OPINION

Prosecuting Johns

Why allowing Eliot Spitzer to break the law is a mistake.

NEWSWEEK
Published Nov 10, 2008

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  • Posted By: rst2536 @ 12/20/2008 4:40:33 PM

    A whore on whom you pay to piss
    Would never think to sell a kiss.
    In this way politicians fail
    since everything is up for sale.
    from http://poemsonaffairsofstate.blogspot.com/

  • Posted By: CAPPYCORN1555 @ 12/17/2008 1:26:25 PM

    Lets not forget, Mark Foley. Political immunity and the high roller deep pockets?

    Thousands of Americans are being scapegoated, baited and switched by these very unconsciously acting, masked political Darth Vadars who, by being connnected, get previledged, non-media barbacued, immunity!

    Forget the picture, look at the core motivations of these tyrants of injustice!

    CAPPYCORN1555

  • Posted By: forex962 @ 11/19/2008 11:06:59 PM

    Norma Ramos is a man-hater. She hates ALL MEN!!

  • Posted By: lvfalcon @ 11/15/2008 7:46:24 PM

    What the "real" crime here is...he paid five thousand bucks for a hooker. Geez. He should be definitely thrown in jail.

  • Posted By: heat6622 @ 11/15/2008 4:08:18 PM

    This is why many, perhaps a majority, of Americans have no faith in our judicial system. It goes without saying that if it were Joe the Plumber who sought the services of a prostitute, Mr. Spitzer (in his role as a prosecutor) would have thrown the proverbial book at him. The claim that he has "suffered enough" is a gross mischaracterization of what the justice system is for. It's not there just to punish the offender; it seeks to protect the public by sanctioning certain behaviors. Justice is seldom blind, but it isn't often this arrogantly foolish.

  • Posted By: fmk7 @ 11/15/2008 12:15:14 PM

    When Mr. Spitzer has suffered the years of degradation and abuse that is the common lot of prostituted people, he can say he "has suffered enough." Even so, he should not be above the law because of his former political position. Indeed, he should be held strictly accountable for betraying the trust investited in an elected official to uphold the laws. To say I am disgusted is too mild.

  • Posted By: northdds @ 11/15/2008 10:43:02 AM

    I feel, if Spitzer is getting off scot-free form his "crimes against women and young women: it only stands to reason, that every person in prison for "Prostitutions Rings" should be let out immediately!!!! This man absolutely abused his power of trust and position as a politician!! Imagine, if he'd won the presidency?? What would he have done - turn prostitution-children as legal?? I feel sooo osorry for his wife and children.. men like him... deserve to be castrated!! HE IS A WOMAN-ABUSER, AND VIOLATED HIS OATH OF OFFICE, WHICH IN ITSELF IS PUNISHABLE BY LAW!! This is my 3rd comment on this issue/topic, and none have gone through to post!!

  • Posted By: Oscar Wilde @ 11/15/2008 9:50:05 AM

    Spitzer was right and these authors are hypocrites. The real predators are these prudish women who sell sex only through marriage, and take their excessive pay through divorce. Nonmarital prostitution is victimless and should be legalized and encouraged. These prudish authors Ramos and Farley are unreconstructed 20th-century Gender-Feminist Puritans. Instead of following Sweden's example we should follow the rest of Europe and the civilized world where individual prostitution is perfectly legal but pimping is illegal. France, Netherlands, Germany: all allow prostitution and none have problems with it. Wake up America, and remove the Feminist/Christian Taliban from power!

  • Posted By: forex962 @ 11/15/2008 8:35:31 AM

    Spitzer was wrong and he is a hypocrite, but Ramos is an ANGRY WOMAN!! she hates men for being men. She is in bed with Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda and the far-left lunatic feminists. She is the ultimate ANGRY WOMAN. Men who are aware and sane, beware of NORMA RAMOS - the ANGRY WOMAN - she will cut you and cut you DEEP!!

  • Posted By: christopherkidwell1 @ 11/15/2008 4:02:36 AM

    Here's a better idea: legalize prostitution. legalize pedosexuality, stop trying to dictate to people who they sleep with and whether they sell their own bodies (which IS their right), and move on with your lives, stopping the bullshit of trying to force YOUR morality on everyone else.

  • Posted By: ebernste @ 11/14/2008 6:45:33 PM

    Also important to note: the young female receptionist who was putting herself through college by working at the emperor's club is now facing criminal charges and a destroyed life and future, unlike Spitzer.

