Those touting U.S. Sen. David Vitter as the frontrunner in Louisiana’s gubernatorial race—with millions in his campaign account and super PAC—have ignored the “elephant in the room”: his history with the D.C. Madam, writes Business Report Publisher Rolfe McCollister in his latest column.
Like Bill Clinton’s own reputation, McCollister notes, Vitter will forever carry that past when he is mentioned in the media or around the boardroom table or kitchen table.
“The question we must all ask ourselves,” McCollister writes, “is not, ‘Can Vitter survive his past and squeak by with enough votes to win?’ but, ‘Is he the leader for the future or will Louisiana’s image and economic development suffer because of his sullied reputation?’”
The person elected governor this year, the publisher argues, should be a person with integrity and character—authentic and honest, possessing the conservative values that most Louisianans hold dear. They should have a vision for the future and a reputation that is credible so they can sell that vision not just to Louisianans, but to business executives nationwide and worldwide.
That will be a big challenge that will require a leader who is focused on the future, McCollister contends—not one who is distracted by the past or apologizing for it.
“I’m a native of this great state, and I’ve lived here for 60 years, so I well remember the jokes by late-night TV hosts about our colorful governor, Edwin Edwards, in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s,” McCollister says. “I remember the disrespect folks had for Louisiana as I traveled to national conventions. We were ‘the joke’—but it wasn’t funny, and we lost residents and thousands of jobs during that time. We were at the bottom of every economic ranking. Leadership matters and so does your image and reputation, and we too often lacked all three.”
McCollister acknowledges that when the D.C. Madam scandal became public in 2007, Vitter apologized.
“We are all human and make mistakes and are in need of forgiveness,” the publisher says. “God can forgive, and so should we.” But now, McCollister notes, Vitter is asking the people of Louisiana to again overlook his past and promote him from one of 100 representatives in the U.S. Senate to one of only 50 state CEOs and the “face of Louisiana.”
“That is a very big ‘ask,’ and everything comes back into play,” McCollister writes. “I believe that would be a bad hire.”
Recalling that voters declined to re-elect former Rep. Vance McAllister, who made national headlines as the “kissing congressman,” McCollister wonders where Vitter will finish if Louisiana voters follow the lead of those in the 5th Congressional District and hold the senator to the same standard.
“Many voters or groups seem to take the position that as long as Vitter agrees with them on key issues and votes their way, they’re willing to overlook the past,” writes McCollister, who has supported the senator in the past but did not endorse him for re-election in 2010. “But, he has proved in the past that he is willing to forgo his beliefs for his own edification. This has been true in both his politics and his personal life. Will he do it again? You have to decide what is important in casting your vote and what qualities and reputation you expect in the next governor. The clock is ticking—and we shouldn’t turn it back.”
Read the full column, which includes more thoughts on political correctness and a congratulations to Manda Fine Meats CEO Bobby Yarborough. Send your comments to editors@businessreport.com.
