Eliot Spitzer and Prostitution
Reader Comments
Escorts
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Spitzer, prostitution, and the laws
Elliot Spitzer broke the very same laws for which he prosecuted others. He broke the laws that he was sworn to uphold. For that reason alone, he should lose his office, and he should be prosecuted and punished. I think that if we really, truly punished....in a serious and meaningful way........all public officials who violate the law and the trust of the people while they are in office, we'd begin to see the evolution of a new, different, and better quality of candidate for public office.
As for our ridiculous and puritanical laws governing prostitution and the sex trade:
What ever happened to, "my body, my choice?" Is that concept reserved solely for the women who invoke this mantra in support legalized abortion, or is it a basic human right of every person on earth?
We all have our own hang-ups and dislikes when it comes to the matter of "vice." Frankly, I'm not interested in letting someone else turn their personal beliefs, religious or otherwize, into my laws. When it comes to private matters and private choices, worry about yourself and your children, but stay the hell out of my business.
Throughout history, governments have tried to criminalize various sexual practices and every known recreational drug under the sun......including alcohol. Government prohibition practices only move these activities underground where they become the domain of organized crime. That's where the real problem begins.
It's time for the government to get out of people's bedrooms altogether. Look at Canada and many of the first-world European nations and how they deal with this issue. You'll see just how stupid and archaic our laws are.
structuring
First, there should be no sympathy for ES due to selective prosecution because he joyfully practiced it.
A report that sounded credible stated thart ALL transactions are monitored and scored for a risk of being money laundering, transfers to terrorist's charitable fronts, etc. Are these requirements due to the evil W? No, none other than Elliot Spitzer.
Sherry and the other conspiracy theorists could have enjoyed the last 7 yr if only Bill Clinton had resigned as ES did. Gore would have been President (even if he didn't carry his own home state) as the power of incumbancy blew W out of the water in 2000.
carol in pa
give me a freakin break, the guy spent at least $80,000 on these ladies of the night.
He is what he is. A lowlife scumbag, so don't blame everyone else for his problems.
Spitzer
Spitzer's behavior while reprehensible within our society has little real affect upon America; it is certainly disappointing to his family and friends. The real message to the recent events lie in the abuse of Government-Big Business behavior, the new state fascism that promotes police tactics by private institutions. The positioning of private institutions as guardians of public behavior through police tactics can only digress into the loss of freedom, not the elimination of criminal activity. Regmentation of society into a straight-jacket of controls will not promote the public welfare nor secure life, liberty or happiness.
He Knew the LAW
I have no sympathy for a man who knew the law, prosecuted other for the same offense and chose to violate it and he exposed his family to this mess. I do not know why you should be surprised that another politican has bit the dirt on this. That is the norm for many, he just got caught. They think they are in a position of invincibility and they can do what they please, but not here.
The second point, we know prostitution in NY is illegal then why is the prostitute not going to jail, but rather being exploited as though she was some innocent child. She is a hooker plan and simple and she is pretty much boasting in taking him down. The problem is both players need to be prosecuted not just one. He more than her for simply being stupid.
How many more are they going to catch in this sting?
Selective Prosecution
Spitzer was the king of selective prosecution, primarily through a New York anti-fraud law so widely drawn that it is hard to believe it hasn't been overturned as unconstitutionally vague. Only a few years ago he prosecuted several prostitution rings not much different from the Emperor's Club. I hope the investigators are reviewing the internal documentation at the Attorney General's office on that era. It would be very interesting to see the original target lists for the anti-prostitution campaign. Was the Emperor's Club on that list? If not, why not? And did Spitzer make a final selection as to which targets would be prosecuted and which not? I wonder if he was just doing a favor for his friends by knocking down their competition.
Fishy?
You bet!! I was incredulous when this story broke. I felt safer knowing there was an Eliot Spitzer out there speaking up for the 'common guy!' Well, I'm not a guy and it disturbs me that Spitzer apparently held women in such low esteem....OR such HIGH esteem (but only for sex)! How depressing, but this story along with the one about the Dem governor in Mississippi (I think) who was 'put away' under extremely questionable circumstances (see CBS and 60 Minutes...I think there's video of this segment on YouTube). Are we now going to criminalize being a Democrat? (Bad enough that we've made being 'liberal' distasteful). Will we finally give up the charade of the two-party system and make it officially a ONE party system? I would have thought that the 'powers that be' would want that one charade to continue. Without it, people like me convincingly can argue that we live in a dictatorship!
So, Eliot Spitzer, shame on you and shame on US!
Spitzer
I don't condone Spitzer's actions, under any circumstance. He clearly
violated the public trust and his marital vows. How can he now be trusted as a top government official?
"Kenc of NC" questioned above whether print Yellow Pages still accept
"Escort Services" ads. I live in Northeast TN (in Kingsport) - - - locally
referred to as the "Buckle of the Bible Belt" and there are such ads in our Yellow Pages.
