Why Hasn't Hillary Decried Spitzer?

[Go Fish]

It’s obvious why Hillary’s been slow to condemn Spitzer.

March 12, 2008

By Kristen Powers

So Eliot Spitzer, who terrorized Wall Street with his sanctimony, spent Valentine's eve - and a few others, it seems - with a prostitute. The cussing crusader got his frequent-customer card punched at an escort service just like ones he prosecuted as attorney general.

The big question looming in political circles is: How will this affect Hillary Clinton's presidential prospects and the Democratic Party at large?

The Clinton camp is no doubt praying for Spitzer to step down fast. Otherwise, pressure will rise for Clinton to make a meaningful statement about his behavior.

Thus far, she has kept it to a curt, "I don't have any comment on that. Obviously I am sending my best wishes and thoughts to the governor and to his family . . ."

Sending your best wishes, Sen. Clinton? To one of your top endorsers who's broken the law and participated in the sex industry that you yourself have decried?

Clinton has touted her concern for women's rights frequently. Yet "Client 9" has escaped her scorn.

Who is she more loyal to - the young women who are exploited for men's pleasure, or the exploiter who nearly drove her campaign off the rails with his harebrained scheme to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants in the middle of presidential campaign season?

The prostitution business involves the systematic rape and abuse of women who are usually trapped by circumstances. Academic studies show that 80 to 90 percent of prostitutes want to leave the industry, but don't see any options. Suicidal thoughts are commonplace.

Even high-class call girls like the one the New York gov visited are frequently women who were childhood victims of sexual abuse. The fact they ply their trade on 400-threadcount sheets shouldn't make anyone feel better about the industry.

Don't bother telling that to the many liberals - from lawyer Alan Dershowitz to Clinton supporter James Carville - who are coming out to defend this "victimless" crime. They seem to have confused HBO's "Moonlite Bunny Ranch" special with academic study - which overwhelmingly shows that prostitution is a sleazy, dangerous business for women and girls.

But don't take my word that it's not a victimless crime, just ask Hillary Clinton or Eliot Spitzer.

The feminist organization Equality NOW worked with Spitzer for many years and considered him its most powerful and dedicated ally in its war against sex trafficking - which is the means that many escort services and pimps use to procure women for their businesses.

When Spitzer busted a travel agency that was involved in illegal prostitution, he called it "egregious conduct" and "abuse of young women." He said the perps' action led to the "systematic exploitation and suppression of young women, and that is simply unacceptable."

Busting a popular escort service, he said it was "nothing more than a prostitution ring, and now its owners and operators will be held accountable."

In a 2008 presidential campaign questionnaire she filled out for Equality NOW, Clinton said, "I believe strongly that we must support efforts to investigate and prosecute commercial sexual exploitation. I will work to improve enforcement of anti-trafficking and anti-violence laws that protect women's health and well-being in the United States and around the world, and ensure that our country leads by example in protecting women."

Now, a key supporter has been a client of this industry, and all she can do is send him her best wishes.

There is a reason for this, of course: Clinton is hamstrung by her husband's dalliance with young Monica Lewinsky and his law-breaking denial of the affair. He never stepped down, so why should Spitzer? Breaking the law, treating women as playthings - it's all apparently just in a day's work.

What of the Democratic Party? If Spitzer doesn't resign soon, the party will be mired in another sex scandal with the potential to go global.

The initial non-reaction by Democratic officials, combined with the parade of liberal talking heads playing down the ills of prostitution, is probably not a winning strategy for convincing voters you should be leading the country.

[Buck Laser]

Why should she? You've done it for her. Why hasn't Bush decried Seantor Craig?

[Drocket]

Why hasn't Bush decried Seantor Craig?

Or a more accurate comparison of Vitter, who was also caught purchasing the services of prostitutes, and is, even as we speak, proudly serving out his term in the senate. I'm sure McCain will be 'decrying' his fellow senator any day now...

[Go Fish]

Probably because Craig voted against Bush's pick for the head of the ATF. It isn't like Larry Craig is a Bush supporter.
This IS your first politics board isn't it?

[BoogyMan]

I would imagine that the Hillary camp is trying to figure out how to spin this one. She has been very quiet about this and I have to wonder if it is because Spitzer was a superdelegate and she is trying to figure out how not to lose that delegate vote from the Lt. Governor who is coming in to take Spitzer's place.

[Go Fish]

Why hasn't Bush decried Seantor Craig?

Or a more accurate comparison of Vitter, who was also caught purchasing the services of prostitutes, and is, even as we speak, proudly serving out his term in the senate. I'm sure McCain will be 'decrying' his fellow senator any day now...


