Why should Spitzer step down? Sen. Craig didn't step down with the bathroom fiasco.

[Selatius]

Why should he???

[jakem]

1. craig just had a wide stance.

:rofl:

[Sub Atomic]

30. His 'wide stance' excuse always made me laugh.

Your average public bathroom stall is 36" wide.

The next time you go to the bathroom, take a yard stick or tape measure with you and place it in front of the toilet.

Now, drop trou and have a seat. Try to spread your legs wider than 36" in order to 'inadvertently' stick your foot under the neighboring stall.

The only way he could have done it is if he were pantsless.

[AngryAmish]

2. Because he has a sense of personal dignity?

A sense of shame?

Don't use larry Craig as your moral exemplar.

[Mutley]

3. Anyone, Democrat or Republican,

already knew that Dems are just as susceptible to corruption as anyone else. I think the difference lies in those ordinary people who pull the (D) lever every election day and their willingness to hold their own leaders accountable. I surely hope that holds true in this case. :o

Our best hope is to hold Spitzer accountable for what he's done. We'd be in loads of trouble if we let him get away with corruption just because of the (D) after his name. We should treat him the same way we'd treat any (R) for the same thing. As long as the evidence shows he actually did this. Since this is the first I've heard of it, I don't really know enough to say if it does or not.

[ramapo]

7. Corrupt or horny?

I think he just utilized services.

[Mutley]

10. Both

I think any politician utilizing the services of a prostitute is corrupt.

Now the issue of whether prostitution should be illegal is a whole different debate, but as it stands right now it is illegal, and our leaders should follow the law.

[EFerrari]

8. Somehow, I have a hard time grasping our purient interest and control

of other people's sex lives = corruption.

That's just over the top.

[Mutley]

12. I agree.

I happen to think prostitution should be legal. But as it stands right now it is illegal, and it is not for us to decide which laws our leaders should abide by and which they should not.

[EFerrari]

17. The regulation of stuff like this never works.

It didn't work with booze. It doesn't work with sex workers. It doesn't work with dope.

People always try to skirt those laws, it's not even a real question. It's more like unworkable laws that are a trap for people like him.

[Mutley]

20. Again, I agree.

But we should not allow our leaders to break the law, even if we don't agree with those laws. I think the better course would be to work for legalizing prostitution. It would only work against our interests to allow our leaders to break the law just because we think the law is wrong.

[endarkenment]

22. It isn't corruption.

I don't care who he is having sex with or how much it costs. I do care that Spitzer made his career partly on the basis of prosecuting prostitution rings, which makes him an opportunistic hypocrite.

[EFerrari]

24. That is a valid point, to my mind.

I still hate to see this happen. He was a great fighter.

[VermeerLives]

35. Very well said!

The standard must be the same for all.

[Mutley]

36. Thanks, and welcome to DU.

:hi:

[MNDemNY]

4. It appears as though he has broken State and Federal laws.

He should step down, post haste.

[EFerrari]

5. I don't think he should unless the consequences to him

will be too great.

He's a good man.

[wuushew]

6. No element of prostitution in Craig's case

Plus even if you believe sex should be a lawful service freely exchanged between individuals, the amount of cash in this New York ring could amount to thousands of dollars of unreported income.

[walldude]

9. Becasue we are more honest and have more integrity?

People who think Larry Craig should have been kicked out or resigned and don't think that Spitzer should do the same have a bit of a double standard going don't they?

[Selatius]

13. I'm saying is if Craig didn't step down, I don't see why Spitzer should.

I wasn't applying a different standard in that regard.

[walldude]

21. He should step down because he got caught banging

a hooker instead of his wife and managed to get caught up in a federal investigation of a prostitution ring. At best that makes him an asshole, at worst a moron. I don't give a rats ass if the Republicans respect and encourage this kind of shit, IMHO we shouldn't.

[EFerrari]

26. I guess I don't think that his private life is any of my business.

I seem to be in the minority.

But I'd feel the same way if he was caught with a roach.

[Selatius]

31. If he were caught with a blunt, that'd be even worse.

It sort of shows you what needs decriminalizing in America, but of course, the whole moral values crowd comes in and shits on the parade.

[walldude]

32. If he were just cheating on his wife

I would just think he was an asshole, but he, in his career, has gone after prostitution rings before, now he gets caught using one. He broke the law, the law he in the past has enforced. If he had been caught with a roach after prosecuting drug users would you feel differently? I know when Rush got busted we all called him out on his hypocrisy, why wouldn't we do the same for Spitzer. I can't give him a pass just because he has a "D" next to his name...



But I do understand the desire to do so.. :hug:

[EFerrari]

33. I'm not even a Democrat. I just liked him.

Damn. :(

[Mike Daniels]

43. Given that he prosecuted and sent people to jail for the same thing he was caught doing...

Morality or "personal affairs" aside, the professional hypocrisy alone should lead him to step down.

