LA-Sen: Vitter Gets Freaky at Airport

Roll Call:

According to an HOH tipster who witnessed the scene, the Louisiana Republican arrived Thursday evening at his United Airlines gate 20 minutes before the plane was scheduled to depart, only to find the gate had already been closed. Undeterred, Vitter opened the door, setting off a security alarm and prompting an airline worker to warn him that entering the gate was forbidden.

Vitter, our spy said, gave the airline worker an earful, employing the timeworn “do-you-know-who-I-am” tirade that apparently grew quite heated.

That led to some back and forth, and the worker announced to the irritable Vitter that he was going to summon security.

Vitter, according to the witness, remained defiant, yelling that the employee could call the police if he wanted to and their supervisors, who, presumably, might be more impressed with his Senator’s pin.

But after talking a huffy big game, Vitter apparently thought better of pushing the confrontation any further. When the gate attendant left to find a security guard, Vitter turned tail and simply fled the scene.

Best snark in the comments wins a prize.

(Hat-tip: Taegan)

50 thoughts on “LA-Sen: Vitter Gets Freaky at Airport”

  1. That he was late to the gate because he got held up in security.

    Those diaper pins make the metal detector go HAYWIRE.

    Err…at least that’s what I’ve been told…

    (Cast eyes to the ground…shuffles nervously).

  6. Accidentally went through the wrong door at the gate?  Sure thing Davey boy…

    http://politicalticker.blogs.c…

    The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is putting heat on Louisiana Sen. David Vitter for a reported run-in with a Dulles Airport employee last Thursday as he scrambled to make a flight back to his home state.

    “Sooner or later Senator Vitter should learn how to control himself,” said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman Eric Schultz, in an apparent reference to the Louisiana Republican’s past involvement with Deborah Jeane Palfrey, the so-called “DC Madam.”

    According to the Capitol Hill publication Roll Call, Vitter arrived at the gate 20 minutes before his flight was set to depart and went “ballistic” when he saw that the gate had already been closed.

    Upon trying to open the door to the jetway himself, the senator set off a security alarm and quickly grew heated with an airport employee. Vitter ultimately backed down when the employee called security, Roll Call also reported.

    But Vitter suggested Wednesday the report was overblown.

    “In a rush to make my flight home for town hall meetings the next day, I accidentally went through a wrong door at the gate,” Vitter said in a statement. “I did have a conversation with an airline employee, but it was certainly not like this silly gossip column made it out to be.”

    The Louisiana senator is expected to face a tough re-election bid in 2010, still vulnerable after his phone number appeared in Palfrey’s “Black Book” in the summer of 2007.

  9. I cant believe this guy is more likely than not going to have an easy ride towards re-election, in both the GOP primary and general election. He is a stain on my party.

  13. for me to not burst out laughing.

    Wow, Bunning, Burris, Vitter…we’re gonna have a very entertaining cycle ahead of us.

  14. Someone needs to stand near the entrance, waiting, tapping their fingers on the changing table.

    Oh wait–

  15. And also, isn’t this not the only recent story involving airport security and some member of Congress?

    Also, Vitter may be advised not to be so rash.

  18. Senator, I blew Larry Craig.  Larry Craig was a “friend” of mine.  Senator, you’re no Larry Craig.”

Comments are closed.