Spitzer and Vitter: Equal Hypocrisy, Unequal Punishment  041108
vitter web Spitzer and Vitter: Equal Hypocrisy, Unequal
PunishmentThe news that David Vitter may soon be called to
testify at the trial of Deborah Jean Palfrey—more commonly known
as “the D.C. madam”—serves as an important reminder: He’s still
in office. And, really, in light of the bipartisan frenzy to
expel Eliot Spitzer from the governorship when his ties to the
Emperor’s Club were revealed, you’ve got to wonder why.  It was
last July that we first learned that Vitter’s name and phone
number were part of Palfrey’s client records between 1999 and
2001. The revelation came just after the statute of limitations
had expired, and the Louisiana senator escaped legal liability.
Instead, he acknowledged committing “a very serious sin in my
past” and declared the matter settled on the grounds that he had
“asked for and received forgiveness from God and my wife.”
Initially, there was some clamor for Vitter’s resignation, but
he rode the storm out until