Vitter wasn't involved in interstate criminal activity discovered in the course of investigating international crime organizations. Pee Wee Herman is a democrat.
But let's get back to the topic at hand, shall we?

[Buck Laser]

Why hasn't Bush decried Seantor Craig?

Or a more accurate comparison of Vitter, who was also caught purchasing the services of prostitutes, and is, even as we speak, proudly serving out his term in the senate. I'm sure McCain will be 'decrying' his fellow senator any day now...


Vitter wasn't involved in interstate criminal activity discovered in the course of investigating international crime organizations. Pee Wee Herman is a democrat.
But let's get back to the topic at hand, shall we?

Why did you drag Pee Wee Herman in?

[brien]

Hillary doesn't have to anymore. Spitzer has made himself as irrelevant in politics now as you or I, so why should she now anyway? All she has to do is ignore the issue and it will go away along with Sleazer Spitzer. A week in politics is an eternity so by April, and then the PA primary, it will be "Elliot who?"

[AnnEsthesia]

I was not aware Pee Wee Herman was a politician. Where was he elected?

[Wndrtch]

Because while Spitzer was in town, Bill couldn't get a "date". Nothing left.

[Go Fish]

Well, PeeWee is a PerWert, too!

[Buck Laser]

Well, PeeWee is a PerWert, too!

God dammit, Fish!! Do you EVER get tired of trying to take threads off topic?

[Go Fish]

Just trying to keep things light.
Actually, I'm simply trying to highlight the fact that most perverts are democrats.

[Elrathin]

Just trying to keep things light.
Actually, I'm simply trying to highlight the fact that most perverts are democrats.


Sorry but the boy lovers are mostly conservatives. Your priests and all.

That's about as perverted as you can get.

[Buck Laser]

Just trying to keep things light.
Actually, I'm simply trying to highlight the fact that most perverts are democrats.


Y'know, it's not "light" when you lie. As Elrathin has pointed out, pretty near all the politicians who've been caught with their peckers out have been republicans. But maybe you haven't noticed. :drool:

[Go Fish]

Still waiting....... :ponder:

(That means it would be nice if you could name 4. BTW, Kennedy was a Catholic, and Catholics are predominantly democrats.)

[Elrathin]

How can catholics be predominately Democrats when catholics don't think abortion should be legal?

[AnnEsthesia]

Yea, because we all know how much catholics support the democratic ideals of gay rights and abortion rights...

[Buck Laser]

Still waiting....... :ponder:
(That means it would be nice if you could name 4. BTW, Kennedy was a Catholic, and Catholics are predominantly democrats.)

:love::evil: Fish, you make it so easy! Why didn't you ask me for a hundred?

But let's get started here: Mark Foley, republican from FL, diddling around with congresssional pages; Dick Armey, republican, former high-ranking lieutenant for Tom DeLay, sexually harassing his women students at the university where he teaches; John Bolton, Bush's hardass UN ambassador (the one who couldn't get confirmed by congress) confirmed that he had forced his wife to engage in group sex against her will; Dan Burton, one of Newt Gingrich's favorite congressmen, got penalized by the courts for not paying child support to his second or third wife, I forget which.

And my favorite: Ted Bundy! Remember him? The serial rapist and murderer from Florida who was executed a few years ago? He campaigned actively for Republican candidates. :nana:

I could go on naming a bunch more, but you only asked for four. If you want more, here's a link to what you know is true: republican pree-verts! (http://dkosopedia.com/wiki/Republican_Sex_Scandals)

NEXT?

[Go Fish]

Too bad you didn't look at the top of the page.

"This article contains assertions without appropriate source citations, such as websites and publications affiliated with the subject of the article."

Boy, what can I say? I guess that if The Daily KOS can't find any examples of democrats being perverts, there must not be any!

What is "diddling around'?

You got me. What can I say?

[Buck Laser]

Too bad you didn't look at the top of the page.

"This article contains assertions without appropriate source citations, such as websites and publications affiliated with the subject of the article."

Boy, what can I say? I guess that if The Daily KOS can't find any examples of democrats being perverts, there must not be any!

What is "diddling around'?

You got me. What can I say?

You could try looking at the Google pages and pages on "republican sex offenders." Don't be scared, give it a try.

[Elrathin]

I'm still waiting for you to show how Catholics can be predominantly Dems when they are against abortion being legal.

