Gov. Eliot Spitzer Presser: Apologizes
By John Amato Sunday Mar 09, 2008 3:11pm
Download | play (h/t CTBlogger)
So far I haven't seen him say he'll resign. I understand that David Vitter got a standing ovation from his Republican pals when he returned to Congress, but that's Republicans...FOX News reports that he's going to resign, but that's FOX...He apologizes to his family and to the public---promises better---but he did not say he's resigning in the presser...
Here's more info on the scandal. We know Wall Street hates him too...
UPDATE: Jane's got a poll too and has an update from the NY Times:
Gov. Eliot Spitzer has been caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet with a high-priced prostitute at a Washington hotel last month, according to a person briefed on the federal investigation. The wiretap recording, made during an investigation of a prostitution ring called Emperors Club VIP, captured a man identified as Client 9 on a telephone call confirming plans to have a woman travel from New York to Washington, where he had reserved a room. The person briefed on the case identified Mr. Spitzer as Client 9.
What say you?
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I voted for him, and I hope he resigns asap. He's a disgrace.
Time for him to join the GOP.
I don't care if he resigns. Let him stay in there and campaign as hard as hell for Hillary Clinton.
Do the honorable thing - resign. It's what we want from the opposition. It's what we should expect from ourselves.
Now I know why Giulini liked him so much.
shame for his beautiful wife and kids.
Vitter wasn't charged with a crime. It appears that Spitzer will be. Big difference. Vitter's a first class ass, but these cases aren't equal.
Hey Eliot, I wanna know about this little club of yours:
Spitzer swallow?
Resign!
let's let the GOP be the party of scandal.....oh, and endorse Hillary
The feds intercepted his text message requesting to see one of the women of the Emperor's Club. His text message was sent on February 13th of this year. This is recent! And it does not look good. He needs to step down today.
Baba @ 8:
too funny!
New York’s Lt Governor is David Paterson. Were he to be elevated to the governor’s office, he would be the first African American governor of New York and, being legally blind, the first in that category as well nationwide.
I’m getting disgusted hearing reporters asking how this will affect the Clinton campaign. That’s funny, I haven’t heard anyone ask how Larry Craig affects McCain.
Get your free Pocket BARACK-itizer here.
Please resign. It'll be all the dignity that's left for you.
He should stay since this was a federal sting and most likely illegal. There are others involved, most likely Republicans and dubs donors will be shielded.
I am not a fan of Spitzer but he should stay on until we get an explaination why this sting was justified. The intent was to get a high profile Dem politician.
Should he resign?
F*ck, yes. Like, duh.
Otherwise, he's no better than Larry Craig. Prostitution IS illegal, after all.
Hey, John, in principle, right is right and wrong is wrong, eh? Any other claim to the moral high ground is relative and tenuous at best.
Public Officials should always resign to maintain public confidence...the dude is owned and for how long and by whom...is there anything else he has done...how would or could we know...
He should not be held to a higher standard just because he's governor of New York. We have a chimp who shits all over the constitution and we do not hold him accountable. And when a member of the Bush crime family does get convicted, his sentence gets commuted.
I say the hell with the republican attack machine and encourage Spitzer to keep going. So what if he's not perfect, he's better than any piece of shit lying republican I've seen.
Dhalgren @ 10:
He was getting himself a Valentine?
Resign is the only option.
Spitzer swallow- priceless Baba
Sidenote: Charlie Sheen said it best "I don't pay them for sex I pay them to leave."
Sources: Spitzer Could Resign Tonight
Lt. Gov. David Paterson Could Be Sworn In By 7 P.M.
http://wcbstv.com/breakingnewsalerts/spitzer.prostitution.ring.2.673848....
I think he SHOULD resign. But from his standpoint he may think...why resign if Vitter and Widestance man are staying in office.
It's with shame I admit I really don't know much about this dude. But still, here's two reasons for him to resign:
* I have nothing against prostitution on principal-- none of my business what adult consenting people do with their genitals-- but this dude was a prosecutor of prostitution rings, so that's being a huge hypocrite. That pisses me off. If he's prosecuting others for the same crime (and I'm not sure if he was prosecuting clients), he should at least lose his job if not be prosecuted himself.
* Consistency. If a Republican governor did the same thing, we'd be laughing at the hypocrisy and demanding he leave. What's fair for Repubs is fair for Dems. The Dems should be consistent and tell him to take a hike. Standards, people.
