I think I understand what you mean politically, though.

I feel NO sympathy for Spitzer whatsoever, however. You don’t put people in jail while committing the exact same crimes as them. To me, that brings up ugly half-memories of stories whispered about slavery days …. and jim crow days…. and more recent times.

Who was he really helping, if he was partaking of the same forbidden fruit that he successfully prosecuted others for? Was he prosecuting from a sense of justice — or was it all about politics and power, which is NOT about justice?

I feel no sympathy for Spitzer, David. I cannot. It brings into question his motives, and his methods.

I can’t demonize Republicans for circling wagons, either. The Republicans are no different from Democrats. Republicans circling the wagons around someone with an (R) after their name is no different from Democrats doing the exact same thing for someone with a (D) after it. We saw it (or rather, I saw it) with Bob Packwood. And yes, I guess the Clintons can count, too, as more of what really went down in the 90s comes to light and can be examined freshly. Democrats are asking Democrats to vote for Hillary for the bigger picture of Supreme Court appointments should she do the unthinkable and not return the favor by putting herself before the party. What’s so different?

Democrats have another thing coming if they’re going to ask me to pout about Elliot Spitzer being caught paying for a hoe with the communication skills of a 16 year old to take Amtrak from New York to DC for an all expenses paid un safe sex romp. That is not a Republican plot. It is not a vast right wing conspiracy. That is Spitzer not having any self-control and thinking he was above the law even as he helped dispense the law.

I am not down with it.

@ CT, thank you for clarifying. I don’t know what to say. Obama and Michelle have cast iron stomachs to deal with this with their dignity intact. Or maybe it’s just good home training.

Regardless of Spitzer’s moral failings, his political demise is a sad day for the average gal or guy. Look at his record on Civil Rights, GLBT Rights, taking on Wall Street, and corrupt banking and loan institutions. Spitzer is nothing like Bill Clinton other than being a white male Democrat. Spitzer really cared about people.

Look at Spitzer’s enemies and understand how much good he has done.

The reality is that Spitzer is a New York Democrat and he had to support Clinton because she is the states Democratic U.S. Senator. To not support her would be suicidal.

So, why take pleasure in his fall? Larry Craig is still running around Capitol Hill. Newt Gingrich is still showing his malicious face on TV.

If Spitzer can ride this out, more power to him. I don’t really care about some guy sleeping with a prostitute. That’s a problem between him and his wife.

Unlike Bill Clinton, who lied to the American people, and then perjured himself, which lead to his being disbarred, Spitzer has been honest about his “crime.”

BTW, all of the Republicans who are out for Spitzer’s head have a short memory span since one of their own Congressmen, David Vetter, got caught having sex with prostitutes also. Of course, since Vetter is a Republican, he did not resign.

Remember, if you are a Republican, you can commit virtually any crime and as long as you apologize to Jesus, the conservative community will embrace you and defend your human frailty.

So did Hillary Clinton have any idea about this prostitution ring?

Did she hear any rumors of Spitzer’s involvement?

Did she know, and just keep quiet in exchange for campaign support?

Your probably right. Billary wouldn’t want to touch another sex scandal with a 50 foot pool.

@ nita -

I only bring up the comparisons because, at least in NY, I’ve heard phrases like “Spitzer was supposed to be this ‘White knight’ “and “he ran on a theme about ‘change’ like Obama.” And I did see a Huffington Post story basically cautioning readers not to fall for these comparisions. However, I do think since Spitzer supported Clinton and they are two NY politicians with sex scandals in their resume, the link between them will be much stronger.

as for comparisons with obama and spitzer — obama laid everything out on the line already. he’s been honest about things which have ruined the careers of other people. if there was something on him, it would have come out already. you don’t pull out kindergarten papers on people who are genuinely dirty. for all intents and purposes he appears to be as clean as Biden says he is, comparatively speaking to the rest of Washington. good for Obama.

if you pay for sex, you are a loser.

Do the Clintons really want to step into another sex scandal that doesn’t have their name on it?

Doubt it!

Let them bring it up and out comes Paula, Gennifer, the alleged rape victims and maybe even a few Arkansas trysts for good measure.

If Hillary didn’t wring Bill’s neck over his mess then she really better shut up about (her superdelegate) Spitzer.

This ties into the Clinton/Obama mess. If Patterson wasn’t ready to step in on short notice to become Governor, Spitzer wouldn’t have picked him. However, Patterson is a Clinton supporter, so no change in superdelegates.

I do need to warn people to watch the comparisons between Eliot Spitzer and Barack Obama that are starting to happen . Eliot’s campaign to capture the Governership was based on change, higher ethical standards and reforming government. The press, or even Billary themselves may seize this opportunity to say: “See this change stuff doesn’t really work. Look what happened to Eliot Spitzer.” Don’t be fooled. Spitzer and Obama are polar opposites. He’s more of a Clinton personality, very headstrong and didn’t get along with Republicans AND Democrats in Albany.

That’s my two cents.

Obama-Farrakhan: Guilt by Disassociation
By George E Curry, NNPA Columnist
March 10, 2008

“NBC’s Tim Russert raised the Farrakhan issue at the debate last week, asking Obama: “Do you accept the support of Louis Farrakhan?”

“OBAMA: You know, I have been very clear in my denunciation of Minister Farrakhan’s anti-Semitic comments. I think that they are unacceptable and reprehensible. I did not solicit this support. He expressed pride in an African-American who seems to be bringing the country together. I obviously can’t censor him, but it is not support that I sought. And we’re not doing anything, I assure you, formally or informally with Minister Farrakhan.”

“RUSSERT: Do you reject his support?”

“OBAMA: Well, Tim, you know, I can’t say to somebody that he can’t say that he thinks I’m a good guy. (Laughter.) … I have been very clear in my denunciations of him and his past statements, and I think that indicates to the American people what my stance is on those comments.”

“Hillary Clinton tried to draw a distinction between how she and Obama handled reprehensible, unsolicited support.”

“CLINTON: .. I’m just saying that you asked specifically if he would reject it. And there’s a difference between denouncing and rejecting… I just think, we’ve got to be even stronger…”

“OBAMA: Tim, I have to say I don’t see a difference between denouncing and rejecting. There’s no formal offer of help from Minister Farrakhan that would involve me rejecting it. But if the word “reject” Senator Clinton feels is stronger than the word “denounce,” then I’m happy to concede the point, and I would reject and denounce.”

-Will Hillary reject and denounce Spitzer?