[Go Fish]

You guys caught me! See ya' around the interweb! It really was fun, but being a man of my word, I'm out'a here. Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

[Buck Laser]

You guys caught me! See ya' around the interweb! It really was fun, but being a man of my word, I'm out'a here. Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!


Please tell me you mean that about "outta here!":love:

[nevadamedic]

It’s obvious why Hillary’s been slow to condemn Spitzer.

March 12, 2008

By Kristen Powers

So Eliot Spitzer, who terrorized Wall Street with his sanctimony, spent Valentine's eve - and a few others, it seems - with a prostitute. The cussing crusader got his frequent-customer card punched at an escort service just like ones he prosecuted as attorney general.

The big question looming in political circles is: How will this affect Hillary Clinton's presidential prospects and the Democratic Party at large?

The Clinton camp is no doubt praying for Spitzer to step down fast. Otherwise, pressure will rise for Clinton to make a meaningful statement about his behavior.

Thus far, she has kept it to a curt, "I don't have any comment on that. Obviously I am sending my best wishes and thoughts to the governor and to his family . . ."

Sending your best wishes, Sen. Clinton? To one of your top endorsers who's broken the law and participated in the sex industry that you yourself have decried?

Clinton has touted her concern for women's rights frequently. Yet "Client 9" has escaped her scorn.

Who is she more loyal to - the young women who are exploited for men's pleasure, or the exploiter who nearly drove her campaign off the rails with his harebrained scheme to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants in the middle of presidential campaign season?

The prostitution business involves the systematic rape and abuse of women who are usually trapped by circumstances. Academic studies show that 80 to 90 percent of prostitutes want to leave the industry, but don't see any options. Suicidal thoughts are commonplace.

Even high-class call girls like the one the New York gov visited are frequently women who were childhood victims of sexual abuse. The fact they ply their trade on 400-threadcount sheets shouldn't make anyone feel better about the industry.

Don't bother telling that to the many liberals - from lawyer Alan Dershowitz to Clinton supporter James Carville - who are coming out to defend this "victimless" crime. They seem to have confused HBO's "Moonlite Bunny Ranch" special with academic study - which overwhelmingly shows that prostitution is a sleazy, dangerous business for women and girls.

But don't take my word that it's not a victimless crime, just ask Hillary Clinton or Eliot Spitzer.

The feminist organization Equality NOW worked with Spitzer for many years and considered him its most powerful and dedicated ally in its war against sex trafficking - which is the means that many escort services and pimps use to procure women for their businesses.

When Spitzer busted a travel agency that was involved in illegal prostitution, he called it "egregious conduct" and "abuse of young women." He said the perps' action led to the "systematic exploitation and suppression of young women, and that is simply unacceptable."

Busting a popular escort service, he said it was "nothing more than a prostitution ring, and now its owners and operators will be held accountable."

In a 2008 presidential campaign questionnaire she filled out for Equality NOW, Clinton said, "I believe strongly that we must support efforts to investigate and prosecute commercial sexual exploitation. I will work to improve enforcement of anti-trafficking and anti-violence laws that protect women's health and well-being in the United States and around the world, and ensure that our country leads by example in protecting women."

Now, a key supporter has been a client of this industry, and all she can do is send him her best wishes.

There is a reason for this, of course: Clinton is hamstrung by her husband's dalliance with young Monica Lewinsky and his law-breaking denial of the affair. He never stepped down, so why should Spitzer? Breaking the law, treating women as playthings - it's all apparently just in a day's work.

What of the Democratic Party? If Spitzer doesn't resign soon, the party will be mired in another sex scandal with the potential to go global.

The initial non-reaction by Democratic officials, combined with the parade of liberal talking heads playing down the ills of prostitution, is probably not a winning strategy for convincing voters you should be leading the country.


She washed her hands of him pretty quickly after it was made public eventhough they are extremly close.

[brien]

I'm still waiting for you to show how Catholics can be predominantly Dems when they are against abortion being legal.


I'll be pleased to show you:

http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2006d/111706/111706h.php

But this year, according to exit polls of House races, 55 percent of Catholics voted Democratic, while 46 percent of weekly churchgoers of all denominations supported House Democratic candidates. Catholics made up approximately one-quarter of the electorate.

I agree this seems to be an anamoly but apparently Catholics would rather overlook the dicotomy within their religion than vote Republican. I have an idea it may have something to do with the Union vote where Union members vote their union's interest and not their ideology, but I have no evidence of this.

