Think Progress

Senate ethics complaint against Vitter dismissed.

Filed Under: Congress

By Matt on May 8th, 2008 at 6:33 pm

Senate ethics complaint against Vitter dismissed.»

Last year, after it was revealed that Sen. David Vitter’s (R-LA) telephone number was part of the late D.C. Madam’s records, CREW asked the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate whether it amounted to “improper conduct which may reflect upon the Senate.” Today, the committee informed Vitter that it was dismissing the complaint against him because the incident occurred before he ran for the Senate. CREW responded by saying that “the Senate Ethics Committee has once again done what is does best: nothing.”

Comments

32 Responses to “Senate ethics complaint against Vitter dismissed.”

L. Hussein Annie Says:

Oh, crap. IOKIYAR strikes again!!
May 8th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
kindness Says:

I guess doing other men in bathroom stalls is not OK but doing prostitutes with diapers and all is fine by the Senate Ethics Committee.
May 8th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
ralph the wonder llama Says:

Well, it must be admitted tat at least Sen. Vitter didn’t bring the August Body into ill repute WHILE a member.

As far as we know.
May 8th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
dixie blood Says:

This needs to be repeated in bold:

“CREW responded by saying that “the Senate Ethics Committee has once again done what is [sic] does best: nothing.””
May 8th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
specialist f Says:

And since Madam Paulfrey was taken care of diaper boy has nothing to worry about.Funny how that works out.
May 8th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Nevar Says:

Vitter can quit shi!!ing his pants now.
May 8th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Buckie Boy Says:

IOKIYAR rings true, as always.
May 8th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
RUCerious Says:

Wonder how many other Senators were on the Madam’s black book.

**Whistling past graveyard, hands in pockets…**
May 8th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Nevar Says:

(Location: somewhere in the Great Beyond…)

Madam Palfry: “Ahh, at last, a familiar face!”
Ken Lay: Et tu, Madam?
May 8th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Roket Says:

They waited a whole week after the suicide before they dropped the charges. Are they trying to keep up some sort of appearance or something? Sorry, it’s not working for me.
May 8th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
robbez_92107 Says:

kindness Says:

But nothing has happened to Sen. Tappy (R-Bathroom Stall), either.
I guess neither behavior amounts to “improper conduct which may reflect upon the Senate.”
May 8th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
StratRat Says:

robbez_92107 Says:

kindness Says:

But nothing has happened to Sen. Tappy (R-Bathroom Stall), either.
I guess neither behavior amounts to “improper conduct which may reflect upon the Senate.”

Because if they investigate another member, the other member might decide to investigate them. One hand white washing the other. The Senate, after all, is an august body - whatever that means.
May 8th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
celtic cynic Says:

Apparently there is no conduct, ever, that reflects unfavorably on this ‘august body’ of our leaders.
May 8th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Nevar Says:

There seems to be a problem with male members in the Senate.
May 8th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Wayne A. Schneider Says:

So, the US Senate Ethics Committee sees nothing unethical about misrepresenting yourself to your constituents. Do I understand this correctly?
May 8th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
celtic cynic Says:

And the current members of the supercilious senate ethics committee are:

Democrats:
Barbara Boxer, California, Chairman
Mark Pryor, Arkansas
Ken Salazar, Colorado

Republicans:
John Cornyn, Texas, Vice Chairman
Pat Roberts, Kansas
Johnny Isakson, Georgia

So, why don’t you send them a nice letter or email, or, even better, vote them out of office the next chance available.
May 8th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Merlin Says:

Wayne A. Schneider Says:
So, the US Senate Ethics Committee sees nothing unethical about misrepresenting yourself to your constituents. Do I understand this correctly?
May 8th, 2008 at 7:26 pm

Well said! On the mark as usual, Wayne! You often cut through the superficial to reveal the hidden important meaning. The original thought (“improper conduct which may reflect upon the Senate,” is the wrong one. It represents a selfish desire on the part of the Senate members as a whole. Their ego and reputation must be garded fiercely. Only that matters. The important issue of his ethically and morally represensing the people he serves is completely ignored.

As StratRat says clearly above:
Because if they investigate another member, the other member might decide to investigate them. One hand white washing the other.
May 8th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Vincennes Says:

So if an individual murders or rapes someone before he is elected to the Senate, then he might be safe in the Senate if his criminal acts are discovered later. Of course, he’d be arrested and found guilty in a court of law, but at least he gets a pass from the Senate.
May 8th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
dasm Says:

What good news for any man who is not (yet) in office– you can use prostitutes, even if you are married, and there is nothing unethical about it!! The “madam” can be convicted & sent to jail, but these men have done nothing wrong whatsoever! Wow!
May 8th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
SP Biloxi Says:

A sad day: diaperman Vitter gets free pass by the Senate Ethics Committee.
May 8th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
questioneverything Says:

And of course she has been neatly done away with. By whatever means. CREW said it best. Nothing will be done by an internal ethics committee until we get a majority of progressives who believe in the constitution and the rule of law.
May 8th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Arn Gunnutes Says:

specialist f Says:

And since Madam Paulfrey was taken care of diaper boy has nothing to worry about.Funny how that works out.

Yup. Kinda like that dead Enron guy who committed “suicide” by dying in the middle of an intersection.

Enron. Kenny Boy and TRAITOR Bush…
May 8th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Xisithrus Says:

http://www.sciam.com/ podcast/ episode.cfm?id=C8ED057F-D32E-34B5-4DF78025550EB35B

Look, over there, diaper eating fungus!!
May 8th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Xisithrus Says:

We should make Vitter watch Lisa Sparxxx pornos until he becomes more ethical.
May 8th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
turnerj41 Says:

This guy is far worse than his dealings with prostitutes. The senate is acting according to their rules in dropping it, but what about criminal charges if he broke the law?
May 9th, 2008 at 1:06 am
uluro Says:

The Ethics Committee shouldn’t be made up of Senators. It’s like the “fox guarding the hen house.” US Citizens should be the ones serving on a REAL Ethics Committee. Let’s clean house!
May 9th, 2008 at 7:39 am
kassandrasduplex Says:

The United States has become something bizaar. Egalitarian and just it is not.
How long before the People demand a due respect for their rights?
May 9th, 2008 at 8:29 am
SpoxLogic Says:

..err….so why put the Clintons thru all that hell back in the day? Stuff like Whitewater happened before they took office, so therefore it could in no way debase the office of the Presidency.

…stupid minds…all of them!
May 9th, 2008 at 8:47 am
misshusseinmolly Says:

So let me get this straight — anything you did BEFORE you landed in the Senate is fine and dandy, and certainly not subject to Senate ethics rules.

I assume this applies the same across the board for everyone, regardless of party?
May 9th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Exit Stage Left Says:

And we’re to believe she committed suicide? They have been responsible for the deaths of 4600+ american soldiers and 500,000+ Iraqis, but wouldn’t off a whore? Yea right. I hafta call Countrywide to see if I can get a mortgage on that bridge they want to sell me.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Prytania Says:

Good for you David. Now get back to work on fixing your marriage and Louisiana.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Prytania Says:

misshusseinmolly Says:
——————————————————————————–

So let me get this straight — anything you did BEFORE you landed in the Senate is fine and dandy, and certainly not subject to Senate ethics rules.

I assume this applies the same across the board for everyone, regardless of party?

May 9th, 2008 at 9:01 am Recommend (1) | Report Abuse

Teddy Kennedy left a woman to die in his car. Where were the investigations then? Some of you act as though this is only going on in todays Senate. *NEWS FLASH* It’s been going on since we became independent!
May 9th, 2008 at 3:21 pm