State Treasurer John Kennedy and U.S. Rep. John Fleming, both U.S. Senate candidates and Republicans, have violated Ronald Reagan’s 11th Commandment in the aftermath of allegations aimed at fellow Republican U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany regarding prostitutes, one University of Louisiana at Monroe political science associate professor tells The Advertiser.
But Joshua Stockley adds the 11th Commandment—that “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican”—has routinely been violated by Republicans.
“I don’t think we are witnessing any change within the Republican Party,” Stockley says. “I know that Ronald Reagan’s 11th Commandment has been the standard that all Republicans are expected to abide by. However, it has always been violated.”
Murder in the Bayou by Ethan Brown, a book published last month by Simon & Schuster, alleges Boustany had relationships with a number of prostitutes who killed between 2005 and 2009. Boustany has denied the allegations and has filed a defamation lawsuit against the author and publisher.
After the book was published, Boustany’s wife, Bridget, said Boustany’s opponents were spreading information about the book to harm Boustany’s candidacy. After that, both Kennedy and Fleming released statements saying they were “praying” for Boustany and his family. Kennedy’s statement repeated the book’s allegations in detail.
Stockley says Kennedy and Fleming “were not speaking ill” of Boustany, “but were not shutting it down.”
The Advertiser last week asked both men directly if they personally believe the allegations against their fellow Republican.
“I don’t have an opinion with that,” Fleming says, adding that he would “have to have the power of God” to know the truth “and I don’t.”
Kennedy says he has the right to defend against charges that he’d spread information about the book.
“The book speaks for itself,” he says. “Simon & Schuster says Charles is lying. We’ll find out.” Speaking specifically about the allegations, Kennedy says, “I don’t know if it is true or not.” Only the principals—Boustany and the prostitutes, he said—know.
Stockley says candidates should be careful about intraparty accusations in what is an open primary. “You don’t want to commit fratricide,” he says, further suggesting that infighting among Republicans contributed to the election of Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards in November.
Jason Doré, executive director of the Louisiana Republican Party, says the party encourages its candidates to campaign without being divisive. He says the 2015 gubernatorial race provided Republicans with ready evidence that infighting can be politically fatal. Democrats, too, are more pointed in their intraparty fighting, he says, citing sharp differences between Senate candidates Foster Campbell and Caroline Fayard, both Democrats.
