Dems put heat on Vitter for reported airport blow up
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/03/11/art.vitter.gi.jpg caption="Vitter said reports of an airport run in are overblown."]
(CNN) - The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is putting heat on Louisiana Sen. David Vitter for a reported run-in with a Dulles Airport employee last Thursday as he scrambled to make a flight back to his home state.
“Sooner or later Senator Vitter should learn how to control himself,” said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman Eric Schultz, in an apparent reference to the Louisiana Republican's past involvement with Deborah Jeane Palfrey, the so-called "DC Madam."
According to the Capitol Hill publication Roll Call, Vitter arrived at the gate 20 minutes before his flight was set to depart and went "ballistic" when he saw that the gate had already been closed.
Upon trying to open the door to the jetway himself, the senator set off a security alarm and quickly grew heated with an airport employee. Vitter ultimately backed down when the employee called security, Roll Call also reported.
But Vitter suggested Wednesday the report was overblown.
"In a rush to make my flight home for town hall meetings the next day, I accidentally went through a wrong door at the gate," Vitter said in a statement. "I did have a conversation with an airline employee, but it was certainly not like this silly gossip column made it out to be."
The Louisiana senator is expected to face a tough re-election bid in 2010, still vulnerable after his phone number appeared in Palfrey's "Black Book" in the summer of 2007.
Believe this Louisiana citizen, Vitter does not support me. He has to be in trouble if there is a strong push to have a porn star run against him in the Republican primary. Thank God I'm a Dem. I might have to support her.
Vitter nearly made the flight because a VIP military 737 jet was taking off before this flight and it blocked the entire airport for 2 hours. The 450 seat 737 had a single passenger on board – Nancy Pelosi on her way for a quick lunch in San Francisco Cost to taxpayers: $ 145,000
@ ray ray.......... have you checked your facts or are you just SPEWING more GOP-lies???????????????????????????????????????
How about Nancy's fits of anger. At least is is not taking a private plane like Queen Nancy.
When will we start choosing our leaders because they are LEADERS, and not these clearly pompous, self-righteous party hacks? How about a system where we don't let these folks stay in office so long they are comfortable abusing anything. Choose the Congress and Senate like a jury!
FYI: Speaker Pelosi has a plane because she is after the VP in the line of succession, and after 9/11/01 it was determined that position (at that time held by Speaker Hastert) needed extra protection.
Can this guy possibly get into any more trouble? Prostitutes, instigating trouble at the airport....what's next?
Believe this Louisiana citizen, Vitter does not support me. He has to be in trouble if there is a strong push to have a porn star run against him in the Republican primary. Thank God I'm a Dem. I might have to support her.
Just ask Larry Craig. Republicans should stay out of airports.
How about Nancy's fits of anger. At least is is not taking a private plane like Queen Nancy.
Now seriously. How many doors are there to go through at an airport gate with a big plane sitting on the other side of the window?
This is another example of the elitist attitude of our leadership. Yes if this was you or I we would be cooling ourselves in prison for several years, with a felony conviction.
This I'm above the law is what got us into the mess this country is in.
So, so tired of elected officials of BOTH parties, who think they deserve special treatment because they were elected.
He lost his temper at an airport. Gee, no one else ever did that! But he is a serial liar after all. Yeah, he's the voice of morality all right.
Didn't the republicans want to impeach Cynthia McKinney and throw her out of the HOuse because she had an argument with a capital guard?
Isn't it funny how the republicans consider themselves above following the rules but want to go out of their way to make a mountain out of a mole hill when a democrat is involved.
The confrontation was probably heated but is being down-played for pr purposes. Powerful people like to be powerful and Vitter probably had his tantrum. Enough said!
Hey ray ray.....do you know what it means to "Stay on point" it means, this story is about Vitter. I didn't see Nancy Pelosi's name in the article. So....find a story about Ms. Pelosi and but your rants on that post. You sound like a dumbass on this post!
Man, this would have been sweet if he had thrown himself on the ground and started rolling!.
One has to understand the man: maybe he had an appointment set up with a call girl.
Here we go again! Not only was this guy involved in an illicit affair involving prostitution, but now feels that he is above everyone else. But I guess that if you're a conservative Southern Republican the law doesn't apply to you.
Vitter nearly made the flight because a VIP military 737 jet was taking off before this flight and it blocked the entire airport for 2 hours. The 450 seat 737 had a single passenger on board – Nancy Pelosi on her way for a quick lunch in San Francisco Cost to taxpayers: $ 145,000
This man is an arrogant christianist who would support a constitutional amendment to ban airport employees from getting in his way. He should be arrested and prosecuted by the airport for compromising it's security.
We have all been in situations where we missed a flight or been late or whatever. Time for this guy to GROW UP. He is probably a real hothead, and should not be re-elected. We dont need these short-fused people deciding on our laws.
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FYI RAY RAY:
Here is a quote from a 2007 story on NPR:
" Rep. Nancy Pelosi's predecessor House Speaker, Dennis Hastret (R-IL) began flying military planes for official travel ( and travel home) in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks. The Air Force has a stable of planes for travel by the Speaker, Cabinet members, top generals and for Congressional trips to Iraq and other war zones."
WHY bring Nancy Pelosi, into this blog about A REPUBLICAN WOMANIZER?????
yeah, why doesn't he just demand that military planes be constantly available to him at taxpayer expense, like SanFranNan Pelosi.
Ray Ray – nancy Pelosi did not ask for the plane. After 9/11 it was the secret service that gave her the planes and asked her to use them. Please stop recycling debunked stories.