LA Dems To File Senate Ethics Complaint Against Vitter

Later this morning, Louisiana Democrats will send a clear message to Sen. David Vitter (R-LA): If you want to bash your political rivals at your rigged town halls, don't do it on the public dime.

State party chairman Chris Whittington is sending a letter to the Senate Ethics Committee requesting an investigation into whether Vitter has violated the Senate code of office conduct by, among other things, using the publicly sponsored forums, where he takes pre-screened questions, to "compare his stance on health care to that of his likely future opponent."

We'll post the letter from Whittington as soon as it's available. Vitter is likely to face a challenge from Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA) for his Senate seat in 2010.

Ironically, for all relevant purposes, the two probably aren't as far apart on health care as you'd assume. Though surely Democrat Melancon has taken some stances to the left of Vitter on certain provisions, he voted against the final health care reform package in the House Energy and Commerce Committee last month.