No that is not from the The Onion, but the New York Times.
Gov. Eliot Spitzer has informed his most senior administration officials that he had been involved in a prostitution ring, an administration official said this morning.Mr. Spitzer, who was huddled with his top aides early this afternoon, had hours earlier abruptly canceled his scheduled public events for the day. He is set to make an announcement about 2:15 this afternoon at his Manhattan office.
Please share widely!
sco says
But did he buy expensive drapes for his office?
joets says
He was doing it to have done it. Those broads went for $5,500 bucks an hour. People don’t drink Cristal because they just want to get drunk.
laurel says
and come out an ex-gay republican.
lolorb says
You have got to stop doing that. I almost choked on my iced tea when I read that. đŸ˜‰
ryepower12 says
You’d think someone could stop those kinds of things for a 4 year long term… I honestly don’t care about him going to a prostitute, but the fact that it’s a) illegal and b) he got caught, this could seriously wreck his administration. What an idiot…
mcrd says
As well as Wall Street. There are federal criminal charges pending. Spitzer is going to FEDERAL prison.
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p>About two months ago someone posted a laundry list of Republican criminals decrying their hypocrisy.
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p>Do the democrats get equal time? Fair and balanced?
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p>To make matters worse he was a super delegate for Hillary. A black NY state Senator will become the acting governor allegedly.
ryepower12 says
Going to federal prison?
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p>I’d like to see a trial by jury first, thanks.
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p>It’s times like this where I wish we’d move toward a more UK-ish media, where the media doesn’t report on something like this much until there’s been a conviction.
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p>Who knows if what Spitzer did was illegal – he hasn’t been convicted yet.
laurel says
that must make the possibility of spitzer’s resignation a painful conundrum for you.
davesoko says
that ‘black NY state senator’ you’re referring to must be NY Lt. Governor David Patterson, and don’t worry, he’s for Hillary too. This doesn’t change much super-delegate-wise.
hrs-kevin says
Patterson already is a superdelegate and it is not clear that another superdelegate would be added if he were to become Governor.
laurel says
/ eyes rolling /
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p>if this is true, i’m f*cking mad at spitzer. not for hiring a prostitute (something i think should be legalized and regulated), but for a) being a hypocrite and cheating on his wife, and b) for doing something so mind-numbingly stupid before he did right by his state and made NY a marriage equality state.
afertig says
“I violated my obligation to my family,” not, of course… the law.
centralmassdad says
That is probably a politically fatal problem. Who is governor upon his resignation?
davemb says
Longtime state senator, minority leader of the senate from 2002 until elected to current post in 2006. Now arguably the second most important African-American in the Democratic Party. Legally blind at birth, Wikipedia doesn’t say how blind he is now except for his work as an advocate for the disabled.
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p>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D…
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p>Unless NY does things strangely, and I don’t think I do, he would serve as Governor until January 2011.
davesoko says
Hey, elected governors beat acting governors! Did you forget about our buddy Deval?
davemb says
If he does a good job and enjoys a Rell-like honeymoon, he’ll be more prominent than Deval very quickly.
laurel says
Anyone know anything about his policy views?
they says
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p>So, what else is there to know?
laurel says
what he’s been doing since becoming lt gov., and which of spitzers ongoing intiiatives he plans on following through, and what new one he may initiate.
they says
It’s not like he has an opponent. You just want to know if he’s going to be a marriage ally or not, and it’s clear, he will be. The biotech priority gives it away.
laurel says
btw, linking biotech and marriage gives you away.
centralmassdad says
Kausfiles thinks he is an ardent supporter of school vouchers.
davemb says
and Josh Marshall says, “no kidding”…
gary says
Always overspending. Even for hookers.
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p>Wait ’til tomorrow to read the Wall Street Journal editorial.
kbusch says
war we were promised in Iraq.
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p>Oh wait…
gary says
After all, it was Guilliani who got rid of all the cheap hookers.
joeltpatterson says
means the Iraq War could fund 1,454,545 man hours with a seven-diamond model from the Emperor’s Club.
laurel says
the republican lawmaker from FL. Allen is so fiscally responsible that he payed only $20 a pop. And on top of that, he is such the dedicated public servant that besides giving his john that 20 bucks he himself performed the fellatio. a model to the community, a lesson to us all. do you suppose spitzer payed the prostitute and provided all the services too? what a rube!
hellofitchburg says
Presumably he provided at least half of the services.
centralmassdad says
whether he spitzer swallows.
medfieldbluebob says
From DailyKos:
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p>
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p>Typical Republican: it’s good public spending, when you spend it on them.
heartlanddem says
Makes me want to disengage completely. When people who choose to be in public office knowingly commit adultery and other behaviors that are scandalous, it distracts and detracts from the mountains of work that is needed.
