There are many issues in this scandal that go against Governor Sptizer. But the one that has made it particularly explosive is the incredible hypocrisy.

Spitzer held himself out to be an angel of justice and the sole of rectitude. Among his many zealous prosecutions, at least two were against prostitution rings.

The problem with prostitution has nothing to do with consenting adults. It has to do with the fact that women are almost inevitably victimized by the activity. The other is that prostitution is almost invariably connected to organized crime and its earnings support same.

But, returning to my core point, you cannot, like Mr. Spitzer, promote your entire career as the chief crusader against corruption, and then engage in corrupt activities yourself. And, as long as prostitution is illegal, as it is for prostitute, pimp, and john alike, then patronizing prostitutes is a corrupt activity.

If Spitzer's career had not been so extremely sanctimonious, perhaps he would have some leg to stand on. Or, at least, he'd be getting some sympathy from the media and fellow politicians.

You ain't seeing that. And you won't.

When a politician like Spitzer makes their own personal integrity their political currency, to then be revealed as an hypocrite the damage is exponential. The higher the standard you hold yourself, by implication, the higher the standard you expect from others. Spitzer, unlike Ted Kennedy, no longer smells like a rose, he smells like shit. Do us a favor Spitzer: go away.

Another analogy: If we as Americans claim that to torture people is unethical, then to proceed to have places like GTMO, we can never call others out on their lack of ethical behavior... It's as simple as that.

Glenn, I feel you do the women who are victims of prostitution a disservice by calling them "consenting."

I'm not going to get preachy and pedantic and spell out all the problems I have with that label (Bob Herbert of the New York Times has done a far better job than I could). Just a couple of highlights: how much of their earnings do you think these "consenting" women get to keep? Do you think if they wanted to leave it would be easy? (maybe "yes"-I don't know. But if bears asking)

I make a practice of responding with my own comment before I read any others-but I suspect others will develop this in far greater detail.

Let's impoverish you and then drop you on the ground of a society run by women whose most basic belief is that men are only good for what's between their legs, and good for only as long as the surrounding area is young, smooth, good-looking, and tanned.

Read my last post.. I *am* impoverished and about to be on the street.

And no one wants my heavy metal poisoned body. I'm not even healthy to eat.

Glenn, while I agree that prostitution should not be illegal and that people's reactions to this scandal are over the top, I disagree with you that Spitzer should be given a pass. There is justification for demanding that he resign and for prosecuting him.

If Spitzer believes -- and obviously he does -- that prostitution is an OK thing to engage in, then he should have made that position public and pushed to have it decriminalized. He has never done that. In fact, as you mentioned, he aggressively pursued investigations and convictions of people engaged in this activity. As the governor, he's the top law enforcement officer in the state. If he's above the law, then everyone else should be too. Same with drugs. If a top official is smoking pot, and they've never made any statements or taken any actions to decriminalize marijuana, I would have no problem with them being thrown in jail and condemned in the media. The only way these stupid morality laws are going to be changed is if they are applied equally to everyone.

Right now, white people get away with all kinds of drug use, possession and dealing, while those in minority communities are disproportionately arrested and thrown in jail for the same activities. My guess is that there are a lot of rich, powerful white guys like Spitzer getting away with prostitution-related crimes every day as well.

Either oppose the current system and do what you can to change it, or submit willingly to being punished when it bites you. You can't have it both ways, pretending to be Mr. Law and Order while letting others be punished for crimes you yourself commit.

What pathetic bullshit. Really, there are ABSOLUTELY no other alternatives than prostitution and that really is someone's "sole means of supporting themselves"? In this day and age?! Give me a break. As long as society/gov't gets off its lazy ass and ensures that people have other means of employ available to them other than prostitution, then yes, prostitution can remain illegal.

I can tell that you have never lived on the street. My wife, three year old daughter and I lived in a tent for over four months once because we lacked money for anything better.

Now as a grandfather I find my wife and myself about a week away from foreclosure. Thanks to massive medical bills that we will never be able to repay we have no credit, if we lose our seventy percent paid for home of nearly twenty years to foreclosure we have nowhere to go.

As I type this I'm also putting personal belongings up on ebay to make enough money to pay Countrywide their pound of flesh and gallon of blood. Things we have spent a lifetime acquiring will be gone in a week or so.

I'm so angry right now I'm having a hard time hitting the keys.. You, a spoiled little know it all who has never seen real hardship is going to tell me what real life is all about.

It's doing the hard work of providing a lifeline to education -- hell maybe even microfinance is needed in this country now -- and other resources to lead the way to alternative jobs than laying on your back. And Western gov'ts are doing the hard work now anyway (but could be better) with outreach programs, social services, addiction centres, shelters, employment training, etc. all to encourage people to get off the streets and into other jobs. Maybe various states/levels of gov't can make these opportunities more accessible, not arguing with that.

You have to be literally on the streets before you can qualify for just about all "aid", government aid is a sick joke in the US..

Thank you Democratic/liberal God Bill Clinton for "reforming" welfare.

So yeah, no one's leaving anyone to "starve in the streets", not with this plethora of resources. Unless that's their own intention.

Wait until it happens to you, you self righteous little spoodle..

There are entire families living in cars in our not really all that low class semi rural area.. They are ashamed of their situation and make every effort to hide it. I've talked with my grandchildren's teachers and they have told me they have children in their classes that are in that very situation.

It is one thing to be poor where almost everyone else is poor, it is entirely another to be poor where most appear well off.