Debbie Schlussel: Senator Vitter Must Resign, But So Should Congressman Barney Frank
Some left-wingers have e-mailed to castigate me for not writing about U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-Louisiana) and his apparent multiple-patronage of prostitutes.
To me, it's not something I needed to write about. I haven't heard a single conservative or Republican defend the Senator, nor should they. Conservatives have always called for the resignation of conservative politicians who have patronized prostitutes, when news of these scandals comes to light. As I wrote, when my one-time boss (I was his intern), Congressman Donald E. "Buz" Lukens, was caught in a scandal with a teenage prostitute, Newt Gingrich was the first to call for his resignation. It was the Republicans who initiated a complaint with the House ethics panel.
It is the Democrats, the liberals, the left who have a problem with consistency on this issue. As I've written, one of their star Members of Congress, Barney Frank, not only admittedly solicited a prostitute (via an ad for a "versatile" prostitute in Washington's gay "The Blade" newspaper), but he allowed the prostitute--Stephen Gobie--to run the prostitution ring out of Frank's Capitol Hill home. And Frank attempted to influence sentencing for Gobie in a criminal matter and had the House clerk fix parking tickets for Gobie.
Senator Vitter solicited a prostitute not just once, but several times, apparently. And he is currently in seclusion, missing votes and neglecting his duties of representing the State of Louisiana. For that reason alone, he cannot continue in office. You cannot be both a hermit and an effective U.S. Senator simultaneously.
But while he should resign, Barney Frank should have resigned long ago. And the left--the Democrats, liberals, etc.--should have called for his resignation (and still should), as loudly as they are now calling for that of Vitter.
What's good for the goose is good for the Democrats.
Posted by Debbie on July 16, 2007 12:31 PM to Debbie Schlussel