BONUS OPINION:
* There is obviously a kind of douchiness involved with cheating on your family by banging some expensive prostitute in a hotel room. Maybe being a dick isn't grounds for resignation, but you gotta acknowledge is a breach of trust that raises serious questions of his trustworthiness as governor. Yes, I held Clinton to the same standard. Even though he was a great pres, he acted with a recklessness w/Lewinsky that could have led to huge problems had someone blackmailed him or something. It's a major political vulnerability-- it's not something I'd like an elected official to have.
B
Great, he was caught on a "federal wire tap". Anyone think that his sex call was listened in on by Karl Rove!
This is the stuff I feel that Rove and Bush has over all the congresspeople and that this is why they get to bully congress and the senate. Lincoln Chaffee in a 4 hr private conversation with Condi and John Bolton. Wonder what was on those tapes they played for him to try to pressure him!
Pigs.
me and myself @ 14:
If this is indeed related to illegal wiretapping then certainly Spitzer can claim he was harmed by it. That being the case for the sake of discussion, why is he sheepishly apologizing instead of vigorously pursuing a federal lawsuit?
Since prostitution should be legal, I see no moral issue here. He should not resign.
This country is absolutely obsessed with other people's sex lives. It's plain strange.
I didn't care when Vitter and Craig got in trouble.
How are we just grow the fuck up?
What a disgrace. This scum bag shouldn't even have uttered the term "progressive politics", he dirty's it. I hope he resigns and stay away from politics altogether.
$5,500/hour! Jeez Luweez! Can't they maybe include a pic of that babe on the NYT?
Why should he resign?
Do the evangelical churches have any kind of retreat camp where you can go to recover from your HETEROSEXUALITY?
Check out the article on thesmokinggun.com, this wasn't a spur of the moment thing for Spitzer, this was a well planned out cloak and dagger style interaction with this organization. Had he just had an affair or even if he pulled a McGreevey and had some dalliances on the road, that would be one thing, but travelling to D.C. on presumably government business and arranging this is way too much.
Good luck Governor Patterson.
No, he should not resign. Nor should he admit that he is a fallible mortal (that goes without saying), or that he made some grave mistake (he didn't). He should boldly suggest that prostitution and sex work are morally neutral propositions and that the United States must liberalize all aspects of its intrusion into the sexual lives of the people. All the talk about the horrors of exploitation, victimization and child sex slavery here is totally unwarranted, since we have no indication that Spitzer was involved in this. All we know is that he arranged to meet with a high priced prostitute. Once again, all the faux-liberals are coming out and trying to surpass the conservatives in reactive sex negativity in order to claim the moral high ground from Republicans.
We can't keep pointing at the Republicans for their morally bankrupt actions and then try to gloss over the same type of situation when a Democrat does it. He needs to resign simply because it's the honorable thing to do. Just because the Republicans refuse to take the honorable way when caught doesn't mean that we shouldn't expect Spitzer to.
This is an especially bitter pill for me because when he was the NY AG, Spitzer was kind of a hero of mine and I'm too old to have heroes in the first place. Maybe this will finally cure me of it. Politicians is politicians and it don't make no never mind what letter they tack on after their name.
when you run for office, and win, on a platform of tough-on-crime moral rectitude, a lapse like this is definitely cause to resign.
jesus.
i can see this being a retaliation of the Abortion bill NY State just passed.
do any of these fucktard pols know anything about the internet???
i need to write a book for politicians on how to go about getting a hooker
never use an escort service
only use an independent and never use incall
if the girl wants to know your name or any other info....dont give it to her....and run like hell
he will have to resign...he has run his entire life as a straight arrow
too bad
Who cares. Is a politician nailing a prostitute even a story?
I quote George Carllin. "Fucking is LEGAL. Selling is LEGAL. So, why isn't selling fucking legal?"
Jason albright Says: $5,500/hour! Jeez Luweez! Can’t they maybe include a pic of that babe on the NYT?
I remember a famous quote by Charlie Sheen when his name appeared in the black book of the Hollywood Madam, Heidi Fleiss.
He said.."I don't pay women for sex. I pay them to leave."
A great quote!!
When these guys are on the take the hookers are supplied to them. Spitzer pays for his own?
Huff Post is reporting Spitzer will resign at 7 tonight.
One less Clinton Superdelegate? Or will replacement also endorse her?
Jason albright @ 28:
She'll be a centerfold somewhere soon.
Stupid jack-ass!