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p>I could care less about Mr. Spitzer’s sex life. I want leaders to show decorum and integrity in their behavior in order to promote the common good not the tabloids.
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p>Puke, puke, puke!
political-inaction says
See things like this statement always raise this question for me: If Congress is going to haul sports players in because a small number of them take steroids why don’t they haul themselves in and condemn all politics/politicians for a variety of illegal behaviors (prostitution, drug use, dui, etc.) Am I the only one who sees the similarity here?
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p>I don’t think they should hold hearings on either issue and that doing so is a waste of time and taxpayer money.
mcrd says
laurel says
why do these hypocritical cheaters always make their wives stand behind them when they give these public “i fucked many expensive women behind my wife’s back” statements? it disgusts me. and why do the wives agree to do it? i don’t understand. if it were me, i’d be down at the doctor’s office getting checked out for sexually transmitted diseases, not supporting the asshole who potentially exposed me to god knows what.
david says
She was a seriously hot-shot lawyer, and she’s sacrificed an awful lot for her husband’s career.
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p>
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p>Bet appearing at that press conference wasn’t either.
joeltpatterson says
who’s career got destroyed by sex?
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p>
stomv says
Chu Mei-feng was a young, somewhat powerful politician in Taiwan who got nailed getting nailed, so to speak.
stomv says
Joycelyn Elders‘ stint as Surgeon General was destroyed by encouraging young people to have sex with someone you love…
joeltpatterson says
…and she was one of the early targets of the Republican Noise Machine.
stomv says
but ’twas the best I could do.
they says
who had old pictures of herself posing in lingerie on her MySpace page, and voters recalled her after she refused to resign, or even remove the pictures. I think it was more a realization that she must be crazy.
joeltpatterson says
David Vitter’s brother is a well-respected Dean at Purdue, who had been expecting to move up to be President of some university somewhere…
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p>but university presidents are supposed to be good at public relations. And his brother kinda messed that up.
stomv says
but yeah, I don’t get the “wife in the background” bit either.
mcrd says
bob-neer says
/snark
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p>I agree with you. And as in the case of the subject of my snarky comment, available evidence suggests the wife is in all likelihood more impressive than her husband both in terms of brains and judgment.
gary says
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p>Damning by faint praise.
leonidas says
TPM just put up a link to a report saying that JD assistants from the public corruption unit were running the investigation.
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p>So is this another case, like the apparent political prosecution of Don Siegalman, of Rove-targeting investigations of prominent Democrats?
david says
but, nonetheless, they couldn’t have done it if Spitzer hadn’t given them the ammunition.
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p>So it really doesn’t matter.
shillelaghlaw says
Even if the underlying investigation was politically motivated, Spitzer’s offense is a very real offense. It’s not as if he was arrested for sticking his foot into another stall in a men’s room, or was indicted on some trumped-up obstruction of justice type of charge.
leonidas says
While what he apparently did was indefensible, hypocritical, and stupid, I don’t think it compares to public corruption on an ethical basis.
gary says
The Mann Act.
joeltpatterson says
wikipedia says subsequent cases determined transporting a woman across state lines for “debauchery” counted as a violation of the Mann Act.
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p>Is this really a good law to keep on the books?
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p>This is the law they used against Jack Johnson, the African American boxer, because he had a white girlfriend.
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p>Text of the Mann Act
mcrd says
The same courtesy Eliot Spitzer lavished upon all of his prosecutions when he was AG. He may be looking at 5-15 in federal prison.
joeltpatterson says
because of large withdrawals of cash from his bank accounts. Turns out he led the FBI to the prostitution ring.
david-lynter says
It could be the Republicans. Could be the Democrats. Could be the mob. Or, it could just be that he was caught because of his own stupidity. Sad to say, we’ll never know.
political-inaction says
The trading floor erupted in cheers when the news was announced.
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p>That said you are correct – he was caught because he did something illegal, full stop.
mcrd says
I bet he was tailed 24/7 for years. When you piss off folks with billions you better not get caught spitting. This just goes to show how arrogant the man is.
joeltpatterson says
some traders don’t want to cheat, but lawbreakers in high finance distort the market, pulling money away from honest enterprises.
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p>AG Spitzer’s prosecutions were good for the market.
dino-argenbright says
This article leaves the door open for a great “gotcha” on the guy that shut down a few Israeli organizations. It seems Spitzer wasn’t the best Jew. He had this coming.
