Spitzer should NOT quit, SHOULD draw contrasts with Vitter

[johnfunk]

If I were Spitzer's speechwriter:

My fellow New Yorkers, I apologize for this betrayal of the public trust, which happened on my personal time with my personal money.

I will not resign. Hey, David Vitter didn't. Larry Craig didn't. Welcome to the 21st century.

In fact, i'd like to draw two contrasts with Vitter that this scandal illustrates:

• Unlike that kinky little weasel Vitter, I don't need to dress in Pampers to get my jollies.
• Moreover, the two incidents are illustrative of our respective party mindsets: Democrats seek quality solutions, whereas Republicans act like babies.

That's that. Move on. 'Night all. peace out!

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. Where's the part where he apologizes to those he prosecuted so

vehemently for the very same thing?

[johnfunk]

3. Spitzer took down high-end prostitution rings AND human traffickers

Has the Gonzales DOJ done as much as Spitzer to stop the trade in teenage Asians and Eastern Europeans?

BIG difference between Spitzer and Gonzo/Mucussy.

I'm not saying there's not an element of hypocrisy, but there is a HUEUEUEUEUGE difference of degree.

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. Oh. My. God. The spin...

Spitzer prosecuted prositution. Spitzer was the self proclaimed governor for ethics. He got caught. He should resign and hope the DA is kinder to him than he was to others just. like. him. There is no difference. It is what I expected from Vitter and Craig. I hope he doesn't lower himself to the same slimey standards and remain in office.

[johnfunk]

11. You sound an awful lot like FOX News...

Not saying you agree with them, but the truth is, I don't think he should resign. It's hardly as hypocritical as most of what the Bush administration has done.

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. That's rich. Can we stay on topic without calling names? If he is to

not resign then all that he prosecuted and put behind bars should be pardoned. After all, if it's good for the goose...

[aquart]

19. Bill Clinton taught us that scandal can be weathered.

That it is no longer the perfect tool with which to destroy your enemy.

Unfortunately, the Republicans also learned.

Bush commits treason and stays. Spitzer tries to commit adultery and has to leave?

Uh, NO. I do not weigh adultery as a greater scandal than torture, falsifying data that leads to a war, and massive war profiteering. Silly me.

[ScreamingMeemie]

22. Uhhh, I couldn't care less about the adultery. It's the part where he

prosecuted people for exactly what he was caught doing. If he can do that he is capable of anything. He will be lucky to have more leniency than he has shown to others.

We cannot spin this into anything other than what it is.

[aquart]

25. "Exactly"?

Spitzer was doing it with teenage asian slaves? Gosh, I hope you have video.

[ScreamingMeemie]

28. I think you need to pull up and look at all that he prosecuted in those

rings. It really makes me sad that we do the same thing we accuse the other side of doing.

""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."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/nyregion/10cnd-spitzer.html?hp

[johnfunk]

30. That was only one of many rings Spitzer went after, including rings trafficking young teens

I'd expect that sort of selective quotation from FOX.

[ScreamingMeemie]

33. Oh please, again with the Fox. Stay on topic please. He is guilty of

something that he put others away for while speaking quite publicly about that. Try as you might, you cannot whitewash that. He's a crooked bag of slime and the fact that he didn't resign immediately, coupled with the few here that will defend him on half truths, makes me want to throw up.

It is what it is. Hypocrisy. Period. Point blank.

[Mz Pip]

17. 5 grand a pop

seems pretty high end to me. And that seems to be what he was involved in.

[aquart]

21. And your link to the receipt which shows he paid that amount?

Not to mention, if he paid it with public or private money. If private, wtf are you doing with his private receipts?

I'm sorry. I still don't think Parnell should have resigned, either.

[johnfunk]

31. ...but look what the % grand gets you1 (Courtesy 23 6 dot com)

[Mz Pip]

35. Oh my

It sure didn't take long for the comedians to take a shot at this.

$300: To get Lou Dobbs's phone number. Priceless.

It would be funny if it weren't so damn tragic. Nevermind. It's still funny.

[roguevalley]

29. they should both quit. cheating, no matter how inanely, is still

lying. if one goes, they both go.