Even though dozens of repukes have been busted for corruption and getting kinky, this will be the story the MSM does a 24/7 on.
and he should keep campaigning for hillary
then she will have a serial adulterer (villaragosa) and a whoremonger supporting her
WOW I am really disappointed by all of the phony, holier than thou, Republican like outrage from the C/L comments. The only people that this should really matter to is his family.
I have my fingers crossed that somehow Isiah Thomas is involved in this scandal, so both of the ineffective NY Executives who have been screwing up lately can get thrown out on their ears.
Ok Fox, so Spitzer should resign but Bush should stay in power?
I hardly think prostitution is worse than screwing over one of the greatest nations...
The days when corrupt public figures resigned are over. Now being disgraced means nothing and you have to force them out by other means. If you are able, that is.
What is with these people? Do they think they're invisible? And what's even worse, they parade the "Little Lady" up on stage with them while they say their mea culpas.........Didn't anybody learn anything from Clinton?
As a New Yorker and a Democrat, I say he must resign NOW!
Is it at all possible that this is a sting operation on the Justice Department by Spitzer, who is a former prosecuter and didn't he appoint the special porsecuter that nailed Scooter Libby? I could be wrong. Just in light of the Don Siegelman fiasco in Alabama, well, you know it would be funny if they are just entrapping the Justice Department and manipulating their illegal wiretaps.
Otherwise, Spitzer needs to apologize to his wife and kids for participating in a victimless crime. Hard to beloieve he has to pay for sex. Kinda cute guy don't you think?
Easy as hell to hornswaggle the media 24/7, and they have certainly taken the hook. All else is pushed aside, cheap and easy. Oooooh, I so much want to watch!!!!!!!
If the DC Madam had to go to jail, why didn't Vitter at least have to resign for being her client? Likewise if Spitzer is found guilty of a crime, then he should resign. The double-standard isn't just about GOP versus Dems, it's also about men versus women. Or, in this case, prostitutes versus politicians. The politicians/johns get a free pass, while the prostitutes go to jail.
BobD @ 23:
Yeah, I thought of illegal wiretapping too.
Can't see how anyone would vote "No, he shouldn't resign".
He's a public official who broke the law. That disrespects everyone.
Speaking as a Democrat and a constituent of Spitzer's who voted for him in the 2006 election, I have this to say to the governor:
Governor Spitzer, sir...at this point, if you really want to have a prayer of upholding the campaign promise that you made the citizens of New York state to bring ethics back to Albany, then both ethics and honor demand that you start with yourself. Don't apologize, sir...RESIGN. Show the American people that the Democrats are capable of doing what the Republicans will not, despite all their pontificating on the importance of taking personal responsibility. Accept the consequences of this disclosure, and voluntarily resign your seat.
RayC @ 43:
.....his family and his constituents. No way you can sweep criminal actions of a governor under the rug. It isn't a holier than thou response, it is a "Hey, you probably shouldn't be arranging for the interstate transport of a hooker Governor" response.
science geeky xtian @ 22:
Because if he stays, he will be forever known as Gov. Spitzer Swallow (per Baba)
Vitter and Craig should have resigned, but the "family values" party are hypocrites.
I hate to say it but he has to resign. We all get upset when the hypocrites on the right stay in office.
The citizens of NY deserve more than wondering if their governor is busy working for the people vs working for his defense.
I know some will say he's not a hypocrite since he doesn't push morality on others the way the right does, but I believe ALL bad politicians have to step down. This would also prove Dems have more scruples than righties and their dumb lapel pins.
He should resign ten minutes after Vitter resigns. He should say that publicly.
Hell yes he should resign. If Democrats aren't prepared to hold themselves to higher standards, why the hell should they support? Republicans are hypocrites anyway, who cares what they would do in this situation. What matters is was Dems do. Everyone is watching.
Tequilatarian @ 55:
Agreed...the Dems have to show a higher level of ethics than the right. If a Dem does bad, they need to step down immediately. This way the right has NOTHING to criticize.
no way that spitzer is the only name to come out of this investigation
and the wealthy and powerful go to these types of services because most of the girls arent full time pros
many are professional women, struggling actresses, struggling models, etc, who see this as a way to make the extra money just by working a few days a month
and yes, it should be legal, but we are one effed up country
station agent @ 57:
And here's why you have it wrong (with all due respect). Who cares what Vitter does? Vitter is a pig. Spitzer should be a man and step down. While stepping down he can remind the voters that this is the difference between the Dems and the right. They step down in disgrace.
