Sen. Vitter Insults CNN but Fails Miserably
It may have worked the first six times that GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich blasted the news media for posing questions he didn’t deem important enough. But after Wolf Blitzer delivered the knockout punch in the recent debate, Blitzer seemed to declare: ENOUGH, answer the question.
You’d think Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) would learn. But no. This morning he tried to pull a Newt by going after CNN’s Ashleigh Banfield when she asked him to comment on Newt’s cheating as it pertains to the presidential campaign by way of his own dealings with prostitutes.
The result is a deliciously awkward exchange between Banfield and Vitter as he deflects his past by claiming the American people are focused on the economy. He acts genuinely shocked that she’d bring up the topic and says CNN will not determine the election — the American people will.
How Banfeld enters the cheating minefield: “You seemed to manage that baggage very well. I want you to weigh in on Newt Gingrich’s baggage and handling that baggage and what it is like for a politician who has some serious baggage trying to be elected.”
Vitter reacts by trashing CNN: “Ashley, the good news is, in America, it’s not up to CNN, it’s up to the American people and it’s up to voters.” Banfield: “Well, I appreciate that you say it’s not up to CNN, but I like to say we’re a messenger here.” Vitter pounces back by saying that Banfield is “outdoing out King” (he corrects himself, saying, John King). Banfield snaps, “I’m not trying to outdo anyone, sir. I am holding you accountable for the things you did.”
