OK, Spitzer tried to hire a prostitute and that's IT...get over it

[Tropics_Dude83]

At first, I thought that he was running a prostitution ring or was a "pimp" or "john", but all he did was have a momentary lapse of judgment and call into hire a prostitute. One night, one mistake. I'm sorry but he's done too much to be railroaded for this.

The real issue is why was the NSA wiretapped the governor of NY's hotel room for no reason WHATSOEVER. This is Karl Rove trying to destroy our brightest stars.

Even I, as a 200% Obama supporter, can see it now. This is not what I first thought it was at all.

[madaboutharry]

1. Is that it?

n/t

[MrCoffee]

2. For the brazillianth time, they weren't wiretapping Spitzer

They were wiretapping the escort service under a duly-executed warrant signed by a federal judge in furtherance of a RICO investigation.

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. It almost isn't worth it in the face of our very own spin room, you know?

[walldude]

21. You gotta wonder wtf is going on

For some this is apparently all about the election. They seem to project their feelings onto others. For me this is about hypocrisy and holding up a higher standard than the Republicans. I don't care if he endorsed Jesus Christ for president, if this is the kind of judgment he uses he got what he deserved. Too bad. He had been and could have continued to be quite effective.

[MrCoffee]

25. I liked Spitzer...loved his work as AG

It's a damn shame to see him go down like this. However, that doesn't change the fact that he should go down because of this.

It just sucks, is all.

[walldude]

32. Yeah sure.... you just hate Hillary

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Chovexani]

55. I think going down is what got him into trouble

:evilgrin:

[MrCoffee]

69. Why must you perv up a perfectly innocent sex thread?

Some people...sheesh.

[Chovexani]

74. I'm a hellbound liberal

It's my job. :evilgrin:

[MrCoffee]

75. If you get there before me, save me a seat

Something not too close to the front, and if you can grab a window seat, that would be just super.

[ScreamingMeemie]

35. I realized, a bit too late, that many are using this as an Obama/Clinton

thing. And I bit. FWIW, I am not fond of either of them and am instead donating money to local candidates.

[Chovexani]

57. There are people who will use any and everything as an Obama/Clinton thing

It's really rather obnoxious, IMO.

I wish I had local candidates to donate to, or I'd do the same thing. I'm surrounded by Repukes though. :( I did give money to Kucinich for his re-election campaign.

[mac2]

33. Since when does RICO go after prostitutes

when there is so much white collar crime in NY?

[MrCoffee]

37. Without knowing all the details, I'd gues it's the money laundering aspect

They were going after the escort service.

[AngryAmish]

56. Organized crime sometimes skims from these things also

[Dreamer Tatum]

40. You could argue it IS a white-collar crime n/t

[mac2]

47. I mean on Wall Street and government fraud.

[malaise]

43. You're right

From WinkyDink's thread.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23512695/

[elehhhhna]

48. Weird how his name got "leaked by Federal sources".

Prosecute all the johns or none of 'em.

He ired a hooker. Yet the MSM says he's "involved with a prostitution ring that's under Fed. investigation."

I buy gas from Exxon sometimes. Gues that means I'm "involved with an oil company that's under Fed. investigation."

[Slagathor]

71. He's the governor, it's in our interest to know

jesus. he's the mother fucking governor. we need to know this sort of shit about our elected officials.

[JackRiddler]

85. No we don't.

Sex between consenting adults, for pay or not, is nobody's business but their own (and that of their other partners).

That being said, Spitzer is obviously toast.

[Mike Daniels]

93. Except when the sex can lead to blackmail or other scenarios

Plain and simple, if you are in a position where you can be compromised if you're caught, keep your dick in your pants.

As such, politicians are under a higher degree of expectation when it comes to these types of things. As such, it is our business when a politican engages in behavior that can be lead to him possibly being blackmailed.

It's an ethical issue and politicans need to and should be held to a higher standard than the general public.

[JackRiddler]

98. What created the context in which that is true?

Why is having an affair a reason to fear blackmail?

Let's face it, this whole country is seriously neurotic in this regard.

[femmedem]

95. It left him open to blackmail.

Which meant he could have been pressured to use his power as governor to overlook, to pardon, to make deals...

Therefore it is everyone's business. Well, everyone in New York's.

[MrCoffee]

73. I don't follow...

He was recorded calling an escort service to arrange a meeting with a hooker. He was named in the indictment/criminal complaint as a client of the escort service.

He's not under criminal prosecution (they're not going after the customers, they're going after the operators).

What was false about the statement you quoted?

[elehhhhna]

77. 1) He was not named. His name was LEAKED. There were several customers

and noone else's name's been leaked. He was ref'd to in the filing as "client number 9".