  • Posted By: ebernste @ 11/14/2008 6:44:16 PM

    Also important to note: the young female receptionist who was putting herself through college by working at the emperor's club is now facing criminal charges and a destroyed life and future, unlike Spitzer.

  • Posted By: galfam6 @ 11/12/2008 5:05:56 PM

    If Barak Obama is so against prostitution and trafficking, why is he "in bed with" Planned Parenthood? Planned Parenthood has been documented as systematically providing protection for sexual predators by performing abortions on their victims without notifying the police.

    Thank you Newsweek for this piece! Human trafficking is a plague on our society and worldwide. Elliot Spitzer is a typical arrrogant scumbag, who thinks ANYTHING should be available to him as long as he can pay for it. Shame on the Justice Dept. for letting him off!

    • Posted By: stargazer22 @ 11/14/2008 3:33:27 PM

      Are you insane???!?!

  • Posted By: nightowl52 @ 11/14/2008 3:03:16 PM

    I think Mr. Spitzer is confused here: His SIN was adultery, his CRIME was prostitution

  • Posted By: peg01 @ 11/12/2008 5:58:32 PM

    If you are married, then you PAY FOR SEX! Whether you want to admit itor not.

    • Posted By: stargazer22 @ 11/14/2008 2:30:14 PM

      You are a misogynist.

    • Posted By: pjwinenroseswhatsnext @ 11/12/2008 6:48:21 PM

      If that is your concept of marriage then you either married the wrong woman or you are delusional. I thought that when you are married and you give gifts to your spouse it is because you love them and want to be thoughtful and nice by giving them the things that you know that they like; to please them. Giving your spouse gifts are acts of love and affection.

      I'll be damn if I would be with any man that associated my intimacy of lovemaking with some sort of payment.

  • Posted By: irvela @ 11/12/2008 7:26:22 PM

    hey, as bill clinton once said, "it's only about sex." lighten up! besides, prostituion is part of a woman's reproductive rights.

  • Posted By: WandaViola @ 11/12/2008 9:23:54 PM

    Thank you for speaking up about the terrible traps that women often find themselves in in selling their bodies. Often through sexual abuse they have come to see themselves as dirty and not worthy of marrying someone, feeling like they'll never amount to anything, and so easily fall prey to pimps who call them beautiful, promise big things and then enslave them. Young run-aways are most vulnerable, especially when running away from abuse. They can't turn to their family so they often turn to someone who will feed them and give them a bed to sleep in (and much more). Keep up speaking the truth!

    • Posted By: allseeingeyeball @ 11/13/2008 5:29:42 AM

      You hit it on the head. 99% of the time you will find that the prostituted young people fit the template. It is remarkable too how they convince themselves that they are in some control over what is happ0ening to them. The pimps and sex industrialists watch carefully for a kind of "victim profile," and avoid anyone who may be uncontrollable or dangerous. They focus on young people coming out of families that are abusive, disorganized, or non-existent. One fundamental function of the family is protection of its members, especially its children. The family also is a team, and all players must do their jobs. If a member is lost or disabled, others in the extended family or community must step in to carry on. When one or more adults in a family are absent, addicted, mentally ill, or severely demoralized, the children are in danger.When the family is poor, or part of a devalued minority group, and opportunities for education and good jobs are limited, some members of those families may be willing to take risks. If the young people are being terrorized, beaten, or sexually abused by the very people who should be protecting them, many are going to take their chances on the street. For some, nude dancing or even prostitution may look better than no job at all." Bizarre as it sounds many times it comes down to having a place to sleep and food. Only in America can politicians who profess to be concerned for the "little people" routinely defile the poorest and most desperate class of young women and suffer no consequences. Democrats or Republican is not important they are all scumbags.

  • Posted By: SmileySam @ 11/13/2008 4:44:41 PM

    If we need to make sure that Spitzer goes to jail for this then I'm sure everyone agrees that Pres. Bush and VP Cheney should be tried for Torture , Wiretapping, and starting a War in violation of international law. Which is a more serious but unpunished crime ? Oh that's right the DOJ is owned by the Bush admin. 58 more days till justuce returns to the DOJ.

  • Posted By: nickgr @ 11/13/2008 2:00:17 PM

    Trolls & defamatory comments should be erased...

    We hit the abuse link but...nobody's home...

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