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KeepItReal

(7,769 posts)
Thu Sep 10, 2015, 12:38 AM Sep 2015

TV reporter fired after asking (US Senator) David Vitter about prostitutes, newspaper reports

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/09/tv_reporter_fired_vitter.html#incart_most-comments

A television reporter who was covering U.S. Sen. David Vitter's qualification for office on Tuesday (Sept. 9) was let go after approaching the candidate and asking about whether the candidate was involved with prostitution, the Advocate newspaper reported.

The reporter for NBC affiliate WVLA, Derek Myers, declined to comment about the incident with Vitter when reached by phone on Wednesday. But he acknowledged he told The Advocate newspaper that he believes he was fired because Vitter's campaign pressured the station to dismiss him by saying it would not run political advertisements on WVLA's airwaves.

Jim Baronet, the station's general manager, said that while he could confirm Tuesday was Myers' last day, he couldn't talk about why Myers was fired. He did say that no one from Vitter's campaign made any demands about Myers, however.

Vitter was caught communicating with a Washington, D.C. escort service in 2007. After the story broke, a New Orleans prostitute came forward to detail her affair with Vitter when he was a Congressman.


That reporter deserves a fraking Pulizter for even asking Vitter a real question. He's running for Governor of Louisiana for Pete's sake.

More from Gawker:

Myers told Gawker that a coworker at WVLA informed him of a conversation that he or she overheard between the station’s news director and its vice president of news later that day, during which the threat of pulled campaign advertising was allegedly discussed. After it was stated that the station’s general manager should personally apologize to the Vitter campaign for Myers’ questions, “It was said that David Vitter pulled his advertising dollars, or someone from David Vitter’s office called about ad dollars,” Myers said. He declined to name the coworker who informed him about the alleged conversation.

Luke Bolar, a spokesman for Vitter’s gubernatorial campaign, told the Advocate that the campaign did not raise the issue of pulling its advertising, calling Myers’ claim “1,000 percent false.” WVLA general manager Jim Baronet also told the Advocate that the campaign did not contact the station about advertising but declined to comment on the reasons for Myers’s termination, citing company policy. Representatives of WVLA and the Vitter campaign did not immediately respond to Gawker’s requests for comment.

21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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TV reporter fired after asking (US Senator) David Vitter about prostitutes, newspaper reports (Original Post) KeepItReal Sep 2015 OP
the perfect example reddread Sep 2015 #1
That damned Librul Media Marie Marie Sep 2015 #4
At least he didn't threaten to shoot him as that one state legislator did. nt tblue37 Sep 2015 #6
Yeah well, there is that... Marie Marie Sep 2015 #7
Is it Fascism yet? Octafish Sep 2015 #2
It has been Fascism for a while now few want to admit it or even believe it is happening here. YabaDabaNoDinoNo Sep 2015 #18
Should have asked him how much he's paying to get his diaper changed Major Nikon Sep 2015 #3
That's where I went also gopiscrap Sep 2015 #8
Might not have gotten fired for that one Major Nikon Sep 2015 #10
It would have been worth gopiscrap Sep 2015 #13
Abuse if power and manipulation of the media stinks. Agnosticsherbet Sep 2015 #5
Disposable -- just like his diapers Blue Owl Sep 2015 #9
Is anyone aware yet Aerows Sep 2015 #11
Money, 'access' and influence peddling.. aidbo Sep 2015 #12
David Vitter, while still a running joke in Louisiana, is being pampered (pun maybe) by the media. Mr. Evil Sep 2015 #14
"Don't make us commit journalism AGAIN!" nxylas Sep 2015 #15
Yes, under no circumstances should journalists ask questions. Warren DeMontague Sep 2015 #16
What you should never, ever do eridani Sep 2015 #17
Freedom of the press/tv newfie11 Sep 2015 #19
He runs on family values and frequently talks to the Family Research Council, denouncing gays ck4829 Sep 2015 #20
we should just eliminate our media, it's absolutely worthless spanone Sep 2015 #21

Marie Marie

(9,999 posts)
4. That damned Librul Media
Thu Sep 10, 2015, 01:06 AM
Sep 2015

How dare they question a public official about something already public. Wasn't his name in the DC Madam's little black book? And didn't he do that whole Mea Culpa thing, forcing his obviously pained wife to stand by his side? Creep!

