responded immediately to that shameful circumstance.
Here is your acknowledged-by-all-to-be-clever remark:
"Republicans don't tolerate hypocrites -
.... because of the fierce competition amongst them."
Don't you wonder how 'normal' the children whose parents freaked out over Janet Jackson's boob are going to be when they're grown? What about the kids who have been admonished for using the words penis and vagina?
I also agree with Martin: People who are obsessed about the sex lives of other people are usually hiding secrets of their own. Considering what has leaked, and how hard they try to cover it, can you imagine the secrets the Republicans are still keeping?
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
It wouldn't be appropriate for me to publish a list of the guys I would like to touch in a good way, since they are all married and I wouldn't even if I had the chance. But dreams are nice. Am I the only one who thinks good, intelligent, dynamic politicians are sexy?
There's nothing like a bunch of literate, opinionated, well-informed friends.
I like Sandy's reflection:
"Don't you wonder how 'normal' the children whose parents freaked out over Janet Jackson's boob are going to be when they're grown?"
Thanks.
I despise what Great Leader Bush I and his viscious and mean consort have become.
Imagine what a different (better) world this would be if Prescott Bush had never been born.
Invoking the forgiveness of God to disarm one's political enemies is a long-standing Republican trick.
Foley resigned only after his sophmoric e-mails about erections and masturbation (to teen-age male pages) were about to be printed in the newspapers.
His departure was not made during the preceding two years in which Republican leaders knew of his impropriety.
Once again, it is only a "sin" if it is about to hit the news.
Well said, Joe. I can't believe that some fool was quoting the Mark Foley laugh-riot as an example of Republican "rectitude".
It's interesting how, when they want to criticize Democrats, they have to go allllllllll the way back to Ted Kennedy or risk being caught when they make up lies about more current events. And when they want to pat themselves on the back they bring up something like this, huh? Maybe the Mark Foley laugh-riot is the best they have.
Interesting, and pathetic.
Claims of Republican moral superiority in dealing with political scandal are entirely bogus.
That has not been true for the past sixteen months.
Buoyed by the excitement of the Democratic primaries, there has been an unprecedented surge in new party registrations.
Through the end of March, according to Rasmussen
41.5% of party affiliations are Democrats, the highest in recent history.
Republican Party affiliation still slumps along at 32.1%.
And Independents, who had led republican Party registration for half of 2007, have slipped back to 26.8%
Several million Independents registered as Democrats to vote in the primaries.
It still looks like this is going to be a banner year for the Democrats.
The shift of a few million Independents will decide the race.
Any of the candidates would be an improvement over the Village Idiot still in the White House.
This is how low the bar for the Presidency has fallen.
I believe that more duplicity and crime will be uncovered, and some will eleict outrage.
Althought, the departure of an indicted Cabinet Secretary passed with very little notice.
The taint of Bush will linger for a generation; and it is far better-deserved than the ignorant scorn heaped on Carter.
Republican identification among those under thirty cannot reach 20%.
Neverthelss, very little is hidden long.
Now in 2008, time will tell what tricks they might come up with. One already is in evidence however. That is the use of illegal aliens voting (overwhelmingly for McCain)
and eliminating Huckabee and Romney from the campaign. If Democrats want to win in 2008, they had better not believe that they have this vote on their side. They do not
and judging by the size and intensity of past demonstrations about amnesty and
workplace raids, this will again be a major factor in the general election, as it was in the primaries.
The Republicans are likely to have other tricks too, as well as the ones from 2004.
I think those still need to be rectified in many places, no ?
That is the Republican hypocrisy that we lament, Martin.
Lying on TV to the American public and getting a BJ in the Oval Office ring a bell?
~M