Kevin Drums suggests that the usual charges of hypocrisy in prostitution/infidelity scandals come into play here, but I don't think that accusation is quite as fair this time. As a prosecutor, it was expected of Spitzer to bust prostitution rings and it's not as if he (like the Republicans) touts his commitment to sexual morality-- over that of his political opponents-- in order to get elected. He may be a hypocrite if (as is presumable) he tells his wife he's faithful to her, and he tells people that they should stay faithful to their spouses, etc. But politically, he's not a hypocrite, and it doesn't have it anything to do with his politics the way it does for some others who got caught.
I chalk this event up as an (embarrassing) personal failing, but as far as what the typical cheating scandal is like, to me this one is more like personal business and less appropriate as political news or a political criticism of him. You can't even call it a double-standard for Republicans, because it's the Republicans who make it an issue for themselves by claiming to have an iron-clad commitment to observing these kinds of taboos.
Oh this is gold! Trying to say how Eliot Spitzer's prostitution scandal isn't him being a hypocrite? Oh, please, continue, you were saying something about "best intentions"?
Why Hypocrisy Doesn't Stick Here
It's not as if Spitzer's DA office had a policy of not prosecuting prostitution, and then he came along and said "This is a scourge on humanity-- let's wipe it out" and then began a new endeavor of prosecuting prostitution.
As Democrats, especially since Republicans are probably going to be using this to communicate "Look at what the Democrats are like!!" to their rank-and-file, I just don't think it's our role to exaggerate this thing or to criticize him too hard on this guy for it.
Prostitution and infidelity can both be very ugly, or can both be not too ugly.
But at their least ugly, let's look at what these activities could be like:
(1) It could be very arguable, even among feminists, whether a person who is being a prostitute is making or not making a bad decision, and the judgment only looks easier on one side or the other when we hear more details about the particular prostitute, how she got into it, why she's staying in it, and what her experience being a prostitute is like. According to the story about Eliot Spitzer, he was soliciting an "upscale" prostitute who cost him $5,500 an hour. This doesn't mean she wasn't a "white slave" or something like that, but it certainly doesn't sound like it. I think it's more typical that expensive, so-called "upscale" prostitutes tend to be the ones with a lot more autonomy. (2)The prostitute is committing a crime with a man by engaging in basically what would be a recreational activity if no money were changing hands. (3) A man is violating a relationship that is basically done with anyway.
Wait a minute, are you saying that because the prostitutes were more "upscale", then that's the reason why he's not being a hypocrite? The mind boggles as to your line of thinking.
I am not saying at all that cheating on your wife is ok (nor am I saying that it is always wrong) and I am not saying that prostitution is ok. I am just saying we shouldn't do the Republicans' work and slime this guy who wasn't as bad as a lot of other people.
So, it's ok to throw Republicans under the bus, but not Democrats? THAT'S HYPOCRISY in of itself!
Take a look around, you'll see that I've thrown corrupt Republicans under the bus just as quickly as Democrats. However, to defend Spitzer and have the enormous amounts of idiocy to even suggest that this isn't hypocrisy is laughable.
Even your "poll" as to "who's worse" is idiotic. One of your own got caught with his pants around his ankles and you're trying a classic deflection tactic. Unfortunately for you, even your own readers are smelling something rotten.
As a side note, why can't Kos folks run spell check? It's all correct here because I corrected it. Take a look at the article and it's literally riddled with spelling mistakes.
Attention to detail folks, that's all I'm asking.
Travis
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