[bishop]

Hillary doesn't have to anymore. Spitzer has made himself as irrelevant in politics now as you or I, so why should she now anyway? All she has to do is ignore the issue and it will go away along with Sleazer Spitzer. A week in politics is an eternity so by April, and then the PA primary, it will be "Elliot who?"


agreed.. spitzer's scandal represents nothing more than a distraction as far as the clinton campaign goes.. it would seem that the hannity fans of the world would rather she take the bait and go on the attack, but there's no point in expending that energy.

[Drocket]

Vitter wasn't involved in interstate criminal activity discovered in the course of investigating international crime organizations.

I hereby resurrect this topic because: Surprise, surprise, it was a political hit job.

Almost four months before Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned in a sex scandal, a lawyer for Republican political operative Roger Stone sent a letter to the FBI alleging that Spitzer ''used the services of high-priced call girls'' while in Florida.

The letter, dated Nov. 19, said Miami Beach resident Stone learned the information from ''a social contact in an adult-themed club.'' It offered one potentially identifying detail: The man in question hadn't taken off his calf-length black socks ``during the sex act.''

Stone, known for shutting down the 2000 presidential election recount effort in Miami-Dade County, is a longtime Spitzer nemesis whose political experience ranges from the Nixon White House to Al Sharpton's presidential campaign. His lawyer wrote the letter containing the call-girl allegations after FBI agents had asked to speak to Stone, though he says the FBI did not specify why he was contacted.

Link (http://www.miamiherald.com/548/v-print/story/465982.html)


Once again, instead of working to protect our nation or investigate crimes that have actual victims, the Bush administration uses the powers of the government for its own political ends.

[Go Fish]

And Waxman is working in the public's interests........

Your boy is guilty. He admitted it. Sorry that Hillary held the execution of the arrest warrant off for so long.

[Alonzo]

Why hasn't Bush decried Seantor Craig?

Or a more accurate comparison of Vitter, who was also caught purchasing the services of prostitutes, and is, even as we speak, proudly serving out his term in the senate. I'm sure McCain will be 'decrying' his fellow senator any day now...


Vitter wasn't involved in interstate criminal activity discovered in the course of investigating international crime organizations. Pee Wee Herman is a democrat.
But let's get back to the topic at hand, shall we?


LEAVE PEE WEE ALONE!!!!!

[ViolaLee]

Seriously.

http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Video/040402/tdy_stone_peewee_040402.300w.jpg

[Go Fish]

If Mr. Reubens had followed your advise, we wouldn't be talking about him today! :madlaugh:

[BoogyMan]

Vitter wasn't involved in interstate criminal activity discovered in the course of investigating international crime organizations.

I hereby resurrect this topic because: Surprise, surprise, it was a political hit job.

Almost four months before Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned in a sex scandal, a lawyer for Republican political operative Roger Stone sent a letter to the FBI alleging that Spitzer ''used the services of high-priced call girls'' while in Florida.

The letter, dated Nov. 19, said Miami Beach resident Stone learned the information from ''a social contact in an adult-themed club.'' It offered one potentially identifying detail: The man in question hadn't taken off his calf-length black socks ``during the sex act.''

Stone, known for shutting down the 2000 presidential election recount effort in Miami-Dade County, is a longtime Spitzer nemesis whose political experience ranges from the Nixon White House to Al Sharpton's presidential campaign. His lawyer wrote the letter containing the call-girl allegations after FBI agents had asked to speak to Stone, though he says the FBI did not specify why he was contacted.

Link (http://www.miamiherald.com/548/v-print/story/465982.html)


Once again, instead of working to protect our nation or investigate crimes that have actual victims, the Bush administration uses the powers of the government for its own political ends.


OK, Drocket, care to show how Bush is involved in this? Spitzer gets his backside into trouble, an enemy turns him in, and you try to lay it at the feet of president Bush.

In the mean time there still seems to be no commentary about Spitzer or his activities from the Clinton campaign that I am aware of.

[ViolaLee]

Is Hillary to be held responsible for what the Governor of NY does?

What exactly is she supposed to comment about? Does the Spitzer scandal have any importance to the Presidential election? Are the Democratic candidates now to be held accountable for everyone they've ever known?

McCain hasn't said anything about Pat Robertson's ties to Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia who he partnered with in diamond mines, CT is on trial at the Hague for mass murder of his people. Why hasn't McCain denounced Pat Robertson instead of taking his endorcement?

See how that works?

[BoogyMan]

Viola, she is a senator in a state in which the governor has been found to be completely dishonest and hypocritical.

Robertson is not an elected official in anyone's state and is a pretty weak target for obfuscation of Clinton's silence on this one.

One would think that Clinton has not heard that the governor of the state she represents had to step down because he is a hypocrite and a liar.