Of course he should resign. I ran as anti-corruption and prosecuted prostitution rings. Just because the Republicans are hypocritical assholes doesn't mean Democrats should be, too. He should resign and his personal life will go back to being his own business.
I am so disappointed in this guy. I believe prostitution should be legalized, but the point is that he broke the law. Jackass jackass jackass.
Rocco @ 31:
Rocco--
Agreed, except for the fact that he himself prosecuted "sex rings" (as reported in the NYTimes story). And the fact that he was paying up to $5500 a night on a $112K salary? And that whether or not prostitution SHOULD be illegal, it is- so he demonstrated a clear willingness to break the law? And that he's married, and presuming that he promised not to sleep with other women (I think a fair assumption), he broke such vows? And that given the political and marital scandals that will surely result from this, he put himself in a dangerous position where such indiscretions could be used against him? And I wonder if he properly paid sales tax for the "service"...
This isn't just a sex scandal. It involves questions about finances, breaking the law, secrecy and the public trust. I could care less about the prostitution itself. It's the other stuff that makes this step-down-worthy.
B
lET'S WAIT FOR MORE REPORTS BEFORE playing the judge and jury. This is not fox. Fox and the filth like them play judge jury and executioner. Let's not fall down to their level. It will all come out. Let's let it play out.
And I am not a clinton supporter, obama since before it was obama's movement. :)
Let's not turn into propogandists to defeat then. The gop becamse terrorists and fascists to defeat the terrorists and those they call fascists. Let's not become gop (terrorists, fascists, judge and jury in the media) to defeat them. Let's get more info then whether he steps down are not will be decided by those who should decide.
Isn't it funny how all the guilt starts to emerge only once they get caught?
It's interesting how the feds were investigating the Emperor's Club for money laundering activities. But intercepting incoming calls and text messages from the clients/johns.....can't they use our tax dollars a little more wisely?
There are plenty of Republicans who have broken the law in clear sight. And it could be argued that Spitzer didn't break the law at all.
I am in-favor of all-or-nothing approaches to this. If Republicans don't resign over infidelity or paying for sex, then neither should Democrats.
But the right thing to do is to resign. Surely most of us agree on that.
....ug..."he" I meant, not I. I'm a jerk, not a lawyer.
Let get this straight. So it's OK to take a broad out to dinner so she can shove giant plates of steak & lobster down her throat plus guzzle expensive bottles of wine before you get laid. But if I hand her the money up front; that makes me a criminal? The American so-called justice system stinks. Eliot Spitzer should never apologize for having a fully functioning penis. Let them put him of trial for a poon-tang crime. No red blooded male member of the jury would vote to convict.
Just curious......could Kristen be Rudy in drag?? 8-)
I guess we could say at least he has some class seeking HIGH CLA$$ prostitutes and not trolling and sniffing public restrooms stalls.
Jamie @ 49:
charlie sheen didnt have to pay for sex either....neither did that english actor (forget his name)
the act of going to a hooker has more to do with sex without responsiblity and a power issue
i pay you, you have to do what i say
Not for nutin, but why is the Times headline that he is "involved with prostitution ring"?
Makes it sound like he was pimpin' or sumpin'.
But yeah, resign.
Thom @ 7:
I'm hearing that Spitzer may not be charged, which is typical in these cases...the feds are going after the ringleaders...the pimps. And both Vitter and Spitzer patronized a prostitute...end of story...what's the difference?
[Deleted]
Dhalgren @ 66:
Matlock, how do you think they learn about how the money flows into the operation if they don't wiretap phones and listen to how the organization collects money from the Johns? If you read the indictment and look at "Client-9's" actions, there is no argument that "Spitzer didn't break the law at all". Resigning and accepting responsibility for one's actions would separate him from his GOP counterparts....playing "He did it too!!!" doesn't accomplish anything.
of course he should resign it is illegal, why on earth don't you people think he shouldn't....
I'm all for the accountability NEITHER PARTY has had the last decade. But first we need all the facts. This is day one. If this was a courtroom, it wouldn;'t be solved on day one. What have we become? Mob rule? how did we get here?
Fox, rush, hannity? Then those who combat them playing by the same rules? not that we shouldn't combat the hypocrite gop by the rules they enforce but have no intention of applying to themselves. But in this specific case we need mor einfo. He went to the prostitute. How did he pay. How was his payment and their money filtered? How deep was he involved with the ring? Was he only a client?
