By Chad Phillips
MTW contributing writer

What is it with those guys down in the deep south, anyway? First it was U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, (D-New Orleans) with his "left overs" in the freezer; now it's Senator David Vitter, (R-Louisiana) and his escortpades in the redlight district.

Most everything possible to flambe David Vitter has already been said, except one thing; it doesn't appear anyone is condemning him for behavior unbecoming a married man, much less an elected official. Instead, the primary "abortafacient" is "hypocrisy." It seems folks (especially the liberal breed) are more upset over Vitter's hypocrisy than they are over his infidelity. But if you're looking for excuses for David Vitter, you won't find them here. I just find it curious that apparently the only reason he's being charred to perfection by the liberal establishment is because of his dishonesty about his immorality. It would seem that being an honest adulterer is more "noble" than being a dishonest one in our culture.

What if Vitter had backed socially liberal policies, would Larry Flynt, the man signing the whistle blower's paychecks have hushed Vitter's scandalous affair up? It certainly appears that way. Here's what Flynt had to say when his "investigator" Dan Moldea gave him the skinny on Vitter.

[Moldea] sent an email to Flynt and telephoned him to say "I got one." Flynt's first question was, "Is he a hypocrite?" Moldea says he replied, "Just wait 'til you see this guy."

Flynt and others like him appear to be saying, there's nothing wrong with being Clintonesque as long as you wear it on your sleeve. You want to cheat on you wife with hookers or whoever, fine; just don't act like you've gotta problem with it. Don't vote for teen abstinence programs. Don't vote for federal marriage amendments based on your alleged belief in the sanctity of marriage and don't preach to us about curtailing government corruption, particularly when you're using the money we're paying you to buy high priced hookers.

Vitter's raunch and roll escapades with an escort service are just one of the many polarized scandals which have come to represent, and therefore co-opt, those of us who really do value marriage, who really do honor our partners, who really do believe that values are rooted in action and not just lip service.

Do our leaders need to be held to a higher standard? Absolutely. Do we condemn the actions of David Vitter? You'd better believe it. But let's get one thing straight: Vitter's past actions are reprehensible not just because he was hypocritical, but because he engaged in the same destructive behavior as those who have no shame.