Wednesday, July 18, 2007

The Opinionator: A blog at the New York Times by Tobin Harshaw & Chris Suellenthorp

  • The editorial page of The New Orleans Times-Picayune wants Senator David Vitter to be more forthcoming about his relationship with the “D.C. Madam.” “At a time when Louisiana needs a strong presence in Congress more than it ever has, Sen. Vitter’s standing has been compromised,” the editorial states. It adds:

    Sen. Vitter did not give up all rights to privacy when he took office, and no one should expect or want lurid details about his actions. He said Monday that he doesn’t intend to answer endless questions. Fair enough. So far, though, he hasn’t answered the fundamental question: Whether he broke the law by hiring prostitutes.

  • Murder on the Straight Talk Express, cont’d: Two top Iowa staffers for John McCain said Monday that they were quitting his presidential campaign, which leads The Des Moines Register’s David Yepsen to declare that McCain has almost no chance of winning the Hawkeye State. “It’s rare that a candidate who is this far down can reverse field and make a comeback. McCain probably can’t,” Yepsen writes on his Register blog. He adds, “The question in Iowa is: Where do McCain’s supporters in this state go?”