EDITORIAL: Incomplete answers
by EDITOR - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

A week after acknowledging in a written statement that his telephone number appears on a list connected to the so-called "D.C. Madam," Sen. David Vitter faced the public for the first time Monday afternoon.

Yet the senator shed little light on the behavior he described last week as a "very serious sin" and refused to take questions from reporters before boarding a plane to Washington. Sen. Vitter seems to want to treat his misbehavior as a private matter, but he represents not only himself and his family. He represents the people of Louisiana.

In this instance, his private behavior intersects with public life. By admitting that his phone number is in the records of an alleged prostitution ring that is under federal investigation, Sen. Vitter has raised the specter of illegality. Louisianians have a right to be concerned that a lawmaker may have broken the law.

Sen. Vitter's expression of contrition Monday may give voters some comfort. But it is difficult to see how he expects to regain voters' trust by issuing a vague statement about sinful behavior.

Voters in a democracy like ours bestow great power on elected officials. With that power comes great responsibility, and Sen. Vitter should understand that. He has spent his entire career pushing for accountability and ethics among elected officials.

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.

Leaving it at this is no way to serve the public.