Government Shutdown

House Dems Whip Against GOP Government Funding Bill Over Disaster Relief

Brian Beutler | September 21, 2011, 2:21PM

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

House Dem leadership is urging all caucus members to oppose the Republican legislation to continue funding the government past September 30 on the grounds that it cuts a popular manufacturing program to pay for federal disaster aid.

"Democratic Members are urged to vote NO on the previous question and the bill -- as disasters are an emergency and we should not have to cut good-paying American jobs to provide essential disaster relief for families, small businesses, and communities," reads a memo from Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's office.

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Government Shutdown

Senate Dems Eye 10 Republicans Who May Flip-Flop On Disaster Aid

Brian Beutler | September 21, 2011, 9:28AM

Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate Democrats want all eyes on the 10 Republicans, from disaster-affected states, who voted last week for a nearly $7 billion emergency bill to re-up FEMA's relief account. They hold the key to whether or how not just FEMA, but the entire United States government will be funded after its current appropriations lapse at the end of the month.

As noted extensively Tuesday, the questions of how and by what amount to provide disaster relief are the only obstacles to passing legislation to keep the federal lights on into the fall. Senate Democrats (and presumably these 10 Republicans) want to significantly bolster FEMA's account, and do so without arguing over budget cuts to offset the cost.

House Republicans are offering up about half as much, and only on the condition that the funds be matched by nixing a $1.5 billion hybrid vehicle manufacturing incentive. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) says he's not backing down. When the House sends the Senate its government funding bill Reid's going to force a vote on an amendment to swap out the House's FEMA provision with his own.

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Super Committee

Senators Push For More Transparency For Super Committee

Susan Crabtree | September 8, 2011, 12:46PM

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA)

Republican Sens. Dean Heller (NV) and David Vitter (LA) are trying to shed some sunlight on all of the deficit super committee's activities -- including fundraising.

Even before the first super committee's Thursday morning meeting began, which was open to the public and aired on C-SPAN, Heller introduced legislation to make all of the panel's meetings, even the most informal, open to the public. Vitter introduced a companion bill that would require super committee members to disclose all campaign contributions within 48 hours of receiving them.

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Harry Reid

Dems, GOP Demand: If You're Gonna Slash Medicare, Raise Taxes, Can You At Least Do So In Public?!

Brian Beutler | August 10, 2011, 6:00AM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) appointed three Democrats to a 12-member deficit Super Committee Tuesday, giving observers and advocates an early indication of how the committee will function as it seeks over a trillion dollars in further deficit cuts by the end of the year.

Just as important as who serves on the panel, though, is the question of whether it will function like most Congressional committees do -- open to press and voters, with conflicts of interest disclosed publicly, if not always swiftly or conveniently.

So often, high-stakes negotiations like these are conducted in private, where members feel free from accountability, and, to a lesser extent, from special interest influence. And because the debt ceiling statute that created the panel included no significant transparency requirements, the expectation has been that it will operate away from public scrutiny.

But there is growing pressure on Congressional leaders to pull back the curtain on the panel, including from influential members of their own parties. And now it seems as likely as not that the proceedings will take place in a way that makes it difficult for members to hide deal-making from the public.

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Bobby Jindal

Whether He Wants It Or Not, Bobby Jindal's Got David Vitter's Endorsement

Evan McMorris-Santoro | June 29, 2011, 3:26PM

Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) and Senator David Vitter (R-LA)

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's (R) reelection campaign just got the prostitution scandal bump.

A few months after Jindal publicly declined to endorse Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) for reelection last year, Vitter is being the bigger person and endorsing Jindal for another term as governor anyway.

Team Jindal told reporters in Louisiana the governor is "appreciative of the senator's support."

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Andrew Breitbart

Andrew Breitbart: I Saved Anthony Weiner From Blackmail (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | June 20, 2011, 1:05PM

Conservative Blogger Andrew Breitbart

Andrew Breitbart says he saved Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) from an inevitable extortion scandal when he helped publicize the graphic tweet that led to Weiner's downfall.

Breitbart gleefully took partial credit for Weiner's resignation in his speech at the RightOnline conference in Minneapolis this weekend. In an impromptu interview, Breitbart says that he holds all sex scandal-plagued politicians in the same negative light, regardless of party.

