OTHER VIEWS
Voters being used in chess game
Jim Beam
The voters of Louisiana are being used as pawns in a political chess game being played by Republican members of the state’s congressional delegation. They are falling all over themselves in a rush to endorse U.S. Sen. David Vitter for governor in the fall statewide elections. U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, who has barely had time to warm his congressional seat, and U.S. Reps. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette; John Fleming, R-Minden; and Ralph Abraham, R-Alto, all jumped on the Vitter bandwagon. Vitter played a key role in helping Cassidy defeat former U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, so much of his loyalty involves payback. Boustany and Fleming want to run for Vitter’s Senate seat if he is elected governor, so their motives aren’t 100 percent pure. Abraham, like Cassidy, is still learning the ropes. Boustany was lavish in his praise of Vitter. “As a conservative leader in the Senate, David has been relentless in making government smaller, more efficient, and able to truly work for all of us,” he said. “We need a governor who will bring conservative, resultsoriented, pragmatic leadership to Baton Rouge. We need David Vitter as our next governor.” The person Boustany is describing sounds an awful lot like the governor we’ve had for the last seven-plus years. State government services have been cut to the bone, trust funds have been depleted, higher education is in a crisis and billion-dollar deficits have been predicted for the next three or four years. Legislators have been left with the task of solving serious financial problems, and they don’t expect much help from Gov. Bobby Jindal. The Advocate said, “Lawmaker after lawmaker — Democrats and Republicans alike — expressed disappointment that Jindal in his 21-minute address kicking off the 2015 legislative session on Monday didn’t offer more substantive ideas to help close a $1.6 billion deficit projected for the upcoming year…” Fleming is considered the most conservative of the congressional conservatives. He was the first to endorse Vitter and say he was interested in the senator’s job. Tea party folks like him, but political experts think he would have trouble appealing to independent and moderate voters. Just whom do these congressmen think they are kidding here? Do they really believe they are qualified to know what kind of governor Louisiana needs? They haven’t been close enough to see the deplorable state of affairs. What they do know is that Vitter, as governor, would get to name his replacement until an election can be held in 2016. The Times-Picayune reported that Vitter said he isn’t focusing on a replacement, but should he pick somebody they would have a decided edge on the competition. What a shame it is that individuals, who were elected to serve their constituents, would use their official positions to try and influence a state race in hopes of gaining a political advantage for themselves. State Treasurer John Kennedy, another Republican, got into the mix when he announced he would run for re-election this fall rather than for governor or attorney general, two possibilities mentioned earlier. Kennedy has run for the Senate twice before, and that could give him an edge over the others who aren’t as well known statewide. Boustany’s endorsement of Vitter was particularly disappointing to many voters in the 3rd Congressional District. He has served them well and could have run a credible race for the U.S. Senate without having to kowtow to Vitter. These endorsements came on the heels of questionable endorsements of Vitter from national political figures. They apparently don’t believe Louisiana voters are capable enough to judge candidates. Even worse, they have no idea of how critical it is that Louisiana’s next governor be a miracle worker at a critical time in this state’s life. Jeb Bush, who is expected to be a Republican candidate for president, is the latest to praise Vitter. “I am confident Sen. Vitter’s conservative credentials and reformminded principles will make him a successful governor,” Bush said. “He will ensure states’ rights are protected, enact pro-growth policies and be a tremendous advocate for the people of Louisiana.” Bush didn’t mention how Vitter could solve our billion-dollar deficit future. The odds are Bush isn’t even aware that the current $1.6 billion deficit exists. Kentucky U.S. Sen. Rand Paul and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, two more presidential contenders, have also endorsed Vitter. A reader of The Times-Picayune who writes under the name Billy Jack, had a great comment about Bush’s endorsement of Vitter. “Well, isn’t that just dandy. A politician from Florida needs to tell us who to vote for,” Billy Jack said. “Thank you, Jeb. If you hadn’t told me who to vote for, I would have to look at the records and the accomplishments of all the candidates. Thanks to you, Jeb, I won’t have to do all that hard work. “Hell, Jeb, I won’t have to think at all. I’ll just do what you tell me to. And I just know there is no quid pro quo here where Vitter has committed to support your presidency run. Thanks again, Jeb, and if we have another disaster here in Louisiana, we will be looking to see you fly right by overhead like your brother did.” That is a little harsh, perhaps, but it expresses a sentiment that is shared by many Louisiana voters who aren’t receptive to advice from uninformed or misinformed outsiders. l JIM BEAM, the retired editor of the American Press, has covered people and politics for more than five decades. Contact him at 337-515-8871 or jbeam@americanpress.com.