[AnnEsthesia]

He stepped down almost immediately. What do you want her to do? Attack him after he is no longer governor? Should she have stopped campaigning to make a huge deal out of this? Why do YOU want it to be a huge deal? Why not turn your attention to all of those senators that are still in their positions even though they have done wrong.

[BoogyMan]

It would be nice to hear that a Senator of that state who is running for president would denounce such activity, especially in light of her "cleaning up politics" rhetoric. For Clinton to completely ignore the problem in her own state is very odd.

[ViolaLee]

I'm not sure what she's supposed to say about it. She's supposed to be campaigning and telling American about all the good things she can do to lead our country out of a war and out of a recession and out of a health care crisis and out of global warming and out of a dependency on foriegn oil and out of all the other messes Bush/Cheney has us in.

I don't see how it's so important she says how sad she is that Elliot Spitzer has disappointed NY State. I think she has more important things to do.

Like step down IMHO, so Obama can start campaigning for the November election.

;)

[BoogyMan]

Like I said previously, her silence in light of her "cleaning up politics" rhetoric is very odd. One would think she would be out there talking about it since he was the governor of a state she represents.

[Elrathin]

Like I said previously, her silence in light of her "cleaning up politics" rhetoric is very odd. One would think she would be out there talking about it since he was the governor of a state she represents.


So you think Hillary agrees fully with the "former" governor's actions then? REALLY, because if you don't think she is decrying it, you must think she is for it.

[BoogyMan]

This is a strawman El. I have made no claims as to WHAT I believe about Clinton's unfortunate lack of response, I have simply pointed out that it is VERY strange.

[AnnEsthesia]

Not strange at all. He stepped down. He is no longer governor. She stated she feels very sorry for his family. What more do you need? He is being investigated, he is not in power... why do you feel he needs to be raked over then coals any more? He left. At least he did not stay around like the people in congress...

[BoogyMan]

I disagree, it is very strange.

With Clinton touting herself as one who would "clean up" politics it is very strange that she has remained silent about corruption in the highest office in the state she represents.

[Elrathin]

With Clinton touting herself as one who would "clean up" politics it is very strange that she has remained silent about corruption in the highest office in the state she represents.


Why would she decry someone who stepped down? Yes, she touted herself as one who would "Clean-up" poltiics and someone in her state who was caught in a scandal, STEPPED DOWN. What more do you want?

Do you want Hillary Clinton asking for his blood or something?

[Buck Laser]

This is a strawman El. I have made no claims as to WHAT I believe about Clinton's unfortunate lack of response, I have simply pointed out that it is VERY strange.

Why in hell do we another pair of hands to be wrung? Hand-wringing is probably the most useless exercise in the universe.

[BoogyMan]

With Clinton touting herself as one who would "clean up" politics it is very strange that she has remained silent about corruption in the highest office in the state she represents.


Why would she decry someone who stepped down? Yes, she touted herself as one who would "Clean-up" poltiics and someone in her state who was caught in a scandal, STEPPED DOWN. What more do you want?

Do you want Hillary Clinton asking for his blood or something?


I said NOTHING about asking for blood El. Clinton has said practically NOTHING about the highest office in her state being corrupt, that is strange.

This could have been a moment for her to step up and shine with information about how she planned to stand for transparency and honesty in the government of New York, she fumbled that ball.

Spitzer stepping down has not made his actions go away nor has it made Clinton's lack of response go away.

[Go Fish]

Like I said previously, her silence in light of her "cleaning up politics" rhetoric is very odd. One would think she would be out there talking about it since he was the governor of a state she represents.


So you think Hillary agrees fully with the "former" governor's actions then? REALLY, because if you don't think she is decrying it, you must think she is for it.

She CAN'T say anything, because she never said a damned thing about her own husband doing it. She clearly has no problem with men who fuck around on their wives, and quite frankly, that opinion just won't fly with the rest of the married women in America who would otherwise vote for her. She hasn't said anything because she forfeited the ability to. Checkmate.

[ViolaLee]

This is just too funny. If Hillary says something, you righties jump all over her. If she doesn't say something you righties jump all over her.

Admit it, no matter what she does, she's hated by the right.

[preservanation]

Not strange at all. He stepped down. He is no longer governor. She stated she feels very sorry for his family. What more do you need? He is being investigated, he is not in power... why do you feel he needs to be raked over then coals any more? He left. At least he did not stay around like the people in congress...
I agree.
He should go away (for a long time) and stop being a distraction from the Clinton corruption.