Marie Marie

(9,999 posts)
7. Yeah well, there is that...
Thu Sep 10, 2015, 01:19 AM
Sep 2015

There is always another Republican to come along and make outrageous behavior seem mild by comparison. They are very good at that type of one-upmanship.

Octafish

(55,745 posts)
2. Is it Fascism yet?
Thu Sep 10, 2015, 12:48 AM
Sep 2015

When crooks are allowed to proceed through life without being held to account for their actions, there's a sign crooks run the government.

 

YabaDabaNoDinoNo

(460 posts)
18. It has been Fascism for a while now few want to admit it or even believe it is happening here.
Thu Sep 10, 2015, 04:35 AM
Sep 2015

Maybe soon people will wake up and see what is really happening in this country.

Naaaaaaaaa I doubt it most will never figure it out but they will mindlessly chant USA, USA, USA.

Major Nikon

(36,827 posts)
10. Might not have gotten fired for that one
Thu Sep 10, 2015, 01:54 AM
Sep 2015

I mean it's not as if he can walk around the floors of the congress with a shitty diaper now can he?

 

Aerows

(39,961 posts)
11. Is anyone aware yet
Thu Sep 10, 2015, 02:04 AM
Sep 2015

that we don't live in a democracy anymore?

Because, you know, freedom, the press, 1st amendment and all of that stuff nobody cares about ...

 

aidbo

(2,328 posts)
12. Money, 'access' and influence peddling..
Thu Sep 10, 2015, 02:22 AM
Sep 2015

.. it just makes so much sense to mix them with the politics of government policy.

This is the main reason I will vote for Sanders in the primary, I feel he is our best hope to move the system away from this kind of redolent corruption of our representation as citizens.

Mr. Evil

(2,853 posts)
14. David Vitter, while still a running joke in Louisiana, is being pampered (pun maybe) by the media.
Thu Sep 10, 2015, 03:21 AM
Sep 2015

He is in the pockets of big oil, big gas and any other big industry that does business in Cancer Alley (what we call the area along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans). Even republicans here don't like him and probably more so since Piyush Jindal has been governor. Don't get me started on that loser. The republicans think they are a lock for the governorship here but, the economy, the higher education cuts and so many other things have pissed the Louisiana populace off to the edge.

So let diaper boy run for governor. He will not win. And if WVLA fired a reporter for asking an uncomfortable (only to Vitter) question then shame on them! Many here have heard that prostitutes have him on a first name basis. I hope he pays his wife well to be prop. He's just another smarmy, pasty republican jerk.

nxylas

(6,440 posts)
15. "Don't make us commit journalism AGAIN!"
Thu Sep 10, 2015, 03:39 AM
Sep 2015

Couldn't help thinking of that line from a Tom Tomorrow cartoon when I read this.

eridani

(51,907 posts)
17. What you should never, ever do
Thu Sep 10, 2015, 04:08 AM
Sep 2015

Fax or mail Vitter the Shitter coupons for adult diapers. because that would be wrong!


http://www.parentgiving.com/shop/overnight-diapers-191/c/

http://www.couponsherpa.com/grocery-coupons/manufacturer/category/diapers/


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516 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
tel (202) 224-4623
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newfie11

(8,159 posts)
19. Freedom of the press/tv
Thu Sep 10, 2015, 06:11 AM
Sep 2015

It left with Dan Rather, Smothers Brothers, lately the multible hosts on MSNBC! At least so far we have Facebook!

ck4829

(35,079 posts)
20. He runs on family values and frequently talks to the Family Research Council, denouncing gays
Thu Sep 10, 2015, 08:12 AM
Sep 2015

NOT exposing his hypocrisy on a regular basis is giving him advertising IMHO.

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