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Anthony Weiner

Weiner To Dems: Nope, Not Resigning, Sorry

Benjy Sarlin | June 10, 2011, 1:11PM

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY)

If the last week didn't convince Anthony Weiner (D-NY) to resign, it's hard to see what will.

Democrats in Washington couldn't have made it clearer that they want Weiner gone fast. Within minutes of his nationally televised confession on Monday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) called for an ethics investigation and was seconded immediately by DCCC chair Steve Israel (D-NY). By the end of the week an array of Democrats, including DCCC official Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), were openly demanding he step down. On the Senate side, Harry Reid more or less told Weiner to drop dead, acidly saying his advice to the lawmaker would be to "Call somebody else." On the other side of the ledger, virtually no Democratic officials have moved to defend him.

But Weiner has stuck to his guns, emerging from 24-hour deathwatch unbroken after an onslaught of humiliating stories ranging from a reported X-rated photo to dozens of pages of alleged raunchy chats to a New York Times story on his wife Huma Abedin's pregnancy.

"I betrayed a lot of people and I know it and I'm trying to get back to work now and try to make amends to my constituents, and of course to my family of course," he told the New York Post on Thursday. "I'm going to go back to my community office and try to get some work done."

While the shouts for his resignation may be intense in DC, take the Amtrak to New York and the scene looks very different. Local politicos say they aren't surprised to see Weiner digging in.

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Birther

Among Birther Friendly Lawmakers, Mostly Radio Silence

Benjy Sarlin | April 27, 2011, 1:39PM

President Barack Obama's long form birth certificate.

President Obama's decision to release his long form birth certificate comes amid Donald Trump's three-ring circus on the issue, but prominent conservatives have flirted with the birther movement since its earliest inception. From insisting Obama release more records, to waffling on questions about his citizenship, to sponsoring legislation winking at conspiracy theorists, there's been no shortage of birther curious behavior over the last several years.

TPM reached out to over 20 lawmakers and public figures who have indulged in such behavior to determine whether Obama's release of the Rosetta stone of birtherism has settled the issue, receiving few responses.

TPM SLIDESHOW: There's The Birth Certificate: TPM's Best Of The Birthers

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Birthright citizenship

Vitter, Rand Paul Propose Amendment To Pare Back Birthright Citizenship

Eric Kleefeld | January 27, 2011, 2:37PM

Sens. David Vitter (R-LA) & Rand Paul (R-KY)

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) and freshman Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) have now teamed up -- and they're aiming very high. The two have proposed a constitutional amendment, to get rid of birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants.

From their joint press release, their proposal will declare "a person born in the United States to illegal aliens does not automatically gain citizenship unless at least one parent is a legal citizen, legal immigrant, active member of the Armed Forces or a naturalized legal citizen."

I sought clarification from Vitter's office as to whether this would be a full-fledged amendment to the Constitution, or a lesser legislative route. It is indeed a proposed amendment to the Constitution.

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2010 elections

TPM Approves These Messages: Five Great Ads Of 2010 (VIDEOS)

Eric Kleefeld | December 31, 2010, 3:07PM

With the year 2010 coming to a close, and a truly raucous election season behind us (and another set to begin), let's take a look at a real highlight of the cycle: A sampling, even just a small one, of some great campaign ads we got to see over the past year.

Unlike some of our other lists, we're not talking about a mix of great ads and awful ones that took on a kitsch value. (I'm looking in your direction, "I'm not a witch. I'm you," and also at you, "Aqua Buddha.")

No, here we're talking about truly great ads that applied ingenuity, creativity and pure guts to an election. We're talking about the ones whose creators deserve accolades and good spots on campaigns for 2012 -- and might just get them.

So get out your popcorn and your New Year's alcohol, and watch our five picks.

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Chuck Grassley

Snowe, Hatch Poised To Take Top GOP Slots On Major Committees In January

Brian Beutler | November 10, 2010, 12:14PM

Republicans didn't pick up the Senate last week. But they did pick up six seats and will have several new members coming to town next year, which means the committees will be rejiggered -- and the leaders of those committees will play the biennial game of musical chairs.

