Atwitter Over Vitter

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: In The News

(AP (file))

If you want to understand one of the key differences between the mainstream media and blogs – and make sense of why the latter have grown increasingly popular in recent years – look no further than the David Vitter story.

Vitter, of course, is the Louisiana Republican Senator whose phone number appeared in the records of "DC Madam" Deborah Jeane Palfrey. Like Newt Gingrich and other conservative politicians before him, he offered up an apology chock-full of religious language.

"This was a very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible," he said in a statement. "Several years ago, I asked for and received forgiveness from God and my wife in confession and marriage counseling. Out of respect for my family, I will keep my discussion of the matter there -- with God and them. But I certainly offer my deep and sincere apologies to all I have disappointed and let down in any way."

What's the reason this story has hit such a nerve with some folks? (It's dominating sites like Memorandum.) Vitter is what The New Republic calls a "family-values conservative" – the kind of guy who gets votes by talking about "stand[ing] up for Louisiana values, not Massachusetts's values." TNR notes that Vitter said last year that the gay marriage ban was the most important issue out there, and also flags the New Orleans Times-Picayune's follow up reporting, in which Vitter "conceded that infidelity, divorce, and deadbeat dads contribute to the breakdown of traditional families."

In other words: It's the hypocrisy, stupid.

The blogs are having a field day with that hypocrisy. "This is what makes the revelations interesting," writes the Carpetbagger Report. "Vitter shamelessly got on his high horse, condemning those he deemed morally inferior, despite engaging in the same 'anti-family' behavior he claimed to abhor."

The mainstream media, however, has largely steered clear of focusing on Vitter's past statements, opting instead to play the story relatively straight. The Washington Post, noting only about his rhetoric that Vitter is "reliable conservative vote in the Senate," didn't front the story, opting instead for A3. Rather, it's the blogs and liberal sites like Salon that are jumping on the story and and hammering Vitter for statements at odds with his behavior.

If you want a straight news story, then, you can stick with the traditional media. But if you want a spotlight placed on Vitter's hypocrisy – and the rush of satisfaction that comes with experiencing schadenfreude that you can justify – you can head over to the blogs. Is it any wonder that the latter get so many clicks?

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by phoenixandy July 12, 2007 7:20 PM EDT: I find it hypocritical that the MSM made Clinton and Monica Lewinsky the top story during that whole impeachment *** and made a big fuss over John Edwards' $200 haircut, yet, both the CBS Evening News and the NBC Nightly News made no mention of this story. It was reported on ABC's World News Tonight, but no mention of Sen. Vitter's past statements preaching morality.

One_American, you're a hypocrite and an idiot.; Reply to this comment


by one_american July 12, 2007 5:21 PM EDT: vasiy:

You liberals need to stop trying to shove your IMMORALITY down America's throat.; Reply to this comment


by mcnhome July 11, 2007 6:41 PM EDT: I agree that bedroom activities should be kept private. However, when you are a public figure especially one who goes around preaching about the morals of others, you've got to expect this kind of blow back.

Oh and as far as MSM reporting straight news here's what I think. Real MSM news died the day corporate America decided that news should turn a profit. The corpse has been degrading ever since. If you call parroting the party line for any political party news, no wonder people are looking for alternatives.; Reply to this comment


by sshoffner July 11, 2007 6:08 PM EDT: "And this issue points out what I like best about the blogs... blogs get problems out in the open, not swept under the rug because if you **** off the guy in charge, your paper doesn't get a seat at the table."

Well said.; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 July 11, 2007 12:25 PM EDT: Well, I truly believe that what people do sexually is their own private business between them and their willing partner. But, in this particular case of a Republican venturing out of the sanctity of his marriage to covert with a professional call girl (I assume) isn%u2019t nearly as appalling as the House of Representative Republicans knowingly allowing and swathing the activity of fellow members sexually harassing underage male pages.; Reply to this comment


by memekiller July 11, 2007 1:41 AM EDT: The difference is that the MSM spends inordinate amounts of time justifying why Edward's haircut is a character issue, and rejoicing in how his personal fortunes makes him a hypocrite for pushing policy that benefits the other 99% of Americans. His wife can't even die in a way that doesn't bring their character into question, and you get on your high horse about giving us straight news?

If your campaign is entirely premised on your superior morality, how on Earth is buying prostitutes not a legitimate issue? Because Paris Hilton isn't involved?

This illustrates the difference between blogs and the MSM quite well, indeed.; Reply to this comment


by vasiy-2009 July 10, 2007 9:32 PM EDT: Oh, please, One_American...if you think that hanky-panky hasn't gone on in the Oval Office before Clinton, then you're either deluded or just plain stupid. *** and politics have gone hand in hand practically since the beginning of the human race. Lying to get us into a war that has turned into chaos is a much more serious offense than receiving a ***, in my opinion (and no, I'm not a Democrat, but I am an Independent). Not only that, but what Vitter did was illegal, because, you know, prostitution is against the law in most parts of the country, although I don't really agree with that either. I don't really care about what Vitter did with a prostitute; that's his own business and nobody else's. What I do care about is the fact that he's a hypocrite because he spouts off about how sacred marriage is (while seeking *** from prostitutes) and tries to shove his "morals" down our throats. Honestly, you Republicans need to get off your moral high horses and mind your own freaking business.; Reply to this comment


by one_american July 10, 2007 9:02 PM EDT: "Fooling around with business girls is not a victimless transaction between two innocent souls seeking a karmic connection. It's a crime, even in Louisiana."
Posted by ridingwoman at 04:27 PM : Jul 10, 2007

Much lesser of a crime than the crime turning the Oval Office into the "Oral Office", and then lying about it - as Bill Clinton so expertly did.

Ex-spurt. I crack me up.; Reply to this comment


by ridingwoman July 10, 2007 7:27 PM EDT: I would like to point out that Clinton's sins were MORE than amply examined to the tune of some 20 million dollars just to " give the man tha bird" to quote Rodney Crowell. As usual, *** is only an outrage when it's not you or not a Republican! What about the newest darling of the Righteous Right, Rudy Guiliani? He is currently married to his THIRD wife, whom he entertained at parties and fundraisers in the mayoral mansion while his wife and children were consigned to the upstairs for the party. It took a court order to keep the woman out of her home before the husband of the year quit waving her around in front of the cameras ad infinitum.
Fooling around with business girls is not a victimless transaction between two innocent souls seeking a karmic connection. It's a crime, even in Louisiana.; Reply to this comment


by vasiy-2009 July 10, 2007 7:25 PM EDT: Yes, One_American, democrats like Bill Clinton and JFK were notorious for their extramarital affairs. However, unlike Republicans, Democrats aren't moral hypocrites who try to shove their "morality" and religion down other people's throats. I really don't care what people do in their own bedrooms and I wish that the Republicans would learn to mind their own business.; Reply to this comment