LA-Sen - Rep. Charlie Melancon announces candidacy

Congressman Charlie Melancon (D-LA) announced via web video today that he is a candidate for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican David Vitter. Melancon described himself in the video as a "pro-life, pro-gun Southern Democrat."

"I am a proud centrist, a Blue Dog, a straight-up-the-middle fighter for the little guy who is struggling to make ends meet."

Melancon says nothing in the announcement about health care, but his views on reform are on display in this interview he gave in July to Louisiana: The State We're In, a newsmagazine produced by the state's public television network.



To the extent that Melancon has any thoughts on health reform, they seem barely distinguishable from those of Republicans motivated by a desire to delay reform long enough to kill it:

• We need to slow the reform process down
  
• We must not cover illegal immigrants

This, along with some platitudes about how "every man, woman, and child" deserves a "perfect" bill, sums up Melancon's views on health reform.

I suppose anybody would be better than the incumbent, but it's too bad the best we seem to be able to do is Vitter without the hookers.