Spitzer linked to prostitution ring

As you may have heard, Gov. Eliot Spitzer got caught on a federal wiretap soliciting a prostitute, he's already dragged his wife up onto the podium to help him apologize:

Mr. Spitzer today made a brief public appearance during which he apologized for his behavior, and described it as a “private matter.”

“I have acted in a way that violates my obligation to my family and violates my or any sense of right or wrong,” said Mr. Spitzer, who appeared with his wife Silda at his Manhattan office. “I apologize first and most importantly to my family. I apologize to the public to whom I promised better.”

“I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself. I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family.”

Before speaking, Mr. Spitzer stood with his arm around his wife; the two nodded and then strode forward together to face more than 100 reporters. Both had glassy, tear-filled eyes, but they did not cry.

The governor spoke for perhaps a minute and did not address his political future. [NYT]

Why did Spitzer sabotage his political career? How could he be so stupid?

I don't care what Spitzer does in his personal life, except insofar as his indiscretion undercuts his ability to govern the state and support New York Democrats at a crucial time. The Democrats are never going to take control of the State Senate at this rate.

I can just hear Senate Majority leader Joe Bruno snickering.

Comments

[The Phantom]

As you may image, I've been having a lot of conversations about this in the past 90 minutes. This man has shown great personal cruelty to people that I know--I've written about it here, and will be writing about it at my place tonight.

To paraphrase the good book: " To he who showed no mercy, no mercy shall be shown "

Or as ( a French maxim? ) says it, what Spitzer did is not a crime. Its worse than that, it is an error.

This guy had more enemies than anyone in America, and he put himself in the position to be caught like just another "john" in a bust at 42nd Street.

He showed no mercy. No let no mercy be shown.

[The Phantom]

Now!

[isaac]

it's so sad since it is so stupid. so very very stupid. and really hurts the causes of ethics reform and retaking albany. sheesh.

On the other hand, we'll have our first blind black governor in New York.

[John personal trainers Austin TX]

More than Joe Bruno will be snickering. I just heard Congressman King call Eliot (client # 9) the most self-righteous person he had ever met.

Maybe I am jaded but this type of behavior from politicians no longer shocks me. What I find inexplicable is the wife is always there by the disgraced politician's side. I would hold my own press conference announcing my intention to file for divorce. The call girl got $ 4300 for this tryst. If I was the wife I would be mad about that waste of money as well.

[parse]

Spitzer's pretty spectacularly on the record that prostitution isn't a private matter. From the NY Times story:

Though his signature issue was pursuing Wall Street misdeeds, as attorney general Mr. Spitzer also had prosecuted at least two prostitution rings as head of the state’s organized crime task force.

In one such case in 2004, Mr. Spitzer spoke with revulsion and anger after announcing the arrest of 16 people for operating a high-end prostitution ring out of Staten Island.

“This was a sophisticated and lucrative operation with a multitiered management structure,” Mr. Spitzer said at the time. “It was, however, nothing more than a prostitution ring.”

[Windypundit]

I'm all for legalizing prostitution, but as long as it's illegal, I'm going to enjoy watching Spitzer squirm. I'll feel bad about it, but not that bad.

[Lindsay Beyerstein]

What self-indulgent hypocrite. What made him think that he could get away with this?

[The Phantom]

My post is up.

parse, love your comment.

Though I'm off the beer for the most part, when Client No. 9 resigns, I'll be heading into the mother of all parties at a location to be determined in lower Manhattan.

It'll be like the day World War Two ended, for a younger generation.

[Mary]

pssst Lindsey:
Penises don't think...

I wonder what exactly he got for the $4300 though...

[The Phantom]

Mary

Those are impure thoughts. The boy's a super-freak. Lets leave it at that.

[stm177]

For $4300, maybe the girl stayed the night, and they didn't practice safe sex? Or, I suppose BDSM, but from Smoking Gun the girls didn't look like doms. (shrug)

Also, some rich guys are susceptable to overpaying for things because it makes them feel better. Spitzer could have said to himself "I don't want the $400/hr girl, I'm too rich/good/important. I'll take the $4000/hr girl."