According to top aides, the reshuffling won't be too dramatic this time around. On any particular committee, Democrats adhere to a seniority system to determine who moves up the ladder. Republicans let the members choose who gets the top spot.

With that in mind, here's one likely reshuffling scenario.

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Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart: Tonight We Learned It's Better To Support Prostitutes Than Social Security (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | November 3, 2010, 1:07AM

Jon Stewart was covering the election live tonight, and he was a little surprised that Republican Sen. David Vitter "has absolutely destroyed his challenger by going out with hookers. So really what is the message we're sending America tonight? It is better, I think, to go see prostitutes than in fact to believe Social Security is a right."

Stewart was also happy for New York Governor candidate Carl Paladino: "Carl Paladino's campaign to not be elected governor has succeeded. Andrew Cuomo is the victor. Paladino, of course, tried very hard not to be Governor. He must be feeling very pleased tonight."

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LA-SEN

Vitter Shellacks Melancon

Brian Beutler | November 2, 2010, 9:35PM

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) and Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA)

How's this for a new standard of conduct in politics? A "values" Republican can weather a prostitution scandal in a conservative state as long as it occurs a couple years before his re-election bid in a GOP wave year.

If the Louisiana Senate race was a referendum on Democratic rule, it was also a referendum on Sen. David Vitter (R). He joined the House in 1999 as a values conservative on the right flank of the Republican party, replacing the disgraced Bob Livingston. Rumors swirled around Vitter for years, but he nonetheless moved to the Senate in 2005 replacing the retiring Democrat John Breaux. His reputation was shattered in 2007, though, when he was discovered to have solicited prostitutes in both Washington DC and Louisiana.

Tonight, however, he defeated Democratic Rep. Charlie Melancon in one of the most vicious campaigns of the 2010 cycle.

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David Vitter

Vitter Refuses To Say Whether He Broke The Law In Prostitution Scandal

Brian Beutler | October 29, 2010, 11:18AM

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) hearing testimony from oil executives.

At the final Louisiana Senate debate last night, incumbent David Vitter (R) dodged repeated questions about whether he broke the law by soliciting prostitutes in Washington, D.C. and Louisiana.

"[Y]ou can look back, you can continue to write stories in the media about it," Vitter told moderators. "That's your decision. It's a free country. I looked the voters of Louisiana in the eye. I spoke to them sincerely. I think they heard me and I think they understood me. And now I'm looking forward, I'm not looking back."

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David Vitter

Melancon Ad: Vitter Used Taxpayers' Money To Pay For Prostitutes (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | October 28, 2010, 9:47AM

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA)

No more beating around the bush. In a brutal new segment running on network and cable television in Louisiana through election day, Rep. Charlie Melancon makes a final, daring pitch to voters that Sen. David Vitter's sex and abuse scandals make him unfit to serve.

"Our tax dollars pay David Vitter's salary, and he used it for prostitutes," the ad's narrator says. "Our money paid for Vitter's serious sin. Phone calls to prostitutes during official votes and tax dollars to help defend an aide who violently abused his girlfriend. In return, we got a disgraced senator ranked among the least effective in Congress."

Melancon hasn't exactly been shy about discussing Vitter's past. It's an issue he's highlighted around the state, and in a two minute that ran on cable TV earlier this cycle. But his camp's long been aware that it has to be fresh on voters' minds if Melancon's going to win.

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David Vitter

New Radio Ad Highlights Vitter Vote To Protect Companies That Block Rape Lawsuits

Brian Beutler | October 27, 2010, 11:44AM

Senator David Vitter (R-LA)

A new Charlie Melancon radio ad running in Louisiana highlights Sen. David Vitter's (R-LA) opposition to legislation that would have barred the government from contracting with companies that prevent victims from taking cases of assault, discrimination, rape, and other forms of abuse to court.

The segment is narrated by Jennie Waldrop, a rape victim who confronted Vitter at a town hall last year over his vote on that.

"I asked him how could you support a law that denies victims like me the right to defend myself," she says in the ad. "He told me I didn't know what I was talking about ... and then he walked away. I never thought I'd get involved in politics, but David Vitter is a man unfit to be my Senator."

