Saturday’s forum for the four leading gubernatorial candidates included the expected campaign catch phrases, like Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne’s “Effective leadership has proven results” and Sen. David Vitter’s “It’s all in the plan at davidvitter.com.”
Put on by the Louisiana State Troopers Association, the forum also included a lot of love for law and order, with state Rep. John Bel Edwards assuring State Police,“Public safety is a priority,” and Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle saying, “Louisiana cannot be great if we’re not first safe.”
Angelle, Dardenne, and Edwards each paid tribute to fallen Shreveport police officer Thomas LaValley during their opening remarks. LaValley was killed in the line of duty last week, and his funeral is today. David Vitter made no mention of the tragedy.
Dardenne and Edwards each lobbed darts at Louisiana’s senior U.S. senator, urging state troopers to focus more heavily on prostitution interdiction. Edwards noted, “It is not a victimless crime,” as he cut his eyes to the right, where Vitter was seated. Vitter did not react.
He plenty to say about crime in New Orleans, however.
“Let me cut through the political correctness and talk straight on this,” Vitter said. “Violent crime is out of control on a regular basis in the city of New Orleans. And the top reason is lack of leadership in the city, starting with Mayor Mitch Landrieu.”
Vitter then vented his venom for Landrieu for more than two minutes. Later, Vitter touched a few more nerves while giving his views on the Louisiana State Police Budget.
“I would cut the protective services unit -- the bodyguards for the Governor and others. We’re wasting resources there.”
Vitter wasn’t talking about guards for Bobby Jindal’s presidential campaign trips out of state, though. He was talking about protection for the governor’s children.
“I saw the State Police caravan –and I mean caravan—that brought his kids to school every day,” Vitter said, with an air of outrage. “That is ridiculous.”
His comment prompted a few gasps from the audience. There might have been more, but most of the state troopers’ ladies weren’t at the forum. Instead, they were in another room across the hall, where a bingo game had been arranged for them.
Louisiana’s First Lady took note, though.
.@DavidVitter is free to criticize my husband's ideas and policy decisions all he wants, but he needs to stay away from our children.
— Supriya Jindal (@SupriyaJindal) August 8, 2015