Vitter Accuses Primary Opponent Of Being Secret Democrat

Senator David Vitter (R-LA)
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Well, that didn’t take long.

With the news out that David Vitter’s primary challenger, former Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Chet Traylor, is ready to rumble, Vitter’s taking a preemptive swing…by trying to convince voters that Traylor is secretly a Democrat.

“Nearly a week ago, my so-called Republican opponent was spotted meeting with two former Democrat elected officials and current trial lawyers in North Louisiana,” reads an email Vitter sent to supporters.

Vitter goes on to suggest that Traylor, a former judge, is raising money from trial lawyers and Democrats, meeting with Melacon’s contributors, hiring a consultant that once worker for state Democratic party chair Bobby Leach and is “formerly a confidant of both Marc Morial and Cleo Fields.” Vitter ends with an appeal to supporters to “help get the word out,” and comes in the wake of a variety of reports that tea party groups from Florida to Michigan are just fronts for Democratic candidates — a meme Vitter is using in his own way to his own advantage.

So deep does Traylor’s secret liberalism run, apparently, that he once held as a justice that “any claim that private sexual conduct between consenting adults is constitutionally insulated from state proscription is unsupportable.” Traylor’s a long-time Republican from rural Louisiana with close ties to the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.

But he also lacks Vitter’s name recognition, which is why you see Vitter trying to define him before Traylor has a chance to do so himself. You can read Vitter’s entire appeal below.

Team,

We received some very disturbing, but not surprising, news last night. Newspapers and other reports have now confirmed what we suspected all along — our Republican Primary opponent is nothing more than a tool and stalking horse for Charlie Melancon. And this Melancon led Republican Primary operation will start vicious attacks against me as early as Tuesday.

It’s because Melancon is desperate to do anything he can to distract the voters from his own record of voting with Obama 84% of the time.

This isn’t just guesswork or speculation. Nearly a week ago, my so-called Republican opponent was spotted meeting with two former Democrat elected officials and current trial lawyers in North Louisiana. The Democrats and trial lawyers have become his fundraising base–just like they are for Charlie Melancon.

Then, on Tuesday of this week, my so-called Republican opponent had a private dinner meeting with Wayne Elmore at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Lafayette. Who’s Wayne Elmore? Just Charlie Melancon’s single biggest contributor, fundraiser, and fraternity brother. He and his family have directly given Melancon over $50,000. So much that Melancon made him King of the Washington Mardi Gras Ball.

And then there’s my so-called Republican opponent’s top aide–formerly a confidant of both Marc Morial and Cleo Fields. And get this… Guess who this consultant’s most lucrative client ever was? Buddy Leach, current head of the state Democratic Party and Melancon’s most public cheerleader in the state has paid this consultant over a million dollars.

These connections are no coincidence. Please help get the word out. Vicious attacks are about to start, and Charlie Melancon is clearly behind the push. He’s desperate to use his “Republican” attack dog, to try to change the dynamics of his losing campaign and to talk about anything but his own record.

I’m giving you this heads up so you can help spread the word. Please forward this email to ten friends. Tell your friends and family about Melancon’s dirty tricks. Louisianians won’t be duped.

More details to follow soon.

Thanks so much for all of your help and support.

Sincerely,

David Vitter

Update: Kevin Franck of the Louisiana Democratic Party responded to Vitter’s accusations:

First David Vitter endorsed the debunked right-wing fairytale about the President’s citizenship, now he imagines that Chet Traylor is at the center of some vast conspiracy against him. I’m not sure whether his next email will be about crop circles or the alien abductions, but I can’t wait.

If David Vitter wants to know why so many members of his own party have turned against him, all he needs to do is look in the mirror.

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