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David Vitter

Religious And Ethnic Coalition Presses Vitter To Take Down And Apologize For Insensitive Ad

Brian Beutler | October 19, 2010, 10:12AM

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA)

If constituent anger is any indication, the most truly offensive campaign ad this season comes from David Vitter featuring actors playing illegal immigrants, sneaking into the country to a welcoming parade and a big fat taxpayer check, thanks, supposedly, to the liberal politics of his opponent, Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA)

A coalition of about two dozen high-profile religious and ethnic leaders in the state was so put off by the segment that they've asked Vitter in a letter and a petition to take it down and apologize.

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Jack Conway

Six Brutal Ads That Put Conway's Aqua-Buddha Segment To Shame

Brian Beutler | October 19, 2010, 8:51AM

Kentucky Senate candidates Jack Conway and Rand Paul talk with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

The campaign season was rocked this weekend when Senate hopeful Jack Conway (D) unveiled an ad raising questions about the sincerity of his opponent Rand Paul's faith in the deeply Christian state of Kentucky.

The ad quickly became the most contentious of the cycle. On Sunday, the two met for their second-to-last scheduled debate, which ended with Paul refusing to shake Conway's hand and threatening to skip their final encounter.

As is common when Democrats punch below the belt, the episode inspired an earnest round of handwringing among party members and progressive commentators, some of whom went to go so far as to call Conway's segment "illiberal" and "despicable."

Looking back on the past several weeks, though, there have been a number of ads (both Democratic and Republican) that are -- pick your adjective -- harsher, sleazier, bolder and more damning. Here are our top six.

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Veterans

Melancon Wins Endorsement From Veterans of Foreign Wars PAC

Brian Beutler | October 13, 2010, 1:43PM

Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA)

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW PAC) has endorsed Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA) in his bid to unseat Sen. David Vitter (R-LA).

"This endorsement is based on your strong support for veterans, national security and defense, and military personnel issues," the endorsement letter reads.

The PAC has been rebuked in recent days by its parent organization for endorsing liberal candidates including Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL).

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LA-SEN

Vitter Ad Features Garish 'Welcome' For Mexican Illegal Immigrants (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 8, 2010, 3:33PM

Ad from Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), "Welcome Prize"

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) has what might be the most amazing ad that a Republican has ever put out on illegal immigration -- featuring a gang of shady Mexicans sneaking through a fence, being greeted by a welcome sign in both English and Spanish, an oversized novelty check giving them "a lot of taxpayer money," and a limousine to ride them off in style. And of course, all of it is blamed on Vitter's Democratic opponent, Rep. Charlie Melancon.

"Charlie Melancon. Thanks to him we might as well put out a welcome sign for illegal aliens," the announcer says. "Melancon voted to make it easier for illegals to get taxpayer funded benefits, and actual welfare checks. Melancon even voted against allowing police to arrest illegals. Thanks to Charlie Melancon, it's no wonder illegals keep coming, and coming..."

It does seem odd that a demographic known for doing menial labor at below the legal minimum wage would get a ride in a limo. Also, it should be noted that among the crowds of Americans being taken advantage of by the illegal immigrants in the ad -- taxpayers, police, that old-fashioned Louisiana marching band -- all but one of them are white.

The TPM Poll Average puts Vitter ahead by 47.6%-34.6%.

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The Colbert Report

Colbert On Angle And Vitter Ads Using Same Immigrant Picture: 'Holy Frijoles, Those Are The Same Hombres!' (VIDEO)

David Taintor | October 8, 2010, 10:00AM

Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert kicked off his show last night by showing anti-immigration campaign ads from Senate candidates Sharron Angle (R-NV) and Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), that use the same stock photos.

"This is the most terrifying scenario of all: There aren't enough stock photos of scary minorities out there to represent all the scary minorities we know have got to be out there," Colbert said.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: The Whole Truthiness: Stephen Colbert Testifies On Capitol Hill]

Colbert also showcased his new "fear-based photo licensing service," dubbed fearstock.com, which offers one picture of Colbert in a vaguely threatening pose.

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LA-SEN

Vitter A No-Show At Debate, Attends Republican-Only Event Instead

Brian Beutler | October 6, 2010, 1:16PM

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) hearing testimony from oil executives.