[Tempest]

2. The problem is

Spitzer when he was a prosecutor focused much of his efforts on anti-prostitution.

He's a hypocrite as well as engaging in illegal activity and should go.

[johnfunk]

5. See above -- underage human trafficking vs. going after hi-end hoohers w. GOP clientele

n/t

[aquart]

23. Only if you are only capable of reading a headline and not the article.

But that would be typical on DU.

[Tempest]

32. You will have to elaborate

How exactly is comparing Spitzer to Craig and Vitter going to help him, especially since Spitzer prosecuted the same prostitution ring and let it continue in business only to later become one of their clients?

[Stewie]

4. And the response will be...

* Unlike Vitter and Craig, you trafficked a woman across state lines for the purposes of prostitution, a violation of the Mann Act punishable by a federal prison term, not a trip to the local courthouse to pay a fine.
* You prosecuted this prostitution ring, got some convictions but left it operational, and now are using its services. Did you cut a deal to quash some convictions in exchange for sex.

[johnfunk]

10. Spitzer did not violate Mann Act, Emperors did

As for the quid-pro-quo, I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that for every Spitzer there are a dozen GOPers, and that "Client 9" was cherry-picked.

Betcha double dollars to double doughnuts that someone tied to Emperor's has already been in touch with Larry Flynt...

:popcorn:

[aquart]

26. DID he prosecute this ring?

Because that would be serious.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

6. Wrong.

It's what makes "us" different.

At least I hope it does.

[NewJeffCT]

7. Vitter & Craig were Republicans, though

so, anything Vitter & Craig did before today is excusable as a youthful indiscretion.
Even if they were 70 when it happened.

[racaulk]

8. I'm not sure I would go with the "Republicans to it too" defense.

Also, although Craig is slime, he wasn't involved with prostitution like Vitter and Spitzer were, so that analogy isn't entirely valid.

[Johonny]

13. I agree

However his state party may disagree and tell him leave or we will remove you. Clearly he has to win the news spin on this thing or else he's toast.

[Sweet Pea]

14. Yeah!

That'll set a great precedent! Think of the money we'll save in federal prosecutions if we let all politicians ignore all federal crimes!

Brilliant. Simply brilliant.

[robcon]

15. He has to resign. He's a fraud, a hypocrite and an admitted criminal.

It's over.

[frazzled]

16. There is a difference between a governor and a legislator

One has to be an executive, a manager--and I might add here, the executive of one of the world's largest non-state economies--and a senator, who is basically a representative within a larger body.

This has nothing to do with morality--just plain old reality. Spitzer is quite unpopular in New York. He made tons of important enemies while AG (which is probably a good thing), but he's made even more enemies in his first year as governor, not only among Republicans but among members of his own party in Albany. He was trying to turn that around: this is a pretty mortal wound.

Look, at the very beginning of his governorship he was caught red-handed using state resources to run surveillance on the Republican leader in the state legislature: that was a total disaster. The guy had plenty of problems before this happened. I'm not sure he can survive it; or for the good of the party, perhaps should.

This is not about sex.

[Stinky The Clown]

18. He used his success at prosecuting call girl rings for political gain

That's hypocrisy. I would call for a Repubic to resign. I think he should, too.

[Bumblebee]

20. He absolutely should quit and suggest that so should Vitter.

[Marr]

24. I'd say quitting would be the best way of drawing that contrast.

I think Vitter and Craig should've resigned, and I think Spitzer should as well. If he wants to draw a contrast between himself and those men, he should do it by resigning.

[noamnety]

27. Sorry, I want him gone.

I don't care who dresses in pampers. I care that women aren't bought and sold like cattle.

And I am royally pissed off at the two systems of justice in this country. Being rich and white and powerful shouldn't give you a free pass to get away with the exact same crime you're sending less privileged people to prison for.

[Renew Deal]

34. You know what? Fuck Spitzer!

I live in NY and I helped him get elected last year. He was supposed to clean up NY and take us into the 21st century. All he did was fuck up (literally). I'm disapointed and embarrased. He needs to go away forever.