Posted on 07/09/2007 11:28:34 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
WASHINGTON — Louisiana Sen. David Vitter apologized Monday for his telephone number showing up on the old phone records of Pamela Martin and Associates, the alleged prostitution ring run in the nation's capital by Deborah Jeane Palfrey.
"This was a very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible," Vitter said in a statement.
"Several years ago, I asked for and received forgiveness from God and my wife in confession and marriage counseling. Out of respect for my family, I will keep my discussion of the matter there --with God and them. But I certainly offer my deep and sincere apologies to all I have disappointed and let down in any way," he wrote.
The acknowledgment from Vitter, a Republican who recently won praise from conservatives for his opposition to the immigration reform bill, comes days after U.S. District Court Judge Gladys Kessler lifted a restraining order, allowing Palfrey, 51, to distribute pages of phone records that she and her attorney said contains up to 15,000 names.
On Monday, she released the numbers on her Web site.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Washington Post May 5, 2007
Howard Kurtz
During several weeks of calls to possible clients of the woman dubbed the D.C. Madam, Brian Ross of ABC confirmed that some fairly important people had used her escort service. But when he put together last night's segment for "20/20," the network's chief investigative reporter decided against outing anyone beyond the two people who already had been identified. "They just weren't newsworthy enough," ABC's Brian Ross said of the names.
"Their names won't mean anything to our audience," Ross said in an interview. "They just weren't newsworthy enough."
-snip-
Is he guilty? Whether he is Dem or Repub, is he responsible for the actions?
It appears that some of us get so hung up on well they did/do it, that some of us ignore the fact that they (Dem and Repubs)(black or white) are using, wasteing the peoples time and money.
IMHO the brainwashed sheeples' bellyaching, murmuring, shouting is almost always pointed in the wrong direction.
Wake up American people!
“...is he responsible for his actions?”
Now let’s just wait a minute maybe he...
1. Had a moment of weakness.
2. Is an alcoholic/drug abuser.
3. Was molested by a priest/religious leader as a child.
4. Thought “well if Bill Clinton can commit adultery...”
5. Never learned to love himself.
6. “Is just too giving of a person.”
7. Secretly wanted to get caught and is now relieved.
8. Is just an ole fashioned Jack-Ass.
LMAO!
Nice to hear he's taking complete responsibility. Compare and contrast with the following ...
"Bitch done set me up."
~ Marion Barry (Democrat)
"I did not have sex with that women, Ms. Lewinsky."
~ Bill Clinton (Democrat)
"When I fully realized what had happened this morning, I immediately contacted the police."
~ Ted Kennedy (Democrat)
Well and truly stated.
Really no reason. This is nothing compared to the actions of Clinton, Frank, Ted Kennedy.
If his church and his wife is willing to accept his repentence, so am I. This time. I'd be much more intolerant in the future.
Why is it so freaking hard for political parties to find someone who can keep his/her pants zipped?! I don't think that's a lot to ask.
One party doesn't care and a large portion of the other party with a libertarian streak doesn't care either. Only the social conservatives care that much and our clout is somewhat limited.
True enough, but I've never cheated on my wife, nor have most of the men I know. It's in a whole different category of untrustworthiness.
I would not allow an adulterer to remain in any position of public trust. Never mind the morality, that's not what concerns me. It's the exposure to blackmail, and the proven propensity to betray even the most solemn of oaths. The national security establishment recognizes this, and does not permit adulterers to do so much as sweep the floors in the Pentagon.
I don't think we can slam the likes of Bill Clinton on this, and then not clean our own house when needed. Men who cannot remain faithful to their wives are ALL unfit for public office, and vice versa for that matter.
-ccm
You obviously weren't on FR during the Clinton years ....
One of my pet peeves is the pious Jimmy Carter type, who pops up like a mushroom after a terrorist outrage or spectacularly vicious crime, sermonizing to all the rest of us about our need to "forgive." You're treading dangerously close to that here.
Number one, forgiveness is a spiritual rather than temporal matter (Matthew 22:21). If a loved one were killed, I would try to find it in my heart, by God's grace, to forgive the perpetrator and not be destroyed by my hatred. But I would still want the civil authorities to punish him to the fullest extent of the law. There is even less need for talk of "forgiveness" in a non-criminal matter concerning the public trust.
Number two, forgiveness is only the prerogative of the one who has been wronged. Vitter didn't do anything to me. Only his wife and family can decide whether to forgive him. For me it is a purely practical rather than moral matter, as I mentioned in a prior post-- nothing more than I would consider if I were interviewing someone for a job. Vitter has displayed extremely poor judgment and a willingness to betray his most solemn vows. He has exposed himself (and by extension, the well-being of the citizenry whom he represents) to blackmail and extortion. He belongs OUT of office.
Number three, as you correctly note, there is no obligation to forgive unless true repentance is shown. Hanging on to an elected office is not the way to show true repentance. Someone with repentance in his heart, in my opinion, would have already resigned his position and not waited until being outed by the news media.
-ccm
Hear, hear!
-ccm
This first scandal surfaced in 1999 — prior to his assuming a seat in Congress.
Democrats in LA may think this will resurrect their gubernatorial hopes because Jindal is a “friend” of Vitter’s.
Yes, He will ultimately judge Vitter, but that doesn't mean that we can't as well. The man is supposed to be a leader; instead he's disgraced his wife and humiliated his children. We should not tolerate people who act like this in positions of authority, or all we'll get is more of them.
Again, I'm extremely disappointed at the garbage defenses I'm seeing here. You're all making the same defenses that liberals did for Clinton, and there's no difference. Shameful. Just because someone "votes the right way" doesn't mean he belongs there.
No, I need to keep right on saying what I'm saying. Failure to do the right thing in condemning this behavior only allows more of it to occur. We as a society cannot afford to continue going downward on the moral slope. Liberals let Clinton skate for his behavior; we are not liberal scumbags.
I'm betting that some of the Vitter defenders here have engaged in the same behavior, and now are trying to justify Vitter so they don't so bad about what they've done.
he deserves it. he made his bed and now he has to lay in it.
Agreed - they should all resign. I was shocked when I learned that Gingrich had done it (although it explained his deafening silence during impeachment), but would never vote for the man in a million years. Great ideas, but zero ability to now lead. You just cannot break your vow to your spouse and be an effective leader. Period.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.