Louisiana's leading Senate candidates gathered last night for their first scheduled debate in Houma, LA. Well, one of them gathered. Front-runner David Vitter (R) didn't show.

Instead of joining his Democratic rival Charlie Melancon for an hour-plus long, unscripted Q&A, Vitter skipped the session entirely, according to tracker footage taken by the Louisiana Democratic party, headed to an event for Republicans only in Kenner, some 50 miles away.

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Larry Flynt

Larry Flynt Renews Million Dollar Offer For Dirt On Vitter, Other Politicians' Sexual Affairs (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | October 4, 2010, 2:25PM

In the course of lambasting Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) for his repeated dalliances with multiple prostitutes, Hustler publisher Larry Flynt renewed his million-dollar offer to anybody who can prove they had extra-marital sex with Vitter or any high-ranking official.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE SCANDALS]

In so doing, he also previewed what he says will become the next big political sex scandals.

"We know we've got a gay senator," Flynt said on CNN yesterday evening. "We just like to see him come out of the closet. And I think we'll be exposing that in the next few months if he doesn't."

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Jack Lew

No Recess Appointments For Obama During Election Season

Brian Beutler | September 30, 2010, 2:48PM

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

With Louisiana Sens. Mary Landrieu (D) and David Vitter (R) blocking a vote on the confirmation of Jack Lew, President Obama's pick to lead the White House budget team, speculation ran rampant this week that Obama might offer Lew a recess appointment.

Well, that won't be happening.

Last night, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid decided he'd hold multiple weekly pro-forma Senate sessions during the election-season recess, which will prevent Obama from legally recess appointing his stalled nominees. The reason, according to top Democratic and Republican aides has nothing to do with recess appointments per se, but rather with protecting the rest of Obama's executive and judicial nominees.

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LA-SEN

Melancon Turns Vitter Prostitutution Reenactment Video Into Two-Minute TV Ad (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | September 29, 2010, 9:04AM

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) hearing testimony from oil executives.

This summer, Louisiana Dems hinted that their fall strategy to defeat Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) would be to vividly remind voters of Vitter's prostitute-laden scandal sheet. They unveiled a five-minute web ad that included a reenactment and a recreation of the "crime scene" where Vitter and a prostitute liaised.

Now, his challenger, Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA), has turned that web ad into a two-minute long TV spot, which will run on Louisiana cable statewide starting tonight or tomorrow.

The web-ad went viral on YouTube, and its successor contains much of the same footage that made Internet version so compelling. Melancon has lagged about 10 points behind Vitter for most of the campaign, but polls show that many Louisiana voters remain unaware of Vitter's previous scandals. In the final stretch of the campaign, Dems are hoping to change that.

Watch:

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Gulf Coast Oil Spill

Administration Officials Plead With Landrieu To Drop Hold On OMB Nominee Jack Lew

Christina Bellantoni | September 29, 2010, 8:47AM

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)

Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu is holding up President Obama's key economic appointee in critical fiscal times over a local issue his economic team has no control over, giving Republicans campaign ammunition and throwing a wrench into budget planning just as the Senate is set to go home for the elections.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and other top administration officials have been pleading with Landrieu (D-LA) to release her hold on the nomination of Jack Lew to be President Obama's new Office of Management and Budget director. But Landrieu says she won't budge until the moratorium on Gulf Coast drilling is lifted.

OMB doesn't have jurisdiction over drilling, and Democrats are privately outraged someone from their own party would block such a critical nomination -- with several suggesting the state of gridlock in the Senate has reached an untenable level. What's more, the delay to install Lew creates big budgetary problems just as the administration is prepping for several major initiatives, including the 2012 spending blueprint.

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David Vitter

Exclusive: CREW To File Ethics Complaint Against Vitter Over Violent Aide

Brian Beutler | September 21, 2010, 12:45PM

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) hearing testimony from oil executives.

The Congressional watchdog organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) will file an official complaint against Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) tomorrow, urging Senate ethics investigators to probe several allegations of misconduct, TPM has learned.

All of the allegations relate to Vitter's professional relationship with Brent Furer, a former top aide who was arrested in January 2008 for assaulting his then girlfriend with a knife, but remained on Vitter's staff and working on women's issues until June of this year when he resigned.