They make it sound like he was working for/with them, when he was apparently just a client.

[saracat]

3. Thank you for that. I wish some other Obama people would understand that.

I am shocked by how many are willing to throw Spitzer under the bus. Oh well. You are a brave person.

[HockeyMom]

5. I voted for him

Yes, I too hoped he would be our future.

[Tropics_Dude83]

6. Yeah, hiring a prostitute

raises moral questions for sure and how could he do this to his wife?? But there is no striking illegality here.

[theboss]

16. He mailed money across state lines to a hooker

I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound like the behavior of someone who made "one mistake."

That's an ongoing interstate conspiracy.

[Born_A_Truman]

90. Not once...

According to the affadavit, he still had a balance from a prior booking with the service.

[whopis01]

111. Oh come on, who hasn't mailed money across state lines to a hooker before? n/t

[walldude]

29. Um.. hiring a prostitute is illegal...

but it's not the illegality it's the hypocrisy.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

66. And being an officer of the court and all that, he

of all people ought not to have done that. This one's hard to excuse. Expect some heavy-duty contortions at DU. This may even be this year's Duke lacrosse flame war.

[Slagathor]

72. About those duke boys

they were still misogynistic assholes to hire strippers in the first place. they'll always be guilty at least of that.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

82. Heeeeeeeeeeeere we go.

.

[MrCoffee]

7. Throw him under the bus?

What do you mean by that? The man cut his teeth busting prostitution rings. To find himself busted in a prostitution ring is the worst kind of betrayal of the public trust.

[EFerrari]

11. What the hell does Obama have to do with this?

:wtf:

[lapfog_1]

19. Throw him under the bus???

Repukes got David Vittner... we got Spitzer. Doesn't sound good with him being a former prosecutor... but...

Anyway, it will finish his career as a up and coming Democrat.

Which is too bad, really.

[walldude]

26. I'd throw this dumb fuck under the bus no matter who

he endorsed. I for one don't trust the judgment of a man willing to prosecute hookers with his left hand while fucking them with his right. But you go ahead, everybody's got a right to their opinion.

[sharp_stick]

4. He was an AG

That isn't it.

I don't give a shit if he's a puke or a Democrat, an AG hiring a hooker should be a career ender. He is supposed to uphold the laws, not break felonies. As a husband, hiring a hooker should be a marriage ender.

All IMO of course

[apnu]

13. Actually he was a Govenor, not AG when it happened.

It was, Feb 13th when he was caught on tape. So the NY Times says: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/nyregion/10cnd-spitzer.html?hp

[saracat]

14. And I suppose you would inflict your moral opinion on this matter on everyone else?

And inflict that judgement on marriage as well? Apprently one act of stupidity cancels out years of contributions to you, in both a career and a marrige. Perhaps you would consider a death sentance appropriate since you appear to want the guy destroyed.

[sharp_stick]

27. My moral opinion has nothing to do with it

he was an AG that spent a lot of years busting prostitution rings, his entire legacy is completely destroyed, I don't want him destroyed, he did a fine job of that himself. He did a lot of good things but none of that matters any more.

A death sentence, WTF?

The marriage thing is my moral opinion and reflects only my opinion, I really don't care if his wife dumps him or not.

[saracat]

60. None of the good things matter anymore?Really ?His visiting a prostitute is that important?

And if your moral opinion has nothing to do with it, and you don't care if his wife "dumps him or not, why post this? You posted "visiting a prostitute "SHOULD" be a marriage ender". Seems like you care enough to think his marriage should be ended. I can't imagine why anyone would have enough interest in the marriage of someone they don't know to make such a pronouncement. Presumptuous to say the least.

[onenote]

78. apparently not just "one act" of stupidity.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0310082spitzer1.html

[saracat]

92. Even several. So what? I agree it is hypocritcal but it is still just sex.

It isn't as if he killed anyone or "raped " anyone or stole anyhting. it is just sex. Too bad it was illegal. it was just stupid. The GOP were trailing him, just like Gary Hart.you think they would learn.

[anniebelle]

9. Yawn.

This is all they got? A wire tap, heh? Something fishy here.

[NightWatcher]

10. wow, you are wrong

the FBI (not NSA) were tapping members of a purported prostitution ring (not the governor)

and there is no other good info on how much he was involved in from purported money laundering to prostitution (which he prosecuted earlier in his career). The problem is with hypocrisy not whoremongering.

[EFerrari]

15. If we're going to prosecute hypocrisy, we better take out one big fucking ad

in the New York Times.

lol

[theboss]

12. When did the NSA wirteap the governor?

That never happened in this case.

