More intestinal groans from the national GOP as moderates and social conservatives compete for control of the Republican party, and there in the fray is David Vitter, Louisiana’s junior senator.
Vitter this week fired back at Ohio Sen. John Voinovich, who accused his Southern colleagues of ruining the party’s national standing. “They get on TV and go ‘errrr, errrrr...,’” Voinovich complains in an article in The Washington Times. “People hear them and say, ‘These people, they’re Southerners. The party’s being taken over by Southerners. What the hell have they got to do with Ohio?” Voinovich, who is not seeking re-election in 2010, was directing his ire at Sens. Jim DeMint of South Carolina and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma — DeMint for his “Waterloo” comment and Coburn for his prognostication that the White House plan to cover the uninsured would actually kill more Americans.
But Vitter threw himself on Voinovich’s water balloon, calling the Buckeye pol “... a moderate, really wishy-washy,” a sentiment that has been directed in recent months at midstream Republicans by their more conservative counterparts, Arlen Specter — who switched parties in the spring, citing a rightward drift of the GOP — being a noteworthy example.
“I’m on the side of conservatives getting back to core conservative values,” Vitter says in The Times article. “There are a lot of us from the South who hold those values, which I think the party is supposed to be about. We strayed from them in the past few years, and that’s why we performed so badly in the national elections.”
The Louisiana Democratic Party, which sprinkles on the meat tenderizer every time Vitter utters the word “values,” hoping to soften him up for next year’s election, seized on the comment. “If David Vitter can lead his party back to their conservative values, maybe Larry Craig can give them tips on bathroom etiquette and Mark Sanford can recommend a really good restaurant in Buenos Aires,” jokes state Dem spokesman Kevin Franck in a press release.
"..getting back to core conservative values." What, like protecting civil liberties, practicing non-interventionism, and fiscal responsibility? Sure, I'd like to see the old conservatives back again, but most of the ones we've been subjected to over the last decade are no such thing. Mr. Vitter, it seems like you and your pals DeMint and Coburn want to legislate how Americans should behave, are gung-ho for wars of aggression like Iraq, and supported fiscal irresponsibility during the Bush years. That's the kind of southern conservatism the country sees, and we don't like it.
... written by Is This Their Best? , July 30, 2009 - 03:32 pm
So instead of talking real issues during the campaign, such as financial markets, foreign policy, economic situation, health care, illegal immigration... the State Democrat Party is just going to keep taking cheap shots and jokes.
Oh well, the state Dem. Party is a joke to begin with. Led by Chris Whittington and other incompentent goons, they'll continue to be irrelevant in Louisiana.
... written by IMJacquemo , July 30, 2009 - 06:55 pm
Wait, let's see. First the republicans were controlled by the the northeastern states, then the west coast, and now it is moving south? So be it. Go David go! I think the real question is what does Ohio have to do with Louisiana? Let's shut down all the oil and gas piplines running out of state. Sen. Voinivich will find out real fast what we have to do with Ohio. Oops, does one smell the spirit of...secession?!
... written by Myrick6 , July 30, 2009 - 10:59 pm
Vitter speaking of values, what a joke! I remember how he values the ability to entertain the company of prostitues on the public dollar. Adultery, prostitution, just what kind of value is Vitter promoting???
... written by northsidian , July 31, 2009 - 01:21 am
Vitter has one job, getting re-elected! I promise he could care less about us. But, none of the other politicians care about us either!! They all need to be flushed.
... written by hoopsfix , July 31, 2009 - 03:42 pm
Interesting situation, for the most part the South (Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, I guess Tennessee) have traditionally been Republican states. I understand Mr. Vitter's desire to return to conservative values that he likes, but isolating Republican interests in battleground states is now way to bring the national party back together.
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