All very important questions. If he's a client, he should be scolded as a hypocrite. ostrisized and then when he's out of office, he is never re-elected. If he was involved deeper, then we cross that bridge when we get there. Let's not become fox now that we are getting the power back after all these years ( I count the clinton years as gop) :)
Spitzer should stay put.
What he's done is not a serious crime. If this were Nevada, it would not even be a crime.
This is akin to talking on the cell phone while driving (in my mind).
Grow up, people!
please, eliot, resign.
At least he didn't sniff public restroom floors for a thrill!
cg @ 65:
<guess>
They feel guilty BECAUSE they got caught. Without being caught, no one is hurt (they think)- hence no need to feel guilty.
</guess>
abob @ 68:
78 Sean,
but, sean, he is the governor of new york, not nevada.
and it is illegal--right or wrong, it is illegal. and, again, he is the governor, and he admitted to breaking the law. crime is a crime and we should demand that our elected officials are held accountable to the law, as they hold us accountable.
sad, yes.
but don't let part affiliation cloud judgment (not directed at you, sean, as i don't know what party, if any, you are in)
in more important news, the House is suing Miers and Bolten to force them to testify about the firing of U.S. attorneys.
If they can hold impeachment hearings on Bill Clinton for having lied about having consensual sex with another adult, which is not a crime, then Spitzer, who committed a crime by having sex with a prostitute should not only resign, he should go to jail.
There's nothing to indicate that Spitzer is going to be charged with a crime since the feds generally don't charge clients (unless there's some evidence that he exchanged political favors for sex). The ring and the girls were charged last week and Spitzer was not charged. That said, he should resign. He's the gov, the former attorney general and was very self-righteous when he broke up prostitution rings when he was AG. As gov, you can't pick and choose what laws to obey. It's absolutely clear that he broke the law - he paid money for a woman to cross state lines to have sex and it's on tape and text message. Plus, he can't possibly govern effectively given this. He's now a joke.
$4300 for 2.5 hours. That must be quality company.
I care about his hypocrisy and not his actions.
The Mann Act?
Sounds like a political witch hunt to me. Expect many more. Those 'Loyal Bushie' US Attorney's have been busy...
Sorry but I think he should resign.
He has personally prosecuted prostitution rings. It's hypocracy that he crusade against crimes like this, not to mention corporate corruption, etc., when he's got this kind of baggage.
And it's a cryin' shame. I thought he was presidential material. A refreshingly tough, hard-nosed, courageous Democrat who could fight and scrap with the best of 'em. A shame. What a waste.
Sean @ 78:
prob is...spitzer prosecuted cases like this
prostitution should be legal....so should drugs
but if he was videotaped smoking crack....shouldnt he resign?
And it's too bad that they don't apply the same laws to their own party members...
In Europe this would be a back page story and go away in short order. Why are American's so friggin' prudish about prostitution?
He broke the law. He should resign.
Just one more thing. Prostution IS illegal in Nevada except for a couple counties. It is illegal in Vegas (although rarely enforced). There is no state in the union where it is legal. (Whether that is good or bad is another argument but you don't let governors decide what laws to obey or not)
David Vitter got a standing ovation from his Republican pals when he returned to Congress, but that’s Republicans
Did Larry Craig get a sitting ovation?
"Sean Says: Spitzer should stay put.
What he’s done is not a serious crime. If this were Nevada, it would not even be a crime.
"
I live in nevada. So I look at this a little differant. :)
I'm all for making it so women or men, don't have to become prostitutes. Maybe one day all americans will be able to earn a living wage working 9-5. That time is not right now, unfortunatly. Supply and demand, as since BC times.
with that said, I feel bad for these girls sometimes guys. Not the pimps. Not the clients or people making money off it. But the people being used. Rather than attacking the system we must fix it. We're all prositutes in our own way. We all take money and are screwed daily. The point above is a good one. If he took her out and left a big tip, that she took, would this be ok?
Reminds me of what I hear in ny. They ban smoking except for in acting prformances. So now all bars pretend like the patrons are preforming to smoke.
We can't fix this by jailing the clients. Supply and demand. I thought the gop was for the free market. :)
We fix this by helping those girls and boys get jobs where they can make a living wage without selling themselves. We fix this issue with fixing poverty. not by jailing everyone.
Amen to that brother!
This is a tough one for me. On one hand we have an elected government agent clearly violating the law he has taken an oath to enforce. In fact, a law that he has personally prosocuted others for...however, it is a law that I personally believe is misguided and counterproductive.
All consentual sexual activity, paid or unpaid, between people who are legally able to consent should be completely legal under any circumstances.