The FBI wiretapped a hooker.

Jesus Christ, learn what you are talking about.

[goodhue]

17. "tried", he did hire the prostitute and not for the first time

The NSA had nothing to do with this. The FBI was wiretapping the Emperors Club.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/nyregion/20080310spitzer.pdf

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0310082spitzer1.html

[mirrera]

18. Thank You! Why is a democratic Govenor wiretapped? Investigate hooker-gate and dusty Foggo...

This justice department is not to be trusted.

[MrCoffee]

20. If you call an escort service that's having their phone tapped, guess what happens?

If you guessed that you end up on the tape recording too, you win!

[goodhue]

22. The prostitution club was wiretapped, not Spitzer

[mirrera]

107. Wow you were civil and not sarcastic! Thanks!

[theboss]

23. Goddamnit...HE was not wiretapped. SHE was.

The FBI was tapping the phones of a whore.

Word of advice from an Italian...do not call a hooker, drug dealer, or bookie on the phone. Take care of all that business in private.

[goodhue]

34. yes, indeed

To be more precise he spoke with an Emperor's Club booker on the phone, and not the prostitute.
The Affidavit is a must read . . .
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0310082spitzer1.html

[mirrera]

108. Quite the read! As a designer I wish I was as strict about deposits. Live and learn

[mirrera]

106. Thanks!

With all the crap going on, and the Seigleman case in Alabama, the Atourny firings for not prosecuting Democrats, having a high profile New York Democrat who is hated by old gaurd NY Republicans go down this way, would make any news junkie take notice. The headlines kept saying his name and wiretap in the same sentence and I had no time this week (taxes) to do any real reading. I knew if I asked the question on DU someone would do the fill in.

The way the Democrats have been acting for the last 8 years I have been joking to my husband that there are tapes of all of them having scandalous encounters, so I have a bias in that direction. Put it together with the testimony that Rove wanted photos of Siegleman cheating on his wife, you have to forgive the jumping to conclusion.

It is not like the FBI would know that a certain prostitution ring has some heavy hitting clents. They would have to wire-tap to know that. I still would like to know what happened to Hooker-gate and Dusty Foggo, Jeff Gannon, etc.

[RBInMaine]

24. It was STUPID and SHAMEFUL ! He is Gov. and former Att. Gen.

He should resign QUICKLY. I am a die-hard Dem, but he has violated the public trust and the trust of his office BIGTIME here. He should resign NOW and get the hell out of there because this hurts the party especially in a state we need bigtime.

[EFerrari]

Right. Like anyone in NYC is going to blink at someone hiring a sex worker.

Stupid, maybe, shameful -- that goes off into the land of controling other people's privates, a particularly Republican endeavor.

[theboss]

38. He wasn't boinking the secretary

He was sending out for a hooker. Even cynical New Yorkers would care if their prosecutor's office was calling out for whores.

[ScreamingMeemie]

42. Kind of like how he prosectued those prostitution rings?

I guess he shoulda blinked.

[EFerrari]

81. That's what I meant. What he did was stupid but for all this

overheated sanctimony to be called down on him is silly already.

[ScreamingMeemie]

84. A lot of us don't think so.

I don't think so. I think of people he willingly prosecuted and sent away and then I turn around and see him as the same thing. Whether it is prostitution or anything else. It isn't sanctimony. It's what we call for when it's a Republican on the plank. That's my problem. That and the fact that this is also being used as some sort of tool by both sides of the warring Democratic candidates. I wish both of them would just go away already.

[EFerrari]

89. I wonder how many of those cases there were.

That's just wrong. I agree.

[Dorian Gray]

51. Sf...

it's an industry which regularly victimizes women, which is one reason why I feel it should remain illegal.

I do think that New Yorkers, myself included (Brooklyn, baby!) will be disgusted with his activities. I am.

[EFerrari]

88. Well, I'm sorry that someone who did so much good

has to go down for something that hurt no one. And I see no better way to protect sex workers than to legalize the industry. Oh, geeze. :(

[Dorian Gray]

109. The sex industry

is such a complicated topic. I've seen first hand the harm it can cause women and their families. Legalization is one option, definitely. But, even legalization isn't the perfect solution, as abuses (drug/alcohol) that often go hand in hand would still be a problem. But this topic is about Spitzer, and I'm not prepared to debate about the institution of prostitution as I will probably respond more emotionally than logically.

