# NY Gov Spitzer Admits Involvement in Prostitution Ring **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 10, 2008, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859 "2008-03-10T18:36:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859/41 "2008-03-10T20:38:35Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] [Read this](http://www.harpers.org/archive/2007/10/hbc-90001396). Tell me why a selective investigation of a Democratic governor is so crazy, when the exact same thing has already been done to at least one other Democratic governor? Why are the feds investigating this particular upscale escort service at all? [/QUOTE] Here in Illinois, we investigate all our governors, regarless of party. ---
**Author:** ![tds1273](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tds1273](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tds1273)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859/42 "2008-03-10T20:39:26Z")
If she can’t get to the White House, might Hillary Clinton “settle” on running New York State? ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859/43 "2008-03-10T20:41:52Z")
Spitzer will resign today. I have never seen anyone flame out so spectacularly. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859/44 "2008-03-10T20:49:06Z")
I feel sorry for his wife. To be humiliated so publically by a philandering spouse must be awful, especially when she has to keep a brave face for the cameras. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859/45 "2008-03-10T20:52:59Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Do I detect sarcasm? It may sound counterintuitive but I actually DO think it would work if any of these politicos had the balls to call this stiff for the salacious, hypocritical bullshit that it is and refuse to be apologetic (esoecially since no one ever believes their artificial contrition anyway). They should stop always acting like they’ve been caught in some horrific crime and just shrug it off as a minor embarrassment. The crying routines just feed the false impression that this stuff has any credibility. [/QUOTE] I believe that you’d lose more voters than you would win. Their “contrition” arises from the political relaity that if they said, “Fuck yeah, I paid a prostitute, and I’d do it again,” they will lose net votes. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859/46 "2008-03-10T20:54:18Z")
[QUOTE=RyJae] \*bolding added I can agree with this, but Gov. Spitzer didn’t think so when he prosecuted prostitution rings. [/QUOTE] In his defense, he was acting as the legal advocate for the state. You cannot fairly impute to him any hypocrisy based on this. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859/47 "2008-03-10T21:11:15Z")
[QUOTE=Bricker] In his defense, he was acting as the legal advocate for the state. You cannot fairly impute to him any hypocrisy based on this. [/QUOTE] Sure you can. He chose to, first, become attorney general, when he knew that by doing so, he’d be prosecuting prostitution rings, and second, to specifically target protstitution rings for investigation and prosecution. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859/48 "2008-03-10T21:14:40Z")
[QUOTE=Bricker] I believe that you’d lose more voters than you would win. Their “contrition” arises from the political relaity that if they said, “Fuck yeah, I paid a prostitute, and I’d do it again,” they will lose net votes. [/QUOTE] But do you think anyone really believes their apologies anyway? I think that public perception of the _imortance_ of a sex scandal (as long as it involves nothing but consenting adults) is affected by how much the accused public figure affords it himself. Big, sobbing clothes-rending press conferences make the accusations seem much more serious and grievous than they actually are. Now, obviously, I was being facetious about how brazen the accused should be, but I do think someone like Spitzer (or Larry Craig, for that matter) could go a long way towards surving something like this by publicly downplaying it and not dignifying it with any blubbering apologies (which, like I said, _no one buys anyway_). Just say, “That’s my private life and I’m not going to talk about it.” If it involves a misdemeanor charge, just cop to it, pay it and get it over with. Let the chips fall, but I honestly think that most people would consider it a non-issue if the accused was honest but essentially unapologetic. It’s not like the voters are any saints themselves. A politician patronizing an escort service would not even be a news story in some countries. We should be that way too. ---
**Author:** ![Squarebubble1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Squarebubble1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squarebubble1)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859/49 "2008-03-10T21:18:40Z")
Politicians are ALWAYS going to have sex scandals, irregardless of party, marriage status, etc. It’s the nature of the job - a sex conquest to them is just as good as making a sizeable kickback. Think of it like any other addiction - the more you get, the more you want, especially as Mrs. politician looks more and more like Dorian Grey’s attic picture. (See Cinton, William Jefferson) Spitzer won’t resign - there’ll be some half-assed “investigation” probably lead by his nemesis, Joe Bruno (who’s probably in severth heaven as I write) - it’ll drag on and on, and the final verdict will be - shame on you, Mr. Governor, but no charges will stick. Just another year in NYS politics…see the new one, same as the old one. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859/50 "2008-03-10T21:21:57Z")
