The photos above are both from the same New York Times story. The top picture I saw when I first read this story. I saved it planning to write up a blog post later. By the time I came back to the story the NYT had replaced it with the bottom photo. I find this quite telling.
From the New York Times:
Spitzer Is Linked to Prostitution Ring
“Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who gained national prominence relentlessly pursuing Wall Street wrongdoing, has been caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet with a high-priced prostitute at a Washington hotel last month, according to a law enforcement official and a person briefed on the investigation.
The wiretap captured a man identified as Client 9 on a telephone call confirming plans to have a woman travel from New York to Washington, where he had reserved a hotel room, according to an affidavit filed in federal court in Manhattan. The person briefed on the case and the law enforcement official identified Mr. Spitzer as Client 9.
Mr. Spitzer, a first term Democrat, today made a brief public appearance during which he apologized for his behavior, and described it as a “private matter.” He did not address his political future.”
(snip)
“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.””
—
How ironic that shortly after I blog “There is nothing shameful about seeing a sex worker” the governor of New York comes out apologizing for his behavior. He is shamed. But should he be? Yes and no. Yes he should feel shamed for prosecuting prostitutes. But no he shouldn’t feel shamed for seeing one himself.
This story makes me feel conflicted. On one hand I enjoy whenever a hypocitical politician or public figure gets caught. When Ted Haggard got exposed I’ll admit I loved it.
But on the other hand, I’m tired of prostitutes being a scandal. Prostitutes fulfill a need and there work is vital to society. In his press conference Spitzer said the situation was a “private matter”. I agree. His meeting with prostitutes should concern only one person-his wife. If he feels shame it should be shame in dragging his wife through this mess, not in seeing a sex worker.
As these scandals pile on top of each other I find I’m tired of the rhetoric. The shamed person drags himself through the media circus. Sometimes a resignation happens and sometimes not. Remember, despite his gay scandal Larry Craig is finishing his term.
What I’d like to see come out of these scandals is progress. Prostitutes are not going to go away no matter how many politicians are caught with one. Why not talk about the need for legal prostitution? Why not talk about the difficulties prostitutes face because their work is illegal? Why not talk about the benefits to both prostitutes and their clients if prostitution were decriminalized?
Do I think Spitzer should resign? It depends. If he continues saying his actions “violates my or any sense of right or wrong” and continues his history of prosecuting prostitution rings then yes he should resign. He is prosecuting people that he has no problem with in his personal life. If he expanded on this “private matter” concept and took the position that only his wife should be concerned then no he shouldn’t resign. If he took the position that transactions between a prostitute and a client were private and if he began to advocate for the legalization of prostitution then no he shouldn’t resign.
But if past events are an indicator (as well as the NYT preferring to show Spitzer as walking away), I suspect he will resign, the media will have their scandal of the week and sex workers will have to deal with any negative impact.
Bound, Not Gagged has the best media coverage of this scandal because they are covering the story from a sex worker perspective. From them I found this Valleywag post:
Three things you can learn from Client 9
“Let’s be clear: Today’s takedown has nothing to do with stopping prostitution. It’s about bringing down the governor of New York. There are three things you need to know before tonight’s cocktail-party chatter. Most people will get them wrong — and that’s the way the media wants it.
-“Christin” won’t be found online. Don’t bother trolling the Internet Archive for her photo. The way high-end agencies work is the pics on the website aren’t the actual girls. Potential clients go in person to a madam after they make a deposit towards the first appointment. They then get to look at a photo book and decide who to hire from there.
-There’s no such thing as a “$5,500/hour escort.” Agency-based prostitutes who command these rates don’t turn hourly tricks. These are evening, overnight, and weekend appointments. Spitzer wasn’t just “paying her to leave” after a blowjob, he was time-sharing a mistress.
-Could it happen to YOU? No. You’ll never see a headline, “Prostitution Bust Nets 8 Alpha Geeks.” Federal prosecutors, who almost never make prostitution arrests, are using the Emperors Club to take down high-profile clients, just as Spitzer once did himself. Busting a bunch of techies gets nobody nothing. They’d sooner nab the newspaper editors and TV producers who’ll rush this story out today before going to their own appointments. If Jimmy Wales had hired, he’d have saved himself a lot of bad publicity.”
Posted by Vixen as Political Rants, News, Sex Workers at 12:49 AM CDT