CREW contends that Vitter misused official funds in two ways.

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David Vitter

Vitter Pledge To Tea Party: 'I Will Conduct Myself...In A Morally And Socially Appropriate Manner'

Brian Beutler | September 16, 2010, 4:28PM

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA.)

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), along with a handful of other Louisiana politicians, has signed on to the North Central Louisiana TEA Party Patriots Candidate Pledge.

That includes a promise to "Conduct myself personally and professionally in a moral and socially appropriate manner."

We leave it to readers to draw their own conclusions. You can read the entire pledge below the fold.

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David Vitter

Vitter At 9/11 Tea Party Rally: Obama's 'Grave' Policies 'Killing Americans' (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | September 13, 2010, 1:05PM

Senator David Vitter (R-LA)

At a 9/11 rally in Louisiana on Saturday, Sen. David Vitter compared President Obama's domestic policies to the threat of terrorism, and charged that those same policies are "killing Americans."

Vitter first criticized Obama's foreign policies, charging that they've left the country "less secure" from foreign attack. He went on, adding that, "as grave as these threats from outside our borders are, threats from inside our borders - bad policy, economic policy, threats to our fundamental freedoms - are just as grave."

From there, Vitter cited a familiar litany of conservative complaints about Democratic policies, from stimulus to health care reform, to the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. Those he described as "dangerous stuff."

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2010 elections

TPM's Top 10 Senate Races To Watch

Brian Beutler | September 13, 2010, 8:35AM

Kentucky Senate candidates Jack Conway and Rand Paul talk with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

Campaign season doesn't really heat up until September ... which means now. That means all the scandals and ads and ups and downs you've heard and read about in the last several months were just stage-setters. Most voters really begin paying attention now.

It's looking like a tough year for Senate Democrats, almost of whom are polling below 50 percent. Several weeks ago, many Republicans -- including NRSC Chair John Cornyn -- thought Republicans wouldn't be able to retake the Senate. Today, it's a distinct possibility. There are a number of critical races, but you should really keep an eye on these 10.

Read more »

Bush Tax Cuts

Vitter: 'Virtually Everybody' Would Get Hit If Tax Cuts For The Rich Expire (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | September 9, 2010, 2:00PM

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) and Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA)

At a public forum hosted by the Chamber of Commerce in Crowley, Louisiana yesterday, Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) attacked his Democratic opponent Charlie Melancon for saying people in the top income bracket should pay higher taxes. But in doing so he implied that "virtually everybody" in attendance would see their taxes raised.

"I hate to tell you, by Washington's definitions that [Melancon]'s using, virtually everybody in this audience is the wealthy."

Though the event was hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, it was open to all residents. According to the U.S. Census bureau, the average household income in Louisiana was $43,635 in 2008.

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David Vitter

Underdog Challenges Vitter To Mixed Martial Arts Steel Cage Match

Brian Beutler | September 8, 2010, 6:21PM

Senator David Vitter (R-LA)

Mike Spears, a real dark horse independent candidate for Louisiana Senate has come up with a great stunt for getting votbloggers' attention: Challenge David Vitter to a Ultimate Fighting Championship-style steel cage free for all.

The Daily Advertiser reports:

Spears issued the challenge at a press conference to announce USA-MMAS "Return of the Champions" on Oct. 16 at the Cajundome.

Citing the 2007 scandal in which Vitter was linked to a Washington D.C. prostitution ring, Spears billed the bout as a modern day duel.

"Sen. Vitter's behavior - his admission to breaking the law in 2007 - has insulted the honor of Louisiana and the Louisiana Senate seat," Spears said.

"I'm in this race, and this fight, to restore the honor of Louisiana and of the nation as well."

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David Vitter

Jindal Won't Endorse Vitter -- But He's Endorsed Louisiana Republicans In The Past

Brian Beutler | September 7, 2010, 10:29AM

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal

Louisiana's Republican governor, Bobby Jindal, isn't planning on endorsing Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) in his Senate race against Democrat Charlie Melancon.

"Voters can make up their own minds," Jindal said late last week, according to The Advocate.