I am only slightly bothered by his apparent personal hypocrisy. I guess there is an issue of public trust involed here but I can give some leeway to someone who lies about something of this nature. If he had lied about misuse of public funds or something of that nature then it would be an entirely different issue.
I couldn't care less about his sexual activities, legal or "illegal".
Elliot's a Hillary supporter, which I think makes him an even bigger idiot than getting caught with a hooker.
Being a Hillary supporter lowers him in my eyes more than hooking up with a hooker.
Vitter didn't resign. In fact, the GOP hailed him as a hero.
Sean @ 78:
Well, he wasn't in Nevada, he was in New York.
And he's the governor. And he broke the law. And he's held himself out throughout his career as an ethical, principled reformer.
And if you think this is no worse than chatting on the phone while driving, I'd like to know what your spouse or partner thinks of that.
Since he didn't get caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy, he'll do just fine. If you don't believe me, just ask Slick Willie and David Vitter.
He absolutely shoud resign. Immediately. I'm not going to have this incident hanging over the Republican party. This idiot isn't going to be pulling a Larry Craig.
If he gets the jury laid, they'll never convict him.
One more from me. sorry to take it up.
"he broke the law and should resign."
I hear you people. Where do you draw the line. Bribery is agaisnt the law. Are you going to arrest and jail everyone who takes bribes in congress and the real world? The gop is engaging in treason, widescale. That is a punishable crime. Are you going to round them all up and arrest them.
I have no horse inthis race. We just need to think clearer than the gop. They react like this. I for one am glad this happened as it hurts clinton and corrupt ny politics. It helps me. Still, I don't want our movement to becoem a mirror of what we have been fighting.
Let it play out
Sorry - I got excited. I meant "hanging over" the Democratic Party.
If Spitzer resigns, oil will still be 107 dollars a barrel, we'll still be in Iraq, 50 million Americans will still have no health care....
I think y'all get my point....
uncle joe mccarthy @ 89:
In the videotape, is he inhaling?
Whatever happened to Larry Flynt's investigation into the Washington Madam's file?
No, not that one
A little further up.
Just another Bush witch hunt enabled by the Patriot Act.
Stay there Spitzer, only republicans care that you like women.
105 Joshdavis Says: Sorry - I got excited...
I think they're saying that was Spitzer's problem too.
RUFUS1133 @ 96:
are you kidding???
show me another profession where you can make upwards of 2k an hour
most of these gals have other professions
these arent street walkers....they are actresses, models and professional women
let me put it this way.....all these are, are high priced dates
in cheap dates, guys expect sex after buying a steak
here, guys expect sex after putting out 3500 bux
I'm sorry - the guy got caught participating in a prostitution ring while working to fight prostitution. I'd say here that it's not the crime, its the hypocrisy. We must practice what we preach.
Was the alleged prostitute, male or female?
He shouldn't resign. He should legalize prostitution. Sign into law rights for all sex workers.
Wow - I'm off it today. Just forget I've posted anything.
Bored @ 63:
You're right to question where he got the money.
And wasn't it $5,500 an hour?
Vince Lombardi would have been speechless -- for a while, anyway -- and then would have asked this guy "Was she worth it?" Spitzer, looking at his family's faces, listening to the footsteps of the people whose trust he betrayed receding in the distance, and watching his career and reputation dissolve on a slow news day, wouldn't have to think hard for an answer to the question.
But it's not the sex with a high priced hooker. It's where the money came from. Was Spitzer being repaid or pre-paid for a favor? This story isn't over, and it's going to get worse.
Yes, he should resign.
The stock market continues it's precipitous plummet. The war continues with more violence. Gas prices set to go up another 30-40 cents this spring. Existing and potential homeowners are terrified--everywhere--not just in markets that were obscenely over-valued ... but everywhere.
Yet, weiners and vaginas are the biggest story of the day.
Apologies to Mellencamp, but oh ain't that America. Sadly, we deserve it. Or otherwise we wouldn't have let it happen.
Leave this guy alone, he was doing the community a service.
McCain the Liar @ 109:
true that
but here is where this escort service got into trouble
they tried to get around the irs
big no no
if they had paid most of the taxes on the earnings, instead of trying to launder the money....none of this woulda happened
and no way is spitzer the only big name in this case
wonder who they are covering for
mo_dem @ 6:
No kidding! And how painful it must be for her to stand
there knowing he was off screwing some whore for $4000
bucks an hour. Hope she kicks his ass when they get home.