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p>It would also serve to let politicians know whose side to support in the coming wars with Iran and Syria. This might just be an attention getter for the congressmen and senators. There’s enough dirty political laundry out there as a leverage tool to change the whole government.
freshayer says
Remember Heidi Fleiss?
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p>Remember the Mayflower Madam?
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p>Remember all the Famous and Important people who were going to be outed but somehow never did get outed.
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p>Remember the Globe article about the 128 Prostitute rings and how the Johns were let go if they testified against the Girls.
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p>To say this is disappointing on Spitzers part is an understatement…..
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p>But I would like to see CNN, FOX, MSNBC and every one else with investigative reporting teams drag all those other famous men into the spot light other wise this is a bit hypocritical.
joeltpatterson says
Thus sayeth Tucker:
I think we’ve just learned what skeletons are in Tucker’s closet…
ryepower12 says
for alerting me to the fact that the Tuck’s show’s been cancelled. Thank the heavens!!
ncelik says
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p>Actually, if he paid with his own money, then it’s between him, her and his wife.
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p>Of course, if any actively enforced laws have been broken (traveling over state lines with prostitutes, apparently an enforced federal law), then it’s different.
david says
In addition to the fact that, even if he “paid with his own money,” it’s still a state law violation.
skipper says
Wasn’t “Steamer” McGee supposed to make a court appearance today in FLA? He and Deval must be happy – took it out of the news cycle.
joeltpatterson says
It’s pretty clear that whatever “Little Elliot” wants, Elliot Spitzer wants to pass a reform agenda in NY, and he’ll have to resign for that to have any hope of passing.
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p>But David Vitter keeps his Senate seat, and collects his paycheck–which pretty much shows what a useless public servant Vitter has been all along.
eaboclipper says
You guys like to use the meme that sex scandals are worse for Republican’s because we are the “Party of Family Values”. Can you guys finally admit that you guys finally have a hypocrite? You know Mr. Law and Order gets caught with a hooker.
laurel says
or you would have seen at least me apply that word to him. and it is me that has run the “republican sexual hypocrite” series. take hat, eat.
petr says
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p>Are you awake? Or, do you just need to be watered? What’s up with that? There’s 80+ posts here, most of which condemn his behaviour. Alla sudden you gots to bust up the joint with some passive aggressive snark that palliates your cognitive dissonance. Get a life.
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p>Spitzer ought to resign. Now. Out. I’d rather have Pataki back than this slimeball hypocrite twofaced scum of a bitch.
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p>He ought to spend the rest of his life on his knees begging forgiveness from his wife. She’s got every right in the world, and the legal acumen to boot, to sue his ass into the next century and back. I hope she does… And if I had anything to say about it, he wouldn’t be welcome in the Democratic party.
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p>Kick him to the curb and be done. Over. Out.
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p>That clear enough for ya?
they says
like, 3.5 or something?
ryepower12 says
to start up the conversation of ‘why isn’t prostitution legalized?’ so we can make it safer, less creepy and stop having to wonder about who’s the next politician to fall for this trap?
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p>I’m saying this even though I think, if Spitzer did break the law he for so long enforced, he should step down.
laurel says
but like decriminalizing or legalizing marijuana, no active politician is going to entertain the idea in public. i wonder, though, if a petition initiative could get somewhere?
gary says
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p>Legalize prostitution so we can ‘stop having to wonder about who’s the next politician to fall for this trap?’
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p>Let’s legalize tax evasion too! I just can’t sleep at night, worrying about those poor politicians.
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p>
ryepower12 says
Tax evasion hurts people, which is why we make it illegal. Turning prostitution underground by making it illegal and adding stiff penalties to it, to boot, only makes it less safe for the people who are already engaging in it. In effect, making prostitution illegal hurts people, which means its bad policy.
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p>I tend to be very open about legalizing things that won’t place a public hardship on society – and, who knew, that includes gambling, in many instances! That’s right, I’m not opposed to gambling. In fact, Massachusetts has legalized gambling in a number of ways and, if federal law were different, I may not be opposed to opening up the process for more ways. Unfortunately, by doing that, it opens up tribal casinos, which we can’t regulate and can’t forcibly tax – despite the fact that they’d be a crushing blow to local businesses and the lives of everyday people (slot machines are designed to be psychologically addictive). So, in that case, making slot machines legal would – what d’ya know – hurt people, thus making it bad policy. Allowing large-scale, resort casinos would hurt the local economy, as well, which has serious consequences and – what do you know – makes for bad policy.