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LA-SEN

LA-Dems Raise Funds To Air Vitter Prostitute Ad

Brian Beutler | September 7, 2010, 10:00AM

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA)

In a bid to raise awareness of David Vitter's ethical scandals, Louisiana Democrats are raising money to run a TV ad recreating an encounter Vitter had with a prostitute.

"We need to get Forgotten Crimes on television in Louisiana," reads a fundraising letter the LA-Dems sent to supporters this morning. "A recent independent poll found that an astonishing number of likely voters in Louisiana are unaware that David Vitter admitted breaking the law but was never held accountable."

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David Vitter

WATCH: Dems Recreate Vitter-Prostitute Encounter In New Web Video

Brian Beutler | September 2, 2010, 11:48AM

Senator David Vitter (R-LA)

The Louisiana Democratic party has produced an extremely potent video recapping, and even re-enacting, the full history of David Vitter's prostitution scandals. Though the segment is web-only, it's easily the farthest the party has gone to highlight the indiscretions -- a task they usually leave to surrogates, but which they view as the key to unseating him.

The five minute, 32 second documentary-style video includes testimonials from what the Louisiana Democrats describe as real Louisianans who've lost faith in Vitter for using his office to get away with criminal activity. That's the broad point the segment makes.

But more than that, it's a vehicle for reminding viewers of the scandals -- it includes audio testimony of the DC Madam, and a re-enactment of the "crime scene."

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David Vitter

Vitter Camp Receives Donation From Deceased Woman

Brian Beutler | September 1, 2010, 12:15PM

Senator David Vitter (R-LA)

David Vitter recently received a campaign donations from a woman who passed away in December, 2009, FEC documents reveal.

According to a notice of contributions Vitter filed on August 17, he received an August 16 donation of $1000 from Anna Gumpertz of Toluca Lake, CA -- a regular contributor to Republican candidates and causes. The only problem is, Gumpertz died of a heart attack last year.

Vitter's campaign was not immediately available for comment.

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LA-SEN

Melancon Challenges Vitter To Series Of Unscripted Town Hall-Style Debates

Brian Beutler | August 31, 2010, 1:16PM

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) and Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA)

Louisiana Senate hopeful Charlie Melancon has challenged David Vitter (R) to a series of debates today, in an effort to make him account publicly for recent scandals, TPM has learned.

Melancon issued the challenge this afternoon in letters to Vitter, and other qualified candidates, and will argue that all major candidates agreed to five debates in 2004, when Vitter first won his Senate seat.

As part of the challenge, Melancon is asking that the debates be town hall-style, without podiums, pre-screened questions, pre-selected questioners. Vitter has been avoiding reporters for most of campaign season, and has confined himself for the most part to events with pre-screened questions.

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LA-SEN

Vitter Easily Trounces GOP Primary Challenger

Eric Kleefeld | August 28, 2010, 9:58PM

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA)

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), the family values conservative who became embroiled in a prostitution scandal in 2007, has just won his Republican primary tonight, easily fending off a late challenge from former state Supreme Court Justice Chet Traylor.

With 23% of precincts reporting, Vitter leads Traylor by a margin of 88%-8%, and has been projected as the winner by the Associated Press.

Traylor had called upon Republican voters to "man up" and ditch Vitter, citing such reasons as the prostitution scandal and his having kept an aide on his staff who allegedly attacked his girlfriend with a knife. But no such luck for Traylor.

Vitter now proceeds to the general election against Democratic Rep. Charlie Melancon. The TPM Poll Average shows Vitter leading Melancon by 46.6%-34.0%.

David Vitter

Vitter Attorneys Pressured Louisiana Newspapers To Soften Coverage Of His Violent Aide

Brian Beutler | August 27, 2010, 8:00AM

Senator David Vitter (R-LA)

Has David Vitter been pressuring newspapers in Louisiana to take it easy on Brent Furer, a former aide who attacked his girlfriend with a knife, but got to keep his job for two years anyhow?

According to two editors in Louisiana, the answer is yes.

"Senator Vitter's attorney sent us a letter taking issue with the way we worded one particular sentence...about Mr. Furer's difficulty," says Carl Redman, executive editor of The Advocate.

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