Whether theres any real difference between the two -- well they could even be the same girl.

[Lindsay Beyerstein]

I also wonder if there isn't a certain placebo effect involved. You'd expect $5000-hour sex to be amazing, right? I mean, we're all wondering what indescribable delights Emperor's Club was offering with the "seven diamond" prostitutes. Maybe the sex is better when you have such high expectations.

Also, if you're paying for it, it's probably ego-assuaging to be able to pay (shall we say) jaw-dropping sums of money.

New York is home to $10,000 omelets and $500 bottles of vodka, so it doesn't surprise me that conspicuous consumption extends to sex services.

[Dock Miles]

>It'll be like the day World War Two ended, for a younger generation.

That's really disgusting.

Spitzer's downfall is one of the most appalling lapses or fucked-up compulsions for a politician I can think of. It's a Top 10 sex scandal.

But the huge, bottomless, vile scale of Phantom's exultation is more evidence of somebody who has a "Fuck Them Ragheads" bigot mentality. Outright bigotry isn't just a mental quirk that infects a corner of a psychology. It's a pervasive disease that corrodes every perception and pronouncement. If it flourishes for one subject, it percolates along behind all others.

[Margalis]

"It'll be like the day World War Two ended, for a younger generation."

This is a good look at the mindset of the 101st fighting keyboarders. In WW2 millions of people died; fighting Spitzer Phantom spilled a Diet Coke on his lap while angrily punching keys on his computer. To him those are equivalent.

It makes me wonder what would happen if we ever had a real war -- oh wait, we are actually in one right now and know exactly what happens: the fighting keyboarders are content to stay at home in their PJs.

[The Phantom]

Margalis

I served in the military. What branch did you serve in?

The ordeal of the criminal Spitzer regime is over-a reason for all to rejoice. There will be a lot more coming out about this guy.

[The Phantom]

Margalis

You posted the same thing twice on your blog. Please show greater attention to detail.

[Margalis]

Phantom:

No, I didn't. Looks like you are the one who needs to show greater attention to detail.

[Dock Miles]

>I served in the military. What branch did you serve in?

I'm sure he's a "chickenshit" if he didn't serve in any. That brings you down to good old Dave's level. Real bullethead creep department.

[The Phantom]

Margalis

Well, you didn't serve and I did. As did a few people I know who are equally happy about the incomprehensible self destruction of the criminal Spitzer.

Go wear the uniform for four years, and upon your return, I'll be in a better mood to listen to your snotty remarks about the Second World War. Which was won by force of arms by people who served, not by guys like you who did not and probably would not.

You're the chicken-hawk in this situation, or is it a chicken-dove or a chicken bullshit-artist. Pull rank on someone else.

[B-Money]

How does it go from $5K hookers and scandal to Phantom is a bigot for celebrating this guy's downfall all the way to who served in the military? Blibity blabity, blabity blibity! That is what you all should be saying because you are being ridiculous.

[The Phantom]

b-man

Some people have nothing else to do!

You know, I've been a little rough on our fine governor. He's been such a fine caped crusader and everything.

You want them to love you, you're ok if they fear you, but you never recover when they are laughing at you

Poor Elliott!!

[The Phantom]

here is Elliott

[B-Money]

I'll be honest, I didn't even know who this dude was when the story broke! HA! I care about _ that much about New York politics. Illinois and Chicago keep me busy enough!

All I know is what I have read. This dude was an AG who came down hard on the same type of crime he committed. As a prosecutor now, I say, fuck him, no mercy. His political party and affiliations are meaningless. This dude broke the law, the same laws he went after so vigorously.

[The Phantom]

yepper

There was never a more self-righteous guy on the face of the earth. As Tom Bevan in Real Clear Politics put it:

"Spitzer was a hard charging, holier than thou prosecutor who was in many respects a world class jerk. He made tons of enemies in his short tenure in office, and he preferred bullying and bluster to nuance and negotiation."

A few of us have known this for a long time. Now everyone knows it. The teary press conference may be tomorrow.

[Margalis]

My point was that Spitzer leaving office is an absurd comparison to WW2 victory and illustrates a startlingly delusional lack of perspective.