Marriage in the News: Scandalous Politics

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

17 Jul 2007 04:07 AM

You may have read in the news recently about the Washington D.C. escort service madam that is under indictment for racketeering and prostitution. Her little black book revealed a number of phone numbers to influential businessmen and - politicians. One of those politicians is Senator David Vitter, a first time republican Senator from Metairie, Louisiana. The embattled senator is now facing more scandalous charges as the Times-Picayune newspaper reported that the Vitter allegedly used the services of another prostitute - this time in New Orleans.

Vitter doesn't deny the charges with regard to the escort service that reportedly called his phone number 5 times from 1999 to 2001 while he served as a Representative to Congress, but he does deny the New Orleans charges. During a press conference yesterday, Vitter stated that the stores were not true, but that he has also worked very hard on his marriage and on living by the values that he espouses.

Vitter stated:

I believe I received forgiveness from God. I know I did from Wendy. Unfortunately, my admission has incurred some longtime political enemies and those hoping to profit from this situation to spread falsehoods, too.

Standing next to Vitter was his wife Wendy. She stood by his side and then stepped up to the podium, herself. In what I can only call a class act as she stood in front of all those reporters with a bleak part in her marriage being laid bare for the world to examine, scorn, ridicule and judge. She called her husband her best friend and she stated that:

When David and I dealt with this years ago, I forgave David and made the decision to love him and recommit to our marriage. To forgive is not always the easy choice, but it was and is the right choice for me.

In 1999, Louisiana elected Vitter to Congress following the resignation of Representative Robert Livingston during another scandal involving marital indiscretions. In 2004, Vitter was elected to the Senate. His counterpart, Senator Mary Landrieu, a Democrat, refused to comment until she spoke to her colleague.

Infidelity in Your Marriage

Infidelity in your marriage is difficult enough to overcome, but I cannot imagine the sense of humiliation and pain having those indiscretions thrown in your face and having all the sordid details bandied about in the press. Forgiveness, as Mrs. Vitter stated, is a choice and it's a hard one. She's made it and she's standing next to her husband. She has no reason to feel ashamed and every reason to hold her head high.

I cannot imagine her pain - I cannot imagine what went through her mind all those years ago and now - what I can say : she's won my admiration. I hope she and her husband are successful in their bid to hold their marriage together and that they continue with the marriage counseling no matter what the outcome is for his political career.

How would you feel if your spouse's indiscretions were bandied about in the press?

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Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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