At last an actual newsperson who wasn't afraid to go (there), who wasn't intimidated by a personal attack and then wasn't afraid follow up her question when the interviewee tried to change the subject...CNN's Ashleigh Banfield waded into a very awkward minefield on CNN's "Early Start" Monday morning, quizzing Louisiana Senator David Vitter about his past issues with prostitution in the light of Newt Gingrich's presidential campaign.
Vitter was on the show to talk about the GOP primary when Banfield suddenly warned him that things were about to get a little dicey for him.
"I'm going to do a right turn here," Banfield said. "I know you're a professional politician and I know you go on TV a lot, and I know coming on TV with me today, you had to know that this question was coming. So, and it's awkward for me to even ask it but I got to, and I think you know where I'm going with this.""I don't, but go ahead," Vitter said.
“I want you to weigh in on Newt Gingrich and what it’s like for a politician having serious baggage trying to be elected,” she asked. “The good news is in America, it’s not up to CNN, it’s up to the American people and up to voters,” Vitter hit back, comparing Banfield to John King.
Banfield acknowledged she knew it was “awkward” for her to even ask him the question, which a clearly stunned Vitter evidently did not see coming.
“That’s going to be the case in this presidential election,” Vitter continued. “I think the voters are going to look carefully at all sorts of issues — but my guess is what concerns them now is this horrible, horrible economy and their future and their struggles around the kitchen table.”“Well, I appreciate that you say it’s not up to CNN,” Banfield countered. “But I like to say we’re the messenger here, and one of the messages that you gave was this quotation about your incident and you said this was a ‘very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible.’ And that’s why I bring it to you, not so that CNN can dictate how voters will vote but so that we can take your message, including that one, which was kind of a embarrassing thing to admit to as Newt Gingrich has had to admit to some very embarrassing things and have voters take those messages.”
“Right, Ashleigh, sure,” Vitter responded.
“What I’m asking you is, can you compare the difficulties that you struggled with to a what Newt Gingrich is struggling with?” Banfield pressed.
“No, I can’t,” Vitter replied.
More on the DC Madam + David Vitter scandal: http://www.cbsnews.com/...
Senator Vitter, also known for championing the faux Republican mantra of "Family Values," has none of those values himself. Vitter, like most in his party, is a hypocrite. He also protected a staffer who was beating his girlfriend, demonstrating a pretty clear line of behavior.
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/...
Senator David Vitter's party puts themselves on the pedestal of righteous morality. And that is what their politicians try to sell to their voters. He was cheating on his wife with hookers while in office. Did he quit in shame like an Eliot Spitzer? No, he simply said the magic words, "I asked for God's forgiveness and he forgave me." Thus that (should) be the end of it as he got a standing ovation from his Republican colleagues. http://thinkprogress.org/...
Thank you Ms. Banfield for finally asking David Vitter to comment about his past transgressions while he electively puts himself on television to support candidates and cites their personal lives and Conservative "values" to endorse such candidates.