[Atman]

11. FREE sex is okay with Republicans...like outsourcing, kinda.

Uh...you know, if you can outsource to the airport mens room, why pay for it? It's all about the, er...bottom line. Spitzer broke the rules, and he PAID for sex which any self-disrespecting politician should be able to strong-arm or cajole his way into for free.

Larry Craig is a victim. His passion for free enterprise caught him with his pants down and stalled his career. But he'll soon be flush once again. Let the eagles soar! Spitzer...BWHAHAH! Fuckin' putz. He had to PAY for it! :rofl:

.

[eleny]

14. Because we're in the middle of a presidential Primary season

And we're trying to keep the spotlight on taking over from a corrupt administration and its political Party.

[lonestarnot]

15. Maybe because hooker engagement is illegal?

:shrug: Me I could give a crap who screws who

[fascisthunter]

16. Because He's Corrupt and Democrats Such as Myself

hate corrupt politicians.... they deserve to be in the GOP not here.

[Rex]

18. Because we all know that Repubes are scumbags and are not surprised

when one kills an intern or tries to have sex with a minor. We expect that out of Repubes, not so much out of Dems. That is not to say they don't, just not as deranged as the GOP. Good question, why should he? They were just hookers, not like he started a war based on lies.

[endarkenment]

19. Because he is a fucking hypocrite?

He prosecuted prostitution rings as a DA and bragged about how vile they were. Fuck him, he should quit.

[cherokeeprogressive]

23. "fucking hypocrite" LOL that's the best pun of the day! ^5 n/t

[KharmaTrain]

25. Vitter Would Be A Better Example

Truth be known, I'm a bit torn on how to react to this...it's still early and we don't have more details, and thus I want to withhold judgement until there's more information available.

That said...there should be a differentiation made here between an affair and soliciting sex from a professional. Affairs, especially those of the heart (which many become...Judy Nathan anyone?) can and do a lot of damage to the person, his/her family and their ability to perform their job. Folks in Detroit will agree to that considering Mayor Kilpatrick's current mess. Then there's what I call "stupid sex"...going for a quick thrill...this would include La Affaire Lewinski or Senator Craig...some may even call it "thrill sex"...it's not the money, but the chance that motivates...what one can get away with and living on the edge. Lastly there, "professional sex"...using a hooker...a loveless transaction...which the Vitter and now Spitzer cases fall within.

No moralizing here as I know others are already debating that side of this...and this is where I am torn, as the libido is a very personal and quirky thing. Now if we find out Spitzer was using government funds or time (or dog walkers) to conduct his private business...or did a favor for someone connected with this fiasco (and that covers blackmail) then it affects his ability to govern has been compromised. Now if this was prior to his taking office or it was "on his time", then one can feel sorry for the dude, but this is appears in our discourse, thanks to Vitter, to be a private matter between a politician, his/her spouse and some spiritual advistor (i think they're kept on retainer). The ultimate judge on this behavior should be the voters. If constituents are upset, they can try to bring pressure for a resignation or try to recall him.

A big caveat on this last part...and this is where we need more information. If Spitzer is indicted and convicted, he is guilty of a crime and should step down as, no matter how one agrees or disagrees with the law, it was broken, knowingly, and any elected official who is convicted of this type of crime (it's still a felony in most states) they should resign...especially a lawyer like Spitzer...he probably has prosecuted these type of caess...more the reason he should have known better.

[Freddie Stubbs]

27. The Republicans sure didn't want him to stay

[ScreamingMeemie]

28. Because he's a flaming HUGE hypocrite. And Craig should have.

[WinkyDink]

29. He prosecuted other men for the EXACT SAME CRIMES. Just for THAT he should resign.

And maybe devote his life to legalizing prostitution instead of prosecuting it.

[Thepricebreaker]

34. Bingo!

[SoCalDem]

37. Because the legislature will impeach/recall him. and if they do that he HAS to leave

(see Gray Davis (D-CA)

[BurtWorm]

38. He should get out of the way if the substance of the charges is true.

I.e., that he broke state and federal laws. He should resign to move the circus off center stage. He would be replaced by David Paterson, a progressive Dem who led the minority in the NY State Senate.

[Perry Logan]

39. He should immediately launch an investigation of the Republican scumbags who set him up.

[onenote]

41. LOL!

but you need to remember to use the sarcasm smilie

[Perry Logan]

42. Wake up. It's the Karl Rove era. All charges against Democrats are to be investigated.

[onenote]

45. sorry, but the only person who "set up" spitzer was...spitzer.

[Hubert Flottz]

40. BECAUSE!

Laws are for democrats!

"No DEMOCRAT, Is Above The Law!"

[Occam Bandage]

44. Because this destroys Spitzer's credibility. It would be better for the NY Dem party

for him to step down.

[robcon]

46. He should step down because he set himself up for blackmail.

He used incredibly bad judgment in using an industry that is run by organized crime. He broke the law. He should be gone by today.