I agree that it is sad, though I disagree that he didn't hurt anyone. He participated in an activity which can alter his family and his children, plus it's something with hurts the people who voted for him. He himself attacked prostitution rings in the past, so it's an activity that he has seen as criminal, himself. To me, it's really sordid. And worse... disappointing. Many of us were so happy to have a Democratic Governor after Pataki, and we put all our hopes into his election. And this is what happens? It's frustrating. It's infuriating. And it doesn't look good for Spitzer.

[EFerrari]

110. I understand how much this could hurt State Dems,

not to mention his family. :(

One thing that haunts me is that BushCo has been trying to turn CA. And now, it looks like they're also aiming for NY or at least, looking to increase their power there. These are some ambitious bastards and Spitzer played right into their hands.

[Bumblebee]

28. We should stop whitewashing it. He should resign -- but then so should Vitter.

[Zookeeper]

87. Yes. Vitter shouldn't get a pass. n/t

[mac2]

deleted

[mac2]

30. Men do have sex with prostitutes for various reasons.

His wife may not be able for health reasons, etc.

Prostitution should be legal but regulated for doctor visits, etc. No pimps. Women should decide for themselves about it.

If it's consensual for both partners...then it is none of our business. The same thing I said about Clinton. Their wives will decide the real punishment. If there is to be any at all.

Having an affair is involvement with another women, which she might have been nore angry about. The public humiliation is sad for her and the family.

[txaslftist]

45. I can pretty much only think of one....

... but that's just me. Maybe they do windows, too.

[Mojorabbit]

61. I so disagree

If he wanted to hire a prostitute he should have divorced his wife. It is a massive betrayal of trust. He could have brought home a life threatening illness to her. Unless she was ok with it, which I doubt I hope his career is ended.

[Slagathor]

70. Clinton is quite possibly a compensated psychopath

terrific fellow but not someone I'd take moral tips from or defend on a moral or ethical plane. Hella president though. Just not someone to admire from a personal level.

[Breeze54]

105. Oh please!! There's so much semen on the oval office rug, from the last

200 years, you could start your own nation!! :crazy:

Be pissed at Pres. Clinton for NAFTA and/or Welfare "Reform" and whatever else he did
that Progressive's don't agree with but to carry the RW meme for them is pathetic.

Sex happens betweeen consenting adults and Monica was of age! Grow up!

[WarholPop]

31. There Are Ties To Gambino Crime Family

Read the indictment: http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/03/spitzer_is_the_story_of_the_da.php

[Meeker Morgan]

36. Rather expensive prostitute for his documented income ...

... and he was the member of a "club".

[laconicsax]

39. Not a 'momentary lapse in judgment.'

Gov. Spitzer

1) Decided to hire a prostitute
2) Sought out a discreet way of doing so
3) Found a discreet way of doing so and made arrangements that involved both parties meeting 370 miles away.
4) Reserved a hotel room 370 miles away
5) Traveled to that hotel 370 miles away and met.

It was a sequence of bad decisions that were made with full knowledge of the ramifications and acted upon.

A momentary lapse in judgment is thinking that you can beat the light and gunning it even though you're too far away so you end up running a red light.

[WinkyDink]

41. One? Bwahahahaha!!

[txaslftist]

44. What a loser. He couldn't even score with a prostitute?

How inept.

[goodhue]

46. But he did "score"

And not likely for the first time . . .
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0310082spitzer1.html

[txaslftist]

49. The post says he "tried" to hire a prostitute, but wasn't successful...

Now how can you not be successful hiring a prostitute?!?!!?

It ain't rocket science, you know.

[goodhue]

53. The orginal post is wrong

Spitzer and "Kristen" were together is room 871 for approximately 2.5 hours on February 13th.
And it appears it was not the first time he successfully used the services of the Emperors Club.
Read the Affidavit
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0310082spitzer1.html

[txaslftist]

59. Well good. I'm glad he at least could get that part right.

[1776Forever]

50. I think its because he was a repeat customer who said he was ethical

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2008/03/10/the-eliot-spitzer-file.aspx

Spitzer, a first-term Democrat who pledged to bring ethics reform, has been married to Silda Wall Spitzer since 1987, and they have three daughters.

Spitzer prosecuted at least two prostitution rings as head of the state’s organized crime task force, The Times said.

............

Just a side note they have prostitute stings here all the time - Beware!!! Don't even think about it. 1st timers go on probation.

:think:

[txaslftist]

52. Prostitution stings?

What a fascist craphole! That's unAmerican!

[goodhue]

54. It was not a sting, rather merely surveillance

[txaslftist]

58. Even worse. None of the gummint's business, IMO.

But I think drugs ought to be completely legal, too...

[girl gone mad]

62. He didn't just "try",

he actually payed pimps to have sex with women. Multiple times.

