spitzer bites the dust
by Anthony Marenna
Published: March 12, 2008
“I apologize to the public, whom I promised better.”
This was Spitzer’s statement after it was revealed by his senior officials that he was Client #9 for Washington DC’s famous Emperor’s Club prostitution ring. Alright, it seems like a fairly sincere apology in writing, but check out the next two lines. “I do not believe that politics in the long run is about individuals. It is about ideas, the public good and doing what is best for the State of New York.” So to paraphrase, he apologizes to the public, but it’s not about him. That is an outrageously insulting apology after such a severe violation of the public trust.
Leading bloggers are rushing to defend Spitzer. The Daily Kos noted below its original report that: “At $5,500/hour, the Emperor’s Club prostitutes cost Spitzer approximately the same as Rudy’s security detail cost the taxpayers of NYC every time that Rudy went to the Hamptons on a tryst with Judy.” As if the two issues are even related. Giuliani committed adultery allegedly at the expense of the taxpayers. He was never charged. He was never even accused of participating in prostitution (which unlike adultery is illegal). Not to mention that Spitzer’s bout of prostitution-itus occurred as the result of “transport[ing] someone between states for the purpose of prostitution.” According to the interstate commerce clause in the Constitution in conjunction with the Mann Act of 1910, Spitzer’s act constitutes “human trafficking,” a severe federal offense.
A message to my fellow bloggers, journalists and civics enthusiasts: stop defending this guy. No one defended Larry Craig for a far more dubious but debate-able offense. No one defended Mark Foley during his spat of pedophilia. These people were immediately outcast for their bad behavior. We only hear whispers of them now. What makes Elliot Spitzer any better? He was Client #9 for heaven’s sake. Client #9. This is business as usual for him. The only difference is that he got caught this time.
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