New York governor reportedly in prostitution ring

[A*O]

A "family values" politician uses hookers? No shit Sherlock.

[nycgirl]

why can't politicians ever keep it in their pants? god, people in glass houses......

[ManxMouse]

Originally Posted by A*O

A "family values" politician uses hookers? No shit Sherlock.

No. I don't think he could fairly be called a family values-type politician. He made his mark going after corruption & organized crime in the establishment (including going after a prostitution ring from what I've seen reported). So yes, absolutely hypocritical in that sense, but no, he's not a moral crusader in the traditional sense and not a conservative or right-winger.

[MissDecember]

Spitzer, 48, built his political reputation on rooting out corruption, including several headline-making battles with Wall Street while serving as attorney general.

I love the irony.

I'm pleasantly surprised that this politician favours consensual sex with adult women. I doubt he's the only high-ranking official to utilize the services of hookers, but if you're gonna sell yourself as a beacon of virtue and anti-corruption, you damn well better conduct yourself accordingly. This guy's career is in the crapper now.

Poor wife, poor kids. How humiliating for his family.

[olivia720]

I used to look up to him. for reals.

[ariesallover]

Lordy, when is it gonna be legal more widely (besides Nevada)? While I think he's a total hypocrite and a jerk for plenty of reasons, I am saddened to see consensual sex between adults bring down a career. Of all the sins to commit, paying a woman for non-committal sex is so . . . unremarkable.

I'm guessing the Emperor's Club was an uber escort agency? It sounds like this huge, centralized thing bringing in international women? That sounds way more involved than anything the Washington Madame did - she sounds like a small biz by comparison. I wonder why it was never busted until that bust changed things politically....hmmmmmm.

What will he go on to do next? Totally serious question. I was just sitting here thinking how does he make an income now?

From one article:

Spitzer has backed Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination, but that endorsement was looking less valuable last night. Four people have already been charged in relation to the Emperor's Club ring. Under federal law, it is illegal to move people across states for the purpose of prostitution, a misdemeanour punishable by up to five years in prison.

I'm curious about these four - besides the one worker, who else? This sounds like it has so many connections, I wonder who gets charged and who doesn't. I wonder if he will?

I just saw this from another article:

Four people accused of helping to operate the ring were arrested last week.

What does "helping" mean? Answering a phone? Being the webmaster? I wonder if other clients were busted, or just workers?

If he's charged, it's a misdemeanor? I guess that's not clear at this point since his involvement hasn't been fully articulated, and the evidence might not all be in. However, even if the lowest charges come in and he resigns, I wonder if he will be disbarred for this or receive sanctions?

Originally Posted by olivia720

I used to look up to him. for reals.

Funny, I had the same reaction to him, but not because of his values or even what he thought was an appropriate use of power. He radiated such a command of himself, such conviction and confidence: it's hard for me *not* to be impressed by that kind of presence and determination.

I also thought to myself how he had the aura of self-containment, utter discipline, that sort of "purity" about him in how "perfect" he seemed,* and I also thought to myself, "Something has to make you tick besides rules. There's more than this straitjacketed persona - to anyone." I don't think it was just sex, but the kind of thrill-seeking that went with this sort of high-end, over-the-top agency. He could have easily had an affair with his pick of women, I'm sure; but then again, maybe it was just sex, and he thought the high price of an "elite" professional would insulate his identity or insure more discretion.

I wonder if he'll plead sex addict?

*I got the EXACT same read on McGreevey before he came out in "scandal" as well.

Side note: I don't recall any johns or workers ever being busted in the Washington Madame case.

[buttmunch]

Quite frankly I don't really care if a politician gets his/her rocks off with someone else. It's private and no one's business. But then, I think it's bullshit to make prostitution illegal.

[yanna]

I don't care who my politicians fuck as long as it's not me. And that they don't use State funds to do it.

[Sojiita]

Sadly, I think he is attractive. Maybe I just have a thing for the pervs? I would not say he is toast just yet. Plus he can always write a tell-all for $$$$. Why are they so stupid and do this shit? Why not just have a mistress?-that people would get over.

[ManxMouse]

Guess I'm the only one who thinks that prostitution is indicative of corruption itself, and completely intertwined with other crime.... so I'm not gung-ho for legalization. Buying and selling people goes against my feminist principles, I think.

[Grimmlok]

How about people buying and selling themselves? That's what legalized prostitution is. No pimps, the women in control of themselves. All taxed, all regulated, and organized.

[Just Kill Me]

Yeah, I'm all for people buying and selling themselves.
Most of the human trafficking and negativity comes from it being an underground black market thing... an example would be prohibition in the states.

[sluce]

I would not have a problem with him using a hooker except that it shows the level of respect he has for his wife and children. My greatest concern is the shell game he was playing with money that caused the investigation to begin with. There must have been a lot of money being moved around to send upa flag for an investigation. I look forward to the details on that.

[Palermo]

Word was he refused to use condoms too, so what was he bringing home to his wife?

I cannot stand when they have these "confessions" and the poor wife has to stand there like a lemon. I'd grab the microphone and give them all a piece of my mind personally.

[Quazar]

It's the hypocrasy of the situation that pisses me off. Here you have someone who is the highest law officer in the state, who can and has sent many people to prison for similar and lesser crimes, doing the same thing. He is breaking the laws that he is sworn to uphold and he knew it. I find it incredible that such a public figure could think that he would never get caught. If he wanted to have sex outside his marriage, he should have had an affair. This would then be between him and his wife. While we may not approve of this morally, he would not be breaking the law.

People who speak out the loudest about something are often the worst offenders of that very same thing.