Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), whose career became mired in the D.C. Madam prostitution scandal back in 2007, and is now headed into his 2010 re-election campaign, is championing the cause of family values in the omnibus bill, and the need to stop government spending on family planning. Really.
Vitter is offering an amendment to the omnibus, forbidding the distribution of any public money to Planned Parenthood. Indeed, the Washington Post points out that Vitter has offered dozens of amendments on social-conservatives issues.
It has to be noted, of course, that Vitter is facing potential primary challenges from a leading Christian-right activist, a former Congressman, and a porn star. (That’s three different people, by the way, not one person matching all three descriptions.) As such, he has every reason to send social conservatives a strong message that he’s getting things done for them.
Late Update: It turns out that former Rep. John Cooksey said yesterday that he won’t challenge Vitter. So we’re down to just the Christian Right activist and the porn star — that is, two people.
