Ah, those traditional family values. They really come in handy when you've been busted for
hooking up with a prostitute.
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) apologized last night after his telephone number appeared in the phone records of the woman dubbed the "D.C. Madam," making him the first member of Congress to become ensnared in the high-profile case.
The statement containing Vitter's apology said his telephone number was included on phone records of Pamela Martin and Associates dating from before he ran for the Senate in 2004.
[...]
"This was a very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible," Vitter, 46, said in a statement, which his spokesman, Joel DiGrado, confirmed to the Associated Press.
"Several years ago, I asked for and received forgiveness from God and my wife in confession and marriage counseling," Vitter continued. "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."
Hey, I'm willing to cut the guy some slack for making it up to his wife -- I'm betting his neighborhood jewelry shop is probably the richer for it -- were it not for the fact that Mr. Vitter
has made a big deal about supporting traditional family values by banning gay marriage: "I don't believe there's any issue that's more important than this one."
And, when asked directly whether he meant to say that gay marriage is more important that hurricane relief, he tried to clarify.
"What I meant," Vitter said, is that "the existence or non-existence of a stable, loving, two-parent household" is the most significant predictor of success in life, although "that doesn't mean you can't rear a child well in another environment." And, displaying a firm grasp of the obvious, Vitter also conceded that infidelity, divorce, and deadbeat dads contribute to the breakdown of traditional families.
It just goes to show you that the person screeching the loudest about protecting "family values" knows all too well how easy they are to ignore.
