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, 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.

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.

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.

I totally agree with your take on criminalizing the act of an adult paying for sex with another consenting adult. What I don't see is any hypocrisy on Spitzer's part for doing that and this:

"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."

Just like I don't think there's anything wrong for the government to prosecute drug traffickers but something very wrong for them to prosecute indivual citizens for using illegal drugs. If Spitzer had been going after Johns, that would be hypocritical.

Ironic that those who want the police to persecute prostitutes think that they are doing the prostitutes a favor.

Try living like an illegal alien for six months and get back to us all you moralists..

Just like I don't think there's anything wrong for the government to prosecute drug traffickers but something very wrong for them to prosecute indivual citizens for using illegal drugs.

Would you support making alcohol illegal to the same degree that cocaine is?

If not, why not?

"Are there really people left who think that doing so should be a crime, that adults who hire other consenting adults for sex should be convicted and go to prison?"

Answer: Yes, apparently all the state legislatures but Nevada do think so.

Is that like orthopedic footgear?

"I'm so angry I'm having a hard time hitting the keys".

Then please stop.

I'm sorry things are hard for you right now. I really, truly am. But your anger here is all directed against women.

Why not be angry at the capitalist predators who are ruining your life right now, the health care industry and the mortgage lenders?

Because you believe deeply in capitalism, apparently so deeply that even when it eats people like you or the girls in the strip clubs alive, you can't face the truth. You really think that prostitutes are getting "better training in how to be good capitalists" and this is wonderful?

And you can't see what's tragic in that statement on all kinds of levels? Not least that it's not true for most prostitutes?

Oh God, what a mess. Take a break. Get some rest now. Don't use the comment boards at Salon for therapy, even though it's tempting and a lot of us have done a bit of it at times.

Please get a grip, okay?

What accounts for politicians who in the post-Gary Hart world don't think that they'll get caught and humiliated doing stuff like this? Some people are too dumb to be worth fighting for, and the hypocrite Spitzer is one of them. The Democrats need to throw him under the bus and move on.

From the likes of sploogless and others.

What, can't come up with any valid, logical arguments? Of course not, which is why you take the lazy way out. Typical.

-- spoodles

This thread is peppered with them. Mine and everyone else's.

I'm tired of explaining it to people like you who don't know shit about it, and if you do, it's only your personal experience, which isn't exhaustive or representative.

What's YOUR reason for all the bile?

-- tina schrier

Nutbars like you give me indigestion.

@fawnlust,

Good deal. I agree with you but I'm glad you had an open mind and could see how this isn't the way it's being portrayed. Very sad. He was one of the good guys but we are all just human and that makes us flawed.

@meeneecat

because often, with hired sex, there is a victim.

Not all "paid for sex" is harmless and victimless. Human trafficking is a billion dollar business. The CIA estimates that around 50,000 women and children are trafficked here in the U.S.

These are crimes that having nothing to do with this case.