It's a question that has to be asked in this modern age: why are adultery and the purchase of services from a prostitute by an elected official of any concern to the electorate? Perhaps we should ask Parnell, the "uncrowned King of Ireland," a Protestant of English descent who came close to unifying Ireland in the late 19th century. But it all came to naught when he unwisely allowed his adulterous affair with Kitty O'Shea to become public knowledge. Or perhaps we should ask Bill Clinton, who wasted most of his second term as President covering up his own adulterous mischief. Maybe adultery shouldn't matter in politics, but frequently it does.
As it happens, I heard about New York Governor Eliot Spitzer's dilemma in the steam room at the local YMCA. A acquaintance sitting next to me recounted the story with some satisfaction. Spitzer was forced to come before cameras with his wife (that is now days standard procedure), and confess that he has been implicated in a Federal probe of a prostitution ring. In fact, he was a member of the "Emperor's Club VIP." Checking into the Mayflower Hotel, he enjoyed the services of at least one very high priced call girl. My friend in the steam room was a bit gleeful because he is in the finance business, and Spitzer earned national fame by leading high profile prosecutions of "Wall Street gluttony." My friend thought these prosecutions largely unjustified, and saw the story as a case of self-righteousness exposed.
I have no strong feelings about Spitzer, though I had the same view of him as my friend did. I am not particularly interested in or especially offended by the sexual escapades of politicians. But adultery is a bad thing. It is destructive of families. And prostitution is illegal in most places. Finally, for a Democrat and Governor of New York to be part of something called "The Emperor's Club VIP," is just plain stupid. This is what corruption looks like. There seems to be some talk of Spitzer resigning.
Last but not least, the price tag for this lady was upwards to $5,500. This is a high price to pay for getting screwed.
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