Spitzer is a hypocrite for going after sex rings when he himself was a client.
To combine some of the things said above:
If a politician runs with a platform to cut the instances by others acting and to increase the penalties for the action that he is caught doing, he is a hypocrite and should resign.
If a politician is provided a prostitute in order to influence his political actions, he is corrupt and should resign.
If a married politician is caught using public monies to pay for extra-marital sex (like using police officers to drive his "other woman" around. He should resign.
If a politician is subject to illegal searches and illegal intrusion into his privacy, finding that he obtained a prostitute and not further caught in the above three positions, should confess it publicly so that there can be no pressure for political manipulation by those who illegally spied upon him or might have used possible prosecution to manipulate him.
If it was simple solicitation of prostitution, he need not resign. Liberals should attempt to be reasonable people.
If Larry Craig ran as a bisexual and did not profess to hate homosexuality and did not vote for restricted civil rights for homosexuals, few liberals would even comment on his conviction. If Vitter did not profess to hate all things that he defined as "anti-family" and condemn others for being "anti-family", then the revelations that he went on "diaper dates" with prostitutes would be the subject of bemusement to most liberals.
I think FoxNews should try to conflate his hooker hijinks with the relative morality of every Dem, liberal and progressive alive on the planet today. That would be the mature and responsible thing to do.
/snark
Off topic ...
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Like with McGreevey - it wasn't his homosexual behavior that was the problem - it was his abuse of the office.
Fox News question of the day: Will Democrat Eliot Spitzer's hijinks hurt or help the stop market?
53% in the poll say NO.
...if this were a republican it would be 98% saying YES. ya damn hypocrites.
Also, clinging to the "It's the law!" argument means much less that it would appear on its face.
Jim Crow & slavery laws were legal as well, so logically, should everyone (government & citizens) have simply obeyed "the law" & passively lobbied the legislature to recind the laws? I think not. Some laws are inherently biased, unjust, or plain stupid. This isn't meant to put banging some whore on the same level of importance as slave trafficing but the point is valid nevertheless.
Jericho @ 45:
And lying a nation into war killing hundreds of thousands of innocents in the process. Or giving no bid government contracts at taxpayer expense to Halliburton. And the hundreds of lies and law breaking the Bush regime has gotten by with that has cost this nation much more in lives, treasure and national reputation.
But if you want to compare apples to apples. Vitter and Craig are still in office but they are of hypocrites of the "family values" party.
One standard for Democrats, a different acceptable standard for a hypocritical Republican. It should be a tit for tat (excuse the pun).
"are you kidding???
show me another profession where you can make upwards of 2k an hour
most of these gals have other professions
"
Read deeper. I not talking about this one instance. I think in the big picture. Again, supply and demand. Services are only worth what one will pay for them. How much they are paid is of no consequence. If this guy paid 10 or 5000 the issue does not change. Why does more money make the issue better or worse.
Supply and demand. If water was scarce, like sex for men like vitter craig foley spitzer, what would peopel pay for it. Cost is a direct reflection of worth, in this system. Or it should be. In the black market it is. Which is where the prostitution finds itself.
Weaseldog @ 113:
Hopefully male. That would be more erotic.
As Governor of NYS, Spitzer should be held to the same standard that anyone else is held to...right?
In NY, the vast majority of johns busted in sting operations get let off with a warning (I speak from experience).
Should the governor get special treatment?
There are literally hundreds of other laws the governor may have broken that he would most likely not serve jail time for.
Thus legality is not really the issue. It's scandal-mongering more than anything else.
But the best part is, if Spitzer resigns, Joe Bruno (who is under federal investigation for actual real corruption) is gonna get bumped up closer to being governor.
Something's wrong here.
His wife is actually very pretty. Why did he cheat?
MEN!!!!!
Sorry, had to say that.
He should resign. I'm a former New Yorker and a big fan of Spitzer's work as prosecutor.
He's always been a "law and order" guy. He placed himself on that pedestal. And now he needs to pay the price.
I'm sad about that, but have little pity for a man who can't control himself (when it comes to breaking the law!!).
Joe Bruno will celebrate tonight. But he's one corrupt re-thug. He might be next.
Just as the Romans had their events in the Colosseum and had more and more during the final days of the empire to feed the national blood lust, we see the 21st century version unfolding right before our eyes.
Yes, he should resign. And quickly!
Larry Craig should follow right behind. (no pun intended)
But they won't.
