Spitzer scandal being compared to last year's Vitter scandal
WASHINGTON – The scene was all too reminiscent of one that took place in Louisiana last year: powerful politician, stony-faced wife and the confession of a fall from the lofty principles so long professed.
One was Democratic New York Governor Eliot Spitzer the other was Senator David Vitter, R-La., and both were linked to prostitution.
Vitter, 46, a first-term senator and former U.S. House member, admitted in July to a “very serious sin” after his phone number was one of those on the client list Deborah Jeane Palfrey, who federal prosecutors said ran a prostitution operation.
At a Monday news conference, Spitzer said he “failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself.” He had been caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet in a Washington hotel room the night before Valentine’s Day with a prostitute from a call-girl business known as the Emperor’s Club VIP, according to a law enforcement official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Both Vitter and Spitzer - neither of whom was charged with a crime - were moral-high-ground crusaders: Vitter touted family values and opposed gay marriage, Spitzer was a corruption-fighter once known as “Mr. Clean.”
But while demands for Spitzer’s resignation almost immediately surfaced, Vitter has survived, dropping out of sight for a week after his statement, then keeping a low profile for months.
The difference in reaction springs from a couple of things, Democratic strategist James Carville said Tuesday. Spitzer’s situation was revealed by an active investigation while Vitter confessed after reportedly being contacted by publisher Larry Flynt’s magazine about the phone records.
“And they’re in very different situations,” Carville said. “Spitzer is a former prosecutor and is governor of New York. He has powerful enemies. Vitter is Louisiana’s junior senator and nobody really knows him or cares that much about him.”
The office each held also contributed to the reaction, said Silas Lee, a New Orleans political analyst.
“You have a history of legislators in congress who have violated public trust by hiring prostitutes, so it’s not as shocking as it is for a governor,” Lee said. “And Spitzer was so vindictive when he was Attorney General, he even prosecuted several prostitute cases, that’s heightened the outrage over his fall.”
The Republican Governor’s Association Executive Director Nick Ayers, called for Spitzer’s immediate resignation. To which, Chris Whittington, chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party asked: “Does that go for David Vitter?”
“We agree with Mr. Ayers,” Whittington said in a statement. “Governor Spitzer is joining a long list of politicians who have failed their constituents. Unfortunately that list has Louisiana Senator David Vitter’s name right there at the top. Right along with fellow Republican Larry Craig.”
Carville takes a different view. “If they paid with their own money, I don’t think either one should resign,” he said. “I’m much more tolerant of the sins of the flesh than the sins of the pocketbook.”
Whittington said Louisiana Republicans, including Governor Bobby Jindal and state Treasurer John Kennedy got together last month and hosted a fundraiser for Vitter that raised him nearly a half million dollars.
On Tuesday, Jindal issued a statement supporting Vitter, saying, “Senator Vitter has already addressed this and is back at work for the people of Louisiana. The people of New York can deal with the governor of New York.”