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p>I think there’s a general theme here.
gary says
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p>Legalize prostitution so we can ‘stop having to wonder about who’s the next politician to fall for this trap?’
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p>Let’s legalize tax evasion too! I just can’t sleep at night, worrying about those poor politicians.
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p>
laurel says
for taking the spotlight off of the primaries for 5 seconds. how refreshing. i salute spitzer’s “li’l emperor” for having it’s waterloo at such a needed time. đŸ˜‰
bluetoo says
…I don’t know much about Elliot Spitzer, but I have heard a lot of good things about him.
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p>But I just don’t get why someone’s private sex life and behavior have any bearing on their ability to perform their job.
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p>Granted, I would not want him to be married to my sister, but really…who cares about his sex life? Who cares who he sleeps with?
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p>Has he done a good job? To me, that is what matters. I could care less if he sleeps with a llama…I don’t get why this country is so consumed by their public officials’ sex lives.
laurel says
he campaigned partially on his success busting prostitution rings. now he is part of one. that should bother anyone. it’s not necessarily the sex per se, it is a display of blatant hypocrisy in an elected official. not to mention his breaking the law. he can’t exactly claim that he didn’t know the law…
centralmassdad says
I will be less likely to laugh at your sexy Republican list when next you have an opportunity to post it.
bluetoo says
…that he campaigned on his success in busting prostitution rings. So, I guess, he’s a bit of a hypocrite.
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p>Still, though, I don’t get the ‘holier than thou’ attitude of folks in this country about the sex lives of their public officials. Why does everyone care? What difference does it make in terms of them performing their jobs?
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p>And, so, if he broke the law, then should we apply the laws fairly to everyone? Should Barack Obama be disqaulified from running for President because he has admitted to using illegal drugs as a younger man? I don’t think so. And I don’t think Elliot Spitzer should be disqaulified from serving as Governor because he used a prostitute.
political-inaction says
Obama did drugs long before he ran for office.
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p>Spitzer was putting people in jail for prostitution within weeks of taking office as Governor. At least equally important, he swore to uphold the laws of New York and the USA as Governor.
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p>I’m not certain it should disqualify him from being Governor but there is a world of difference between what Obama in his youth did and what Spitzer did in February of this year.
laurel says
is alive and well in this country. it explains a lot.
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p>i assume that the statute of limitations has run out on obama’s (and bush’s) drug “crimes” long ago. but while in office, spitzer allegedly broke a law that people do get punished for routinely. i think the law is stupid, but do you really want him not punished if found guilty? we already have one king bush. i don’t want a prince spitzer. and honestly, i’m happy that if we’re gonna punish people for involvement in prostitution that the johns get hammered as frequently by the law as the prostitutes. too frequently the johns are slapped on the back while the prostitutes enjoy a jail cell.
noternie says
Compare prostitution to drugs. They don’t chase the kid that buys a joint as much as they do the dealer who sells ten pounds a week, right?
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p>I think the objective by law enforcement is to cut off the supply at a higher source, rather than all the individuals they, ahem, service.
laurel says
which imo is that men by and large like to protect one another from prosecution for involvement in heterosexual prostitution. see: david vitter. get on the ball, guys, and just legalize the profession already! sheesh!
centralmassdad says
Busted ring
they says
Wow, so did being known as stopping prostitution get him elected gov? That case you link seems like it took the police work of the three stooges:
joeltpatterson says
They do all the work!
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p>They ought to go on strike.
davesoko says
it’s not who he’s sleeping with, it’s that he’s paying for it. prostitution = against the law.
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p>That’s the difference between something like this and ‘monica-gate’, which as far as anyone knows was a consenting relationship between two adults.
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p>I totally agree that the personal lives of political leaders are unimportant compared to the quality of the work they do. When someone commits a crime, however, you got trouble.
bob-neer says
Comment on Wonkette.com. Hat tip, NYT.
jconway says
Guess Michael Bloomberg is dancing about and drinking champagne cause it looks like he’s the next governor of New York. I bet he’s glad he didn’t run for President.
ryepower12 says
the real next governor of New York sounds like an intriguing person; I look forward to see if he’ll have any more success than Spitzer (as I’m already writing Spitzer off – there’s, allegedly, money laundering involved in this whole thing, to top it all off). Spitzer’s attitude problems hurt his cause and, honestly, this sort of contrast in Governors may just be able to keep afloat the NY Dems’ dreams of capturing their state senate, especially if the state democratic party is able to rally around the new democratic governor and lots of words of “change” are echoed over and over again. LOL