Not a momentary lapse, and he doesn't belong in politics.

[LeftishBrit]

63. It's even on the news in England...

if he went with a prostitute, I would see this as grounds for divorce, but I don't quite see how it's the scandal of the century.

Bet if it was a Republican, it wouldn't be all over the news.

Who replaces him if he resigns - I hope not some bloody Republican?

[The Backlash Cometh]

64. investment and art collection.

That reads like networking and insider trading.

[Orsino]

65. Sure. It's the first time.

He never, ever did anything like this before. Sure.

And how dare the feds wiretap the prostitution service he called?

[Crabby Appleton]

67. Here's some details

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0310082spitzer1.html

[Slagathor]

68. No. He should fucking well resign

I have had enough of people making weak and pointless excuses for dem lapses. Even attempting to hire a prostitute makes him morally incapable of being governor. Spitzer is a piece of shit and should quit.

[EFerrari]

96. You sure to be worked up over something that doesn't affect you

in any way.

I hope you'll be all right.

[Geek_Girl]

76. According to reports that I've heard

He didn't just call up a prostitute. He had one travel to DC from NY which is a major violation of the law. The man seriously lacks judgment and should step down.

[JI7]

79. Spitzer himself goes after people involved in prostitution

that's why it's such a big issue.

[Herman74]

80. If Diaper-Man (Senator Vitter) doesn't go down, why should Spitzer?

Hiring a prostitute isn't the worse sin in the world, and in fact, is perfectly legal in Nevada (as well as some countries in Europe).

[hiaasenrocks]

83. Exactly. n/t

[Canuckistanian]

86. The tearing of hair and beating of chests over this is amazing

I've heard the words "prostitution ring" being mentioned over and over and over again.

He hired ONE prosititute.

SO SUE HIM.

[EFerrari]

94. This culture is diseased.

:shrug:

[Kablooie]

91. Why do all the news reports say he was "Linked to prostitution ring?"

That indicates he's running the business, not just a client.

If you buy a McDonald's hamburger no one says you are linked to the McDonald's corporation.

[SoCalDem]

97. TRIED?? He had a "credit" & email account with the "agency"

He has a middle aged wife & apparently likes young 105 lb petite brunettes..and doesn't mind jeopardizing his family & career to get dangerous sex..

creep..

[BurtWorm]

99. You've apparently given this a lot of thought.

;)

Actually, he seems to have been doing this much more than once. He had a whole system going. He knew what he was doing--up to the point of being aware how this was going to affect his family, his party, his state, his career...

[tsuki]

100. Unless he was wearing a diaper, f**k it. nt

[samplegirl]

101. at least he wasn't wearing a diaper or toe tapping.

[Zorra]

102. He's a liar, a hypocrite, an adulterer, a betrayer of the public trust,

and he's dumb enough to think he can do shit like this and get away with it.

The only halfway honorable thing he can do now is resign and go away.

If he was a single guy working at a casino in Vegas, paying for sex would not really be any big deal...but the guy was a top cop, is married, and has three kids.

[Thepricebreaker]

103. Dork.. they were tapping the agency and he made a call to them... He was not the target.

[Breeze54]

104. No, that's not 'it'...

Spitzer Has Prosecuted Prostitution Rings

http://www.abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=4424586&page=1

Defense Lawyers Call N.Y. Gov and Former Attorney General a Hypocrite

March 10, 2008

In 2004, then-New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer announced criminal charges
against 16 alleged members of a profitable prostitution ring based in Staten Island.

"This was a sophisticated and lucrative operation with a multi-tiered management structure,"
Spitzer said at the time. "It was, however, nothing more than a prostitution ring, and now
its owners and operators will be held accountable."

It was one of the many cases brought by Spitzer's office that helped develop his reputation
as a tough-on-crime moral crusader, and one of at least two prostitution cases he oversaw.

Spitzer developed a reputation as a stickler for integrity and high ethical standards
in business and government, earning him the nickname the "sheriff" of Wall Street.
That reputation helped him easily win election as New York's governor.

"Some public officials may not want to face stricter ethics rules and more competitive
elections," he said at his inauguration. "But all citizens will win when we finally get a
government that puts the people's interests, openness and integrity first."

During his time as attorney general, Spitzer brought major cases against some of the country's
largest corporate giants. He also brought at least two cases against alleged prostitution rings
and, as governor, signed legislation to increase penalties for international sex trafficking.

In 2003, his office filed a civil suit, and later brought criminal charges against a travel
agency that prosecutors said offered tours for men seeking sex with prostitutes abroad.

The agency "promotes prostitution and the abuse of young women," Spitzer said then.

:eyes:

More....