Have a look, 3rd down...

I don't know who there at the P & C edited this but here is how it should have read:

Recently, Senator Jim DeMint provided a confusing response to friend and supposed fellow family value conservative Congressman David Vitter's (R-LA) revelation that he used the 'services' of DC madam Deborah Jeane Palfrey. In a recent interview DeMint said that "[w]e all think that we're not vulnerable to something like that happening … but the fact is this can be a very lonely and isolating place to be away from your family. So I'm certainly not going to judge him because I don't want that kind of pressure on me."

This response raises a number of questions; the first and most obvious is if it is a confession of a similar guilt by DeMint. I doubt that this is the case and I hope it's not. Second, why does Vitter get a pass here? Do the principles of conservative family value-style Republicans only apply to others and not to themselves or their friends? This is more likely as we've all witnessed supposed law and order Republicans (such as Lindsey Graham) gleeful celebrating President Bush's commutation of convicted felon I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby's prison sentence and increasing their pressure for a full pardon. And finally, what about Washington, DC is "lonely and isolating?" We live in a world where distance is minimized by technology. Vitter lived in DC as a conservative Republican during a time when his ilk ruled with impunity and in large numbers. How can anyone like Vitter or DeMint be lonely in a place so inviting for conservative Republicans?

Why conservative, rule of law, family value voters continue sending people who obviously don't share their convictions to DC is a riddle for the ages. It would be laughable if it wasn't so serious.