Jason albright @ 28:
What exactly do you get for $5,500/hr? I've dated my fair share of women and honestly can say that I wouldn't pay $5.5K/hr for sex with any of them.
Oh here we go.....Tweety on MSNBC is going on about how this puts into the question the 'judgement' of Superdelegates, such as Spitzer. "Am I streatching this too far," he asks his panel.
"Supply and demand. If water was scarce, like sex for men like vitter craig foley spitzer, what would peopel pay for it. Cost is a direct reflection of worth, in this system. Or it should be. In the black market it is. Which is where the prostitution finds itself."
Which is why we have laws. otherwise everyones job would be whatever makes them money. We would be overflowed by drug dealers and prositutes society would crumble as that is all anyone would care about. You got yoru money AND your pleasure. Problem solved. Is that the world we want to live in, ONE A WIDE SCALE? No. Still. Pretty selective outrage today.
Why can't you people get this worked up to fight fox hanntiy rush bush and the rest of the gop? Why does it feel like so few of us are fighting everyone (the right, the clinton di fi moderates the media) alone? Rather than fighting and goin goff on end about this, why not focus on the cause. What leads to both these issues.
Also, I think clinton had dirt on this guy. I think this is the gop (clinton includeD) in a fishbowl. Everyone involded in their cult is dirty. If you talk or switch sides on any issue or other your going down. Maybe he was siwtching support to obama. Something had to be done. :) Speculation of course.
JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin @ 133:
simple
when it comes to sex, most men can compartmentalize
with a wife or gf, sex comes with responsibilty
with a hooker....there is nothing but the caishe
you fuck, you cum, you leave
plus, at the prices these gals were charging, they act like you are the most important man in the world
no nagging over taking out the garbage or paying the bills
that is what a guy gets out of this
much different than an affair
uncle joe mccarthy @ 35:
Joe, you're right---problem is these guys don't think with their brain...
But, live by the sword politically, die by it...his own fault.
WORTH A REPEAT
One more point to consider...
All of this concern over his wife is strange to me. Who knows what the inner workings of their relationship were/are? For all anyone knows she could have, explicitly or implicitly, endorsed these actions. The fact that she has appeared in public with him, in an apparent show of support, should put that lame argument to rest for the time being.
Some unsolicited advice for the masses...Let people tend to their own personal affairs if those affairs have no real impact on you (and I'm not talking about hurt feeling either).
Oh wait...I forgot, Jesus said "One man one woman". Pshaw!
Dr. Hussein Matt @ 138:
well, you had to work hard on a date didnt ya?
for 5500 bux, these hot gals will do almost anything...and all you need to do is ask
plus, they will pretend that you are the greatest lover they have ever had....total head trip
Dhalgren @ 135:
You got that right. New Yorkers will suffer if and when Spitzer resigns. The crooked and corrupt will celebrate. Personally I'm on the fence whether he should resign over something that has no affect on rank and file New Yorkers and possibly should not even be illegal in the first place, especially since family values hypocrties Craig and Vitter are still around. It's a great day for Bruno and his Republican cronies no doubt. Sad day for New Yorkers.
I don't care that he cheated on his wife - that is a private matter. That he participated in prostitution while busting sex rings is a big problem. And he should resign over this.
I don't think he should resign. I think he should get a subpoena for the wiretaps and determin if they were authorized under FISA. They would be inadmissable if they were illegal, presumably.
JoshDavis,
Exactly. What do you want to bet, Spitzer would help arrest the prostitutes he paid for? If it's a crime for the prostitutes, why isn't it a crime for the customers?
I am suspicious of the timing. It reeks of an attempt to bring Spitzer down. And considering some of the powers that he offended, I am sue here was an intense search going on to find something to hang him with, ala Bill Clinton. In fact, this is a lot like the Clinton lynching, especially in the knee jerk reactions to demanding that he step down. too pat. too quick. too planned.
My two cents:
He should announce that he will resign. IF, Vitter, Criag, ad naeuseum to the rest of the Republican hypocrites, agree to step down also. And Spitzer should rightfully raise the question of why he is being held to a different standard. And do it loudly. And maybe ask out loud why Bush who raped & pillaged America, is allowed to stay in office, when he, Spitzer, who allegedly contacted a prostitute, is being hounded to leave office?
This is a matter between him & his family. America's weird sexual mores raises its hydra head again. We can't hold Spitzer to one standard and others to another. Especially when far worse crimes that hurt & kill thousands of people, are happening in the White House on a daily basis.
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