What I want to know is, what can a prostitute possibly do that’s worth [$5,500 per hour](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/182665.php)?? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Squarebubble1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Squarebubble1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squarebubble1)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859/51 "2008-03-10T21:23:22Z")
Yeah, I spelled Clinton wrong in the last thread - I’m a so-so typist. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859/52 "2008-03-10T21:27:32Z")
He’s [toast](http://thepage.time.com/2008/03/10/nyt-spitzer-tied-to-prostituon-ring/), and right now. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859/53 "2008-03-10T21:28:31Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] What I want to know is, what can a prostitute possibly do that’s worth [$5,500 per hour](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/182665.php)?? :eek: [/QUOTE] If someone will front the money, I am willing to be the test subject to find out. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859/54 "2008-03-10T21:29:35Z")
[QUOTE=Bricker] I believe that you’d lose more voters than you would win. Their “contrition” arises from the political relaity that if they said, “Fuck yeah, I paid a prostitute, and I’d do it again,” they will lose net votes. [/QUOTE] Ever read “Profiles In Courage”? ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859/55 "2008-03-10T21:29:44Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] What I want to know is, what can a prostitute possibly do that’s worth [$5,500 per hour](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/182665.php)?? :eek: [/QUOTE] Keep her mouth shut to Tabloid reporters. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859/56 "2008-03-10T21:30:53Z")
[QUOTE=mswas] I have never seen anyone flame out so spectacularly. [/QUOTE] [Jim McGreevey](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_McGreevey) of New Jersey, just for starters. Hell, I’m old enough to remember [Wilbur Mills](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilbur_Mills). There is nothing new under the sun. > [@Bricker](#): > > In his defense, he was acting as the legal advocate for the state. You cannot fairly impute to him any hypocrisy based on this. I disagree. Prosecutors make decisions all the time on whether to press a prosecution or not. That he did makes him a hypocrite. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859/57 "2008-03-10T21:32:46Z")
[QUOTE=Magiver] it doesn’t matter if NY isn’t in the Bible Belt. The requirements are as follows: stand up in front of camera with wife and apologize, perform an act of contrition, and then get absolution. It doesn’t have to be a religious blessing but it does have to be public. [/QUOTE] Then why did McGreevy have to resign? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859/58 "2008-03-10T21:34:03Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] He’s [toast](http://thepage.time.com/2008/03/10/nyt-spitzer-tied-to-prostituon-ring/), and right now. [/QUOTE] [Or maybe not.](http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/03/10/spitzer_apologizes_does_not_re_1.html) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859/59 "2008-03-10T21:37:10Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Well, that was his job. His job was to prosecute the law, he didn’t write it. I doubt that every DA who’s ever prosecuted a marijuana charge or a prostitution charge necessarily agrees with the law. [/QUOTE] He wasn’t a DA. He was the Attorney General of the state of New York. He personally got involved in the prosecution of a prostitution ring targeting tourists. As the AG he did not need to get personally involved in the prosecution. There are plenty of lawyers under him or at the local level who could have done it. But he chose to get involved at get in front of the cameras. That is a hypocrite. > [@](#): > > Is solicitation even a felony? Why are the feds even wasting valuable resources investigating this bullshit. I smell Rove. They weren’t investigating Spitzer. They were investigating a multi-million dollar illegal business that crossed state lines and solicited customers from overseas. Spitzer got caught on a wire tap as a customer. Just dumb luck. No Rove, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859/60 "2008-03-10T21:40:57Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] But do you think anyone really believes their apologies anyway? [/quote] Mind if I offer my take? Few people believe the apologies. But I think the public wants them anyway. People love having the opportunity to forgive or condemn each other, and that goes double for famous people. Maybe triple if the famous person has the kind of reputation Spitzer did. > [@](#): > > I think that public perception of the _imortance_ of a sex scandal (as long as it involves nothing but consenting adults) is affected by how much the accused public figure affords it himself. You may be onto something. Vitter didn’t have to quit. > [@](#): > > Big, sobbing clothes-rending press conferences make the accusations seem much more serious and grievous than they actually are. Maybe so. Then again, maybe the guy found it hard to confront what he was doing and what the knowledge of his actions would do to his family. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-gov-spitzer-admits-involvement-in-prostitution-ring/440859.md?page=4)